A new bird record of Oriental Darter (Suliformes: Anhingidae) in Bhutan: range expansion and plastic entanglement mortality

The Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, ranges from Pakistan to Indonesia and the Philippines. Although it occurs in adjacent India, it has not been recorded in Bhutan. The first observation was of a live bird in a novel habitat, and the second a carcass, which indicates a potential threat from plastic pollution, as the cause of mortality was entanglement in plastic trash. We recommend that biologists and others carefully observe the newly created lakes supporting hydroelectric production in Bhutan because they may be creating novel habitats for species in Bhutan, as well as fostering range expansion of species into Bhutan.