Jodhpur, Jan. 3 -- Researchers in Jodhpur have recorded the first breeding of the Black-necked Stork (BNS) in southern Rajasthan, marking a significant avian milestone. The event was observed at Sarjana Dam in the Vallabhnagar area of Udaipur district, making it only the second known breeding site of the species in the state. The observations were made in January 2025, according to a study paper recently published in the international journal Munis Entomology & Zoology. The Black-necked Stork, a globally near-threatened species and a solitary nester, is typically found near lakes, pools, freshwater marshes, rivers, agricultural fields (rice, wheat, and inundated fallows), irrigation canals, and occasionally mangroves, but rarely in coastal mudflats. Narayan Lal Choudhary, Assistant Professor in the Zoology Department at Adarsh College, Jodhpur, said, "We observed a nest of the Black-necked Stork on the top of a Vachellia nilotica (desi babool) tree in Sarjana Dam. We visited the site in the first week of January 2025. It is a man-made dam, and several desi babool (Vachellia nilotica) trees stood in the water, providing excellent roosting sites for the Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, and Asian Openbill Stork during the day, and nesting grounds for the BNS. The nest was located on the top canopy, about 6-7 metres above the water surface. Only a few shrubs grew nearby, with no large trees around." He added, "We observed one nestling in the nest along with one parent bird. One bird always sat on the nest with the nestling, possibly to protect it from predators, while the other returned with food. After feeding, it flew away. This feeding process continued for some time before the parents switched roles. During our second visit, we saw the nestling had grown slightly and developed feathers on parts of its body, except the head and neck. Occasionally, it raised its head. The abundance of fish in the dam attracted BNS and other fish-eating birds. However, fishing nets and high-tension power lines near the site pose serious threats to these species." Choudhary noted that earlier, breeding of the Black-necked Stork in Rajasthan had been recorded only at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur. He added that published breeding records of the species also exist from Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. National Park in Bharatpur. He added that a few published breeding records of the species are also available from Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh....