Bharatpur/Dholpur, June 1 -- 116 chicks of the endangered Indian Skimmer bird have hatched for the first time in Dholpur's National Chambal Sanctuary, officials said on Thursday. Conservation for Indian Skimmer is underway while such birds are listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Natural (IUCN) Red List. The bird's population is estimated to be around 3,000 in the country. 116 Indian Skimmer chicks have hatched from 164 eggs with protection by fencing and the deployment of volunteers to guard the nests, officials said. District Forest Officer Dr Ashish Vyas said that with the help of Dr Parveen Shaikh from Bombay Natural History Society, 47 nests have been located across three sites at the banks of the Chambal River and each nest contains 2 to 4 eggs. The nesting sites for the birds at the Chambal river were identified as Tighra, Guda, and Nagar Shabda. The eggs of birds are protected from jackals, stray dogs, and livestock. The chicks are learning to fly. Out of 3,000 birds, 1,000 birds are reportedly inhabiting the Chambal river. Birds arrive here in December and lay their eggs during the summer season then they migrate away from the area. Birds lay their eggs on the sand, The department protects their nests by fencing. It does not construct nests using grass or similar materials. Indian Skimmers like to inhabit the banks of rivers with clean and fresh water....