Jamnagar, Gujarat | August 25, 2026
A new scientific study has confirmed that Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district is an important breeding stronghold for the Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), one of India’s largest and most distinctive wetland birds.
The Ramsar-designated wetland recorded four active Black-necked Stork nests, with every monitored nest successfully producing fledglings. In all, eight young storks were recorded during the study, giving the sanctuary a 100% fledging success rate.
Four nests, eight fledglings
The research was conducted by scientists from the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation between July 2024 and March 2025.
Researchers surveyed the sanctuary through 48 georeferenced sampling points across eight management zones and collected more than 320 hours of field observations.
The four breeding nests were each occupied by a pair of Black-necked Storks, and each pair successfully raised two fledglings. Along with five regularly observed non-breeding adults, the sanctuary supported a peak seasonal population of 21 storks during the study period.
Suitable habitat supports successful breeding
Researchers found that the nesting sites shared several important characteristics.
The nests were located close to shallow wetlands, with water depths of around 0.3 to 0.7 metres, and were surrounded by open water, aquatic vegetation and elevated ground.
These conditions provide access to prey such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates, while elevated nesting locations help reduce the risk of flooding.
The study also found that the sanctuary’s relatively stable water conditions, abundant prey and comparatively low human disturbance were associated with the successful breeding recorded during the research period.
Storks adapt to available nesting trees
An interesting finding was that all four nests were built on Neltuma juliflora, formerly known as Prosopis juliflora and commonly called gando baval, at heights of approximately 3 to 4.5 metres.
Black-necked Storks are traditionally associated with large native trees such as acacias and figs for nesting. The study nevertheless shows that the birds can also use structurally suitable trees where preferred native nesting trees are limited.
Strong parental care observed
The researchers also documented extensive parental care.
During 89 nest-monitoring visits, adult storks spent an average of 62 minutes attending their nests. In 94% of observed instances when one adult left to forage, the other returned to the nest, ensuring continued care of the eggs or chicks.
No nest abandonment, predation or chick mortality was recorded during the monitoring period.
Even after the young birds fledged, they continued to depend on their parents. Researchers observed begging and food-sharing behaviour, suggesting that the juveniles gradually develop independent feeding skills while remaining under parental care.
Important wetland on the Central Asian Flyway
Khijadiya is particularly important because it combines freshwater and saline wetland habitats and lies along the Central Asian Flyway, an important migratory route for birds.
The sanctuary supports a wide variety of resident and migratory waterbirds, and the new findings strengthen its importance not only as a wintering and feeding ground but also as a breeding habitat for a threatened wetland species.
Conservation significance
The study provides valuable information for future management of Khijadiya. Maintaining shallow feeding areas, suitable nesting trees, aquatic prey, elevated nesting sites and low-disturbance zones could be crucial for sustaining the Black-necked Stork population.
The species is listed under Schedule II of India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022, making the protection of its breeding habitat particularly important.
The findings demonstrate that protecting wetlands is about more than preserving water bodies. Healthy wetlands provide the combination of food, nesting habitat, shelter and relatively undisturbed conditions that birds need to successfully reproduce.
For Gujarat, Khijadiya’s successful Black-necked Stork breeding record is therefore an encouraging conservation milestone—and further evidence of the sanctuary’s importance to India’s wetland biodiversity.
Source credit: This story is based on reporting by ANI, “Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary emerges as stronghold for Black-necked Stork breeding in Gujarat; new study reveals,” published on August 25, 2026. The underlying research was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa.
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