Although they are not classified as migratory birds, because they are native to south of Himalayan region and spread well into south as well as south east Asia, still in my neighbourhood lake painted storks will be visiting only in winters. Most common, still most beautiful of the storks, painted storks have been recently added to near threatened list because of there decreasing population. Their total number is estimated around 25 thousand.
This year to my pleasant surprise, the number of painted stork visiting this lake in eastern Delhi has dramatically increased. Earlier there used to be hardly a couple. But this season, when they arrived in mid of October, I spotted five of them (See: We are Back). And then suddenly… few days later I was thrilled to see a flock of almost thirty. Here are a few of them, busy in their favourite act- catching fish!