The Sand Grouse is a bird of a rare distinction, perfectly adapted to survive arid, sun scorched landscapes where water is scarce. Thriving is open, dry plains, it endures a daily struggle, feeding mainly on seeds, grains and dry grasses.
What truly sets this remarkable bird apart is its ingenious method of nurturing its young. To provide water for its chicks, The Sand Grouse embarks on a long and perilous journey, Sometime covering 30 to 40 miles to the nearest water source. once there, it repeatedly deep its body into the water, using its specialised feathers that acts like sponge to absorb and retain moisture.
Fully soaked , the bird makes its way back to the nest, where the thirsty chicks directly from the water-laden feathers. The parents also sprinkles dropltes over them, cooling the chicks in blazing heat. This extraordinary adaptation has made the sand grouse one of the most unique species in the avian world.
According to dr. A.A. Ansari, deputy director of the Nauradehi tiger reserve, both the common sand grouse and the painted sand grouse are found in the region.
” This a dry landscapes, and the birds here are highly adapted to the climate. The sand grouse carries water in its wings and uses it to nourish cool its chicks, ” he explains. Yet habitat destruction poses a grave threat. protecting these dry lands means preserving not only the sand grouse but also a living symbol of nature’s ingenuity and resilience.
