Sponsorship darter
Darters (also called snakebirds) are water birds and close relatives of cormorants. They owe their name to their long necks, which they use to hunt fish. The species living in Asia is known as the Oriental darter and is classified as potentially endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). During the breeding season, Oriental darters can be found in the mangrove forests of Indonesia.
With your annual contribution of CHF 240, you can help ensure that darters find a safe place in the mangroves of Central Java to care for their offspring.
If you pay your sponsorship contribution by bank transfer or payment slip, please enter “Darter sponsorship” as the payment reference.
Darter facts
- Habitat: Tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa, Asia, and Australia
- Size: Body length up to 100 cm, wingspan up to 130 cm
- Number of species: Four species worldwide
- Special feature: Their plumage is not completely waterproof, which allows them to dive better because they have less buoyancy. After diving, they dry themselves in the sun with their wings spread out – a characteristic behavior of darters.
- Movement: While the species is partially migratory in America, the Oriental darter is considered a resident bird. It remains in its territory throughout the year.
- Food: Fish and small aquatic animals
- Ecological significance: The droppings of darters are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. This promotes the growth of certain plant species and contributes to nutrient enrichment in the otherwise nutrient-poor mangrove soil.