State bird Neelakantha sits pretty

“People cut down the dry trees but such trees provide space for these birds to build nests. The sighting has cheered us. We don’t need to worry about pesticides for our crops,” said a farmer here.

The aerobatic display with the twists and turns earns this bird the English name - Indian Roller. It is also the State bird of Bihar. They are commonly seen perched along roadside trees and wires besides in open grassland and scrub forest habitats.

Bird watchers said since March-June is the breeding season, sighting of the bird is an indication of the place could be their ‘preferred habitat’.