The Black-bellied Tern is found along the major river systems of India, usually breeding on sand spits or a sandy island. An entirely inland species, it is not found on the coast

The Black-Bellied tern grows to a length of 32 to 35 cm (13 to 14 inches). Breeding adults have an orange bill, black cap and nape, dark grey breast and a blackish belly and vent. Non-breeding birds show a whitish belly and lack tail streamers and have an orange bill with a dark tip. Its typical habitat consists of lowland rivers and marshes, occasionally smaller pools and ditches, at altitudes of up to 730 m (2,400 ft). In spite of having long wings, its flight is slow and involves a lot of flapping. It skims over the surface of water and ground to pick up insects and plunges at an angle into the water to feed on crustaceans, tadpoles and fish. Breeding takes place from February to April. It does not nest colonially but may nest with other birds such as river terns (Sterna aurantia), pratincoles (Glareola spp.) and Indian skimmers (Rynchops albicollis) (Gochfeld et al., 2015). It emits a clear piping "peuo".

1. Destruction of breeding habitat, as the islands and sand spits in larger rivers are being increasingly cultivated. 2. Increased disturbance and pollution from industry and agriculture. 3. Predation by dogs, cats and corvids and collection of eggs for food. 4. Over-harvesting of wetland products, such as water extraction, sand and gravel extraction for development and fishing. 5. Flooding of nests, often caused by dams.

The Indian Sarus Crane occurs in northern and central India, Terai Nepal and Pakistan. Once a common site in the paddy fields of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Assam; the population of the Indian sarus crane is now on the decline.

The tallest flying bird in the world, the Sarus Crane stands tall at 152-156 cm with a wingspan of 240 cm. Adults are grey overall, with a whiter mid-neck and tertials, mostly naked red head and upper neck (brighter when breeding), blackish primaries, but mostly grey secondaries, and reddish legs that are bright during breeding and pale outside the breeding season. Juveniles have a feathered buffish head and upper neck and duller plumage with brownish feather fringes. Females are smaller, growing to about 35-40 kg, while the males grow bigger, up to 40-45 kg. A social creature, it is found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four and is known to mate for life with a single partner (Sundar et al., 2000). The optimal habitat of the bird includes a combination of small seasonal marshes, floodplains, high altitude wetlands, human-altered ponds, fallow and cultivated lands and paddy fields. It primarily breeds during the monsoon season, however few pairs breed outside this season due to chick loss and creation of nesting habitat due to flooding caused by irrigation canals. Mated pairs of cranes engage in unison calling, which is a loud trumpeting sound. Sarus cranes, like all cranes, are omnivores and feed on aquatic plants such as tubers of sedges (e.g Eleocharis spp.), invertebrates, grains, small vertebrates and insects.

1. Loss and degradation of wetlands, as a result of drainage and conversion to agriculture. 2. Ingestion of pesticides. 3. The hunting of adults and collection of eggs and chicks for trade, food, medicinal purposes and, in certain areas, to help prevent damage to crops. 4. Collision with power lines poses a significant threat in parts of its range.

More widespread in winter, the Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.

The Indian skimmer grows to a length of 40-43 cm. It has black upper parts, white forehead, collar and lower parts, long, thick, deep orange bill with a yellow tip and longer lower mandible. In flight, it has a white trailing-edge to wing and a short forked tail with blackish central feathers. Non breeders are duller and have browner upper parts. Juveniles have a dusky orange bill with a blackish tip, paler brownish-grey crown and nape with dark mottling and paler, more brownish-grey mantle and whitish to pale buff fringing scapulars and wing coverts. It breeds colonially on large, exposed sand-bars and islands. Colonies of mating pairs can be observed nesting on sandy islands or open sand banks, often accompanied by other birds like Terns during the breeding season, between February and May. It feeds on surface-dwelling fish, small crustaceans and insect larvae. It emits a nasal kap or kip notes, particularly in flight and when disturbed.

1. Habitat degradation. Exploitation and degradation of rivers and lakes through fishing, transportation, domestic use, irrigation schemes and pollution from agricultural and industrial chemicals are largely responsible for the decline of this species as these factors have reduced reproductive and foraging success. 2. Excessive and widespread increases in disturbance. The damming of the Chambal River, in upstream Rajasthan, has adversely affected its population at National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, due to the dropping water levels allowing predators and livestock access to breeding islands (Sundar, 2004). 3. Predation by corvids like House crows (Corvus splendens), presence of stray and domestic dogs, have been known to decimate breeding colonies (Siddiqui et al., 2007).

The River tern has a wide range across southern Asia. In India, it is found throughout the country, inhabiting rivers and freshwater lakes, occasionally occurring on estuaries.

The River tern is a slender bird, about the size of a pigeon, with grey upper parts, black cap on the head, yellow beak, long pointed wings, a deeply-forked tail and short, yellow stubby legs. Both the sexes look alike. During the breeding season, February to May, it has a deep glossy black head and nape. The juveniles do not have the black markings but have grey, speckled upper parts. It is a resident breeder in the region, found along most of the inland rivers, and breeds on sandy islands. It spends a great portion of its time fishing. It predominantly feeds on fish, small crustaceans and insects. More likely to be sighted in flight than on the ground, it has a distinctive slightly jerky flight and flies in circling curves when fishing.

1. The nesting areas are vulnerable to flooding and predation. 2. Excessive human disturbance on sand-beds has also caused a decline in the population. 3. Construction of dams potentially poses threat to the species via changes in the flow regime and flooding of nest-sites.

The River lapwing occurs in the northern Indian Subcontinent and much of South-East Asia, including India. In India, it breeds in the parts of East and Central India, including Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and eastern Madhya Pradesh, and disperses in winter to larger areas.

The River lapwing grows to a length of 30 cm. It has a black forehead, crown and crest drooping over the back, sandy grey-brown above, black and white wings, black chin and throat that is bordered white, grey-brown breast band, white below with black patch on belly and a black spur at bend of the wing. Both the sexes are similarly plumaged; however, males are slightly larger than females. Inhabiting large rivers and lakes, it prefers wide, slow moving rivers with sand banks or gravel bars and islands. It also often visits riverine vegetable and fallow fields with low and sparse crops and sandy soil. It favours melon beds on sand banks as nesting sites, presumably due to the little shade provided by the low plants. Inhabiting large rivers and lakes, it prefers wide, slow moving rivers with sand banks or gravel bars and islands. It also often visits riverine vegetable and fallow fields with low and sparse crops and sandy soil. It favours melon beds on sand banks as nesting sites, presumably due to the little shade provided by the low plants.

1. Hunting and collection of eggs and chicks by people, dogs and corvids across its range. 2. Habitat degradation due to encroachment and excessive disturbance. It is threatened by the incidental disturbance caused by people, livestock and dogs. The multitude of hydroelectric dam projects on large rivers in its range, pose potentially serious threats as they might alter flow regimes