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Rare Sandpiper's Epic Journey: Tagged in Russia, Sighted in India
4 Apr
Summary
- A rare spoon-billed sandpiper traveled nearly 8,000km from Russia.
- The bird was identified by a unique lime green tag on its leg.
- Fewer than 500 of these critically endangered birds survive.
A spoon-billed sandpiper, tagged in Russia on July 6, 2025, has been sighted on the Patibunia beach near Bakkhali, potentially completing a migration of nearly 8,000 kilometers. This critically endangered species, with fewer than 500 individuals surviving globally, was identified by a lime green tag.
The tag, marked 'Lime 2K,' indicated the bird was banded as a wild chick in Meinypilgyno, Chukotka, Russia. This marks a significant sighting along the East Asia-Australasian flyway, providing valuable data for conservation efforts by the Spoon-Billed Sandpiper Task Force.
Lime green tags are used for wild-born birds, aiding conservationists in tracking migration routes and stopover sites. This sighting is particularly important given the rare occurrences of this species in India, with only a few documented instances since 1996.
