Black-tailed Godwit

Description:

A large long-legged wader with a long neck and long, straight and pink-based bill. The adult measures some 40 cm in length, from the tip of the bill to the tail, a double of that in wingspan. Presented here are winter plumage - in this stage, sexes are similar in colors - plain brown back, with brownish chest and neck, and whitish abdomen, and dark green or black legs. Tail completely dark, plain black or brown (important difference from Bar-tailed Godwit). More impressive is breeding attire, when the bird acquire chestnut colored plumage on chest and neck.

Habitat:

Seen at his wintering range - on shores of lake Turkana, flocking with many other shore (and other) birds. Seen here with Greenshank (photo 1), Ruff (photos 3 to 6) and Sacred Ibis (photo 3). Lake Turkana is saline desert lake, a biggest water mass of Rift valley lake system. Here, there are some sandy shores and sparse shrubby arid-areas vegetation.

Notes:

As explained, lake Turkana is saline desert lake and a biggest water mass of Rift valley lake system. Currently, this lake is in danger - over the past decade, Ethiopia has embarked on a massive plan which includes constructing dams, developing water-intensive irrigated cotton and sugar plantations, and irrigation canals and other infrastructure in Ethiopia’s Omo River Basin. These developments are predicted to dramatically reduce the water supply of Lake Turkana, as Omo River provides 90 percent of the water in it. Dramatic reductions in freshwater input from the Omo River into Lake Turkana will increase levels of salinity in the lake and raise water temperatures, decimating fish breeding areas and mature fish populations. Higher air temperatures will increase rates of evaporation, further increasing salinity while reducing biological productivity... which would later on influence the entire ecological system. .