Stork –A newsletter for NCSN members. Nature Conservation Society of Nashik (NCSN) Address : Vihang, Survey no. 325/4, Moon farm, behind Fravashi International Academy, Dugaon, Nashik-422203 Mobile : 9422272059 Email : [email protected] Visit us at : www.ncsn.org.in

Volume : 66- May -2018

Vultures breeding well at Karvi cha Dongar- Trimbak range, Nashik

Juvenile Adult

Adult pair Juvenile Vulture trying to fly 1 | P a g e

Adult Long-billed Vultures seen soaring high near nesting cliffs

Juvenile Vulture taking its first flight

Laggar Falcon (breeding in the same area) Egyptian Vulture (breeding in the same area)

2 | P a g e

Vulture nesting site - Karvi cha Dongar

Survey was conducted at Karvi cha Dongar to monitor Vulture nesting. NCSN members Mr. B. Raha, Aadit, Anuj and Forest Department staff Mr. Nimberkar, Mr. Bokade conducted the survey on 20th May, 2018. There were total of 30 juveniles of Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) on the nests of the cliff shown above. The nesting site was also shared by a pair of Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger).

Nashik sees a rise in Vultures after a catastrophic decline in their numbers by more than 99%. Diclofenac, a painkilling drug administered to cattle, was the culprit. The decline prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to put vultures on its list of ‘critically endangered’ species. The increase in vulture numbers offered signs of hope for the critically once believed to be close to extinction.

3 | P a g e

Need in conserving Forest Owlet

Forest Owlet photographed on 19th May, 2018 by Mr. B.Raha

Introduction

The Forest Owlet ( blewitti) was known from just seven specimens, collected from four sites in central from 1872 to 1884. For the next 113 years there were no genuine records of the species. Several unsuccessful searches for the were made in recent years, including by Sálim Ali, S. Dillon Ripley and colleagues. A number of ornithologists considered the species possibly extinct (Rasmussen and Collar 1998 historical review). One hundred and thirteen years after the last genuine record, the Forest Owlet was rediscovered in low foothills dry-deciduous forest north of Shahada, , India by B.F. King and P.C. Rasmussen on 25th November, 1997.The species can be identified as follows, 23 cm long and typical owlet with rather plain crown and heavily banded wings and tail. Dark grey-brown crown and nape, faintly spotted white. Broadly banded, blackish-brown and white wings and tail, with a broad white tail-tip. Dark brown breast with broad, prominent barring on flanks. Rest of underparts are white. It has more distinct spotting on crown and nape, a prominent white nuchal collar, and lacks broadly banded tail. Voice Territorial call is rather loud, mellow uwww or uh-wuwww. Calls include hissing shreeee or kheek and repeated kwaak notes, rising and falling in pitch. It appears to be a sedentary resident with recent sightings from fairly open dry deciduous forest dominated by (Tectona grandis). It was rediscovered at 460 m and other known locations are at 400-700 m. It appears to be quite strongly diurnal and fairly easy to detect, frequently perching on prominent bare branches. , small rodents, nestlings of other , grasshoppers, and caterpillars are all prey items which are often cached in hollow tree trunks. It breeds between October and May, laying a brood of two eggs.

4 | P a g e

Status of Forest Owlet in India-Maharashtra-Nashik

Athene blewitti is endemic to central India. This species belongs to the typical family, Strigidae. It is known from a small number of localities and the populations are very low within the fragmented and shrinking forests of central India, leaving the species critically endangered. The population is estimated to number 50-249 mature individuals based on the number of records from known sites from north- western Maharashtra and south-east . On 10 December 2016, in forests of, Trimbak Taluka of Nashik District, Forest Owlet was spotted by Bishwarup Raha, Rahul Gadgil & Shobha Bhoye of Nature Conservation society of Nashik at 10.00 hours. The forest of Trimbak comprise tall tree species such as, Sadada -Terminilia tomentosa, Mahua – Madhuca indica, Mango – Mangifera indica, Bombax insignia, Pangara -Erythrina species, among other trees, shrubs, and grasses. The Nature Conservation Society of Nashik, along with the forest department, has been conducting surveys of forest birds, in this area, for the past two decade, besides advocating wildlife conservation in the surrounding villages of Waghera, Chinchwad, and Harsul—especially in discouraging the use of catapults to kill birds. This is the first record of this Critically Endangered owlet from Nashik District. However, this is not unexpected, as Nashik lies within its known current range and the current site lies 90 km south-westward of , and 65 km north-eastward of Tansa WLS, Maharashtra, almost in a straight line between these sites, and our record now fills this gap of 150 km. This new found population of Forest Owlet comes as a new hope for this species. The Owlet is regularly seen since it was first sighted, we have noted it at least once or twice a month.

This small sized owlet has been placed among the top seventeen birds in the world that are in the endangered category. The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared it as a Critically Endangered species owing to its small and declining population. The surveys in suitable habitat between central India and western Maharashtra may provide a better understanding of the distribution and population of this species in the future. Being on the verge of extinction, the Forest Owlet is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, and its hunting or trapping is prohibited in India. It is also listed on CITES Appendix I and II. NCSN is trying to add legal status to the area where Forest Owlet is resident. We have sent the proposal to Forest Department to declare Harsul as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.

5 | P a g e

Activities of the month

Date Activities 8/5/2018 Bird Survey at Trimbak range 9/5/2018 Bird survey at Borgad Conservation Reserve 12/5/2018 Bird Survey at Trimbak range 20/5/2018 Vulture Survey at Trimbak range 22/5/2018 Celebration of International Biodiversity Day with Forest Department 25/5/2018 Bird Survey at Trimbak range 27/5/2018 Bird survey at Borgad Conservation Reserve 29/5/2018 Bird Survey at Trimbak range

Bird Survey at Trimbak Range

Date: 8thMay, 2018 Time: 7am to 11 am Weather: Sunny Area: Harsul Ghat Observers: Mr. B. Raha, Pratiksha Kothule, Prasad Gaidhani, Aadit, Anuj, Mr. Shirsat

Sr. No. Name Activity Status 1 Yellow-eyed Babbler Calling and moving in undergrowth Resident 2 Small Minivet Calling Resident 3 Alpine Swift Soaring Resident 4 Yellow-throated Sparrow Calling and perching on Sadada Resident 5 Jungle Crow Calling Resident 6 AsialKoel Calling Resident 7 Red-whiskered Bulbul Feeding on Dhaman fruits Resident 8 Vigors Sunbird Taking nectar Resident 9 Common Iora Male seen in breeding plumage & calling Resident 10 Yellow footed Green Pigeon Calling and feeding on Payar fruits Resident 11 Indian Yellow Tit Calling and moving in lower branches Resident 12 Red-whiskered Bulbul Feeding on Dhaman fruits Resident 13 Shikra Soaring Resident 14 Southern Coucal Calling Resident 15 Jerdons Leafbird Calling Resident 16 White-bellied Drongo 3 individuals seen very vocal Resident 17 Puff-throated Babbler Calling Resident 18 Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Calling and perching on lower branch Resident 19 Orange Headed Thrush Calling and perching on Peepal tree Migratory 20 Honey Buzzard Soaring Resident 21 Tawny-bellied Babbler Calling Resident 22 Coppersmith Barbet Calling Resident 23 Ashy Prinia Calling and moving in lower branches Resident 24 Orange Minivet Perching Resident 25 Grey-breasted Prinia Calling Resident 26 Scimitar Babbler calling Resident 27 Red Spurfowl 1 male & 2 female walking on forest Resident floor

6 | P a g e

Sightings at forest of Trimbak, Nashik

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) Orange Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola) -feeding on fruits of Ficus exasperata

Indian Yellow Tit (Machlolophus aplonotus) Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)

Yellow-cronwned Woodpecker (Leiopicus mahrattensis) Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) – breeding plumage

7 | P a g e

Common Wanderer (Pareronia valeria) Land Crab

Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus glomerata)- fruiting Kuda (Holarrhena antidysentrica)- flowering

Indian Coral Tree (Erythrina indica) Mango Tree (Mangifera indica)- fruiting -seeds ready for dispersal

Indian palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) Gray Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus)

8 | P a g e

Arrival of Summer Migrants

Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina)

Indian Blackbird (Turdus simillimus)

Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii)

These birds locally migrate during pre-monsoon to the forest patches of Nashik for breeding.

9 | P a g e

Sightings at Borgad Conservation Reserve

Shaheen Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator)

Crested Bunting (Melophus lathami) - male

10 | P a g e

Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)

Bahava (Cassia fistula) - flowering Karvand (Carissa carandas) - fruiting

11 | P a g e

Urban Biodiversity

Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) sighted and photographed at R.Y.K. college

A fight between two Garden Lizards (Calotes versicolor) photographed at Vihang

Calotes, genus of arboreal (tree-dwelling) lizards of the family Agamidae, significantly known for their extreme camouflaging color change. It is found in gardens and forests of India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands. These lizards range in total length from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches), and their diet is made up of insects and other small . They shows agonistic behaviors when it comes to their right for resources like food or mating partner. During territorial fights and courtship, males of C. versicolor display their orange dewlap and a crest along the back.

12 | P a g e

Happy Moments

NCSN members attending Mr. Shirsat's (forest guard) daughter wedding at Vani

Team NCSN Mr. B. Raha, Pratiksha, Aadit and Anuj overlooking Harsul Ghat

13 | P a g e

Mr. B. Raha with local children of Harsul

NCSN is happy to inform you the joining of Prasad Gaidhani as Field Officer. He has completed M.Sc. Zoology from R.Y.K. college. He is working with NGO called Apla Parvavaran for last 7 years as a volunteer, where he is involved in forestry plantation and urban afforestation drive. He also works with Mrs. Jui Pethe for Biodiversity Conservation Project at Anjaneri, where he contributes in Sensitization, capacity building and mobilization of local communities for promoting conservation. Data collection for participatory studies along with mapping, house to house survey about forest dependence. His work for NCSN will cover activities like field survey, data collection and school activities for nature awareness.

Contents & Photographs: Mr. B. Raha, Pratiksha Kothule and Prasad Gaidhani

Newsletter designed and edited by: Pratiksha Kothule

14 | P a g e