PHOTO: NOBLE CHAKMA

A flash of electric blue breaks the quiet of the morning as an Indian roller returns to its nest with an insect firmly in its beak for its hungry chick. These master acrobats of the sky earn their name from the dramatic rolling dives performed during courtship. Locally known as the “Neelkanth”, these birds are revered as harbingers of good fortune and renewal. The species is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent and commonly spotted in open fields and agricultural landscapes. Last year, the Indian roller was categorised as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List, with urbanisation and increased pesticide use attributed to the steady decline in its numbers. The photo was taken in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar.