Assessment of nest and nesting activities of White-bellied Heron <Ardea insignis> Hume, 1878 (Aves: Ardeidae) in the broad-leaved forests of northeastern India

The discovery of White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis nesting in India in 2014 was a significant record since it was the second nesting report in India after one reported in Bhutan ‘dooars (= Terai)’ below Darjeeling. White-bellied Herons are known to build their nests in the riverine forests between 300 m and 1,500 m. The majority of the nesting records are from Chir Pine Pinus roxburghii forests of Bhutan. This article highlights heron’s nest site selection and nesting activities in the broadleaved forests in Arunachal Pradesh, India. During the study period (2013–2017) in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, two active nests of this species were recorded one in 2014 and another in 2015. Though both the nests failed without producing any offspring, the findings, shed crucial information, especially on how the herons select their nesting sites and nest trees and the risks involved in the process. These findings will help implement conservation actions especially while safeguarding the known nesting sites in India.