The Black-headed and White-headed seagulls in Raichyak

The Black-headed and White-headed seagulls in Raichyak 

Raichak is a small town in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, about 50 km away from Kolkata. It is a riverside retreat that offers a serene and scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Raichak has a rich history and culture, as it was once a fort and a trading post for the British and the Dutch. It also has a variety of attractions and activities for visitors, such as resorts, spas, country homes, lighthouses, temples, and more. But one of the most fascinating features of Raichak is its abundance of seagulls that visit the river Hooghly every winter. These graceful and gregarious birds add a touch of beauty and charm to the landscape and create a memorable experience for anyone who sees them.

Seagulls are a group of birds that belong to the family Laridae, which includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are mostly coastal or inland birds that feed on fish, insects, worms, carrion, garbage, and other items. Seagulls are often seen in large, noisy flocks and have a variety of calls and displays.

One of the most common and widespread seagulls is the black-headed seagull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), which breeds in much of Europe, Asia, and eastern Canada. Despite its name, it does not have a black head, but rather a chocolate-brown one that turns white in winter. It also has a dark red bill and legs, a white body, and gray wings with black tips. It is a small gull, measuring about 38 cm (15 in) in length and weighing about 300 g. 

The black-headed seagull is a migratory bird that winters in warmer regions of Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. It prefers wetlands, lakes, rivers, marshes, fields, parks, and urban areas as its habitats. It feeds mainly on insects, worms, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, seeds, berries, and human food scraps. It often follows plows and tractors to catch exposed prey.

The black-headed seagull is a colonial breeder that nests on the ground or on low vegetation near water. It builds a cup-shaped nest of grasses, reeds, twigs, feathers, and other materials. It lays two to five eggs that are greenish-brown with dark spots. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 22 days and feed the chicks for another 35 days until they fledge. The chicks are brownish-gray with dark streaks and spots.

The black-headed seagull has a lifespan of about 15 years in the wild. It faces threats from habitat loss, pollution, predation, hunting, and human disturbance. However, it is still a common and widespread species with an estimated global population of 18 million individuals. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Another seagull that has a white head is the herring gull (Larus argentatus), which breeds in North America, Europe, and Asia. It has a white head that stays white throughout the year. It also has a yellow bill with a red spot near the tip, pink legs, a white body, and gray wings with black tips. It is a large gull, measuring about 60 cm (24 in) in length and weighing about 1 kg (2.2 lb).

The herring gull is also a migratory bird that winters along coasts or inland waters of temperate or subtropical regions. It prefers marine habitats such as cliffs, islands, beaches, harbors, estuaries, and offshore waters. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, insects, birds' eggs and chicks, carrion,

garbage,and other items. It often scavenges from fishing boats or dumps.

The herring gull is also a colonial breeder that nests on cliffs or islands near water. It builds a large nest of grasses,

twigs,

seaweed,

and other materials. It lays two to four eggs that are greenish-brown with dark blotches. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 28 days and feed the chicks for another 50 days until they fledge. The chicks are grayish-brown with dark spots.The herring gull has a lifespan of about 20 years in the wild. It faces threats from habitat loss,

pollution,

predation,

hunting,

and human disturbance. However,

it is still a common and widespread species with an estimated global population of 10 million individuals. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Black-headed seagulls and herring gulls are two examples of seagulls that have different head colors during different seasons or throughout the year. They are both adaptable and opportunistic birds that can live in various habitats and feed on various foods. They are both important members of the ecosystem that provide services such as scavenging,

pest control,

and seed dispersal.

One of the most enjoyable ways to see the seagulls in Raichak is to take a ferry ride across the river Hooghly. The ferries operate between different towns and cities along the river, such as Howrah, Kolkata, Diamond Harbour, Chandannagar, and Chinsurah. As the ferry moves along the water, hundreds of seagulls follow it and fly around it, creating a spectacular sight. The seagulls are not shy and often come close to the ferry passengers, who feed them with snacks and bread. The seagulls catch the food in mid-air or dive into the water to retrieve it. The feeding frenzy attracts more seagulls and makes them more playful and lively. The ferry passengers enjoy watching and interacting with the seagulls, who add fun and excitement to their journey.

International Beaver Day

 International Beaver Day: 7th April 

International Beaver Day is celebrated every year on April 7. It was created by Beavers Wetlands & Wildlife (B.W.W.), a non-profit organization in the United States, Canada, and other countries in 2009. The beaver is a special and important animal that plays a significant role in the ecosystem. B.W.W. has been working hard since 1985 to raise awareness about beavers through research and education.

Beavers are semi-aquatic animals that live in places like Canada, Poland, Germany, France, central Russia, and southern Scandinavia. They like to live in freshwater areas like rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds. Beavers have big heads, stout bodies, brown or grey fur, webbed front feet, and hand-like front feet. Their flat, scaly tail is their most distinctive feature, which they use for communication and balance.

Beavers are a keystone species, which means they have a large impact on the environment in proportion to their population. They eat trees and use the leftover wood to build dams and lodges. They also move mud, rocks, and debris around to create their homes. Beavers were once hunted for their fur and meat and almost became extinct. There used to be around 60 million beavers in North America, but their population has decreased to between 10 and 15 million.

International Beaver Day is celebrated by visiting a beaver pond to observe them, creating funny posts about beavers, and sharing information about them on social media with the hashtag #internationalbeaverday.

Here are five surprising facts about beavers:

Canada’s national animal is the beaver, the Catholic Church once declared beavers to be fish for Lent, beavers are typically monogamous and can stay together for multiple breeding seasons, beavers work at night to build their homes, and beavers have transparent eyelids that help them see underwater.

Certainly! Beavers are remarkable animals that have a significant impact on the ecosystems in which they live. They are known for their dam-building abilities, which create wetlands that serve as important habitats for a wide range of plants and animals. These wetlands help to filter water, prevent erosion, and regulate stream flow, making them essential for the health of many ecosystems.

Beavers are also fascinating creatures to observe. They are semiaquatic, which means they spend a lot of time in the water, and their adaptations for this lifestyle are impressive. For example, they have webbed feet that help them to swim and dive, and they can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes underwater.

Despite their importance, beavers have faced many challenges over the years. They were once hunted extensively for their fur and meat, which nearly led to their extinction. However, conservation efforts have helped to stabilize their populations, and they are now found in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Overall, beavers are a wonderful reminder of the important role that all species play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and International Beaver Day is a great opportunity to celebrate these amazing animals and raise awareness about the need to protect them and their habitats.