Indian Birds
Vol. 1 No. 2 March - April 2005
Newsletter for Ornithologists now re-launched as Indian Birds READY-RECKONER Internet Resources India Birds: http://www.indiabirds.com/ Bird conservation organisations Birds of Kerala: http://birdskerala.com/ BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: Honorary Secretary, Hornbill BirdLife International: http://www.birdlife.net/ House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai 400023, Maharashtra. Indian Jungles: http://www.indianjungles.com/ Website: www.bnhs.org. Email: [email protected]. Publish: Birds of Kolkata: http://www.kolkatabirds.com/ Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society; Hornbill. Contact Sanctuary Asia: http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/ above for: INDIAN BIRD CONSERVATION NETWORK: Publish: Red Data Book: http://www.rdb.or.id/index.html/ Mistnet. ENVIS CENTRE: Publish: Buceros. The Northern India Bird Network: http://www.delhibird.com/ SALIM ALI CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND NATURAL Zoological Nomenclature Resource: http://www.zoonomen.net/ HISTORY: Director, Anaikatty P.O., Coimbatore 641108, India. N.C.L. Centre for Biodiversity Informatics: http://www.ncbi.org.in/biota/ Website: www.saconindia.org. Email: [email protected] fauna/ BIRDWATCHERS’ SOCIETY OF ANDHRA PRADESH: Honorary John Penhallurick’s Bird Data Project: http://worldbirdinfo.net/ Secretary, P.O. Box 45, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Website: Saving Asia’s threatened birds: www.bsaponline.org. Email: [email protected]. Publish: Mayura; Pitta. http://www.birdlife.net/action/science/species/asia_strategy/pdfs.html/ MADRAS NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY: Honorary Secretary, No. 8, Janaki Optics: http://www.betterviewdesired.com/ Avenue, Abhirampuram, Chennai 600018, India. Website: Library www.blackbuck.org. Email: [email protected]. Publish: Blackbuck. Ali, Salim, 2002. The book of Indian birds. 13th revised edition. Mumbai: INSTITUTE OF BIRD STUDIES & NATURAL HISTORY: Director, Bombay Natural History Society. Rishi Valley, Chittoor District, India 517352. Email: Ali, Salim & S. Dillon Ripley, 2001. Handbook of the birds of India and [email protected]. Conduct: Home Study Course in Ornithology. Pakistan, together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB: P.O. Box 324, Bedford, MK42 0WG, U.K. Lanka. 10 vols. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Website: www.orientalbirdclub.org. Publish: Forktail; OBC Bulletin. Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp, 1998. Birds of the WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA: Post Bag # 18, Chandrabani, Indian subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. Dehradun 248001, India. Website: www.wii.gov.in. Harrison, John, 1999. A field guide to the birds of Sri Lanka. Oxford: WILDLIFE TRUST OF INDIA: Wildlife Trust of India, C-644, New Oxford University Press. Friends Colony, New Delhi 110065, India. Email: www.wildlifetrustof- Inskipp, Carol & Tim Inskipp, 1985. A guide to the birds of Nepal. india.org. London: Croom Helm. WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE-INDIA: 172-B, Lodi Estate, New Inskipp, Carol, Tim Inskipp & Richard Grimmett, 1999. Birds of Bhutan. Delhi 110003, India. Website: www.wwfindia.org. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Web-based email groups Kazmierczak, Krys, 2000. A field guide to the birds of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. New Delhi: To join, send email to: Om Book Service. BANGALORE: [email protected] Roberts, T. J. 1991-92. The birds of Pakistan. 2 vols. Karachi: Oxford BOMBAY: [email protected] University Press. DELHI: [email protected] Robson, Craig, 2000. A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. London: KERALA: [email protected] New Holland. NORTHEAST INDIA: [email protected] ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB: [email protected] English and scientific bird names used in Indian Birds follow NAT-HISTORY INDIA: [email protected] Manakadan, R. & A. Pittie. 2003. Standardised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Newsletter for WEST BENGAL: [email protected] Birdwatchers 42 (3): i-viii, 1-36.
Guidelines to contributors of Indian Birds Indian Birds publishes original articles and notes about birds and birdwatching with an emphasis on South Asian birds (South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). We welcome articles on behaviour, ecology and conservation, counts and censuses (particularly those covering multiple years), annotated checklists, trip reports, book reviews, reviews of audio recordings, letters, announcements, notices, news from the birding world, etc. Authors proposing reviews of published material should first discuss this with the editor. All manuscripts should be easy to read and understand. Manuscripts will be edited for length, content and style, and will be sent to referees when appropriate. The Editor will discuss contributions with authors and advise on modifications. Some basic guidelines are given below: General When a bird species is first mentioned, both the English and scientific name must be given, thereafter the English name only. English and scientific names should follow Manakadan, R., and Pittie, A. 2001. Standardised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Buceros 6 (1): i-ix, 1-38. Metric units and their international symbols must be used; dates and times should be of the form 1.i.2005 and 13:45hrs respectively. Numbers one to ten should be written in full, except when used with a measurement abbreviation or higher number, thus: five birds, but 5km and 5-15 birds. Numerals are used for all numbers greater than ten: 12, 120, 1,200 and 12,000. Preparation and submission of manuscripts These should preferably be sent electronically as an email attachment or mailed on a PC-formatted floppy disk or CD-ROM to the contact addresses given below. The text, tables, figure legends (which must be self-explanatory) and appendices should be combined in one MS Word file. Alternatively, hard copies of typescripts, original maps and diagrams can be sent by mail, but this should be an option of last resort. Images Photographs, artwork, maps, diagrams, etc. should be digitised and sent either as an email attachment or on CD-ROM. These should be in TIFF and at least 8”x11” in 300dpi resolution. JPEG files must be “maximum” quality, that is, at their minimum compression. Maps should be marked with a scale and north arrow. Disclaimer While every care is taken, Indian Birds cannot be held responsible for accidental loss or damage of any material sent for publication or for their return whether they are accepted for publication or not. Material published in Indian Birds reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The Editor reserves the right to make necessary changes in manuscripts in consultation with the author. All contributors submitting material to Indian Birds also give permission for its use on the New Ornis Foundation website. All submissions are evaluated under the assumption that the conditions listed here have been understood and accepted by the author(s). Contact addresses The Editor, Indian Birds, P.O. Box 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Email: [email protected]. Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 25 Indian Birds ISSN 0973-1407
Editor Emeritus Zafar Futehally
Editor Aasheesh Pittie
Associate Editor V. Santharam, PhD. Indian Birds Subscription information Vol. 1 No. 2. March-April 2005. Date of publication: 30 April 2005. Six issues will be published annually in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Contents Type Annual 3-year Winter birds of the Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh, Individual Rs. 100 Rs. 300 Jammu and Kashmir, India. Student (Up to 10th) Rs. 75 Rs. 225 Tsewang Namgail 26 Institution Rs. 300 Rs. 900 Foreign Individual $10 $30 Birds seen on a trek in the Chanshal Pass, Himachal Pradesh. Foreign Institution $50 $150 V. Santharam 28
Please make payments favouring Birds seen on a short trip to Peechi, Kerala, India. New Ornis Foundation V. Santharam 32 Add Rs.25/- for outstation cheques. New and significant records from the Great Himalayan National Park, Send manuscripts and subscriptions to Himachal Pradesh, India. Editor Harkirat Singh Sangha 33 Indian Birds P.O. Box # 2, Banjara Hills Greater Spotted Eagle, Grasshopper Warbler and Broad-tailed Grassbird Hyderabad 500034, India near Pune, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected] Anand Prasad 34 Nesting of Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii at Nandi Hills, Karnataka, India. NEW ORNIS FOUNDATION S. Subramanya 36 Occurrence of the Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala in Assam. Registration No. 314/2004 Maan Barua & Polasz Bora 37 URL: www.indianbirds.in Record of a Rufous-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna from Trustees Chandigarh, India. Zafar Futehally Lt. General Baljit Singh 38 Aasheesh Pittie Extracts from the Akhbaar book at Kihim. Dr V. Santharam Zafar Futehally 38 Rishad Naoroji Recoveries from Newsletter for Birdwatchers – 6. Taej Mundkur, PhD. Zafar Futehally 39 S. Subramanya, PhD. Suhel Quader, PhD. Reviews. Birds: beyond watching. 40 Aims & Objectives A review and a critique. Pictorial handbook - Shorebirds of Kerala • To publish a newsletter that will (including gulls and terns). 41 provide a platform to birdwatchers for Recent ornithological literature on South Asia and Tibet. publishing notes and observations Aasheesh Pittie 42 primarily on birds of South Asia. Building bridges for migratory waterbird conservation in the • To promote awareness of bird Central Asian Flyway. watching amongst the general public. Taej Mundkur 46 Correspondence. 48 • To establish and maintain links/liaison Pesticides and birds – Arunayan Sharma. with other associations or organized A crow and its cache. – Jyoti Narang. bodies in India or abroad whose Bouquets. – William Selover; Raju Kasambe; Dipankar Ghose. objectives are in keeping with the objectives of the Trust (i.e. to support amateur birdwatchers with cash / kind Cover Picture: Shovellers at sunset. 2005. Watercolour on paper (15x20cm). for projects in ornithology). Artist: Sachin S. Jaltare, Hyderabad. 26 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
Winter birds of the Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India Tsewang Namgail Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore570002, Karnataka, India. Email: [email protected]
Abstract has close ecological affinities with Tibet. occurred in smaller flocks (1-5 birds) usually survey of the winter birds of the Gya- The area receives low annual precipitation amongst the shrubs along the Tsabra Stream AMiru Wildlife Sanctuary in the Trans- of about 150mm (Hartmann 1983). The and near livestock corrals. Himalayan region of Ladakh, India was proposed reserve is located c.60km from The most noteworthy sightings however carried out between December 2002 and Leh, the capital city of Ladakh, and were those of pheasants (Phasianidae) and March 2003. 30 species were recorded, encompasses an area of c.340km2. Altitude owls (Strigidae). Four species of the former constituting 60% of the total resident within the reserve ranges from 3,900–5,700m. were recorded: Tibetan Snowcock species in Ladakh excluding Nubra Valley, The area is bounded on the south by Tso Tetraogallus tibetanus, Himalayan and 10% of the total birds recorded in Ladakh Kar, a brackish lake, which has been Snowcock T. himalayensis, Chukor (11% of the post-1960 records). 29 species identified as an important breeding area for Alectoris chukar and Tibetan Partridge (97%) of the birds recorded breed in Ladakh, rare bird species such as the Black-necked Perdix hodgsoniae. Tibetan Partridges were while one, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos is a Crane (Gujja et al. 2003; Pfister 2004). found in small flocks of up to ten birds, passage migrant. The most noteworthy Besides the diverse assemblage of birds, usually feeding amongst Caragana sp. sightings were four species of pheasants the reserve harbours mammals such as the bushes along the streambed of Tsabra, but (Phasianidae) and two of owls (Strigidae). Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon, Ladakh Urial all above 4,300m. During the study, I came A preliminary assessment of the potential Ovis vignei, Blue Sheep Pseudois nayaur, across ten dried-up corpses of this species, threats to the birds in the reserve was made. Snow Leopard Uncia uncia, Tibetan Wolf perhaps having died in the summer or the This is the first avifaunal survey of the Canis lupus, Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, previous winter, but I could not determine reserve, and has implications for assessing Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx, Red Fox Vulpes the cause of death. The two snowcocks the importance of the area for bird protection. vulpes and myriad small mammals (Namgail were rare in the area, while the Chukar Introduction 2003). Trees such as poplar Populus spp. Partridges were abundant near villages, Ladakh is located in the western Himalaya and willow Salix spp. are confined to the often feeding on fallow agricultural fields. and harbours a unique diversity of avian river valleys, and the most common Two species of owl, Little Owl Athene species. A total of 276 bird species have vegetation includes Caragana, Artemisia noctua and Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo been reported from the area (310 species prior and Eurotia spp. The proposed reserve has were recorded during the survey. The latter to 1960; Pfister 2004). The Indus Valley in a human population of about 1,000, and is was seen roosting on a sandy cliff near our Ladakh has been identified as an important grazed by their domestic livestock such as camp at an altitude of 4,600m. I recovered migratory route for birds that migrate yak, horse, donkey, cow, sheep and goat partially eaten parts of the Tibetan woolly between central Asia in the Palaearctic (Namgail et al. 2004). hare Lepus oiostolus from the base of this region and the Indian sub-continent (Ali and Methods roosting site. Little Owl was observed often Ripley 1983; Williams and Delany 1986). The The survey was carried out in conjunction perched on jutting stone slabs on mountain vast marshlands around lakes and along the with an ecological study of the Tibetan argali slopes during the day. The observations also shores of the mighty Indus River in eastern between December 2002 and March 2003. included a non-resident species: Mallard Ladakh provide critical habitat for breeding Birds were observed while walking on Anas platyrhynchos. A pair was seen in the migrant species such as the highly permanent trails on the mountain slopes icy-stream close to Lato Village. endangered Black-necked Crane Grus and along the valleys. Most of the Discussion nigricollis (Pfister 2004). Besides, there are observations were made in the Tsabra and The 30 bird species recorded in the GMWS myriad resident species that are adapted to Khemer catchments to the south of Gya constitute about 10% of the total birds the cold and harsh environment of the region Village, although a special 3-day effort was recorded in Ladakh (11% of the post-1960 (Mallon 1987). made to cover the northern parts of the records; Pfister 2004), and about 60% of the Although, the summer-visiting and reserve in late February 2003. In addition, total resident species (Mallon 1987). migratory birds of Ladakh are relatively well all the birds within the limits of the reserve Nevertheless, Mallon (1987) could not known (Williams and Delany 1985, 1986; were recorded while driving to and from Leh. survey certain areas such as the Nubra Hussain 1986; Holmes 1986; Pfister 2004), Results Valley. Although migrants pass through the breeding birds that are resident year- Thirty bird species were recorded at the Ladakh almost throughout the year round have received less attention (Mallon peak of winter (see list below). The most (Williams and Delany 1985), all the species, 1987). Recognising this fact, I conducted a frequently sighted species were Golden except one, recorded in the area are known survey of the resident winter birds of the Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Bearded Vulture to breed in Ladakh (Pfister, 2004). The Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary. Almost Gypaetus barbatus, Red-billed Chough Mallard in general is a passage migrant nothing is known about the faunal status of Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Yellow-billed (Pfister in litt. 2005). Most of the resident this reserve. Chough P. graculus, Horned Lark species in Ladakh are altitudinal migrants. Study area Eremophila alpestris and Robin Accentor Within GMWS, species like the Chukar, The proposed Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary Prunella rubeculoides. Horned Larks were Tibetan Snowfinch and Great Rosefinch (GMWS; 330N, 780E) is located at the found in exaltations of up to 30 birds on begin descending to lower valleys and western fringe of the Tibetan Plateau, and stony slopes, while Robin Accentors villages from early October. They were Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 27 observed in the villages during the winter for migratory birds. Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp. 1999. survey, but were not seen near these Secondly, the local people collect Pocket guide to the birds of the Indian settlements during a summer visit. Caragana and Artemisia bushes for subcontinent. New Delhi: Oxford University According to a popular belief, the Tibetan firewood during winter (Pers. obs.). The Press. Gujja, B., A. Chatterjee, P. Gautam & P. Chandan. Snowfinch descending early is a harbinger impact of such extractions on the area’s 2003. Wetlands and lakes at the top of the of a severe winter. avian community is however not known. But world. Mountain Research and Development Gya-Miru, being a transition zone it is possible that such activities affect the 23: 219-221. between the rugged mountains of central population of birds such as the Tibetan Hartmann, H. 1983. Pflanzengesells-chaften Ladakh in the west and the vast plains of Partridge that forage amongst the bushes entlang der Kashmirroute in Ladakh. Jb. Ver. the Tibetan Plateau in the east, perhaps along the streambed. Furthermore, the Schutz der Bergwelt, 131-37. harbours a relatively high diversity of birds. reserve is grazed by c.8,000 domestic Holmes, P. R. 1986. The avifauna of the Suru A comprehensive survey in the area, livestock, and the effect of livestock grazing, River Valley, Ladakh. Forktail 2: 21-41. encompassing different seasons will shed on birds, especially ground-nesting birds Hussain, S. A. 1986. Status of Black-necked Crane in Ladakh. Problems and prospects. J. light on this aspect. In any case, it is one of needs to be researched. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 82: 449-458. the few places in Ladakh, where both Apart from these, the livestock herders Mallon, D. P. 1987. The winter birds of Ladakh. Himalayan and Tibetan snowcocks co-exist. despise the Golden Eagle as it occasionally Forktail 3: 27-41. The former is mostly restricted to western lifts lambs and kids; seven such incidences Namgail, T. 2003. Gya-Miru: last refuge of the Ladakh and the latter to the eastern part were reported during the study period. endangered Tibetan argali. Sanctuary Asia 23: (Pfister 2004). Furthermore, Tibetan However, no incidence of retaliation or 16-21. Partridges were observed only in the Tsabra persecution was reported from the area, Namgail, T., J. L. Fox & Y. V. Bhatnagar. 2004. Catchment just to the south of the Gya unlike in the case of depredation by Argali and livestock: friends or foes? Nature Village. Within Indian limits, the species is mammalian predators. Furthermore, the of interaction between argali and domestic sheep and goats in a prospective Trans- known to be restricted to eastern Ladakh Golden Eagle’s feathers are used to fletch Himalayan wildlife reserve. Techincal Report (Ali and Ripley 1974), and GMWS perhaps traditional arrows. Since archery is a submitted to the International Snow Leopard marks the western boundary of its prominent sport amongst the Ladakhis, Trust, Seattle. distribution in Ladakh, as it was not seen there might be unreported incidences of Pfister, O. 2004. Birds and mammals of Ladakh. further west and below 4,000m (Mallon killing the bird for its feathers. For example, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 1987). as per anecdotal information, the bird is Williams, C. and S. Delany. 1985. Migration Apart from the winter birds, the Gya-Miru occasionally killed for the purpose through the Northwest Himalaya - some results may also be important for migratory birds, elsewhere in Ladakh, but no such of the Southampton University Ladakh as it has marshlands especially along the incidences occurred in Gya-Miru (Tashi Expeditions, Part 1. Bull. O.B.C. 2: 10-14. Williams, C. and S. Delany. 1986. Migration streams. Local people mentioned about an Gyatso, verbally, 2003). Finally, catching through the Northwest Himalaya - some results area in the northern part of the GMWS where birds such as Chukar to supplement the of the Southampton University Ladakh they see Black-necked Crane. If true, this family larder was common in the past, but is Expeditions, Part 2. Bull. O.B.C. 3: 11-16. might add a new location to the list of areas, currently discouraged due to the which the species visits in Ladakh. implementation of conservation laws. List of winter birds observed between Nevertheless, one cannot rule out the Acknowledgements December 2002 and March 2003 in the possibility that the local people were The International Snow Leopard Trust, the proposed Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary, mistakenly referring to the Black Stork Wildlife Protection Society of India and the Ladakh, India. Ciconia nigra, which migrates through University of Tromso – Wildlife Institute of Ladakh (Pfister in litt. 2005). India Institutional Cooperation Program, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Lato, PM*. Potential threats to the birds: The death funded the study. I express my sincere Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos: Khemer, R. of the Tibetan Partridges could be attributed gratitude to Dr Otto Pfister for his valuable Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis:Puyul, to two potential factors: severe winter and/ comments on the manuscript, and for R*. Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus Khemer, R. or avian disease. According to the locals, identifying the Himalayan Eagle Owl. I also Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus: Nilung, SV*. the previous winter was mild, which leaves thank Dr T.R. Shankar Raman for his critical Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus Fidpo, disease as a plausible cause for the deaths. comments on the manuscript. Thanks are R*. Avian disease may be an important source also due to Mr Jigmet Takpa and Mr Salim Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis of mortality of birds in Ladakh (during an Ulhaq, Department of Wildlife Protection Paktse, R*. ecological survey in the summer of 2004 in Leh for granting permission to work in the Chukor Alectoris chukar Gya, R. the Hanle River Basin, I came upon about area. Messrs. Thinles Dorjey, Tashi Gyatso Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae Paktse, R. 50 corpses of Horned Lark; Namgail, unpubl. and Thinles Yangjor are also thankfully Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gya, R. data). Such high mortality of birds in acknowledged for their field assistance in Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris Gya, R. Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota Miru, R*. summer, when resources are abundant tough winter conditions. Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo Paktse, R. suggests of disease as an important cause References Little Owl Athene noctua Fidpo, R*. of mortality. Such issues must be Ali, Salim and S. D. Ripley. 1983. Handbook of Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris: Tsabra, R. investigated immediately, as there is a high the birds of India and Pakistan together with Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides Paktse, chance of any disease spreading wide those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and R. because of Ladakh being an important area Ceylon. 10 vols. Bombay: Oxford University Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens Miru, R*. Press. White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus Lato, R*. 28 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
Guldenstadt’s Redstart Phoenicurus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Gya, R. Carrion Crow Corvus corone: Miru, R*. erythrogaster Miru, R*. Tibetan Snowfinch Montifringilla adamsi Common Raven Corvus corax: Khemer, R*. Fire-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus Puyul, R*. Kotsang, R. Black-headed Mountain-Finch Leucosticte Black-billed Magpie Pica pica: Miru, R. R=resident. brandti Ngayul, R*. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax: SV=summer visitor. Mongolian Finch Bucanetes mongolicus Miru, Khemer, R. PM=passage migrant. R. Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus: * Seen on less than five occasions. Common Great Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilla Tsabra, R. a Location of the first sighting. Nilung, R.
Birds seen on a trek in the Chanshal Pass, Himachal Pradesh V. Santharam Institute of Bird Studies & Natural History, Rishi Valley 517 352, Andhra Pradesh, India. Email: [email protected] rekking has never been my cup of tea was uneventful and somewhat tiring. But seen perched on an exposed perch with Tand I was in two minds when I agreed by dawn the next morning, I began my vigil wings drooped as it sang. A lovely bird that to accompany the Rishi Valley School team, for birds and managed to see quite a few caught my attention was the Rock Bunting which ran short of an escort to go with the before reaching our destination. The bus Emberiza cia. That evening we had a taste students on a trek to the Pabbar Valley in was traversing through a mixed habitat of of what the trek was going to be as we Himachal Pradesh. In two minds because I tall forest – mostly coniferous – and panted uphill on an uneven, rock-strewn always felt that I may not be able to actively scattered settlements with orchards of apple track through the tiny village. pursue my interest in birds while on a trek and other fruit trees along a steep hillside. On 20th morning, we set off after breakfast where one was expected to walk a pre- As the bus passed along the Pabbar River, on the first leg of the trek. We could clearly determined distance each day and also as I more birds could be noticed. Several Brown witness the rampant clearing of the forest – was not sure if I would be able to keep pace Dippers Cinclus pallasii were noticed tree felling by burning of trees at the base with the more energetic children. But on the perched or flying over the waters below us. to weaken them and later claiming them as other hand, I had the whole vacation ahead At regular interval there were White-capped fallen wood all along. We noticed flocks of of me with nothing planned out and the Chaimarrornis leucocephalus and sheep herded uphill for grazing in the alpine prospect of baking in the summer heat of Plumbeous Redstarts Rhyacornis pastures. We climbed over 800m that Chennai loomed large. The trek promised a fuliginosus, also on the riverside rocks. morning, the trail being steep in places and lot of snow and freezing temperatures. So The last leg took us across the river and gradual in certain stretches. We took about why not take a chance? Better to freeze than up a hill, a good climb of some 1,500m or so. 4½ hours to cover the 5km distance. bake, I thought. Now, in retrospect, I feel The vegetation changed to a more Towards the end, we were passing through my choice was a wise one as I came back temperate type with conifer trees, and it a continuous forest stretch. The campsite from the trek refreshed with a lot of wonderful became cooler. There were orchards and at Maduie was in a forest clearing. The memories and experiences and also with a scattered houses. The road was bumpy and forest was open, comprising mostly Deodar lot of interesting birds on my list. I also dusty. The road we had travelled all along trees and occasional maple or other realized that I was not as bad a trekker as I the river now showed as a ribbon far below hardwood trees. There was no undergrowth had been rating myself! us and the denuded hillside bore marks of a except along streams that carried snowmelt. Ok, why did I title this piece a trek to couple major landslides in the not too Rhododendron clumps were now common Chanshal Pass whereas I am writing about distant past. Above us, the skies were clear in open meadows and they were coming into Pabbar Valley trek? The answer is simple. and blue and there were hilltops with traces bloom with their purplish pink/blue flowers. The trek was to Chanshal Pass (4,220m) and of snow on their tops. Eventually we That evening there was snowfall and rains beyond and the base camp was at Larot. To reached the base camp, a three-storey in the neighbourhood and the night reach this, one had to take the road from building made of wood atop the hill offering temperatures plummeted. Shimla going to Chirgaon via Kufri, good views all around. As we climbed down, I was a free the next day and so while Karapathar, Jubbal, Hatkoti, and Rohru, a we felt refreshed by the views and the clear others went exploring the hill behind the distance of over 150km, due east of Shimla. mountain air. camp, I went around looking for birds. The The last 30km or so of the bus journey The day was meant for acclimatization as bird life was not very rich either in terms of passes through the Pabbar Valley and in fact we were already at 2,500m and over the next number or variety but nevertheless proved the road goes all along the Pabbar River. So week we were to touch 4,200m. After a wash interesting for me as I saw several ‘lifers’. we did pass through the Pabbar Valley but and breakfast I went around familiarizing On the morning of the 22nd we trekked to we went trekking up along the higher myself with the birds. Immediately around the highest point of the trek – the Chanshal reaches. Our trek took us to the Uttaranchal the camp, I could see a few birds and also Pass. This involved an initial steep climb border. heard several – some of which I was able to along stony streambeds till we crossed the The journey commenced in Delhi on the identify based on my earlier experiences. treeline and reached the open meadows. A hot afternoon of 18.iv.2004. We, a group of Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea was the most few flowers were beginning to appear in the 22 students and two teachers, took a conspicuous bird in the vicinity. The otherwise seemingly sterile landscape. At chartered bus from ISBT area and Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus was the end of the open meadow overlooking proceeded to Larot. The 17-hour journey heard calling and on occasions the male was the deep valley over 1500m in depth stood a Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 29 cairn made of stone slabs. A few metres our sleeping bags in addition to our usual walked along the road, realizing for the first down the slope of the valley were trees, luggage. As the sun was out, the snow time the harsh sun. No vehicles came in our interspersed with bugyals or alpine began to melt and one had to move direction and just as we were giving up hope meadows. cautiously. We were to walk just six we got a lift in a jeep for the last 1½kms. We Beyond this, the path narrowed to about kilometers but due to the slippery conditions reached in time for lunch. a metre in width hugging the steep slope and extra snow en route, we had to take A hot bath and shave after over nine days that fell abruptly. It went just below the ridge. detours and finally ended up trekking for revived me and I felt fresh once again. That To the east of this ridge was Uttaranchal. A seven hours instead of the usual three! The night there was a hailstorm and thunder, little later we could spot our destination – entire trek was through snow. We could get accompanied by strong winds. The hills, the next camp at Simrala in a clearing a view of the magnificent landscape around next morning, had a fresh coat of snow. It bordered by Rhododendron bushes and us when it cleared for a while: there were was raining in the valley below us. We left Birch trees, some three kilometres away and breathtaking views of the greater Himalayan after lunch and reached Delhi the next some 600m below the path. We climbed the range, all giant peaks, covered with snow morning to find the temperatures in Delhi steep hillside to have a view of the eastern almost for 210º running NW to NE, for over and surroundings too were far more side of the ridge, passing hard blocks of ice. a distance of 700km. The next campsite was pleasant thanks to the rains. The view was worth it – there were several located beside the tiny Saru Lake at the base Overall, the bird life on the trek route did snow-capped peaks, partly covered with of a hillock at an altitude of nearly 3800m. not seem too rich. Perhaps it was due to the clouds, stretching beyond the horizon. The campsite was above the treeline but bad weather as well as the dates we had As the clouds were beginning to gather, just beyond the ridge into the valley were chosen – too early in the spring? A few birds we hastened towards camp. The going was trees – mostly birch with their thin, flaky were just turning up at the lower altitudes not too easy as it was slippery in places and paper-like barks. There was a little bit of on our return journey. a wrong footing could get you down the snow that night and the cold was intense. It An annotated list of birds seen on the slope and end in a nasty accident. There was an unanimous decision the next trek 19-28th April, 2004 were no habitations in sight, though we did morning that we move on to the last camp 1. Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus. see occasional villagers going past on their site, at a more comfortable altitude of 2300m Single birds seen; 1-2 at Simrala and 2- routine work or occasional shepherds with the same day instead of staying on that 3 at Saru Lake including a juvenile bird. their flocks. Very soon it began snowing and night at Saru Lake camp. 2. Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis. luckily we were close to the camp. A little After lunch, we set off this time passing Common. Several birds in small flocks confusion led to some delay as we lost our through some of the most scenic forest and were seen skirting overhead in thermals. bearings in the clump of Rhododendron. We clearings, initially birch and Rhododendron 3. Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus. reached our camp finally at 15.00 hrs. and later through open conifer forests. We Two single birds seen at Larot and The snowing intensified and all through did the 8 km trek in five hours. We had, by Maduie, chased by crows. the night we had snow. It was also getting now trekked in a horseshoe shaped path 4. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. freezing cold. We were afraid that the and we could see the base camp on the hill One at Saru Lake and 1-2 at Kaiwala. accumulated snow on the roof of the tent opposite to ours. The Kaiwala campsite was 5. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo. might bring down the tent and so in turns next to some fields near the village and there Appeared to be fairly common at Larot, we kept removing snow through the night, were welcome sounds of people, dogs and Kaiwala and Maduie. Active and braving the bitter cold. Early next morning, I an occasional jeep. Birds were commoner conspicuous through the day. Heard was out and could not believe my eyes. The now. We had a restful night, warmer than them call from tall conifer trees whole landscape was covered with snow; last few nights and we were fresh next especially in the early mornings we had several inches of it outside on the morning. We explored a temple nearby and “tewn…tewn…tewn”. Two (once three) ground. We had planned to stay here that the villages that had a quaint look with birds in flight, diving and chasing. day exploring the surrounding areas before cobbled alleys, wooden houses, cows, Heard the wind passing through their moving out to the next site. But we had only goats and other animals occupying the primaries as they flew past. Seen near brief sunshine for less than an hour that basement and the owners living on the first habitations. day and snowing continued throughout the floor. We learnt that this was one of the best 6. Falcon Falco sp. [Peregrine?]. One in day. The sight of snow initially thrilled all of apple-growing belts in the Himachal and the flight at Maduie. us but as the day wore on, all our interest in villagers were happy to have the rains and 7. Black Francolin Francolinus snow waned and it looked as though the snow after a long unusual dry spell. I spent francolinus. Calls heard at Larot, next day’s plans were likely to be upset. The the afternoon observing birds, especially Kaiwala and also from valleys at other snowing ceased towards late night and next the bar-tailed tree-creeper Certhia sites. morning we woke to a bright sunny morning. himalayana that nested next to our camp. 8. [Cheer Pheasant? Catreus wallichii. We noticed the water in buckets had frozen The last leg of the trek was downhill and Calls heard at Simrala (from overnight and fortunately since were all then a steep climb to the base camp. My Rhododendron and wooded areas), huddled together in two tents, we did not knees had given way and I decided to stick somewhat as described in find it too cold. to the road that would take an extra four Kazmierczak’s Field guide to the birds Trekking in snow proved quite tricky as kilometres. I had hoped we would be able to of India (2000). Not certain.] we had no snow boots and other high hitch a ride on a jeep or bus going our way. 9. Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota. 32 altitude gear. Besides, we were asked to carry Two students also thought likewise and we birds flying in the valley below the head 30 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
of the Chanshal Pass on 22.iv.2004. Lake on 25.iv. cyanurus. Several birds, quite tame and Also at Saru Lake – 3 in flight. 24. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea. Not confiding, seen especially at Maduie in 10. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia too often seen, at Larot and at lower open areas and by the stream and also orientalis. Commonly seen at lower altitudes. while trekking to Kaiwala from Saru Lake altitudes, especially around Larot and 25. Oriental Tree Pipit Anthus hodgsoni. at higher altitude. Conspicuous blue Kaiwala. A couple seen at Maduie. Commonly seen at Larot, Maduie and tail, more yellowish than orange flanks 11. Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula Kaiwala – in pairs, vocal. noticed. Kept flicking the tail and flying himalayana. Seen at Kaiwala (4 birds) 26. Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus. Seen at down to the ground to forage, assuming and at Larot (heard). higher altitudes, above treeline in an upright stance. Calls: two-noted, 12. Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus. grassy open areas and also on snow- frog-like croaks! Also heard singing. Common. Heard calling at several covered clearings at Simrala and around Saw a pair carrying fibres and roots to a localities except at Simrala and Saru Saru Lake. Appeared to be in non- hole under a rock along our trek-path. Lake. Also noticed perched atop tallest breeding plumage, occasionally heard 37. Blue-capped Redstart Phoenicurus trees with drooped wings. Bubbling singing. caeruleocephalus. 1-2 birds at the calls somewhat like a female Koel. 27. Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus Chanshal Pass. 13. Tawny Wood-owl Strix aluco. Heard ethologus. Common in forested areas. 38. White-capped Redstart Chaimarrornis the two-noted calls “hoo-hoo” during Seen in small flocks, often with mixed leucocephalus. 3-4 birds at lower early morning and late night at Simrala. foraging parties. Actively feeding in the altitudes in the Pabbar Valley, from the Calls coming from the wooded valley mid and top canopy-levels. bus. below. 28. Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus 39. Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis 14. Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei. leucogenys. Seen at Pabbar Valley and fuliginosus. Below Kaiwala village and Heard calls on the morning of 28.iv at at lower altitudes, below 1,500m. Fairly along Pabbar River. Larot. Calls distinct, a 4-noted “poop- common. 40. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata. poop-poop-poop”, repeated every few 29. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes 3-4 birds on 27.iv on the trek from seconds, well after sunrise, though on leucocephalus. Seen in fairly good Kaiwala to Larot. Seen in dry, grass- an overcast day. numbers, especially at Kaiwala and just scrub area with scattered trees and 15. Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus above it. cultivation. indicus. Heard the familiar call-notes 30. Rufous-backed Shrike Lanius schah. 41. Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea. “chuckoo-chuckoo-chuckoo” at Common around Larot and at lower Common at Larot and Kaiwala, close to Simrala, from the wooded valley. altitudes; up to three birds seen habitations and along roadsides, sitting 16. White-throated Needletail-swift together. Noisy and active. on conspicuous perches on treetops or Hirundapus caudacutus. Three birds 31. Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii. Several on bushes. Vocal, warbling notes heard. overhead at Kaiwala on 27.iv morning. birds seen from bus, in the Pabbar River, 42. Streaked Laughingthrush Garrulax 17. White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon when we travelled alongside. Seen lineatus. At lower altitudes, especially smyrnensis. A single bird between flying over the water or perched on at Larot, Kaiwala and during trek. Hatkoti and Rohru on 19.iv. rocks or diving into water. Confiding if not disturbed. Often seen 18. Greater Pied Kingfisher Megaceryle 32. Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella from close, foraging in the undergrowth lugubris. 3-4 birds on wires above the strophiata. Several seen in the and sometimes in open areas and Pabbar River on 19.iv morning, from the Rhododendron thickets around Simrala clearings. bus. None seen on the return journey. campsite. Call somewhat like a 43. Variegated Laughingthrush Garrulax 19. Great Barbet Megalaima virens. A flycatcher’s, but it was difficult locating variegatus. Noticed 3-4 birds at Kaiwala. single bird at Maduie. Seen at Kaiwala the bird amongst the thickets. Finally Silent. and at Larot and surrounds on 27-28.iv located a bird as it came out into the 44. Yellow-naped Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis. though not on 19-20.iv. open to sun itself on the ground in the A single bird in a mixed foraging flock 20. Himalayan Pied Woodpecker snow. at Maduie. Silent. Dendrocopos himalayensis. Regularly 33. Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus 45. Brown Prinia Prinia criniger. Present heard and seen at Maduie. Vocal and caeruleus. Seen en-route, ahead of in the open scrub-covered hillsides, seen associating with other bird Hatkoti. Later saw 3-4 birds, hopping actively moving about and calling from species. Heard weak drumming on a on the banks by the stream, below trees and bushes, below Larot. couple of occasions. Seen feeding by Kaiwala on 27.iv. 46. Brown-flanked Bush-Warbler Cettia flaking and prying under the bark than 34. White-collared Blackbird Turdus fortipes. Common and vocal but rather by pecking. albocinctus. 2 at Maduie on 22.iv and difficult to spot. Distinct calls. Seen / 21. Large Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker on 25.iv between Saru Lake and Kaiwala heard at Larot and Kaiwala, in partly Picus squamatus. One heard at Larot in wooded country. open areas. and a couple or so at Kaiwala. 35. Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula. 1-2 47. Blyth’s Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus 22. Common Swallow Hirundo rustica. A birds heard in the vicinity of Simrala dumetorum? A couple in few in flight at Larot. camp, from trees near the Rhododendron clumps at Maduie. 23. White Wagtail Motacilla alba. 2 birds Rhododendron bushes. 48. Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus – one at Larot on 20.iv and one at Saru 36. Orange-flanked Bush-Robin Tarsiger chloronotus. Commonly seen at Larot, Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 31
in the forested area above Kaiwala and in field guides (especially Kazmierczak detail except the dark breast band. at Simrala. Yellow rump seen as it 2000). Roberts’ book has a better and 70. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus hovered to catch insects. more accurate illustration. erythrinus? A single bird seen briefly 49. Greenish Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus 59. Simla Crested Tit Parus rufonuchalis. on a treetop at Kaiwala. trochiloides. In song especially at 3-4 birds at Simrala on trees behind our 71. Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak Mycerobas Larot and Kaiwala. Suspected 1-2 other tents. icterioides. About four birds seen atop Phylloscopus species were around, but 60. Spot-winged Crested Tit Parus trees on 22.iv above Maduie, close to never got around to identifying them. melanolophus. Common, tame and treeline. The “priu-priu” calls were 50. Gold-spectacled Flycatcher-Warbler regularly noticed at Maduie. often heard on two days before this at Seicercus burkii. A single bird at 61. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus. 2 Maduie and en route while trekking. Maduie. or 3 pairs at Kaiwala, carrying food in 72. Spotted-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas 51. Grey-headed Flycatcher-Warbler beak. Perhaps had nestlings. melanozanthos. Single bird on 27.iv Seicercus xanthoschistos. A couple of 62. White-cheeked Nuthatch Sitta while trekking to Larot, on a tall bare birds at Larot on 28.iv (and never leucopsis. A single bird in a loose mixed tree close to orchards. noticed one earlier here or elsewhere foraging flock on 21.iv at Maduie. 73. House Sparrow Passer domesticus. on the trek!). Active and getting into 63. Bar-tailed Tree-Creeper Certhia Appears common at Rohru, Hatkoti, etc. song. himalayana. 3-4 birds seen at Maduie 74. Cinnamon Tree Sparrow Passer 52. Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica. and later at Kaiwala, where two pairs rutilans. Common at Larot and Kaiwala. Noticed in forests of tall conifers while were present. One nest seen at Kaiwala Nest seen constructed in a tree-hole of trekking between Larot and Maduie and on a dead Deodar trunk, inside a deep a tall conifer at Larot. Birds seen carrying again between Saru Lake and Kaiwala. crack, just 2.5m above the ground. nest materials. Also nesting at Kaiwala. 53. Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa Birds seen foraging assiduously on Commonly seen at the villages on trek ruficauda. One bird at Kaiwala on 26.iv. nearby trees, collecting 5-6 insects per route. 54. Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula foray and returning to feed young at 75. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis. superciliaris. Common at Maduie and nest. Saw, from 6m, one of the birds Seen at the valley and villages below Kaiwala. 1-2 at Larot. entering the hole and feeding the Kaiwala. 55. Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor. young. After feeding, the bird collected 76. Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus. Seen A hen seen on 23.iv afternoon at the the faecal sac and flew out. Seen around Rohru on morning of 19.iv. stream next to Rhododendron clumps actively foraging even around 18:00hrs. 77. Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus. behind the tents at Simrala. The bird Heard feeble call-notes. Saw 2-3 birds at Chirgaon (near Rohru) was brown above, with white eye-ring, 64. Oriental White-eye Zosterops and at Hatkoti. paler under parts and some red on the palpebrosus. A few birds at Kaiwala. 78. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus. tail. Fed on the ground, remaining still Possibly nesting as a bird was 2-3 birds at Larot and Kaiwala. for a long time, not particularly shy. But observed carrying food in its beak. 79. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa when it felt threatened, it dived into the 65. Rock Bunting Emberiza cia. A pair seen flavirostris. A bird at Jubbal in flight bushes. [Identified with the help of T. around the guest house at Larot on on 19.iv; 4 in flight at Kaiwala on 25.iv; J. Roberts’ Birds of Pakistan Vol II 20.iv and 28.iv. Male appeared lovely 2 near Rohru on 28.iv. (1992).] in grey and chestnut brown attire. Often 80. Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga 56. Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone flicked tail and occasionally called. Part caryocatactes. 3 birds at Maduie on paradisi. A lovely male seen along the of courtship display? 20.iv. Heard their nasal “kraa- kraa” hillside near the path outside Hatkoti 66. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Carduelis calls a couple of times here and temple on 28.iv afternoon. spinoides. Five birds in flight from a elsewhere. At Larot on 28.iv morning. 57. Red-headed Tit Aegithalos concinnus. field near Rohru on 19.iv morning, seen 81. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax Several birds in a flock, foraging at the from bus. Distinct colours and pattern pyrrhocorax. 3 birds at Chanshal in mid-canopy level at Kaiwala on 26-27iv. helped identify the birds. flight on 22.iv noon. At Saru Lake on Quite tame. 67. Eurasian Goldfinch Carduelis 25.iv, two birds landed on the rocks on 58. White-throated Tit Aegithalos carduelis. Single bird in a field at lower the hillside. Appeared wary. Calls also niveogularis. Single birds or pairs in elevation during trek to Larot on 27.iv. heard. the wooded areas at Maduie and 68. Spectacled Finch Callacanthis 82. Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos. Simrala (and also possibly en-route, burtoni. A pair foraging on the ground Ubiquitous near habitations and while trekking). Associated with other at Maduie on 21.iv morning. Not too campsites, looking for scraps of food. small passerines, especially Spot- shy, allowed good views. Later a hen winged Tit at Maduie. Not very shy and was seen on a tree in a mixed foraging gave good views. Did not appear flock. The ‘spectacles’ and white wing uncommon in these sites. White throat spots quite distinct. (with greyish bib) contrasted well with 69. Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus brownish under parts and the dark eye- nipalensis. Couple of birds on 23.iv band. However the colour of upper parts morning at Simrala. Lighting was not was considerably paler than illustrated too good and could not make out much 32 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
Birds seen on a short trip to Peechi, Kerala, India V. Santharam Institute of Bird Studies & Natural History, Rishi Valley Education Centre, Rishi Valley 517352, Andhra Pradesh, India.
