Exotic wood duck, pheasant successfully breed, lay eggs; hatching awaited

Though the development brings a smile on the faces for UT forest and wildlife officers, a sense of nervousness also prevails, as they await the successful hatching of the eggs.

At least 12 eggs were picked and put in the incubator for the artificial hatching. (Express Photo)

AFTER THE successful breeding of the exotic budgerigars, pairs of wood ducks, golden pheasants, and yellow golden pheasants were successfully paired and laid eggs at walk-through aviary at Nagar Van.

Though the development brings a smile on the faces for UT forest and wildlife officers, a sense of nervousness also prevails, as they await the successful hatching of the eggs.

At least 12 eggs were picked and put in the incubator for the artificial hatching. The eggs were shifted to the incubator for hatching as some were destroyed by the pairs – an expected process during the course of hatching.

Mid-March to mid-April is the ideal mating period for wood ducks, while and April to June is the season for the pheasants. In December last year, a pair of budgerigars successfully bred and hatched.

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“Pairs of two exotic species – wood duck and pheasant – were successfully paired and laid eggs in the Bird Park. We are excited and eager to see the hatching of chicks out of these eggs. As the pairs had damaged some of the eggs, we picked a dozen eggs of both species and put these in an incubator for artificial hatching. We left many eggs with the pairs for natural hatching. The eggs were picked in a scientific way. The hatching of these exotic birds in natural and artificial processes in captivity is a subject of research and test for us. The eggs were shifted to the incubator in the guidance of experts,” Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forest, UT, said.

The incubation period of a wood duck ranges from 28 to 32 days. The incubation period of pheasants is 22 to 23 days. Both the species lay around 8 to 12 eggs in one go.

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There are a total of 840 exotic birds kept in the aviary including blue, yellow, red and green macaws, rainbow lorikeet, swainson’s lorikeet, sun parakeet, jandaya parakeet, etc. These birds belong to at least 45 bird species.

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The aviary was inaugurated by the First Lady Savita Kovind on November 16, last year. The aviary is among a few walk-through aviaries in India. Monday and Tuesday were selected for keeping the aviary shut for necessary maintenance. The aviary’s timing was also extended for entry till 6 pm for summer season. The entry time is 10am.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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