Birds of Sacred Groves of Northern Kerala, India

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15):Jyothi 8226–8236 & Nameer

Birds of sacred groves of northern Kerala, India

K.M. Jyothi 1 & P.O. Nameer 2 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) Short Communication Short ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 1,2 Centre for Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala 680656, India 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected] (corresponding author) OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: Sacred groves are patches of vegetation preserved due to Sacred groves are age old luxuriant patches of religious or cultural tradition. They are protected through spiritual vegetation preserved for deity (Gadgil & Vartak beliefs. Sacred groves provide an excellent abode to the biodiversity of the region where they are located. Scientific exploration of fauna 1974). They are protected through ‘social fencing’ from sacred groves of India is few and far between. The present study (Khumbongmayum et al. 2005), rather than any law was conducted to explore the bird diversity and abundance in 15 selected sacred groves of northern Kerala, eight from Kannur District imposed by government for the protection of forests. and seven from Kasargod District each. A total of 111 bird species It is believed that the cutting of trees or harming any were observed belonging to 49 families and 16 orders. The sacred animal in sacred groves leads to the wrath of the deity groves of northern Kerala support many of the ‘forest-birds’ such as the Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii, Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena (Gadgil & Vartak 1974; Dagal et al. 2007; Samati & Gogoi puella, Tickell’s Blue-flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae, Malabar Trogon 2007). Harpactes fasciatus, Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente, India is exceptionally rich in sacred groves with Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii, Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra, etc. The sacred groves of northern Kerala around 13,720 sacred groves spread across 19 States also support two endemic bird species of the Western Ghats, such (Malhotra et al. 2001). The state of Kerala harbours 1500 as the Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus and Rufous Babbler to 2000 sacred groves, the extent of which varies from Turdoides subrufa. Five species of raptors and four owl species were reported from the sacred groves of north Kerala during the present 0.004ha to >20ha (Menon 1997). Induchoodan (1998) study. The breeding of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle has been reported reported 361 sacred groves in Kerala having an area of at Edayilakadu Kavu, a sacred grove in Kasargod District. The sacred more than 0.02ha. Many small sacred groves have been groves of northern Kerala also supported 17 species of long distant migratory birds. Thazhe Kavu, recorded the Black-headed Ibis lost in recent years and no recent data are available to Threskiornis melanocephalus, a Near-Threatened bird according to assess their status. IUCN. Sacred groves are locally known as ‘kavu’ in Malayalam. Keywords: Bird community, endemism, line transect method, There are different terminologies associated with the migratory birds, point count, sacred groves, Western Ghats. kavu depending upon the deity being worshipped at different sacred groves. These include ‘Ayyappan Kavu’ where the deity is lord Ayyappan, ‘Bhagavathy Kavu’ where the deity is goddess Bhagavathy, ‘Muthappan Kavu’ if the deity is Muthappan, incarnation of Lord

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.2463.7.15.8226-8236 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3024A022-8718-410F-B143-408D61548F27

Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 December 2015 (online & print)

Manuscript details: Ms # o4018 | Received 02 July 2014 | Final received 05 June 2015 | Finally accepted 08 November 2015

Citation: Jyothi, K.M. & P.O. Nameer (2015). Birds of sacred groves of northern Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(15): 8226–8236; http://dx.doi. org/10.11609/jott.2463.7.15.8226-8236

Copyright: © Jyothi & Nameer 2015. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduc- tion and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

Funding: Kerala Agricultural University.

Conflict of Interest:The authors declare no competing interests

Acknowledgements: We thank Neelesh Dahanukar and George Tom for the help with the data analysis, Sreehari, R, who prepared the map used in this paper and the anonymous reviewers for their critical comments which greatly improved the manuscript. We also thank the Dean, College of Forestry for the encouragement and support and the Kerala Agricultural University for the financial support for the conduct of the study. We acknowledge field assistance and the other help rendered by Lakshmy,A., Renisha,J.M., Jayasooryan, Devika,V.S., Navya T Nambiar, Sreekumar, E.R., Abha Manohar K, and Parvathy Venugopal. Sneha, C. and Vishnu, R. helped us in identifying the tree species in the sacred groves. The assistance and the support of the local trackers are also greatly acknowledged. We also thank the villagers of the study locations in Kannur and Kasargode for their excellent hospitality and co-operation.