long with ten students and a colleague Golden-backed Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes xanthornus and the rare, migratory Black- Afrom Rishi Valley School, I spent three lucidus. Only three of them (first and the naped O. chinensis were all there. Two days (2-4.i.2004) in Peechi at the Kerala last two) were common as in those days Spangled Drongos Dicrurus hottentottus Forest Research Institute and we took off and three others were only heard once or were seen at a Bombax tree. I was eager to into the forest area (actually the overgrown twice. The Heart-spotted Woodpecker renew my contacts with the Black-crested “Botanical Garden”) when we were free. Hemicircus canente, a favourite of mine, (Ruby-throated) Bulbul Pycnonotus Returning to Peechi after a gap of over ten which used to nest in the area, was missing, melanicterus that was, ten years ago, the years was almost like homecoming for me. as was the Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker commonest bulbul in the area and was, after Having spent two years here between 1991 Dendrocopos mahrattensis. Both barbets, some efforts, able to locate a pair in the and 1993 studying the ecology of White-cheeked Megalaima viridis and Eucalyptus plantation. This was hardly woodpeckers, I had been fascinated by the Coppersmith M. haemacephala, were both surprising, as there were several endemic rich bird life of this forest, generally common. Grey-headed Bulbuls P. priocephalus, a considered degraded, and poor in large 15-20 Green Imperial-Pigeons Ducula species that was rarely seen earlier. Ali mammals. I was apprehensive at the kind of aenea were noticed sunning atop trees and [Birds of Kerala, Oxford University Press, changes that could have taken place over flew when we approached too close. Yellow- 1983 (reprint)] notes that while both these the intervening years (there had been legged Green-Pigeons Treron phoenicoptera species occur in similar habitats, the latter rumours that the Zoological Gardens were were also regularly seen, as was the Emerald prefers more humid areas with denser shifted here from Thrissur town) and had Dove Chalcophaps indica, often noticed (forest) growth. How true! In the last ten anticipated the worst. in its dashing low flight across the paths. years the vegetation has grown much What a pleasant surprise it was to see the A male Malabar Trogon Harpactes denser, especially the undergrowth, to the “Botanical garden” area that is just adjacent fasciatus was spotted, quietly perched on a extent that I could not locate some of the to the Dam, a major tourist attraction, still in tree, and was the star attraction. We followed paths I used to take during my fieldwork. I excellent condition! In fact I felt the place it as it flew to another tree. I do not remember do hope other parts of the sanctuary too had become more overgrown and wild since seeing the bird here earlier, though it was are getting back the vegetation. Another my last visit and this was borne out by the recorded from other sites in the sanctuary bird that appears to have established itself subtle changes in the still rich bird life. Tall, fairly often. Another bird that captivated here is the Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica. moist deciduous trees towered up to 25m or the students’ attention (even the least It was not too common earlier. so and there was impenetrable undergrowth interested ones yearned to catch a glimpse Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis in some areas. It appears that there is also a of it) was the Fairy Bluebird Irena puella. azurea, Asian Paradise Terpsiphone considerable reduction in the movement of There were at least two pairs moving about paradisi, Asian Brown Muscicapa people and vehicles over the years. The rather rapidly amongst the dense foliage and dauurica, a lone Brown-breasted M. muttui, plantation areas of Eucalyptus sp., showed there was a scramble for binoculars. Verditer Eumyias thalassina and Tickell’s signs of regeneration of native vegetation. Although everyone got a good look, they Blue-Cyornis tickelliae represented The vegetation was still lush and the trees were willing to spend more time, well past flycatchers. The thrush family too was well had not yet shed their leaves although it the breakfast, to watch it longer. represented with Malabar Whistling-thrush was the beginning of the dry season. The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus Myophonus horsfieldii, which enthralled Silk Cotton Bombax ceiba trees were in paradiseus was another attractive bird that briefly with its school-boy whistles (that our bloom while Melia dubia and Sterculia was often sighted with the mixed flocks of boys tried mimicking rather unsuccessfully!), guttata were in fruit. The weather was foraging forest birds. Just as the birds the White-throated subspecies of the pleasant with clear skies, cool nights and followed the drongo (or was it the other way Orange-headed Ground Thrush Zoothera warm days. around?) we followed the drongo and got citrina, Black-capped subspecies of the In the seven and a half hours (two to see other birds that included the Bronzed Eurasian Blackbirds Turdus merula, Oriental mornings and one late afternoon) spent out D. aeneus and Grey Drongos D. Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis and in the forest area and the reservoir, we leucophaeus, Small Pericrocotus White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus. I was recorded 103 species of birds. This is a cinnamomeus and Scarlet Minivets P. glad to see the Shama, as there had been sizeable figure as I had recorded a total of flammeus, the occasional Large Coracina only one pair here ten years ago. 219 species in the Sanctuary during my stay macei and Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrikes C. Indian Hanging-Parrots Loriculus here (Santharam, in press). melanoptera, Large Tephrodornis gularis vernalis were as common as earlier, as were Of the eight woodpecker species I had and Common Woodshrikes T. the Plum-headed Parakeets Psittacula studied here, I now recorded only six Brown- pondicerianus and Great Tits Parus major, cyanocephala. Banded Bay Cuckoos’ capped Pygmy Dendrocopos nanus, Rufous apart from woodpeckers. I missed the Cacomantis sonneratii calls were frequently Celeus brachyurus, Small Yellow-naped Velvet-fronted Nuthatches Sitta frontalis – heard. A Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon Picus chlorolophus, Little Scaly-bellied perhaps they were overlooked in the crowd! capensis seen next to a White-breasted H. Green Picus xanthopygaeus, Lesser Golden- Three species of orioles – the Eurasian smyrnensis cousin provided good backed Dinopium benghalense and Greater Golden Oriolus oriolus, Black-headed O. comparison for the novice birdwatchers. Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 33
Crested Tree-Swifts Hemiprocne coronata Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela, Shikra Other species seen on the visit: Common were commonly seen in the Eucalyptus Accipiter badius and Black Kite Milvus Hoopoe Upupa epos, Chestnut-headed Bee- plantation where I had known them to roost migrans. The birds seen in the vicinity of eater Merops leschenaulti, Asian Koel and nest. Only once did I hear the calls of the reservoir from the dam include Little Eudynamys scolopacea, Greater Coucal the Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii and Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, River Centropus sinensis, Blue Rock Pigeon the Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea. Tern Sterna aurantia, Indian Shag Columba livia, Spotted Dove Streptopelia Both the Jungle Turdoides striatus and Phalacrocorax fuscicollis – (2-3 birds), chinensis, Indian Robin Saxicoloides White-headed Babblers T. affinis were seen, Little Egretta garzetta and Cattle egrets fulicata, Black Drongo Dicrurus the latter in more open areas. The Spotted Bubulcus ibis, Indian Pond- Ardeola grayii macrocercus, Brown Shrike Lanius Babbler’s Pellorneum ruficeps melodious and Black-crowned Night Herons cristatus, Common Iora Aegithina tiphia, calls were heard once. Thick-billed Dicaeum Nycticorax nycticorax. Two Franklin’s Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda, agile, Tickell’s D. erythrorhynchos and Nightjars Caprimulgus affinis were heard Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura, Gold-fronted perhaps the Plain Flowerpeckers D. at dusk across the dam along the scrub- Chloropsis Chloropsis aurifrons, House concolor, Purple Nectarinia asiatica, covered slope. Several Indian Edible-nest Corvus splendens and Jungle crows C. Purple-rumped N. zeylonica and Loten’s Swiftlets Collocalia unicolor, House Apus macrorhynchos, Common Myna Sunbirds N. lotenia were noticed often. affinis and Asian Palm-Swifts Cypsiurus Acridotheres tristis, Red-whiskered Grey-headed Starlings Sturnus balasiensis, Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo Pycnonotus jocosus, Red-vented P. cafer malabaricus were seen in good numbers daurica and Ashy Woodswallow Artamus and White-browed Bulbuls P. luteolus, on the Bombax trees. These birds were also fuscus were seen in flight, hawking insects. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius, noticed in flight one evening towards dusk It was wonderful to be back at Peechi and Blyth’s Reed- Acrocephalus dumetorum in Thrissur, right in the busiest localities in it was interesting to notice the subtle but and Greenish Leaf-Warblers Phylloscopus the centre of the town. I remember seeing significant changes in the bird life following trochiloides, Yellow-throated Sparrow several Rosy Starlings S. roseus here in the the changes in the vegetation. We need to Petronia xanthocollis, White-rumped dry season when the Bombax ceiba trees in monitor such changes over long time Munia Lonchura striata and Large Pied the vicinity of the temple were in bloom. periods to see how the wildlife responds to Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis. Raptors present include the Changeable changes in the vegetation. Peechi appears Reference Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus - which in ideal given its easy access and rich and Santharam, V. (In press). Birds of the Peechi- this case did not change its old haunts and diverse bird life. Perhaps Nameer or Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (India) was perhaps nesting on the same someone else from nearby areas would take Blackbuck. Terminalia paniculata tree, Oriental Honey- the initiative to re-survey the birds of this Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, Crested sanctuary.
New and significant records from the Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India Harkirat Singh Sangha B-27, Gautam Marg, Hanuman Nagar, Jaipur 302021, India. Email: [email protected] he Great Himalayan National Park Sai Ropa (c.1440m). Later five birds were pheasant was heard late in the evening of T(GHNP; Himachal Pradesh, India), seen outside the park in the afternoon on 15.iv.2003 at 17:50hrs while camping at Shilt represents the best example of undisturbed 24.iv.2003 at the Rohtang Pass (3,978m). Both (c.3100m). The wailing call was heard nine west Himalayan temperate forest and falls the groups were migrating northwards. times. On 16.iv.2003, early in the morning, it within one of the globally Endemic Bird 2. Shikra Accipiter badius: A male was started calling at 05:30hrs and continued up Areas (DO2: Western Himalayas) identified observed calling in the afternoon on to 07:00hrs with an odd-call at 09:00hrs also. by the ICBP Biodiversity Project (Gaston et 23.iv.2003 and again in the morning on While walking on the slippery track from al. 1994). But the birds of GHNP have not 24.iv.2003 at Sai Ropa. It is possible that the Shilt to Chhoa Dar, one was flushed near been exhaustively surveyed. Both Babault species moves to the higher areas during the camp. Unlike Koklass Pheasant (1920) and Whistler (1926) visited Parbati summer. Pucrasia macrolopha and Impeyan Monal Valley, a day’s walk from the park boundary 3. Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula Lophophorus impejanus it did not call when and Wynter-Blyth (1952) passed through cyanocephala: A small flock of five birds flushed. However, its wings made a curious, Tirthan Valley, not far from the park. There was observed near Sai Ropa at c1600m on rattling sound, very different from the other is no published account reporting birds from 18.vi.2002, considerably higher than the pheasants. Around 07:55hrs one male flew the actual park area, except by Gaston et al. known altitudinal range of 600m for the down the slope and landed on the track (1994). The purpose of this note is to update species (Kazmierczak 2000). barely 5m from us! For five seconds we were published information on the avifauna of 4. House Swift Apus affinis: More than 200 treated to an eye-filling view of his spiky the park with additional records from were seen in the afternoon near Sai Ropa black crest, scarlet face and nape and flame- birdwatching trips to the Tirthan Valley on 24.iv.2003. For fifteen minutes or so they red breast. Seeing us so close the startled during 16-20.vi.2002 and 13-24.iv.2003. hunted in the valley before flying away. bird walked 2m or so up the slope before New records Significant records turning and wheeling down the steep 1. Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus: 1. Western Tragopan Tragopan mountainside, twisting between the trees. Four birds were observed on 13.iv.2003 near melanocephalus: This ‘Vulnerable’ Another male flew behind that one, but kept 34 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) going down slope, giving good views in 22.iv.2003 one bird called sporadically during References flight. We also flushed a female before the night (02:45 hrs). Babault, Guy. 1920. Mission Guy Babault dans returning to the camp. 2. Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi: The les Provinces Centrales de l’Inde dans la On 17.iv.2003 a bird called at 05:15hrs for only time we heard this ‘Vulnerable’ species Region Occidentale de l’Himalaya et Ceylan about four minutes. Another bird started was from the top of the south-facing slope 1914. Resultats Scientifiques. Oiseaux Collectionnés au cours de la Mission. 1st ed. calling soon after from a different direction. near Rolla. The birds called at 17:45hrs for a Paris: Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle. A third bird called around 06:15hrs. minute or two on 18.iv.2004. Gaston, A. J., P. J. Garson, and S. Pandey. 1994. We trekked up to Khorli Poi (c.3000m) on 3. Orange Bullfinch Pyrrhula aurantiaca: Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan Park, the opposing north face of the valley where Previously reported only by Ben King Himachal Pradesh, India. Forktail 9: 45-57. we camped for two days. In the inclement (Gaston et al. 1994) who visited the park Kazmierczak, Krys 2000. A field guide to the weather, with heavy snowfall, we did not from 27.ix–2.x.1984. One female was birds of the Indian subcontinent. U.K.: Pica see tragopans, but two males were heard. A observed near Shilt on 16.iv.2003. Press. male roosting some distance from our tents, Kazmierczak (2000) gives only three isolated Whistler, H. 1926. A note on the birds of Kulu. started calling at night (03:45hrs). Two more records from Himachal Pradesh and one J. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. XXXI (2): 458-485. Wynter-Blyth, M. A. 1952. A naturalist in the birds from different directions called from from Uttaranchal outside Jammu and North-West Himalaya. Part II. J. Bombay Nat. the first light of pre-dawn on 21.iv.2003. On Kashmir, of this ‘Near-threatened’ species. Hist. Soc. 50 (3): 559-572.
Greater Spotted Eagle, Grasshopper Warbler and Broad-tailed Grassbird near Pune, Maharashtra, India Anand Prasad Middlewood, Roeburndale West, Lancaster, LA2 9LL, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected] reater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga (MD 18.xii.2000
Nesting of Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii at Nandi Hills, Karnataka, India S. Subramanya PHT Scheme, ‘J’ Block, GKVK campus, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore 560065, India. Email: [email protected] andi Hills (13°21’45”N, 77°40’30”E; During a trip to Nandi Hills on 31.i.2005 within the Western Ghats with most eggs N1,400m asl), located about 60km north a small group of us observed about 10 Nilgiri laid in May and June (Morgan 1875, Hume of Bangalore, is a popular holiday Wood-Pigeons in the evergreen patch. and Oates 1889-1890, Baker 1932-1935, destination. The site has recently been Loosely scattered groups of four and six Goodwin 1967), the nesting season at Nandi declared an Important Bird Area (Islam and birds were observed on two occasions in appears to have a local variation and Rahmani 2004) owing to its importance in different areas, early in the morning and later commences in November / December. By supporting populations of Yellow-throated the birds could only be seen singly or in taking into consideration the observations Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus and the pairs. While being observed, the birds of Karthikeyan (2000) on nest building in Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba eliphinstonii showed themselves up openly; not unduly late March, the birds probably appear to (Subramanya et al. 1991, 1994) and that of bothered by our presence and even allowing continue nesting till April-May. The two the critically endangered Long-billed Gyps us to get as close as 5-7m while being flimsy nests observed at Nandi were typical indicus and White-backed Vulture Gyps perched on low branches - some as low as of those built by the species in being the bengalensis in the past. 3m high. One pair was observed for over 10 usual “slight platform” of sticks on branches Occurrence of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon minutes while it remained on a low branch of trees and bushes, placed usually 2.5-5m (NWP) at Nandi Hills is significant. For a near a clearing. Another pair appeared to be from the ground (Morgan 1875, Hume and species that is otherwise partial to moist courting, within a dense Cinnamomum Oates 1889-1890, Murray 1889). The birds at inter-belt and confined to the evergreen camphora (Lauraceae) canopy. One of them Nandi appear to lay a single egg, as was biotope of the Western Ghats, Anaimalais, called, “wooo-woook- also observed by Morgan (1875), Terry Nilgiris, Palnis and hills of western woogugu,woogugugu,…” continuously, (1887) and, Hume and Oates (1889-1890). Karnataka (Ali and Ripley 1987), Nandi Hills while standing on an horizontal branch and While the birds were being observed, a is well outside its known distributional facing the other bird. Later, a nest of the troop of c40 Bonnet Macaques Macaca range. In fact, the small population of the species, with an incubating bird, was radiata invaded the area around us, often species at Nandi Hills appears to be relictual. discovered. However, once the inflow of approaching close and looking at us There are no historical records that show holiday crowd started passing through the expectantly with the hope of being fed. The when this site was colonized by Nilgiri evergreen patch, the birds were observed troop was seen at all heights of vegetation Wood-Pigeons. On top of Nandi Hills, the to confine themselves to the dense canopies within the evergreen patch. On one instance species is usually confined to a crater-like of trees and could not be seen so easily. a Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon was heard giving out depression supporting evergreen The nest was built on a stout branch of a low and harsh note while bending down vegetation with a dense shrub layer a Celtis tetrandra (Ulmaceae) tree aggressively towards a young macaque that dominated by Coffea spp. completely overrun by broad-leaved was moving up a branch from two feet below. Interestingly, earlier surveys of Nandi creepers of Thunbergia grandiflora The placement of its nest in a well-concealed Hills by Salim Ali, during his survey of the (Acanthaceae). The nest and the incubating condition may indicate that the nesting “Birds of Mysore” on 19. xii.1939 (Ali and bird were very well screened by a dense Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon at Nandi may suffer a Whistler 1941), and Ghorpade et al. (1974), tangle of creeping branches and were possible predation pressure from the did not report the Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon. completely hidden from a casual observer, macaques. During his visit to Nandi Hills, Salim Ali did with only a part of the bird’s neck and eyes As per the Department of Horticulture not seem to have visited the evergreen being visible. No efforts were made to officials in charge at Nandi Hills, over 1,500 patch, as his notes do not include species examine the nest or its contents. After this, macaques are known to inhabit the hilltop like Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis, a local boy who noticed us watching the and have been observed to live mostly off Blue-headed Rock-Thrush Monticola nest, led us to another abandoned nest of the remains of food discarded by visitors. cinclorhynchus, White-throated Ground the species in a dense Murraya paniculata Between 500-1,000 people visit the hilltop Thrush Zoothera citrina cyanotus, Indian (Rutaceae) bush at the edge of the evergreen during weekdays. The crowd swells to Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea, Pied Thrush patch and placed about 3m from the ground. 4,000-10,000 on Sundays and even up to Zoothera wardii and Blackbird Turdus He told us that the birds incubated a single 30,000 on certain government holidays. In merula which frequent it (Prasad et al. 1995). egg in this nest during the last week of fact, a record 2,00,000 people thronged the Also, during their three visits to Nandi Hills, December 2004 and the egg hatched a fluffy hilltop during the night of Maha Shivarathri Ghorpade et al. (1974) do not seem to have white nestling in the first week of January festival in February 2004. There has been surveyed the patch carefully, for they have 2005. Unfortunately, the nestling and the no in-depth assessment of the impact of the not mentioned the species in their article. parent disappeared a week after the former macaque population and human disturbance The occurrence of the pigeon at Nandi Hills was seen. The nest was a flimsy platform of on the land-locked population of the Nilgiri was first noticed in 1987 (Subramanya et al. loosely placed sticks. The nest was still Wood-Pigeon. 1991), and indications of its possible nesting intact without any signs of damage. In both A week later, the nest was still active, were only reported very recently the cases, the nest platforms were very although it was very difficult to make out (Karthikeyan 2000). In this article, simple affairs, made up of thin dried sticks. the incubating bird within the dark interior observation on the nesting of the species is Although the species has been created by the tangle of creepers. The bird being presented. observed breeding between May-July remained motionless with only the tail tip Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 37 projecting out of the nest and did not give those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri (3): 429-430 (2000). any indication of being affected by the Lanka. 2nd ed.. Bombay: Oxford University Morgan, R. W. 1875. On the nidification of certain people who were moving around, often close Press. p. 737. south-Indian birds. Ibis (3) 5: 313-323. to the nesting tree. Baker, E. C. S. 1932-1935. The nidification of Murray, J. A. 1889. The edible and game birds birds of the British Empire 4 vols. London: of British India with its dependencies and Acknowledgements Taylor and Francis. Ceylon. London: Trübner. I thank Dr Eric and Christine Lott for inviting Ghorpade, K. G., A. Verghese and B. Mallik. Prasad, J. N., S. Karthikeyan and S. Subramanya. me on the trip to Nandi Hills and Lloyd 1974. Birds of the Nandi Hills - A preliminary 1995. Wintering of the Indian Blue Chat Nehemiah, Drecie Ch. Marak, Oscar Prabhakar, survey. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 14 (5): Erithacus brunneus (Hodgson) and Pied Sandeep, Kitty Ch. Marak, Chea Amelia Ch. 1-5. Ground Thrush Zoothera wardii (Blyth) at Marak, Nishil Mark D. Mathew and Milind Goodwin, D. 1967. Pigeons and doves of the Nandi Hills, South India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Yohann Mathew for helping in sighting different world. London: British Museum (Natural Soc. 92 (2): 267-269. individuals of Nilgiri Wood Pigeons and locating History). Subramanya, S., S. Karthikeyan and J. N. the nest. Thanks are also due to Dr. George Hume, A. O. and E. W. Oates. 1889-1890. Nests Prasad. 1991. Yellowthroated Bulbul at Ommen, Lloyd Nehemiah, and Joel George and eggs of Indian birds. 2nd ed. London: R. Nandi Hill: Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31 Mathew for having taken me to Nandi Hills a H. Porter. (3-4): 7-8. week later. Assistance of the local boy and the Islam, M. Z. and A. R. Rahmani. 2004. Important Subramanya, S., J. N. Prasad and S. Karthikeyan. local staff on top of Nandi is gratefully Bird Areas in India: Priority sites for 1994. Nilgiri Wood Pigeons Columba acknowledged. conservation. Indian Bird Conservation elphinstonii (Sykes) at Nandi hills near References Network: Bombay Natural History Society Bangalore. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 91 (2): Ali, S. and H. Whistler. 1943. The birds of and BirdLife International (UK). Pp 1133. 319-320. Mysore. Part IV. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 44 Karthikeyan, S. 2001. Circumstantial evidence Terry, H. A. 1887. A few additional notes on (1): 9-26. of breeding of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon birds on the Pulney Hills. Stray Feathers X: Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley. 1987. Compact handbook Columba elphinstonii (Sykes) at Nandi Hills, 467-480. of birds of India and Pakistan together with near Bangalore. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 97
Occurrence of the Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala in Assam Maan Barua1 and Polasz Bora 1Wild Grass, Kaziranga, Assam 785109, India. Email: [email protected]
he Painted Stork Mycteria nearby for comparison); head, neck, breast days, always in association with the group T leucocephala is a resident in the Indian and rest of under parts off-white, but grey- of Black-necked Storks, of which four birds Sub-continent from the Indus delta in brown on the feathers of mid-crown; black were juveniles. We managed to Pakistan through most parts of India, Nepal feathers of scapulars and coverts photograph the bird at 16:10hrs on and east through to Bangladesh, where it characteristically white-tipped, but lacking 19.xi.2004, with the help of a digital camera inhabits freshwater marshes, lakes and the barred appearance of adult birds as those and a 20x telescope. B. Oldrey also reservoirs, flooded fields and river banks of median and greater coverts were more captured the individual on film, and the (Grimmett et al. 1998). Surprisingly, it is diffused with grey-brown around the edges; first author holds a clip of the footage. The entirely absent in northeastern India, despite tertiary feathers beginning to show pink, but bird was last seen on 20.xi.2004, and a adequate habitat being present in the bases retaining a dirty grey-brown; off-white search in other areas of the park in the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, and in low- secondaries and dark primaries; off-white succeeding two weeks failed to locate the lying areas of Manipur. nape downwards, but feathers of mantle and bird. A Painted Stork was later seen at On 16.xi.2004, one of us (PB) was leading upper back dull grey-brown in colour; Bahu Beel in the western range of a nature tour in the Central (Kaziranga) extended down-curved beak yellow in Kaziranga in January 2005 (Rathin Barman Range of Kaziranga National Park (26º34’- colour, with reddish towards the base and pers. com.) and its description as “not a 26º46’N and 92º55’-93º36’E). At 10:30 hrs, bare areas around the eye; legs dull yellow. full adult” probably refers to the same while watching birds at Kathpora, a single From the above description, we infer that individual. Painted Stork was seen amidst a flock of the individual is presumably a first-winter There are very few records of the Painted Black-necked Storks Ephippiorhynchus bird, as it shows signs of a juvenile under Stork from Assam, but loners, and at times asiaticus. He informed MB about the going moult. The characteristic barring on up to three birds, have turned up in various sighting that very afternoon, who the coverts of adult birds was in an localities (Choudhury 2000), but none from immediately went to the area in order to intermediate state, with diffused grey-brown Kaziranga (Barua and Sharma 1999). None of corroborate the sighting. tips to the feathers. The tips of the tertiaries these observations have been published At 14:35hrs, the bird was present, in more showed a dull pink colour, and had the grey- with specific plumage reference or or less the same locality, at another end of brown base of juveniles, rather than the photographs, and it is not known whether Mihi Beel (Kathpora) – a perennial ox-bow white of the adult. A few feathers of the these were adult birds or juveniles. It would lake, where it was seen amidst 11 Black- crown and mantle were also grey-brown. not be surprising if more juvenile or first- necked Storks. Notes were taken Moreover, the feathers of the breast were winter birds were seen in Assam over the immediately, and they are summarized as not completely black, and had not formed next few years, as they are more likely to be follows: Size noticeably smaller than that of the barring reminiscent of the adult. ‘pushed out’ from their normal range by adult Black-necked Storks (which were present The bird remained in the area for a few birds, or may stray outside their normal range. 38 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
Acknowledgements References Guwahati: Gibbon Books. We would like to thank the following persons Barua, M. and P. Sharma. 1999. Birds of Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1998. for their help and inputs: R. Barman, B. Kaziranga National Park. Forktail 15: 47-60. Birds of the Indian Sub-continent. London: Konwar, B. Oldrey, J. Tamuly, and N.K. Vasu. Choudhury, A.U. 2000. The birds of Assam. Christopher Helm.
