I get a good feeling on recollections, summarised here about Spoonbills in River Chambal and noted in our 1986 Study Report. Full report accessible at academia.edu.
In the 1986 preliminary report on Wetland Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary (R.K. Sharma & L.A.K. Singh), the details regarding the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) include:
- Status & Classification: Listed as a resident wetland species exhibiting seasonal fluctuation in numbers
. - Seasonality & Phenology:
- First Appearance: Recorded in the second half of January
. - Period of Abundance: Second half of March to the first half of April
. - Disappearance / Rarity: Recorded around the second half of June
.
- Maximum Group Size: Recorded up to 37 individuals in a single group
. - Preferred Localities ("Good Population" defined as $10+$ individuals):
- Tigri (210 km)
- Pureini (225–230 km)
- Devkapura (193 km)
- Barwasin (185 km)
- Nagar (175 km)
- Dang Basai (170 km)
- Survey Count Summaries:
- Pali to Rajghat (Feb 1985): 90 birds sighted (notably 65 in the Rahu ka Gaon to Batesura stretch and 25 from Pali to Gudla)
. - Pali to Rajghat (Feb 1986): 28 birds sighted (highest concentration of 11 between Batesura and Sarsaini)
. - Rajghat to Pachhnada (Jan 1984): 63 birds sighted (with counts across Pureini to Holapura, Holapura to Usedghat, Usedghat to Ater, and Ater to Barhi)
. - Rajghat to Pachhnada (Dec 1985): 95 birds sighted (predominantly 65 between Rajghat and Pureini)
. - Consolidated Annual Counts: Listed as 90 (Feb '85), 28 (Feb '86), 63 (Jan '84), 81 (Dec '84), and 95 (Dec '85)
.