8226 Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer

Shiva, and if the deity is a serpent it is called ‘Sarpa ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚŝƐ Kavu’, ‘Naga Kavu’ or ‘Nagam’. There are also sacred ďŝƌĚĐŽƵŶƚǁĂƐƌĞƉĞĂƚĞĚŽŶĐĞĞǀĞƌǇƚǁŽŵŽŶƚŚƐĂƚĞĂĐŚ groves dedicated to spirits, demons or ancestors called ŽĨƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐĨŽƌƚǁŽǇĞĂƌƐĨƌŽŵDĂƌĐŚϮϬϭϮƚŽ ‘Yakshi Kavu’ (Malhotra et al. 2001). Sacred groves are ĞĐĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϯ͘ ŵĂŶĂŐĞĚĞŝƚŚĞƌďǇŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͕ŐƌŽƵƉƐŽĨĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ dŚĞ ďŝƌĚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚ ƵƐŝŶŐ ďŝŶŽĐƵůĂƌƐ ;ϭϬǆϱϬͿ Žƌ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚƵƚŽƌǇ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂŶĚĮĞůĚŐƵŝĚĞƐŽĨůŝΘZŝƉůĞǇ;ϭϵϴϳͿ͕'ƌŝŵŵĞƩĞƚĂů͘ ƚŚĞĞǀĂƐǁŽŵŽĂƌĚƐ;ŚĂŶĚƌĂƐŚĞŬĂƌĂΘ^ĂŶŬĂƌϭϵϵϴͿ͘ ;ϭϵϵϴͿ͕<ĂǌŵŝĞƌĐǌĂŬ;ϮϬϬϬͿ͕ĂŶĚZĂƐŵƵƐƐĞŶΘŶĚĞƌƚŽŶ (2012). ^ãçùÙÄDã«ÊÝ dŚĞƌĞůĂƟǀĞĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞŽĨďŝƌĚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐǁĞƌĞǁŽƌŬĞĚ ^ƚƵĚǇĂƌĞĂ ŽƵƚĨƌŽŵĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƌĂƚĞƐƉĞƌϭϬϬŚŽƵƌƐ͘^ŚĂŶŶŽŶŝŶĚĞǆ The ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƐƚƵĚǇ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϱ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ^ŝŵƉƐŽŶ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĞƌĞ ĐĂůĐƵƚĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŬŶŽǁ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ͕ĞŝŐŚƚŝŶ<ĂŶŶƵƌŝƐƚƌŝĐƚĂŶĚƐĞǀĞŶŝŶ<ĂƐĂƌŐŽĚ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐ͘ ŝƌĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŝƐƚƌŝĐƚŽĨŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ<ĞƌĂůĂ;&ŝŐ͘ϭͿ͘ categorised into resident (R), migratory (M), endemic ;Ϳ͕ĨŽƌĞƐƚĞĚŐĞ;&ͿĂŶĚĨŽƌĞƐƚŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ;&/ͿƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͘ DĞƚŚŽĚƐ ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ŬŶŽǁŶ ƚŽ ďƌĞĞĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ dŚĞƉŽŝŶƚĐŽƵŶƚŵĞƚŚŽĚĂƐǁĞůůĂƐƚŚĞůŝŶĞƚƌĂŶƐĞĐƚ <ĞƌĂůĂ͛ƐďŽƵŶĚĂƌŝĞƐ;ůŝϭϵϲϵ͖^ĂƐŚŝŬƵŵĂƌĞƚĂů͘ϮϬϭϭͿ͖ ŵĞƚŚŽĚƐǁĞƌĞƵƐĞĚĨŽƌƐƚƵĚǇŝŶŐƚŚĞďŝƌĚƐŝŶƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŵŝŐƌĂƚŽƌǇďŝƌĚƐĂƌĞŽŶĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞŶŽŶͲďƌĞĞĚŝŶŐǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ;ŝďďǇĞƚĂů͘ϭϵϵϮ͖^ĂƐŚŝŬƵŵĂƌϮϬϬϰͿ͘&ŽƌƐĂĐƌĞĚ ƚŽ<ĞƌĂůĂ͛ƐůŝŵŝƚƐ;'ƌŝŵŵĞƩΘ/ŶƐŬŝƉƉϮϬϬϱͿ͖ĞŶĚĞŵŝĐĂƌĞ ŐƌŽǀĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞůĞƐƐƚŚĂŶϯŚĂ;ƐŵĂůůͲƐŝǌĞĚƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐͿ ƚŚŽƐĞƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƚĞĚŝŶĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŶĨŶŝĞĚŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞƉŽŝŶƚĐŽƵŶƚŵĞƚŚŽĚǁĂƐƵƐĞĚ͕ǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞůŝŶĞƚƌĂŶƐĞĐƚ ƚŽƚŚĞtĞƐƚĞƌŶ'ŚĂƚƐ͖ĨŽƌĞƐƚĞĚŐĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐĂƌĞƚŚĞŽŶĞƐ ŵĞƚŚŽĚ ǁĂƐ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ƐƚƵĚǇ ƚŚĞ ďŝƌĚƐ ŝŶ ďŝŐŐĞƌ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƐĞĞŶŝŶĨŽƌĞƐƚĨƌŝŶŐĞƐĂŶĚĞĐŽƚŽŶĞƐ͖ǁŚŝůĞĨŽƌĞƐƚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ;хϯŚĂͿ͘KƵƚŽĨƚŚĞϭϱƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐƐƚƵĚŝĞĚ͕ĮǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞ ƉƌŝƐƟŶĞ ĨŽƌĞƐƚƐ ǁĞƌĞƐŵĂůůĂŶĚϭϬďŝŐ͘ ŽƌĂƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚĂƌĞĂŽĨƵŶĚŝƐƚƵƌďĞĚĨŽƌĞƐƚ;^ĂƐŚŝŬƵŵĂƌ ůů ƚŚĞ ďŝƌĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞƌĞ ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌĞĚ ;ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ϮϬϬϰͿ͘ ŝƌĚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ĂƐƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĨĞĞĚŝŶŐ ƚŚŽƐĞŚĞĂƌĚͿǁĞƌĞƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚĨŽƌƚŚƌĞĞŚŽƵƌƐĞĂĐŚĨƌŽŵ ŐƵŝůĚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĂĞƌŝĂů ;ZͿ͕ ĂƋƵĂƟĐ ;YͿ͕ ďĂƌŬ ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ Ϭϳ͗ϬϬʹϭϬ͗ϬϬ Śƌ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϱ͗ϬϬʹϭϴ͗ϬϬ Śƌ͘ dŚĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ĨĞĞĚĞƌƐ ;ZͿ͕ ĐĂŶŽƉǇ ŝŶƐĞĐƟǀŽƌĞƐ ;EͿ͕ ĐĂƌŶŝǀŽƌĞƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨďŝƌĚƐ͕ŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ;ZͿ͕ŐƌĂŶŝǀŽƌŽƵƐ;'ZͿ͕ĨƌƵŐŝǀŽƌĞƐ;&ZhͿ͕ŶĞĐƚĂƌŝǀŽƌĞͲ

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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236 ϴϮϮϳ Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer insectivores (NEC), omnivores (OMN), piscivores (PIS), (1926) and Madayi Kavu (1617). Bird species diversity terrestrial insectivores (TER), understory insectivores was more in Cheemeni Kavu with a Shannon index of (UND), modified after Raman et al. (1998) and Praveen 1.51 and a Simpson index of 0.96 (Table 2). While the & Nameer (2009). The whole two year long bird data bird species diversity was lower at Edayilekadu having per transect from the sacred groves of northern Kerala a Shannon index and Simpson index, 1.17 and 0.89 were uploaded into a web-based forum (www.ebird.org) respectively. The maximum species diversity that was for public access. found in Cheemeni Kavu may have been due to the undisturbed condition of the sacred grove. Results And Discussion Twenty-five percent of the birds of the sacred Species Diversity Analysis groves of northern Kerala, were forest birds. These A total of 107 bird species were observed belonging include Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra, to 48 families and 17 orders in 15 selected sacred Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus, Malabar Whistling- groves of Kannur and Kasargod districts of northern Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii, Grey Junglefowl Gallus Kerala (Tables 1 & 3). As for the taxonomic sequence sonneratii, Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella, Tickell’s and English /scientific names we follow the IOC’s World Blue-flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae, etc. (Ali 1969; Ripley Checklist version 4.3 (Gill & Donsker 2014). Highest 1982; Ali & Ripley 1987; Rasmussen & Anderton 2012). species richness was found in Cheemeni Kavu (55) However, in an earlier study on the birds of sacred groves followed by Verikkara Kavu (54) and Mapetachery Kavu Sashikumar (2004) reported the occurrence of 50% of (46), while the maximum individuals of birds were seen forest birds in the sacred groves of northern Kerala. at Thazhe Kavu (2237) followed by Mapetachery Kavu The sacred groves also support good populations of

