Mangrove Pitta Bird

Why in news?

• Recently, the first mangrove pitta bird census was conducted in two coastal districts of Odisha (Kendrapara and Jagatsingpur).

More about the News:

• This census was conducted using a point count method, where direct sightings and chirping sounds were used to count the birds.
• The census of Mangrove Pitta birds found that a total of 179 individual birds were counted.
• The highest concentration of these birds was found in the mangroves near the Mahipura river mouth inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.

About Mangrove Pitta Bird:

• The Mangrove Pitta bird (Pitta megarhyncha) is a species of bird that can be found in a few pockets of eastern India, including Odisha's Bhitarkanika and West Bengal's Sundarbans.
• The species is a ground forager (an animal that searches widely for food) and tree rester that primarily inhabits coastal mangrove forests in India.
• IUCN Status:
  • Near Threatened

Add ons:

• This species is important because it is a bio-indicator of the health of mangrove forests, which are crucial to maintaining ecological balance in coastal areas.

???????PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Mangrove Pitta Bird’:

1. They are endemic to Sundarbans

2. They feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and insects

3. They are categorized as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer