The Narcondam hornbill is found only on its namesake island, which is the easternmost land body of India. The Narcondam island is also home to a dormant volcano, about 262 km to the northeast of Port Blair. Isolated in the middle of the sea, it houses a population of 400-500 Narcondam hornbills, and I visited them in March, during their nesting time. The male and the female of the species have very distinct plumage. After the mating season, the female locks herself up in the cavity of an evergreen tree, sealing it except for the space required to put her beak out. It is the male’s duty to feed her and their children during the nesting period, and every 45 minutes to two hours he brings her a variety of food items — ranging from wild fruits to insects such as grasshoppers and praying mantis that are available on the island. The hornbill population remains threatened ever since the government okayed the construction of a surveillance radar on the island, ignoring protests from wildlife lovers and enthusiasts all over the world.
Dhritiman Mukherjeeis a Kolkata-based wildlife photographer