Record of a Rufous-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna from Chandigarh, India Lt. General Baljit Singh House No.219, Sector 16-A, Chandigarh 160015.
his is a record of the sighting of a I rushed home for a camera and was Distribution Status: All evidence points Tsolitary Rufous-tailed Wheatear delighted on returning to see the bird still that the Rufous-tailed Wheatear is a vagrant Oenanthe xanthoprymna in Chandigarh there. I made seven frames and walked away at Chandigarh and as far as I am able to city (north India) at 08:15hrs on 6.x.2003. hoping to see him again the next day. Over ascertain, this may be the first such record. Location: Chandigarh city lies at the the next ten days all efforts at re-locating There is just one other record way outside junction of the Shivalik Ranges (the lowest the bird were unsuccessful. its wintering ground by Jones (1919) at and the first southern out-crop of the Description: I quote from my diary of Sairee in the Simla hills on 29.ix.1912. Himalaya) and the plains of North India. In 6.x.2003, written about 50 minutes after I had Miscellaneous Vagrants: Between 2001 and the northern half of Chandigarh city, an open first sighted the bird. “Saw what might be 2003, in the Zakir Rose Garden and again space of about 800m width, astride a the Rufous-tailed Wheatear on the stump during my morning walks, I have seen the seasonal stream running NNE-SW had been of a pruned rose bush. Solitary and trusting Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus landscaped and developed as a “green-belt” to within about 15 feet. Tail black above and caeruleus thrice and heard it, in addition, 6- in the 1960s and named ‘The Leisure Valley.’ rufous below, rufous extending up to the 7 times. The Dark-throated Thrush Turdus One segment of this space measuring about vent region, fading out at the lower belly. ruficollis was seen once in April 2002. I have 20ha in the NE quadrant of the city is laid Terminal tip of tail above also rufous, which photographic proof of the former from out as ‘The Zakir Rose Garden,’ with about may prove the best diagnostic clue. Rump March 2004. A friend has positively seen 600 varieties of roses in perhaps 1,000 beds rufous, more so towards the tail-base, lighter one solitary White-capped Redstart amidst vast lawns dotted with over 100 towards the back. Chin, throat, sides of neck Chaimarrornis Leucocephalus once in 2000 flowering and fruiting trees of various silvery grey, crown, mantle and upper parts about 1km NE of the Rose Garden. species. At this time of the year all rose silvery grey-brown, ear coverts dark (light References bushes are pruned leaving stumps about dark), tips and edges of primaries and Ali, Salim, and S. Dillon Ripley. 2001. Handbook two feet tall. secondaries buffish-grey and median of the birds of India and Pakistan together The solitary bird was sighted on the coverts silverfish-grey. Beak and eyes black, with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and stump of a rose bush (30°44’55”N, legs glossy black. Ceylon. Robins to Wagtails. 2nd ed. Vol. 9 76°47’10”E, 350m a.s.l.). This is c.1,000km In my library, only two books had texts (Robins to wagtails). 10 vols. Delhi: (Sponsored NNE from its known wintering range in India on this bird. My description comes fairly by Bombay Natural History Society.) Oxford and at least 600km E from its range in close to Grimmett et al. (1998) but the University Press [Oxford India Paperbacks.]. Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, and Tim Pakistan. illustration neither matches his own text nor Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian Circumstances of Sighting: On 6.x.2003 at mine except for the tail-rump region. The Subcontinent. 1st ed. (With the collaboration 08:15hrs I was surprised by a solitary bird, distribution map suggests that the bird is a of Sarath Kotagama and Shahid Ali.) (Helm as it was new to me here. It was a bright vagrant here. Ali and Ripley (2001) state Identification Guides.) London: Christopher sunny morning and I observed the bird emphatically “the only Chat or Wheatear Helm, A & C Black. through binoculars, uninterrupted, for about with rufous rump and base of tail.” And Jones, A. E. 1919. A list of birds found in the ten minutes. It looked like a chat but none again, “Migration occurs on winter grounds Simla Hills, 1908-1918. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. that I had seen / known before. Having made from the beginning of October till the end of Soc. XXVI (2): 601-620. a mental note of all those aspects of the bird March…Passage mostly in October and that would later help in identification. March…”
Extracts from the Akhbaar book at Kihim Zafar Futehally #2205 Oakwood Apartment, Jakkasandra Layout, Koramangala, 3rd Block, 8th Main, Bangalore 560034, India. Email: [email protected] “One of the major ills from which we suffer Under the circs. (= circumstances) I guess otherwise, have been or will be (no doubt) while fighting this war for our freedom and that a long-winded thesis, however chronicled by our special Society, Three Arts justice is paper shortage. Hence this Akhbar intellectual or elevating, will be unwelcome. and other departmental correspondents. I book, unlike the Akhbar books of the good The social doings of this year’s Kihim shall confine myself merely to certain old days is emaciated and does not wear season – the innumerable meals we have happenings in the sphere of local the traditional look of prosperous eaten, the hands we have shaken and the ornithology. There is nothing unusual in the Accountancy. The family appraises N. B. cheeks we have kissed many times per day, happenings, but [they] will be interesting that it has cost 5 good rupees nevertheless. and the other events intelligent and records after 50 years. The generation now Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 39 in the bud, of whom I have high hopes, will problem needs solving re the ‘Yali’ pair of All this is getting too long – so here a few find them so (- I hope). It is rather early as White-bellied Sea-Eagles. Raja, the emeritus items in brief: yet to say how many, and which, of the Yali mali, tells me he has seen “this pair 2 flocks Flamingoes (50 & 26) flying N – youngsters who are so enthusiastic at the nesting every year in the same place since 23 April. moment will stay the course and grow old he was a boy – over 50 yrs., ago – Never 2 prs. (=pairs) Green Bee-eaters and 1 with the same interestness for birds. I feel has he seen more than the one pair about, White-breasted Kingfisher nesting in ‘Al certain, however that even if most of them and never have they succeeded in raising a Murad’ compound. fall by the wayside they will at least be able family!” “Let the credit rest with the relator” 1 Fulvous Fruit Bat (Rousettus to bequeath to their children and as Babur would have said, but the matter is leschenaulti) ringed by me in April (’43) in grandchildren the correct prescription for not without strangeness and certainly an old cave on Elephanta Is., was found telling a woodpecker from a duck! This in worthy of investigation. This season (ie., struggling with black ants by Shamoon in itself will be a definite advance. Among the Decr. 1942) the Eagles had shifted to a ‘Yali’ compound on 13 May! Believe it or more promising of my ‘chelas’ today I would Casuarina in the S-W corner of Shahinda’s not. name: Shamoon (son of Najmuddin), Jamila land. There were 2 eggs in the nest – abt., Pitta: Blue-cheeked (or Blue-tailed?) Bee- (daughter of Abu), Sadiq (s/o Adnan), 100ft., up, which vanished after a week or eaters appeared overnight 24th and 19th May Shums (s/o Mukhlis), Iqbal (s/o Mamoon), so – rather unaccountably. Thereafter the respectively, after, rainy and stormy nights. Ameeruddin (s/o Jabir), Nafisa (d/o Asaf), birds lost interest in this nest, but they are Last Blyth’s Reed-Warbler at Bhonbar 25 and last and smallest though not least still in the same neighbourhood. The May. Wasim (s/o Ilyas). Humayun who has also desertion by the Eagles of their age-long 1 pair Quaker Babblers – for 1st time ever been under my wing, is past the fledgling nest site – the beehive Casuarina above the near ‘Latifia’ – 12-19 May. stage and is already on the way to well N of Yali bungalow – was undoubtedly [Sálim Ali, 27 May 1943] establishing himself as a bird man. due to the large influx of White-backed * * * * “A pair of Honey Buzzards has been Vultures that suddenly took a fancy to Yali “The first attempt to catch birds with a mist nesting between Yali ‘Retreat’ for the last compound and cluttered all the fine net ended disappointingly. Between all yes- 12 yrs., to my knowledge – but never more Casuarinas with their large and filthy terday (15 Nov.) and up to 2 p.m. today (16 than one pair. On 10th May a 14 day old chick [nests?]. The ire of the ‘Squire’ was justly Nov.) only 3 birds were caught – 1 Spotted from this year’s nest in ‘Retreat’ compound aroused. Babler, 1 Grey Drongo, 1 Blyth’s Reed War- was ringed. If it grows up, it may furnish He loaded his gun bler. 1st & 3rd were ringed. No. 2 got away some clue as regards the nesting pair next And slew a dozen after much fighting & drawing blood. With year. Does the same pair nest here year after Which sent the rest a-packing. a number of nets & enthusiastic netters, I year? Is its place taken in part or wholly by am sure some very useful work could be the new born youngsters? Or do altogether It is hoped that the Sea-Eagles will now done here in the intervals between eating new birds occupy the place? And what return. and sleeping.” [Salim Ali, 16.xi.1960.] happens to the yearly progeny? The same
Recoveries from Newsletter for Birdwatchers – 6 Zafar Futehally #2205 Oakwood Apartment, Jakkasandra Layout, Koramangala, 3rd Block, 8th Main, Bangalore 560034, India. Email: [email protected]
even months after the Newsletter was Joseph George (well-known to our designed a nest box from the internode of a Sstarted, letters still came welcoming its readers), then of New Forest, Dehra Dun, giant bamboo. He learnt from books that the existence. J. H. H. Peppe of Birdpur Estate, suggested that, “a very useful service which Green Barbet usually excavates a new nest Basti, U. P. wrote, “I have much appreciated the Newsletter can do is publication of hole every season. “A nest box that would receiving the Newsletter…and would abstracts and papers on birds appearing in require some tunneling seemed therefore to willingly pay a subscription…I have various journals.” have the best chance of being acceptable to resigned my membership to the BNHS as I Artificial nest box for Green Barbets the bird.” am only interested in the birding side…” The July 1961 issue was a little better He put up the box on 2.iv.1960, and three M. C. A. Jackson, Malajamullay Estate, organised than the previous ones in having weeks later a small hole was visible in the Kerala, said, “I have found them (NLBW) definite sections, articles, reviews, notes and wooden plug and wood chips were seen very interesting and I strongly support the comments, and correspondence. An scattered on the ground. Matters seemed to idea of an Ornithological Society.” interesting piece by Joseph George related be progressing well, but unfortunately a pair Dr R. M. Naik, Faculty of Science, Zoology to an experiment attempting to create an of Black-headed Mynas finally drove away Department, Baroda, like the Newsletter, “I artificial nest for the Green Barbet. He the barbets and nested in the box! am glad you are developing it along the right noticed “A Green Barbet…near the entrance Family parties of birds lines.” hole of one of the nest boxes put up in New I remember having read in Bird Study that a B. V. Ramanjulu, Superintendent Forest, Dehra Dun. The bird did not enter birdwatcher kept a close watch on the Zoological Park, “found that the Newsletter the box but it gave the impression that it goings-on across the hedge in his garden. was performing a great service in the field would accept a suitably designed nest box.” He found that there was always a flock of a of natural history.” Taking the hint from this situation, he dozen of the same species, which spent a 40 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) great deal of time in that area. He was not That one went quite happily into the trap colonists from starvation during the famine sure whether the party consisted of the same and was duly ringed. On next visit there of 1614-18…But one of the most valuable 12 individuals or whether different were no less than 6 unringed ones. products for which birds are responsible is individuals made up the number. Eventually, out of that party which has guano the droppings of fish-eating birds, But Salim Ali, about the same time, never exceeded 14 birds and now seems to which is perhaps the finest fertilizer known received a letter from his friend Lt. Col. R. S. be 13, he has ringed no less than 25!! to man. The most productive region is off P. Bates, the well-known photographer of Strange, to say the least of it! In other words the rain-locked coast of Peru among Indian birds, and joint author of Breeding an interchange among these so-called colonies of the Guanay Cormorant birds of Kashmir, which threw some light family parties must occur. Perhaps two Phalacrocorax bougainvillei. The volume on this problem. I quote portions of the parties meet and one or two birds get lost of guano accumulated over centuries is quite letter: “Between May and December 31st from one to the other. If they are really family unbelievable and this fertilizer was the Peter Davis (an enthusiastic ringer) ringed parties in the first place, such gains and mainstay of the economy of Peru. In a no less than 400 Blue and Great Tits in his losses would at least ensure against too fascinating talk on sea birds given in garden (in Surrey) of less than 1 acre. In much inbreeding.” Bombay a couple of years back, Dr Cushman other words there is a continuous stream, Economic value of birds Murphy of the American Museum of and when people talk about having the same On my 40th birthday my mother-in-law Natural History, stated that cormorants did ‘dear little birds’ at the bird table day in and (Salim Ali’s sister) presented me with: An not defecate over the ocean but only on the day out they are more often than not seeing introduction to ornithology by George guano islands thus ensuring the maximum different birds every time. Two months or Wallace, published by Macmillan & Co., accumulation of these deposits. It was so ago I had a ringed Blue Tit and a ringed New York, 1959. It is a book worth suggested by him that this ‘civic Great Tit on our bird tray at the same time. I possessing. In those early days when mindedness’ of the cormorants was due to put up my trap and failed to catch either; conservation and ornithology were making the necessity of keeping the waters clean but 10 days later, and about another 10 days some headway, it was important to highlight so that the birds could see the fish for a later, I again saw a ringed Blue Tit and a the material advantages which human long distance below the water.” ringed Great Tit in the garden. Eventually beings received from birds. We were then Bird wing of the Indian Board for Wildlife on February 20th I caught the ? Blue Tit. (? far away from the period when birdwatching This organisation had just taken shape with Because I didn’t see the Great Tit that day, had become such a passionate hobby Salim Ali as Chairman and Dr Biswamoy so it could have been a different Blue Tit.) It worldwide. I quote a few lines from the Biswas as the Technical Secretary. The non- turned out to have been ringed by Davis review I carried: “From the earliest times officials were: R. S. Dharmakumarsinhji, Dr near Marley Common (just below his house) birds have always been a valuable item of S. C. Law, Humayun Abdulali, and E. P. Gee. on November 21st. Do these feeding bands food for man, but it is not realised what a This body, among other things, kept in close have their own pet beats I wonder, and how staggering number of birds were shot in touch with the International Council for Bird much ground do they cover? The direct early days when new settlements were Preservation (ICBP), formed in 1922. One of distance in this case is 7 or 8 miles. The established on virgin soil. Chapman speaks the important achievements of this Bird other point was about a family party of of an 1864 shipment of 20 tons of prairie Wing at that time was to persuade foreign Longtailed Tits. In this case a party of 12 chickens, of 14 billion 850 thousand countries to stop the import of Junglefowl was often in his garden and eventually he passenger pigeons shipped from a feathers, which were being used as flies by ringed the lot. In doing so he noticed that Michigan site in 1861, and of 5¼ million fishermen. An American firm was fined once ringed they would come to an adjacent game birds from the New Orleans market in $10,000 for the import of this banned item. table but the ringed ones would not enter 1909. It is said that the recently re- Humayun Abdulali played an important part the trap. One day he saw an unringed one discovered Cahow of Bermuda Petrel is in this decision. amongst the 12 (the total still being 12!). known to have saved some of the early
Reviews irds: beyond watching by Abdul Jamil experience in ecology, biodiversity quality have started hitting the market, BUrfi – Universities Press, Hyderabad, conservation and education. He is also arousing interest in birds among people all 2004. ISBN 81-7371-485-1 pp. 214 + X + 30 known to birdwatchers for he frequently across the country. This book urges plates (29 colour photographs and 1 map). writes in both popular and scientific birdwatchers to take more serious note of Price: Rs 285.00 (Soft cover). journals. Urfi is currently with the the birds they observe rather than ending- Contents: Preface vii; Introduction –1; Department of Environmental Biology, Delhi up as tickers and non-serious birders on Birdwatching and observation –13; Bird University. the lookout for “new” birds. It will, Habitats – 32; Bird Names and Classification This book is aimed at the students of hopefully, encourage and motivate people - 65; Bird Census – 82; Nesting and Breeding avian biology and serious amateur to do more serious work that will help in – 110; Understanding Migration – 132; birdwatchers. It has come at an opportune enhancing scientific knowledge about birds Conservation and Action – 152; Glossary – time when various Internet discussion and the habitats they live in. 180; Appendices – 185; Index – 212. groups and web sites related to birds are Each chapter has concisely-written The author of this book, Dr Abdul Jamil active and when a spate of bird books with information on relevant topics and basic Urfi, is a scientist with long research good illustrations and high production ecological concepts using a simple and clear Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 41 style. Line drawings, graphs and tables, and prove to be a valuable resource to all the information that the century-old works subtle humour make the book readable and serious birdwatchers and teachers and contained. Only Gole’s book was sustain the reader’s interest. By giving students of biology and environmental embellished with the atmospheric and personalised accounts and observations, sciences at the high school and college evocative art of David Rankin, comparable the author has given the book a strong levels. To the latter it may serve as a useful to the lithographs that enlivened the period regional flavour – something we miss while guide in designing projects to complement volumes. The exception, of course, was reading similar books currently in the market, classroom lectures that give a better insight Sonobe and Usui’s ‘A field guide to the usually written in American or European to the ecology and behaviour of birds in waterbirds of Asia’ (1993), which covered context. Each chapter also has a suggested nature and their role in our environment. more than the geographical area of Kerala list of activities that serve as useful practical –V. Santharam or India and was well illustrated. What is follow-up work and a list of references. A more, it was distributed free to all few boxed items give interesting snippets. A review and a critique. participants of the Asian Waterfowl Census The book is attractively brought-out with Pictorial handbook - Shorebirds of Kerala (up to that point in time), and still eagerly few typographical errors. (including gulls and terns). By: Sashikumar, sought even now! Six appendices at the end of the book C., Muhamed Jafer Palot, Sathyan Sathyan Meppayur illustrates, in colour, provide information on: ENVIS Centres Meppayur, and C. Radhakrishnan. 2004. 1st the book under review. He has tried to render (bird-related); List and particulars of ed. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. his subjects faithfully, but the spontaneous important bird organisations, publications Paperback. (18.5 x 24.0cm, with illus. cover, and confident brushwork of a birdwatcher- and websites; hints on choosing and using by; Sathyan Meppayur), pp. i-x, 1-165+2, artist, who paints in the field, is lacking. To binoculars and telescopes; environmental endpapers (illus.), 71 pll. (col., by Sathyan compete in the international marketplace, legislations pertaining biodiversity and Meppayur), 8 photos (col.), 73 maps, 4 line- upcoming Indian artists need to go into the habitat conservation; a list of threatened drawings. ISBN 81-8171-047-9. Price: Rs700/ field and paint the bird in the flesh. If nature birds of India and a list of suggested reading, -, $50/-, £30. is to become the subject of a painter’s career organised thematically. Contents: Tit. (p. i); imprint (p. ii); then all the tools necessary for the trade I, however, have a few suggestions and Foreword (pp. iii-iv, dated vii.2004, by; Dr S. become essential, include good optics and minor criticisms: Balachandran); Preface (p. v); situations that bring the artist and the bird One of the most crucial aspects of bird Acknowledgements (p. vii); Contents (pp. as close together as possible, e.g., bird- watching and bird study is taking notes and ix-x); Introduction (pp. 1-8); Systematic list ringing, museum skins and mounted maintaining records of observations. This (pp. 9-11); Kerala (p. 12, map); Topography specimens, and captive birds in zoo aviaries. also is often the most neglected or of a bird (p. 13); Wing of a shorebird (p. 13); He has to soak in the atmosphere that overlooked one. A more detailed discussion species texts (pp. 14-155); Selected belongs to the avian world, study feather stressing the importance of written notes, bibliography (pp. 156-158); Glossary (pp. texture, anatomy, behaviour, master preparation of databases and trip reports 159-161); Table 1: Identification of snipes - perspective and light, among several other will greatly enhance the value of this book. some hints (p. 162); Table 2: Identification things. Unless the subject turns his heart, Perhaps the various software and resources of non-breeding terns (p. 163); Index to the art will remain a mere proficiency in the available could also be discussed. The scientific names (p. 164); Index to common use of its tools. The artist should portray author mentions at the very outset that he names (p. 165). the jizz of a bird more than any words can. had chosen topics somewhat arbitrarily for This is the second taxon-specific work Shorebirds of Kerala describes and this book. However, I feel future editions published by the Zoological Survey of India illustrates 71 species belonging to the order could carry a more detailed treatment on in this new Century. The first was Alfred et Charadriiformes, hitherto recorded within topics like bird behaviour, foraging and al’s ‘Waterbirds of northern India’ (2001). the political boundaries of Kerala. Through feeding behaviour, recording bird calls, long- It heralds, I hope, the renewal of a century- it, the authors “…hope that this group of term monitoring of bird populations, remote old ‘tradition’ when such taxon-specific birds will get the attention they deserve” (p. sensing and its application in habitat works were published by Jerdon, ‘Games v). Each species is depicted on a plate with evaluation and bird photography. birds and wildfowl of India’ (1864); Hume a map giving its wintering, resident and The book has not given adequate details and Marshall, ‘Game birds’ (1879-1881); and breeding range. This faces a page with text of the resources currently available for E. C. Stuart Baker, ‘Indian ducks and their about that species. Points covered in the students of avian biology – audio allies’ (1908, 2nd ed.), ‘Indian pigeons and text include: Field characters; adult non- recordings, CD-ROMs pertaining to Bird doves’ (1913) and ‘Game-birds’ (1921-1930). breeding [plumage]; adult breeding identification (esp. Prof Madhav Gadgil’s In the early 1980s Sudhin Sengupta [plumage]; juvenile [plumage]; voice; wonderful efforts in the Project LifeScape) published a monograph, ‘Common Myna’ habitat; habits; status; and, distribution. and Bibliographies (eg Aasheesh Pittie’s), (1982) and Suresh Kumar, ‘Life history of The useful endpapers have small pictures etc. The photographs at the end of the book the Spotted Owlet’ (1985). More recently S. of all taxa, with numbers that lead a reader to do not serve any useful purpose and M. Osman published his booklet on the plate / chapter that deals with the taxon. perhaps could be dispensed with in future falconry, ‘Hunters of the air’ (1991) and Most of the textual information is available edition as this could bring down production Prakash Gole his guide to the ‘Cranes of in the several field-guides, handbooks and costs and make the book cheaper. India’ (1996). But these latter were almost specialist books available to the Despite these minor shortcomings, I feel anecdotal in character and content when contemporary birdwatcher. The uniqueness this is a wonderful effort. This book will compared with the detail and sweep of of this book lies in the text under the sub- 42 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) title, ‘status’. Herein the authors give the species – with details of distribution, of especially with cheaper alternatives of data for each species from Kerala. Alas, in published breeding localities, etc. It is superior quality and content easily available almost all the cases, this is restricted to a surprising and an eye-opener that “there is in the market. The publishers should realise few lines. This reviewer would have revelled no ringing data at all on our shorebirds” (p. that specialist books should necessarily in flocks of data for each taxon. Arrival and 1). contain a lot more about the subject than departure dates, census figures from the To popularise wader watching, we require general works, especially so if the quality of various wetlands where such an exercise a publication that lots of birdwatchers can the latter is excellent and the content wide- was carried out, e.g. Kole and Vembanad, buy (even if only in Kerala), study and use ranging. breeding areas of the resident waders, etc., in the field. The ‘Shorebirds of Kerala’ costs – Aasheesh Pittie are some of the points that come to mind. A Rs700/-, which is a bit heavy on the pocket map should have been produced for each for the content that one gets in return,
Recent ornithological literature on South Asia and Tibet Aasheesh Pittie 8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Email: [email protected]
Birding Asia pages; 30 colour plates; 240 colour SUBEDI, Poorneshwor. 2004. Status and URL: http://www.orientalbirdclub.org. photographs; 36 maps; numerous figures, distribution of Cheer Pheasant in Email: [email protected] tables and sonograms. ISBN 0-7136-5834- Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal. 1: 8. ALLEN, Des. 2004. Reviews: Saving Asia’s 7. Hardback £48.00. 1: 90-91. threatened birds: a guide for government JAMES, David J. 2004. Identification of Bird Conservation International and civil society. BirdLife International, Christmas Island, Great and Lesser SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi. 2004. Group size and Cambridge, 2003. 256 pages; many maps Frigatebirds. 1: 22-38. (With 30 col. habitat use by Black-necked Storks and colour photographs. ISBN 0-946888- photos, two tables and one text-fig.). Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in an 47-7. Paperback, £19.00. 1: 92-93. KAUL, Rahul, Hilaluddin, and J. S. Jandrotia. agriculture-dominated landscape in Uttar CHAN, Simba. 2004. Yellow-breasted Bunting 2004. Hunting of large mammals and Pradesh, India. 14 (4): 323-334. (With one Emeriza aureola. 1: 16-17. (With three col. pheasants in the Western Himalayas. 1: map and one text-fig.). photos.). 9-10. COLLAR, N. J. 2004. A new sequence of bird LOSEBY, Tim. 2004. Photospot. [Pied Thrush Buceros families for OBC? 1: 13-14. (With one Zoothera wardii]. 1: 54. (With two col. URL: http://www.bnhs.org. table.). photos.). Email: [email protected] —. 2004. Four odd “thrushes”. 1: 18-21. PFISTER, Otto. 2004. Ladakh - a high-altitude ANON. 2004. Report of the international (With three col. photos and two pll. (col. melting-pot. 1: 39-48. (With one map and South Asian Vulture Recovery Plan by; Dave Showler and Richard nine col. photos.). Workshop 12-14 February 2004. 9 (1): 1- Johnson).). PRASAD, Anand. 2004. Reviews: Birds of 48. (With a foreword by Asad R. —. 2004. Robert Swinhoe. 1: 49-53. (With Western Ghats, Kokan and Malabar Rahmani.). one map, one col. photo, one b&w. portr., (including birds of Goa). By Satish PITTIE, Aasheesh. 2004. A dictionary of and one pl. (col. by; J. G. Keuleman.). Pande, Saleel Tambe, Clement Francis M. scientific bird names originating from the GIRI, Jeet Bahadur, G. C. Som, and Jeet & Niranjan Sant. Bombay Natural History Indian region. 9 (2): 1-30. Bahadur Khadka. 2004. Population and Society and Oxford University Press, breeding success of White-rumped Mumbai and New Delhi, 2003. 392 pages. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture in Royal ISBN 019566878-2. Hardback, 995 rupees. URL: http://www.iczn.org/bzn.htm. Bardia National Park and Khairapur, Nepal. 1: 88-89. Email: [email protected] 1: 9. (With two tables.). —. 2004. Reviews: Birds of Goa. A reference DICKINSON, Edward C., Murray Bruce, Steven GYAWALI, Nabin. 2004. Population status and book. By Lainer, H. The Goa Foundation, Gregory, Alan P. Peterson, and Aasheesh habitat preferences of Lesser Adjutant in 2004. 244 pages; 20 line drawings; 2 Pittie. 2004. The dating of names proposed Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. 1: 8- maps. ISBN 81-85569-60-6, hardback, 500 in the first Supplement to Thomas 9. rupees, or ISBN 81-85569-61-4, paperback, Jerdon’s Catalogue of the birds of the HARVEY, Bill. 2004. Reviews: Helm field 300 rupees. 1: 90. peninsula of India. 61 (4): 214-224. guides: birds of northern India. By ROBSON, Craig. 2004. From the field: India. Richard Grimmett and Tim Inskipp. 1: 79-80. Current Science Christopher Helm, London, 2003. 304 —. 2004. From the field: Myanmar. 1: 80-81. URL: http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/. pages; 119 colour plates. ISBN 0-7136- —. 2004. From the field: Nepal. 1: 81. Email: [email protected] 5167-9. Paperback, £19.99. 1: 88. —. 2004. From the field: Sri Lanka. 1: 83. ARUN, P. R., and P. A. Azeez. 2004. Vulture —. 2004. Reviews: Pipits and wagtails of SHOWLER, Dave, Alexander Lees, Rajendra population decline, Diclofenac and avian Europe, Asia and North America. By Per N. Nale, and Bilal Habib. 2004. Indian gout. 87 (5) (10 September): 565-568. (With Alström and Krister Mild; illustrated by Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary, Nanaj, one map, one text-fig. and one photo.). Per Alström and Bill Zetterström. Maharashtra, India. 1: 58-62. (With one Christopher Helm, London, 2003. 496 map and three col. photos.). Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 43
