First nesting record of Western Reef-Heron Egretta gularis (Bosc, 1792) on the South-Western Indian coast

The Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis) is a predominantly coastal-breeding bird species, with its breeding grounds primarily observed in Gujarat, India. The study presents a noteworthy observation, as for the first time, the nesting of Western Reef Egret is reported from the southwest coast of India. Regular heronry surveys across various regions of India have contributed significantly to our understanding of water bird nesting patterns. The nesting of Western Reef Egrets on trees within an urban multi-species heronry, situated amid a densely populated human settlement is documented. The white morph was observed in the heronry, where the pair laid three eggs and left the nest with the three white morph hatchlings eventually. This report highlights an unusual nesting behaviour of Western Reef Egrets in an urban setting, emphasizing the importance of such unique habitats for bird conservation efforts.