Why in news?

• Recent citizen-science data from Visakhapatnam suggests that Indian Pond Herons, along with cattle egrets, may be undertaking regular seasonal journeys along the East coast of India.
• This new evidence revives a 30-year-old mystery about their migratory patterns, particularly data previously collected from Chennai. 

About

• Also known as the paddybird or Ardeola grayii
• Widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, including southern Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and surrounding islands. 
• Identifiable by its brownish buff and streaked plumage on the head and neck
• It is usually around 45 cm in length.
• Classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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