Slaty breasted rail: Freshwater species at home in Rajasthan?

By Rosamma Thomas*

Kishan Meena lives on the edges of Lake Chandlai, about 30 km from Rajasthan capital Jaipur. He is well known to wildlife and nature enthusiasts, since he spends much time outdoors, on the fringes of the lake, taking note of the large number of birds that arrive at the lake or breed there. When he sets eyes on a bird he has not seen before, he alerts other birder friends and sets about learning more about his new acquaintance.

On June 10, 2024, as he was out near the lake, he found a bird that he knew was not a common visitor to his state – the Slaty breasted Rail (Lewinia striata), with its slate-grey neck and foreneck, and a bright red beak.

This reporter had never laid eyes on this Rail before. So she too went on the internet to see what she could find, and discovered that the May 18, 2024 volume of journal Indian Birds had recorded a sighting of this bird in Barmer in November 2022. The journal noted that this was the first photographic record of the bird in Rajasthan. The distribution of this bird is along eastern Uttarakhand and eastern Nepal and Arunachal Pradesh, central and peninsular India and even into Sri Lanka.

Its large range area and healthy population numbers have caused the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to list it as a species that is of LC (least concern) category. However, rapid climate change and shrinking freshwater pose threats not just to this species, but all life. And if the species is now extending beyond the area earlier listed as its range, it is a matter worth scientific investigation.

Kishan Meena is quick to disseminate information about any new developments at Chandlai Lake to local reporters – and sometimes even reporters a thousand km away, as in the case of this writer. He specializes in just the area near his own home, the 20 sq km Chandlai Lake.

For many years, he has also been fine-tuning his photography equipment, and now has a collection of advanced lenses and other photography equipment to capture birds with great attention to detail. His photographs help to make identification of birds accurate.

Meena, however, is not a man with a job or a regular income. There are wildlife enthusiasts who help in his work, and he makes a living offering visitors to the lake information about the birds and their habits. With no government or other support, Meena continues to document the birds at Chandlai, working with dedication and enthusiasm, and finding the work itself sufficient reward.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Delhi Jal Board under fire as CAG finds 55% groundwater unfit for consumption

By A Representative A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audit report tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 7 January 2026 has revealed alarming lapses in the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), raising serious public health concerns for residents of the capital.

Zhou Enlai: The enigmatic premier who stabilized chaos—at what cost?

By Harsh Thakor* Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution.

Advocacy group decries 'hyper-centralization' as States’ share of health funds plummets

By A Representative In a major pre-budget mobilization, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), India’s leading public health advocacy network, has issued a sharp critique of the Union government’s health spending and demanded a doubling of the health budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

'Threat to farmers’ rights': New seeds Bill sparks fears of rising corporate control

By Bharat Dogra As debate intensifies over a new seeds bill, groups working on farmers’ seed rights, seed sovereignty and rural self-reliance have raised serious concerns about the proposed legislation. To understand these anxieties, it is important to recognise a global trend: growing control of the seed sector by a handful of multinational companies. This trend risks extending corporate dominance across food and farming systems, jeopardising the livelihoods and rights of small farmers and raising serious ecological and health concerns. The pending bill must be assessed within this broader context.

Climate advocates face scrutiny as India expands coal dependence

By A Representative The National Alliance for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ) has strongly criticized what it described as coercive actions against climate activists Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht, following enforcement raids reportedly carried out on the basis of alleged violations of foreign exchange regulations and intelligence inputs.

A balancing act? Global power rivalry over Iran challenges India’s foreign policy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* A stable Iran is clearly in India’s interest. While US President Donald Trump has so far avoided a direct attack, the situation remains deeply uncertain. The central problem is that few governments take Trump’s words at face value. His actions have revealed a clear pattern: Washington targets adversaries even while pretending to negotiate with them.

Search This Blog