Table 1. Study locations selected in northern Kerala

Aerial Distance Area of Name of the Altitude Neighbouring Co-ordinates from the reserve sacred Vegetation Water source sacred grove (m) vegetation forest (km) grove (ha) Evergreen with Rubber, banana, Kammadam Kavu 12018’41.0”N & Perennial 1 85 3.56 24.40 fresh water coconut and areca (Kasargod) 75018’55.8”E Stream myristica swamp nut plantations Bagavathi Kavu 12015’51.84”N & Semi-evergreen 2 8 16.50 1.92 Homesteads Well (Kasargod) 75008’11.8”E type Mannanpurath 12015’27.6”N & Semi-evergreen 3 8 17 2.80 Homesteads Pond Kavu (Kasargod) 75007’59.4”E type Cheemeni Kavu 12014’20.7”N & Semi-evergreen Paddy fields and 4 99 11.30 4 Pond (Kasargod) 75014’20.7”E type homesteads Mapetacheri Kavu 12012’04.3”N & Paddy fields, 5 17 18 4 Evergreen Pond (Kasargod) 75010’36.8”E Homesteads Karakka Kavu 12011’22.2”N & 6 19 20 3.05 Evergreen Homesteads Pond (Kasargod) 75010’00.8”E Kuduvakolangara 12011’45.88”N & 7 24 14 3.40 Semi evergreen Homesteads Well Kavu (Kasargod) 75013’03.24”E Rain-fed Verikkara Kavu 12011’08.6”N & Paddy field, rubber 8 20 17 4.40 Moist deciduous stream and (Kannur) 75013’36.0”E plantation Well Edayilekadu 12008’10.72”N & Paddy fields and 9 14 20 6.40 Evergreen Pond (Kasargod) 75009’23.88”E Homesteads Well and Madayi Kavu 12001’59.7”N & Homesteads and 10 43 35 1.6 Moist deciduous rain-fed (Kannur) 75015’46.5”E Grassland stream Edapara Kavu 11059’16.2”N & Cashew Plantation 11 16 11.30 2.80 Semi evergreen Well (Kannur) 75020’18.7”E and homesteads Neeliyar Kavu 11059’02.6”N 12 31 30 8.07 Evergreen Homesteads Wells (Kannur) 75021’53.1”E Thazhe Kavu 11057’54.6”N & Well and 13 3 38 7.52 Mangrove Paddy fields (Kannur) 75017’54.5”E pond Rubber plantation, Poongotu Kavu 11055’14.7”N & Fresh water Perennial 14 90 13 14.60 homesteads, paddy (Kannur) 75036’58.9”E myristica swamp Stream field Iriveri Kavu 11051’36.9”N & 15 42 18 2.12 Semi evergreen Homestead Pond (Kannur) 75028’39.4”E

8228 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236 Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer dĂďůĞϮ͘ŝƌĚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐĂŶĚĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇŝŶƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐŽĨŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ<ĞƌĂůĂ͘

ĂŵƉ DĂŶŶĂŶƉƵƌĂƚŚ <ĂǀƵ ŚĞĞŵĞŶŝ<ĂǀƵ DĂƉĞƚĂĐŚĞƌǇ <ĂǀƵ <ĂƌĂŬŬĂ<ĂǀƵ ĂŐĂǀĂƚŚǇ<ĂǀƵ ĚĂǇŝůĂ<ĂĚƵ <ĂŵŵĂĚĂŵ <ĂǀƵ DĂĚĂǇŝ<ĂǀƵ dŚĂǌŚĞ<ĂǀƵ ĚĂƉĂƌĂ<ĂǀƵ /ƌŝǀĞƌŝ<ĂǀƵ WŽŽŶŐŽƚƵ<ĂǀƵ EĞĞůŝǇĂƌ<ĂǀƵ sĞƌŝŬŬĂƌĂ<ĂǀƵ <ƵĚĂŬŽůĂŶŐĂƌĂ <ĂǀƵ

No of 35 55 46 40 23 31 44 43 42 36 36 36 32 54 37 Species ďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞ 1069 1926 1249 1464 866 1224 1236 1617 2237 1282 1200 827 1316 1738 1574 Shannon /ŶĚĞǆ;ůŽŐ 1.33 1.51 1.40 1.36 1.19 1.17 1.45 1.43 1.36 1.34 1.27 1.32 1.28 1.39 1.42 ďĂƐĞϭϬͿ Simpson 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.09 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.05 /ŶĚĞǆ;Ϳ Inverse Simpson 16.66 23.19 18.42 17.52 12.78 9.08 20.17 18.25 17.36 16.77 11.73 14.77 13.32 14.16 21.16 /ŶĚĞǆ;ϭͬͿ 'ŝŶŝ^ŝŵƉƐŽŶ 0.94 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.92 0.89 0.95 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.91 0.93 0.92 0.93 0.95 /ŶĚĞǆ;ϭͲͿ

ƚŚĞďŝƌĚƐŽĨƉƌĞǇďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐƚŽƚŚĞĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐĐĐŝƉƚƌŝĚĂĞ and Strigidae. Five species of raptors and four species ŽĨŽǁůƐǁĞƌĞƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚƵĚǇ͕ǁŚŝůĞ Sashikumar (2004) reported seven species of raptors ĂŶĚĮǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨŽǁůƐ͘ ĚĂǇŝůĞŬĂĚƵƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞĂĐƚĞĚĂƐƚŚĞŶĞƐƟŶŐƐŝƚĞĨŽƌ ƚŚĞtŚŝƚĞͲďĞůůŝĞĚ^ĞĂͲĂŐůĞ,ĂůŝĂĞĞƚƵƐůĞƵĐŽŐĂƐƚĞƌ, the ďƌĞĞĚŝŶŐŽĨǁŚŝĐŚǁĂƐƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂƌĞĂŝŶϮϬϬϬ ;WĂůŽƚϮϬϭϭͿ͕ĂŶĚŝƚŵĂǇďĞĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚĂƐĂŐŽŽĚƐŝŐŶ ƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐƐƉĞĐŝĞƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƚŽďƌĞĞĚĂƚƚŚŝƐƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞ ĞǀĞŶŶŽǁ͘EŽĐƚƵƌŶĂůďŝƌĚƐŽĨƉƌĞǇƐŝŐŚƚĞĚǁĞƌĞƌŽǁŶ &ŝƐŚͲKǁů ƵďŽ ǌĞǇůŽŶĞŶƐŝƐ͕ DŽƩůĞĚ tŽŽĚͲKǁů ^ƚƌŝǆ ŽĐĞůůĂƚĂ͕ ƌŽǁŶ tŽŽĚͲKǁů ^ƚƌŝǆ ůĞƉƚŽŐƌĂŵŵŝĐĂ and ^ƉŽƩĞĚKǁůĞƚƚŚĞŶĞďƌĂŵĂ͘^ĂƐŚŝŬƵŵĂƌ;ϮϬϬϰͿ͕Ğď &ŝŐƵƌĞϮ͘KǀĞƌĂůů&ĞĞĚŝŶŐŐƵŝůĚƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞŽĨďŝƌĚƐŝŶƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞ ĞƚĂů͘;ϭϵϵϳͿĂŶĚĞď;ϮϬϬϳͿŽƉŝŶĞĚƚŚĂƚƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐ ŽĨŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ<ĞƌĂůĂ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌƚŚĞƌŽŽƐƟŶŐĂŶĚŶĞƐƟŶŐŽĨŵĂŶǇ raptors. /ƚ ŝƐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƚŽ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ Ăůů ϭϱ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚŵŝŐƌĂƚŽƌǇďŝƌĚƐĂŶĚϭϯƐƉĞĐŝĞƐǁĞƌĞƐŝŐŚƚĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƐƚƵĚǇ ;dĂďůĞ ϯͿ͘ ^ĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚǁĞĚŝĚŶŽƚƐŝŐŚƚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚƵĚǇ͘dŚĞ ĂůƐŽ ŚĞůƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĞŶĚĞŵŝĐ ďŝƌĚƐ͖ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ĂůƐŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚ ďŝƌĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͘ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƐƚƵĚǇ ƚǁŽ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ĞŶĚĞŵŝĐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ dŚĞ dŚĂǌŚĞ <ĂǀƵ͕ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂĐŬͲŚĞĂĚĞĚ /ďŝƐ 'ŚĂƚƐǁĞƌĞŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ͘dŚĞDĂůĂďĂƌ'ƌĞǇ,ŽƌŶďŝůůǁĂƐ dŚƌĞƐŬŝŽƌŶŝƐ ŵĞůĂŶŽĐĞƉŚĂůƵƐ͕ Ă EĞĂƌͲdŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚ ďŝƌĚ sighted from Kammadam Kavu and Poongotu Kavu, ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽ/hEZĞĚ>ŝƐƚŽĨdŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚ^ƉĞĐŝĞƐ͘ ǁŚŝůĞZƵĨŽƵƐĂďďůĞƌƐǁĞƌĞĨŽƵŶĚĂƚ<ĂŵŵĂĚĂŵ<ĂǀƵ͕ <ƵĚƵǀĂŬŽůĂŶŐĂƌĂ<ĂǀƵĂŶĚsĞƌŝŬŬĂƌĂ<ĂǀƵ͘ &ĞĞĚŝŶŐŐƵŝůĚƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ^ĂƐŚŝŬƵŵĂƌ;ϮϬϬϰͿŚŽǁĞǀĞƌŚĂĚƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚĨŽƵƌƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ The overall feeding guild structure is given in Fig. 2 and ŽĨ ĞŶĚĞŵŝĐ ďŝƌĚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ŽĨ ŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ ƚŚĞĨĞĞĚŝŶŐŐƵŝůĚĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽĨƚŚĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐ <ĞƌĂůĂ͘ƉĂƌƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂďŽǀĞƚǁŽƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ŚĞƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĂƌĞŐŝǀĞŶŝŶ&ŝŐ͘Ϯ͘ĂŶŽƉǇŝŶƐĞĐƟǀŽƌĞƐĂŶĚĨƌƵŐŝǀŽƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞǇͲŚĞĂĚĞĚ ƵůďƵů WǇĐŶŽŶŽƚƵƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵŝŶĂŶƚ ĨĞĞĚŝŶŐ ŐƵŝůĚƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ Ϯϯй ƉƌŝŽĐĞƉŚĂůƵƐĂŶĚƚŚĞ^ŵĂůů^ƵŶďŝƌĚ>ĞƉƚŽĐŽŵĂŵŝŶŝŵĂ, ĂŶĚ Ϯϭй͕ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ǁŚŝůĞ KŵŶŝǀŽƌŽƵƐ͕ hŶĚĞƌƐƚŽƌĞǇ

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236 ϴϮϮϵ Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer

&ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͘&ĞĞĚŝŶŐŐƵŝůĚƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞŝŶƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐŽĨŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ<ĞƌĂůĂ

ĚĞƉĞŶĚĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŶĞĐƚĂƌŝǀŽƌŽƵƐͲŝŶƐĞĐƟǀŽƌŽƵƐ ĨĞĞĚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝŶ/ŶĚŝĂŶdŚĂƌĞƐĞƌƚ͘ƵƌƌĞŶƚ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ ŐƵŝůĚƐĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĞĚĨŽƌϭϰй͕ϭϯйĂŶĚϭϭйƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͘ ϵϯ;ϯͿ͗ϮϳϵʹϮϴϬ͘ Ğď͕͘;ϮϬϬϳͿ͘^ĂĐƌĞĚ'ƌŽǀĞƐŽĨtĞƐƚĞŶŐĂůů͗DŽĚĞůůŽĨŽŵŵƵŶŝŝƚǇ &ŽƌĞƐƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͘ hŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ >ŝǀĞůŝŚŽŽĚ /ŵƉĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ÊÄ½çÝ®ÊÄ WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚŽƌǇ &ŽƌĞƐƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ /ŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ /ŶĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ Nepal Working Paper No. 8, 1–37pp. ^ŽĐŝĂů ĨĞŶĐŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ Ğď͕͕͘<͘ĞƵƟΘ<͘͘DĂůŚŽƚƌĂ;ϭϵϵϳͿ͘^ĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƌĞůŝĐĂƐďŝƌĚ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶƚŽƚŚĞďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇŽĨƚŚĞůŽĐĂůŝƚǇ͖ƚŚĞǇŚĞůƉ refugia, ƵƌƌĞŶƚ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞϳϯ;ϭϬͿ͗ϮϳϵʹϮϴϬ͘ ŝŶƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐĚŝǀĞƌƐĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨďŝƌĚƐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƌĂƉƚŽƌƐ͕ 'ĂĚŐŝů͕ D͘ Θ s͘͘ sĂƌƚĂŬ ;ϭϵϳϰͿ͘ Sacred groves of India-a plea for ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘ ŽŵďĂǇ EĂƚƵƌĂů ,ŝƐƚŽƌǇ ^ŽĐŝĞƚǇ ϳϮ;ϮͿ͗ ŽǁůƐ͕ ĨŽƌĞƐƚ ďŝƌĚƐ͕ ĞŶĚĞŵŝĐ ďŝƌĚƐ͕ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚ ďŝƌĚƐ ĂƐ 313-320. ǁĞůůĂƐŵŝŐƌĂƚŽƌǇďŝƌĚƐ͘dŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐŽĨƚŚĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚƵĚǇ 'ŝůů͕&͘Θ͘ŽŶƐŬĞƌ;ĚƐ͘Ϳ;ϮϬϭϰͿ͘/KtŽƌůĚŝƌĚ>ŝƐƚ;ǀϰ͘ϯͿ͖ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬ ƚŚƵƐƐŝŐŶŝĮĞƐƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞŽĨƚŚĞƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐŝŶďŝƌĚ Ěǆ͘ĚŽŝ͘ŽƌŐͬϭϬ͘ϭϰϯϰϰͬ/K͘D>͘ϰ͘ϯ 'ƌŝŵŵĞƩ͕ Z͘ ͘ /ŶƐŬŝƉƉ Θ d͘ /ŶƐŬŝƉƉ ;ϭϵϵϴͿ͘ ŝƌĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐŵĂůů ƌĞƉŽƐŝƚŽƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ^ƵďĐŽŶƟŶĞŶƚ͘KǆĨŽƌĚhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇWƌĞƐƐ͕EĞǁĞůŚŝ͕ϴϴϴƉƉ͘ ƐŚŽƵůĚďĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĞĚĂƚĂŶǇĐŽƐƚ͘DĂŶǇŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƐĂĐƌĞĚ 'ƌŝŵŵĞƩ͕Z͘Θd͘/ŶƐŬŝƉƉ;ϮϬϬϱͿ͘ ŝƌĚƐŽĨ^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ/ŶĚŝĂ͘KŵďŽŽŬ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ĂƌĞ ƵŶĚĞƌ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚƌĞĂƚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů͕EĞǁĞůŚŝ͕ϮϰϬƉƉ͘ /ŶĚƵĐŚŽŽĚĂŶ͕E͘͘;ϭϵϵϴͿ͘ĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů^ƚƵĚŝĞƐŽĨƚŚĞ^ĂĐƌĞĚ'ƌŽǀĞƐŽĨ ĚƵŵƉŝŶŐ ŽĨ ǁĂƐƚĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉůĂƐƟĐ͕ ĞŶĐƌŽĂĐŚŵĞŶƚ͕ <ĞƌĂůĂ͘WŚdŚĞƐŝƐ͘ĞŶƚƌĂůhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕WŽŶĚŝĐŚĞƌƌǇ͘ ƉĞŽƉůĞĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞůǇƵƐŝŶŐƚŚĞƚƌĂŝůƐƉĂƐƐŝŶŐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞ <ĂǌŵŝĞƌĐǌĂŬ͕ <͘ ;ϮϬϬϬͿ͘ &ŝĞůĚ 'ƵŝĚĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŝƌĚƐ ŽĨ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ŐƌŽǀĞƐ ĂƐ ƐŚŽƌƚͲĐƵƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ^ƵďĐŽŶƟŶĞŶƚ͘,Ğůŵ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ>ƚĚ͕͘h͘<͘ <ŚƵŵďŽŶŐŵĂǇƵŵ͕͕͘D͘>͘<ŚĂŶΘZ͘^͘dƌŝƉĂƚŚŝ;ϮϬϬϱͿ͘ Survival and ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƋƵĂůŝƚǇ ĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟŽŶ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƵƌďĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚŽĨƐĞĞĚůŝŶŐƐŽĨĂĨĞǁƚƌĞĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝŶƚŚĞĨŽƵƌƐĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐ of the surrounding areas. Unless urgent steps are of Manipur, northeast, India. ƵƌƌĞŶƚ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞϴϴ;ϭϭͿ͗ϭϳϴϭʹϭϳϴϴ͘ DĂůŚŽƚƌĂ͕ <͕͘͘ z͘ 'ŽŬŚĂůĞ͕ ^͘ ŚĂƩĞƌũĞĞ Θ ^͘ ^ƌŝǀĂƐƚĂǀĂ ;ϮϬϬϭͿ͘ ƚĂŬĞŶƚŽǁĂƌĚƐƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƐĞĐƌƵĐŝĂůŝƐůĂŶĚ ƵůƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐŽĨ^ĂĐƌĞĚ'ƌŽǀĞƐŝŶ/ŶĚŝĂ. Indian ƌĞƉŽƐŝƚŽƌŝĞƐŽĨďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ͕ǁĞŵŝŐŚƚůŽƐĞƚŚĞŵŝŶƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů^ĐŝĞŶĐĞĐĂĚĞŵǇ͕EĞǁĞůŚŝĂŶĚ/ŶĚŝƌĂ'ĂŶĚŚŝZĂƐŚƚƌŝǇĂ near to medium-term future. This could also lead to DĂŶĂǀ^ĂŶŐƌĂŚĂůĂǇĂ͕ŚŽƉĂů͕ϭϲʹϭϳƉƉ͘ DĞŶŽŶ͕^͘s͘;ϭϵϵϳͿ͘^ĂĐƌĞĚŐƌŽǀĞƐ͕ƉƉ͘ϭϱϵʹϭϲϳ͘/Ŷ͗dŚĂŵƉŝ͕<͕͘E͘D͘ ƐŽĐŝŽͲĐƵůƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘ EĂǇĂƌ Θ '͘^͘ EĂŝƌ ;ĞĚƐ͘Ϳ͘ dŚĞ EĂƚƵƌĂů ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ŽĨ <ĞƌĂůĂ. World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Thiruvananthapuram, 567pp. WĂůŽƚ͕D͘:͘;ϮϬϭϭͿ͘^ƚĂƚƵƐĂŶĚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨtŚŝƚĞͲďĞůůŝĞĚ^ĞĂĂŐůĞ͕ Z¥ÙÄÝ ,ĂůŝĂĞĞƚƵƐůĞƵĐŽŐĂƐƚĞƌ;'ŵĞůŝŶͿŝŶ<ĞƌĂůĂ͕ƉƉ͘Ϯϲϳ͘/Ŷ͗ŚƵƉĂƚŚǇ͕^͕͘ ͘͘<͘WƌƵƐƚǇ͕,͘E͘<ƵŵĂƌĂ͕Z͘^͘͘:ĂǇĂƌĂũ͕'͘YƵĂĚƌŽƐΘW͘WƌĂŵŽĚ ůŝ͕^͘Θ͘^͘ZŝƉůĞǇ;ĞĚƐ͘Ϳ͘;ϭϵϴϳͿ͘ ŽŵƉĂĐƚŚĂŶĚďŽŽŬŽĨďŝƌĚƐŽĨ/ŶĚŝĂ ;ĞĚƐ͘Ϳ͘ ^ƚĂƚƵƐ ŽĨ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ŝƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘ WƌŽĐĞĞĚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ͘KǆĨŽƌĚhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇWƌĞƐƐ͕ϳϯϳƉƉ͘ ŽĨƚŚĞ&ŝƌƐƚ/ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞŽŶ/ŶĚŝĂŶKƌŶŝƚŚŽůŽŐǇ͕ϭϵʹϮϯ ůŝ͕^͘;ϭϵϲϵͿ͘ŝƌĚƐŽĨ<ĞƌĂůĂ͘KhW͕EĞǁĞůŚŝ͕ϰϬϰƉƉ͘ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ͕ ϮϬϭϭ͘ ^Ăůŝŵ ůŝ ĞŶƚƌĞ ĨŽƌ KƌŶŝƚŚŽůŽŐǇ ĂŶĚ EĂƚƵƌĂů ŝďďǇ͕͕͘E͘͘ƵƌŐĞƐƐΘ͘͘,ŝůů ;ϭϵϵϮͿ. ŝƌĚĞŶƐƵƐdĞĐŚŶŝƋƵĞƐ. The ,ŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ŽŝŵďĂƚŽƌĞ͕/ŶĚŝĂ͕ϯϬϭƉƉ͘ ƌŝƟƐŚƚƌƵƐƚĨŽƌŽƌŶŝƚŚŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚƚŚĞƌŽǇĂůƐŽĐŝĞƚǇĨŽƌƚŚĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ WƌĂǀĞĞŶ͕:͘ΘW͘K͘EĂŵĞĞƌ;ϮϬϬϵͿ͘DŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐďŝƌĚĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇŝŶtĞƐƚĞƌŶ ŽĨďŝƌĚƐ͕ϲϲʹϭϬϰƉƉ͘ 'ŚĂƚƐŽĨ<ĞƌĂůĂ͘ƵƌƌĞŶƚ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞϵϲ;ϭϬͿ͗ϭϯϵϬʹϭϯϵϱ͘ ŚĂŶĚƌĂƐŚĞŬĂƌĂ͕h͘D͘Θ^͘^ĂŶŬĂƌ;ϭϵϵϴͿ͘ĐŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ZĂŵĂŶ͕ d͘Z͘^͕͘ '͘^͘ ZĂǁĂƚ Θ ͘:͘d͘ :ŽŚŶƐŝŶŐŚ ;ϭϵϵϴͿ͘ Recovery of of sacred groves in Kerala, India, &ŽƌĞƐƚĐŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ dƌŽƉŝĐĂů ƌĂŝŶ ĨŽƌĞƐƚ ĂǀŝĨĂƵŶĂ ŝŶ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ϭϭϮ͗ϭϲϱʹϭϳϳ͘ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƐŚŝŌŝŶŐĐƵůƟǀĂƟŽŶŝŶDŝǌŽƌĂŵ͘EŽƌƚŚͲĞĂƐƚ/ŶĚŝĂ͘Journal ĂŐĂů͕,͘Z͕͘͘WĂůŝǁĂůΘE͘^͘^ŚĞŬŚĂǁĂƚ;ϮϬϬϳͿ͘KƌĂŶ͗ƐĂĐƌĞĚǁĂǇ ŽĨƉƉůŝĞĚĐŽůŽŐǇϮϱ͗ϮϭϰʹϮϯϭ͘

ϴϮϯϬ Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall 3 2 9 1 0 8 3 2 0 1 4 2 2 4 2 16 19 38 10 56 15 13 40 6 3 3 6 3 6 9 9 14 15 12 30 18 13 11 22 25 4 4 4 8 12 45 33 29 4 4 11 14 14 11 3 3 10 15 18 15 82 9 5 5 31 26 57 67 15 10 31 134 175 196 139 129 8 19 96 103 103 7 9 5 5 5 19 14 6 7 7 7 30 40 27 323 5 10 10 59 4 3 5 8 8 69 3 5 3 5 3 3 5 27 22 11 14 19 2 4 4 4 29 17 13 13 17

1 3

38 110 Status R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R M FI/R FE/R

Scientific name Scientific Galloperdix spadicea oscitans Anastomus Threskiornis melanocephalus Ardeola grayii Bubulcus ibis Zapornia fusca Zapornia Microcarbo niger Microcarbo Spilornis cheela Amaurornis phoenicurus indicus Vanellus hypoleucos Actitis Accipiter badius Accipiter Egretta garzetta Egretta Ardea intermedia Gallus sonneratii Ardea alba Ardea purpurea Milvus migrans Haliastur indus Haliastur Haliaeetus leucogaster Haliaeetus Galliformes/ Phasianidae Galliformes/ Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common Red Spurfowl Red Asian Openbill Pelecaniformes/Threskiornithidae Ibis Black-headed Heron Indian Pond Egret Cattle Ruddy-breasted Crake Ruddy-breasted Little Cormorant Eagle Serpent Crested Waterhen White-breasted Lapwing Red-wattled Common Sandpiper Shikra Charadriiformes/Scolopacidae Charadriiformes/Laridae Little Egret Intermediate Egret Intermediate Grey Junglefowl Grey Egret Great Pelecaniformes/Ardeidae Purple Heron Charadriiformes/Charadriidae Black Kite Brahminy Kite Brahminy Accipitriformes/Accipitridae Suliformes/Phalacrocoracidae Ciconiiformes/Ciconiidae White-bellied Sea Eagle White-bellied Gruiformes/Rallidae I 1 3 4 5 6 9 2 8 7 II X V III IX IV VI 18 11 12 17 19 20 13 10 14 15 16 VII VIII Table 3. Checklist and relative abundance of birds found in the sacred groves of northern Kerala of northern groves found in the sacred abundance of birds and relative 3. Checklist Table

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236 8231

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall 5 0 4 1 7 7 1 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 21 55 17 14 14 9 13 15 75 18 18 88 6 6 3 6 12 14 76 46 18 18 13 25 4 4 4 12 12 12 53 7 7 11 36 11 18 9 3 6 10 38 20 32 9 5 5 31 36 15 21 21 10 10 160 8 16 29 58 10 22 16 45 13 16 7 5 5 14 19 47 19 6 7 50 40 13 10 17 106 5 3 24 63 14 4 8 3 5 3 38 71 22 27 5 5 3 3 3 62 14 24 4 2 8 4 34 63 63 21 21 21

1 9 6 6 41 25 72 38 Status R R R R R R R R R R R R R R M M FI/ E/R FI/R FE/R FE/R FE/R Cacomantis sonneratii Cacomantis Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Phaenicophaeus scolopaceus Eudynamys Merops philippinus Merops

Scientific name Scientific Chlidonias hybrida Columba livia sinensis Centropus zeylonensis Ketupa Apus affinis fasciatus Harpactes Coracias benghalensis capensis Pelargopsis orientalis Merops griseus Ocyceros Streptopelia chinensis Streptopelia Halcyon smyrnensis Strix ocellata atthis Alcedo Strix leptogrammica brama Athene Chalcophaps indica Chalcophaps Banded Bay Cuckoo Banded Bay Blue-faced Malkoha Blue-faced Asian Koel Strigiformes/Strigidae Bucerotiformes/Bucerotidae Blue-tailed Bee-eater Blue-tailed Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common Whiskered Tern Whiskered Pigeon Rock Coucal Greater Fish Owl Brown Indian House Swift Malabar Trogon Indian Roller Kingfisher Stork-billed Bee-eater Green Hornbill Malabar Grey Coraciiformes/Alcedinidae Coraciiformes/Meropidae Columbiformes/Columbidae Spotted Dove Spotted Kingfisher White-throated Mottled Wood Owl Mottled Trogoniformes/Trogonidae Common Kingfisher Coraciiformes/Coraciidae Brown Wood Owl Wood Brown Owlet Spotted Emerald Dove Emerald Apodiformes/Apodidae Cuculiformes/Cuculidae XI 28 26 27 40 21 22 25 29 33 34 35 36 39 41 23 37 30 38 31 32 24 XII XV XIII XIX XVI XIV XVII XVIII

8232 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall 9 1 2 9 0 0 1 2 0 1 3 1 2 3 39 71 17 15 14 18 4 9 26 15 57 66 13 18 48 26 6 6 6 14 27 49 12 18 12 7 13 22 73 40 8 8 8 12 70 53 16 4 7 7 7 11 11 36 39 18 3 3 10 26 88 23 9 21 15 10 6 8 6 10 19 77 32 22 7 5 5 14 61 42 23 42 14 42 28 47 6 7 3 7 23 13 53 110 3 5 3 52 14 77 3 4 3 5 14 27 88 19 25 118 3 14 24 62 30 65 19 54 2 8 8 8 8 4 13 13 63 13 25 38 13 134 163

1 3 6 3 16 75 13 25 19 Status R R R R R R R R R R M M M FI/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/M Dicrurus leucophaeus Psilopogon haemacephalus

Scientific name Scientific Psilopogon viridis Hemicircus canente Loriculus vernalis brachyura Pitta fuscus Artamus Aegithina tiphia Lalage melanoptera Lanius cristatus Oriolus kundoo Dicrurus macrocercus Dinopium benghalense lucidus Chrysocolaptes brachyurus Micropternus Oriolus xanthornus Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Pericrocotus Psittacula krameri Psittacula Pericrocotus flammeus Pericrocotus Psittacula cyanocephala Psittacula Ashy Drongo Ashy Piciformes/Picidae Coppersmith Barbet Coppersmith Passeriformes/Campephagidae Psittaciformes/Psittacidae Passeriformes/Dicruridae Piciformes/Megalaimidae Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common White-cheeked Barbet White-cheeked Woodpecker Heart-spotted Hanging Parrot Vernal Indian Pitta Woodswallow Ashy Common Iora Cuckooshrike Black-headed Shrike Brown Indian Golden Oriole Black Drongo Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Golden-backed Lesser Golden-backed Greater Woodpecker Woodpecker Rufous Oriole Black-hooded Passeriformes/Aegithinidae Small Minivet Passeriformes/Artamidae Passeriformes/Pittidae Passeriformes/Oriolidae Rose-ringed Parakeet Rose-ringed Scarlet Minivet Scarlet Passeriformes/Laniidae Plum-headed Parakeet 61 43 42 44 48 51 52 53 54 57 58 60 45 46 47 59 55 49 56 50 XX XXI XXII XXV XXIII XXIX XXVI XXIV XXVII XXVIII

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236 8233

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall 2 0 0 6 0 0 9 2 0 1 64 70 25 59 12 12 21 23 23 30 119 4 15 62 70 62 18 57 26 13 75 193 3 9 6 14 55 55 30 18 39 125 319 7 4 7 13 33 44 98 55 36 18 11 73 22 247 102 8 4 4 12 12 20 16 37 33 61 139 7 4 11 32 25 21 61 18 57 136 257 9 10 32 26 23 50 15 79 23 108 146 9 5 10 15 31 10 10 129 206 8 6 6 6 6 6 26 16 39 13 42 13 19 77 80 253 5 7 9 98 23 19 37 70 19 14 108 6 7 7 23 23 13 100 5 3 56 10 77 105 4 5 3 33 77 16 19 137 113 143 3 3 3 5 24 35 98 11 14 41 122 8 2 8 8 4 46 46 42 75 29 17 121 188

1 3 9 3

88 50 28 53 19 116 Status R R R R R R R R R R R R M M M M M FI/R FE/R FE/R FE/R Corvus splendens Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus

Scientific name Scientific Dicrurus aeneus azurea Hypothymis vagabunda Dendrocitta Galerida malabarica gularis Pycnonotus melanicterus Hirundo rustica trochiloides Seicercus dumetorum Acrocephalus Prinia hodgsonii Terpsiphone paradisi Terpsiphone Pycnonotus jocosus Pycnonotus cafer Hirundo smithii Dicrurus paradiseus Pycnonotus luteolus Acritillas indica Prinia socialis Prinia inornata Orthotomus sutorius Orthotomus House Crow - Indian Jungle Crow Large-billed Passeriformes/Alaudidae Passeriformes/Monarchidae Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common Passeriformes/Pycnonotidae Bronzed Drongo Bronzed Monarch Black-naped Treepie Rufous Malabar Lark Bulbul - Flame- Black-crested throated Barn Swallow Warbler Leaf Greenish Warbler Blyth's Reed Prinia Grey-breasted Passeriformes/Acrocephalidae Indian Paradise-flycatcher Bulbul Red-whiskered Bulbul Red-vented Passeriformes/Hirundinidae Swallow Wire-tailed Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Racket-tailed Greater Passeriformes/Cisticolidae White-browed Bulbul White-browed Bulbul Yellow-browed Passeriformes/Phylloscopidae Ashy Prinia Ashy Passeriformes/Corvidae Passeriformes/Pellorneidae Plain Prinia Common Tailorbird 67 68 62 64 66 69 70 75 77 78 79 65 71 72 76 63 73 74 80 81 82 XXX XXXI XXXII XXXV XXXIII XXXVI XXXIV XXXVII XXXVIII

8234 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236

Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall 6 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 7 0 0 8 32 11 30 12 26 10 38 55 101 9 15 84 75 44 18 35 31 66 9 6 6 14 46 33 52 43 12 27 21 33 21 131 213 4 4 13 95 15 47 11 25 11 116 4 4 8 8 12 61 20 50 11 18 57 11 21 64 111 6 3 6 35 10 12 26 70 100 129 9 5 10 31 10 160 191 8 6 10 32 83 55 45 35 29 7 5 9 5 14 23 42 14 28 47 154 6 3 7 30 116 5 24 21 14 77 28 115 8 4 33 14 16 36 44 16 58 135 5 3 3 5 5 11 98 35 22 109 120 2 8 25 80 13 13 42 50 59 42 96 96

9 1 3 3 9 16 91 44 25 Status R R R R R R R R R M FE/ R/F R/E FI/R FI/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FE/R FI/M Cinnyris lotenius Cinnyris Cinnyris asiaticus Cinnyris Muscicapa muttui Muscicapa Leptocoma zeylonica Leptocoma

Scientific name Scientific Turdoides striata Turdoides Pellorneum ruficeps Pellorneum Argya subrufa Irena puella Gracula religiosa indica Geokichla citrina cyanota fulicatus Saxicoloides jerdoni Chloropsis erythrorhynchos Dicaeum Dicaeum concolor Dicaeum Cyornis tickelliae Acridotheres tristis Myophonus horsfieldii saularis Copsychus aurifrons Chloropsis Turdoides affinis Turdoides Sturnia malabarica Loten's Sunbird Loten's Purple Sunbird Brown-breasted Flycatcher Brown-breasted Purple-rumped Sunbird Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common Jungle Babbler Puff-throated Babbler Puff-throated Babbler Rufous Asian Fairy-bluebird Hill Myna - Southern Thrush - White- Orange-headed throated Indian Robin Leafbird Jerdon's Flowerpecker Pale-billed Plain Flowerpecker Passeriformes/Chloropseidae Passeriformes/Leiothrichidae Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Tickell's Common Myna Thrush Malabar Whistling Magpie Robin Oriental Leafbird Golden-fronted Passeriformes/ Sturnidae Passeriformes/Dicaeidae Passeriformes/Nectariniidae Yellow-billed Babbler Yellow-billed Passeriformes/Muscicapidae Chestnut-tailed Starling Chestnut-tailed Passeriformes/Irenidae Passeriformes/Turdidae XL 95 85 83 84 87 88 91 93 97 99 96 89 92 94 98 86 90 XLI XLV XLII 103 102 101 100 XLVI XLIII XLIV XXXIX

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Birds of northern Kerala sacred groves Jyothi & Nameer Overall Rasmussen, P.C. & J.C. Anderton (2012). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley 0 3 6 1 Guide. Vols. 1 & 2. Second Edition. National Museum of Natural 1381 History - Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University and Lynx Edicions, Washington, D.C. Michigan, Barcelona. 15 13 88 1582 Ripley, S.D. (ed.). (1982). A Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. 3 3 14 Samati, H. & R. Gogoi (2007). Sacred groves of Meghalaya. Current 1750 Science 93(10): 1338–1339. Sashikumar, C. (2004). A study on the habitat quality of the 13

1327 sacred groves of north Kerala with birds as indicators. THANAL, Conservation Action and Information Network L-14, Jawahar Nagar, 8

12 Kawdiar, Thiruvananthapuram-3. 831 Sashikumar, C., J. Praveen, M.J. Palot & P.O. Nameer (2011). Birds of Kerala: Status and Distribution. DC Books. Kottayam, India, 844pp. 7 11 1211

10 Threatened Taxa 1285 9 31 2237 8 1624 7 9 1240 6 1227 5 866 4 1480 3 14 1285 2 8 1976 1

1078 Status R R R FI/R Arachnothera longirostra Lonchura striata maderaspatensis Motacilla Anthus rufulus Anthus

Scientific name Scientific Total Little Spiderhunter Munia White-rumped Wagtail White-browed Paddyfield Pipit Paddyfield Order/Family/Common name Order/Family/Common Passeriformes/Estrildidae Passeriformes/Motacillidae 104 105 106 107 XLVII XLVIII 1 - Mannanpurath Kavu; 2 - Cheemeni Kavu; 3 - Mapetachery Kavu; 4 - Karakka Kavu; 5 - Bagavathy Kavu; 6 - EdayilaKadu; 7 - Kammadam Kavu; 8 - Madayi Kavu; 9 - Thazhe Kavu; 10 - Edapara Kavu; 11 - Iriveri Kavu; Kavu; 11 - Iriveri Kavu; 10 - Edapara 9 - Thazhe Kavu; Kavu; 8 - Madayi Kavu; 7 - Kammadam 6 - EdayilaKadu; Kavu; 5 - Bagavathy Kavu; 4 - Karakka Kavu; 3 - Mapetachery 2 - Cheemeni Kavu; Kavu; 1 - Mannanpurath Kavu. 15 - Kudakolangara Kavu; 14 - Verikkara Kavu; 13 - Neeliyar Kavu; 12 - Poongotu birds. edge FE - Forest birds; interior FI - Forest E - Endemic birds; birds; M - Migratory birds; R - Resident

8236 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2015 | 7(15): 8226–8236