One of the reasons for the trip on the Chambal River was that we would have a chance to see Indian skimmers. And at a good distance upriver we spotted a flock on a sand bank. We approached it cautiously with the boat, but eventually we got too close and they took off. Then they zigzagged across the river a couple of times before disappearing. Like other skimmers , the Indian skimmer has a distinctly longer lower bill half than the upper, an adaptation to its special way of catching fish by having the lower bill half skimming the surface of the water while flying. The species is unfortunately classified as "critically endangered" by the IUCN and a research project is underway right here on the Chambal River to try to save the species.