READY FOR TAKE-OFF … A lesser adjutant spotted in the Sundarbans. This visually overwhelming yet harmless bird prefers hunting on land, which is why it’s often found around large rivers and lakes inside well-wooded areas and also in freshwater and coastal wetlands from India through Southeast Asia. However, like other waterbirds, lesser adjutant populations appear to be greatly at risk due to hunting and habitat destruction, prompting the IUCN to put them in the “Vulnerable” category of its Red List.
PHOTO: TIMU HOSSAIN