Forktail tables.). articles/publications/journals/applied/. URL: http://www.orientalbirdclub.org. SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Rishad Naoroji. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2004. Nesting of Great Rosefinch GREEN, Rhys E., Ian Newton, Susanne Shultz, BARAL, Hem Sagar, Tika Giri, Badri Carpodacus rubicilla at Loma, Ladakh, Andrew A. Cunningham, Martin Gilbert, Choudhary, and G. C. Som. 2004. India. 20: 140. Deborah J. Pain, and Vibhu Prakash. 2004. Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus SIVAKUMAR, S., and Vibhu Prakash. 2004. Diclofenac poisoning as a cause of melanopogon: first record for Nepal. 20: Sexual dimorphism in Black Baza. 20: 139. vulture population declines across the 93. SIVAKUMAR, S., Hillaljyoti Singha, and Vibhu Indian subcontinent. 41: 793-800. (With BESTEN, Jan Willem den. 2004. Migration of Prakash. 2004. Notes on the population three text-figs., and one table.). Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis and density and feeding ecology of the other raptors along the Himalayas past Collared Falconet Microhierax Journal of Ornithology Dharamsala, India, in autumn 2001 and caerulescens in Buxa Tiger Reserve, GEBAUER, Axel, Jurgen Jacob, Martin Kaiser, spring 2002. 20: 9-13. (With two maps, West Bengal, India. 20: 97-98. (With one and Siegfried Eck. 2004. Chemistry of the four text-figs., and one table.). table.). uropygial gland secretion of Hume’s BIRAND, Aysegul, and Samraat Pawar. 2004. SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi. 2004. Observations on ground jay Pseudopodoces humilis and An ornithological survey in north-east breeding Indian Skimmers Rynchops its taxonomic implications. 145 (4): 352- India. 20: 15-24. (One map and two tables.). albicollis in the National Chambal 355. (Published online: 4 August 2004.). CHHANGANI, Anil Kumar. 2004. Frequency Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India. 20: 89- of avian road-kills in Kumbhalgarh 90. (With one table.). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India. 20: —. 2004. Abundance and seasonality of Society 110-111. (With one text-fig. and one Indian Pond Herons Ardeola grayii with URL: http://www.bnhs.org. table.). red legs in Uttar Pradesh, India. 20: 131- Email: [email protected] CHOUDHARY, Badri. 2004. Asian Glossy 132. (With one col. photo and one table.). BARUAH, Mrigen, Gagen Chettri, and Starling Aplonis panayensis: first record TEBB, Graham, Steve Arlow, and Dinesh Giri. Prasanta Bordoloi. 2004. Sighting of for Nepal. 20: 146. 2004. First record of Red-throated Diver White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis Hume JAYARATHNA, K. D. Thandula. 2004. Gavia stellata for Nepal. 20: 107-109. in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. 101 (2) (30 Observations on a nest of Sri Lanka TEBB, Graham, Aaron Ofner, and Suchit November): 311. Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger. Basnet. 2004. First documented record of BESTEN, Jan Willem den. 2004. Eurasian 20: 129-130. (With two col. photos.). Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps Linnet (Carduelis cannabina), Chaffinch KATZNER, Todd E., Chien Hsun Lai, James D. from Nepal. 20: 99-100. (Fringilla coelebs), Brambling (Fringilla Gardiner, J. Marc Foggin, David Pearson, montifringilla) in Kangra, Himachal and Andrew Smith T. 2004. Adjacent Hornbill Pradesh. 101 (2) (30 November): 325-326. nesting by Lammergeier Gypaetus URL: http://www.bnhs.org. (With three tables.). barbatus and Himalayan Griffon Gyps Email: [email protected] CHOUDHARY, Sunil K., Sushant Dey, himalayensis on the Tibetan Plateau, BHAVE, Neelima. 2004. David and Goliath. Subhasis Dey, and Arun Mitra. 2004. China. 20: 94-96. (With one map.). 2004 (July-September): 14. Sighting of the Greater Adjutant-Stork KHAN, M. Monirul H. 2004. Fire-breasted DANIEL, J. C. 2004. Point Calimere, an Leptoptilos dubius in Vikramshila Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus: the endangered Ramsar wader refuge. 2004 Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bihar, India. first record for Bangladesh. 20: 120. (July-September): 26-29. (With seven col. 101 (2) (30 November): 313-314. KOTAGAMA, Sarath W., and Eben Goodale. photos.). HIMMATSINHJI, M. K. 2004. On the behaviour 2004. The composition and spatial JATHAR, Girish. 2004. Looks can be and habitat preference of Stoliczka’s organisation of mixed-species flocks in a deceptive! 2004 (July-September): 36. Bushchat Saxicola macrorhyncha Sri Lankan rainforest. 20: 63-70. (With four (With two col. photos.). (Stoliczka). 101 (2) (30 November): 323- text-figs., and three tables.). SINGH, Baljit. 2004. From wooing to weaning. 324. MAHESWARAN, Gopinathan, Asad R. The story of the Red-wattled Lapwing. JATHAR, Girish A. 2004. Common Hoopoe Rahmani, and Malcolm C. Coulter. 2004. 2004 (July-September): 16-20. (With four (Upupa epops) feeding on Prinia (Prinia Recent records of Black-necked Stork col. photos.). sp.) corpse. 101 (2) (30 November): 319. Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in India. 20: KANNAN, V., and Ranjit Manakadan. 2004. 112-116. (With one map, one text-fig., and Ibis Does the White-bellied Sea-Eagle two tables.). URL: http://www.bou.org.uk/pubibis.html. Haliaeetus leucogaster feed on cattle MUZAFFAR, Sabir Bin. 2004. Diurnal time- Email: [email protected] dung? 101 (2) (30 November): 316. activity budgets in wintering SANGSTER, George, J. Martin Collinson, KATDARE, Vishwas, Ram Mone, and Pramod Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca in Andreas J. Helbig, Alan G. Knox, and Joshi. 2004. Status of White-bellied Sea- Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh. 20: 25-27. David T. Parkin. 2004. Taxonomic Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster in (With one text-fig.). recommendations for British birds: Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra. 101 (2) NADEEM, Muhammad Sajid, Faiz Ali, and M. second report. 146: 153-157. (30 November): 314-316. (With one map Saeed Akhtar. 2004. Diet of Houbara and one table.). Bustard Chlamydotis undulata in Journal of Applied Ecology KATDARE, Vishwas, Ram Mone, and Sachin Punjab, Pakistan. 20: 91-93. (With two URL: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ Palkar. 2004. Nesting of terns on Vengurla 44 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
Rocks, District Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. 268. (With four tables, one map and two LAHKAR, Kulojyoti. 2004. Majuli - a lesser 101 (2) (30 November): 318-319. text figures.). known IBA in Assam. 5 (1&2) (January- KELSEY, Martin. 2004. Sight record of Horned June): 16-17. Lark Eremophila alpestris near Delhi. 101 Malabar Trogon —. 2004. Twenty vultures. 5 (1&2) (January- (2) (30 November): 321. Malabar Natural History Society, 17/548A June): 29. KUMAR, Anil. 2004. Records of some new Indira Gandhi Link Road, Mavoor Road, OAKS, J. Lindsay, Martin Gilbert, Munir Z. avian species in the Thar Desert of Calicut 673004. Virani, Richard T. Watson, Carol U. Rajasthan. 101 (2) (30 November): 326-328. Email: [email protected] Meteyer, Bruce A. Rideout, H. L. (With one table.). ANON. 2004. More reports on heronries. 2 Shivaprasad, Shakeel Ahmed, KUMAR, R. Suresh. 2004. Common Starling (3): 6. Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Sturnus vulgaris in Arunachal Pradesh, EAPEN, T. Kuruvila. 2004. Correspondence: Muhammad Arshad, Shahid Mahmood, India. 101 (2) (30 November): 320. [“I had made a trip to the Thurayil Ahmad Ali, and Aleem Ahmed Khan. PATHAK, B. J., S. Vijayan, and B. P. Pati. 2004. Bhagavathi temple at Chelavoor in 2004. Vet drug responsible for population Observations on chick mortality in Darter Kozhikode...”]. 2 (2): 12. decline of White-backed Vultures in Anhinga melanogaster in Gir forest. 101 PALOT, Jafer. 2004. Kurichya tribal names for Pakistan. 4 (3&4): 13-14 (Jul-Dec 2003). (2) (30 November): 310. birds of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. 2 (1): (With two col. photos.). PATHAK, B. J., S. Vijayan, B. P. Pati, and M. K. 1-2. RUMSEY, Stephan. 2004. 22 Sociable Plover Belim Hanif. 2004. Black Stork Ciconia —. 2004. Sightings of Masked Booby in at Keoladeo National Park (IBA). 5 (1&2) nigra in and around Gir forest, Gujarat. Mattul beach, Kannur district. 2 (3): 5. (January-June): 18. 101 (2) (30 November): 311-313. (With one SASHIKUMAR, C. 2004. Vultures in Kerala. 2 SHARMA, Koustubh. 2004. Birds of Panna text-fig.). (1): 3. Tiger Reserve (IBA site). 4 (3&4): 11, 22 RANA, Gargi, and Vibhu Prakash. 2004. SREEKUMAR, B. 2004. Breeding birds at (Jul-Dec 2003). (With one col. photo.). Unusually high mortality of cranes in Kumarakom. 2 (2): 7. —. 2004. Upper Lake - Bhopal: A unique areas adjoining Keoladeo National Park, IBA. 5 (1&2) (Jan-Jun): 14-15. (With three Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 101 (2) (30 Mistnet col. photos.). November): 317. URL: http://www.bnhs.org. SHULTZ, Susanne. 2004. The catastrophic SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Manoj Email: [email protected] collapse of the Asian Vulture. 5 (1&2) Kulshreshtha. 2004. Broad-billed ANON. 2004. Sewri (IBA) is in danger. 5 (1&2) (January-June): 28-29. (With two col. Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus: An (January-June): 23. photos.). addition to the avifauna of Rajasthan. 101 BHAROS, A. M. K. 2004. Bastar Hill Myna. 5 SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi. 2004. Conserving the (2) (30 November): 318. (1&2) (January-June): 22. Sarus Crane Grus antigone in India. 5 SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Rishad Naoroji. CHOUDHURY, Anwaruddin. 2004. Important (1&2) (Jan-Jun): 4-5. (With three col. 2004. Nidification of the Common Raven Bird Areas in Assam: An overview. 5 photos.). COrvus corax in the Thar Desert. 101 (2) (1&2) (Jan-Jun): 8-10. (With two col. WAITE, Mike. 2004. Eagle’s Nest WLS (IBA) (30 November): 321-323. photos and one table.). an avitourism spot in northeastern India. SINGH, Himmat. 2004. Indian Pitta Pitta DATTA, Aparajita. 2004. Pakke Tiger Reserve 5 (1&2) (Jan-Jun): 11-12. (With three col. brachyura in the Thar Desert. 101 (2) (30 (IBA site) hornbill haven in Arunachal photos.). November): 319-320. Pradesh. 4 (3&4): 16-17 (Jul-Dec 2003). THEJASWI, S. 2004. Kemmangundi revisited: (With one col. photo.). Nature Notes on birds observed at the FRANCIS, Clement, and Raj Vijaykumar URL: http://www.nature.com/index.html. Bababudan Hills, Karnataka, south India. Thondaman. 2004. Yellow-throated Bulbul OAKS, J. Lindsay, Martin Gilbert, Munir Z. 101 (2) (30 November): 235-243. status and distribution. 4 (3&4): 12, 20 Virani, Richard T. Watson, Carol U. —. 2004. Unusual numbers of Black-headed (Jul-Dec 2003). (With two col. photos.). Meteyer, Bruce A. Rideout, H. L. Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina melanoptera at GANDHI, Tara. 2004. Conservation challenges Shivaprasad, Shakeel Ahmed, Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu. 101 (2) (30 for IBAs in the Andaman and Nicobar Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, November): 323. Islands. 4 (3&4): 4-5, 18. (Jul-Dec 2003). Muhammad Arshad, Shahid Mahmood, THEJASWI, S., and A. Shivaprakash. 2004. (With one col. photo.). Ahmad Ali, and Aleem Ahmed Khan. Occurrence of the Grey Bushchat HABIB, Bilal. 2004. Nannaj the Bustard land! 2004. Diclofenac residues as the cause of Saxicola ferrea (Gray) near Nanjanagud, 5 (1&2) (Jan-Jun): 6-7. (With three col. vulture population decline in Pakistan. Mysore District, Karnataka. 101 (2) (30 photos.). 2317: 1-4. (With two tables and one November): 324. HARVEY, Bill. 2004. Some bird conservation photo.). —. 2004. Sighting of Eastern Imperial Eagle issues in northern India. 4 (3&4): 6-8 (Jul- Aquila heliaca from Mumbai, Dec 2003). (With three col. photos.). Newsletter for Birdwatchers Maharashtra. 101 (2) (30 November): 314. ISLAM, Zafar-ul. 2004. Conservation of No. 10 Sirur Park, ‘B’ Street, ZARRI, Ashfaq Ahmed, and Asad R. threatened birds in India. 5 (1&2) (Jan- Seshadripuram, Bangalore 560020, India. Rahmani. 2004. Wintering records, Jun): 3. BHAT, Harish R. 2004. Is the Indian Roller ecology and behaviour of Kashmir JATHAR, Girish. 2004. Saving the mysterious (Coracias benghalensis) the state bird of Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra (Hartert & Forest Owlet. 4 (3&4): 9-10 (Jul-Dec 2003). Karnataka? 44 (2) (March-April): 29. Steinbacher). 101 (2) (30 November): 261- (With three col. photos.). BHAT, K. S. Harshavardhana. 2004. July 1964 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 45
- a strange visitor from Antarctica. 44 (4) DHADHAL, Jaidev, Pravinsang Dodiya, Ruchi Bangalore (2004). 44 (5): 79-80. (July-August): 60-61. Dave, and Flamingo Nature Club. 2004. MASHRU, Ashok. 2004. Heronries around BHATNAGAR, S. P., and Satish Kumar Shukla. Boobies in India. 44 (1) (January- Rajkot city, Gujarat. 44 (5): 74-75. (With 2004. Study of the status, habitat, February): 9. one table.). distribution, behaviour and breeding DHAMANKAR, Atul. 2004. Birdwatching at MATHEW, Jijo. 2004. Rare sighting of Oriental biology of the Black-bellied Tern, Sterna Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) in acuticauda in inland saline Sambhar Lake Chandrapur, Maharashtra. 44 (2) (March- Kerala. 44 (5): 77-78. wetland ecosystem, Rajasthan, India. 44 April): 25-26. MENON, Manjula. 2004. Ecology of Purple (4) (July-August): 52-55. FUTEHALLY, Zafar. 2004. From Thomas Moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in BHATNAGAR, S. P., Satish Kumar Shukla, and Waterfield’s nature diaries. 44 (1) Azhinhillam wetland, Kerala. 44 (2) Bhaum Singh Meena. 2004. Studies on the (January-February): 7-8. (March-April): 22-24. (With two text-figs.). distribution of the heronries in and GHOSH, S. J. 2004. Mass mortality of Asian MEPPAYUR, Sathian. 2004. Unusual sightings around Ajmer city ecosystem. 44 (3) (May- Openbill-Stork (Anastomus oscitans) in ofthe Three-toed Kingfisher, Malay June): 46-47. Kulik Bird Sanctuary, Malda district, West Bittern and Lesser Frigate Bird. 44 (2) —. 2004. Studies on the wintering status Bengal. 44 (1) (January-February): 15. (March-April): 31. (With three b&w. and ecology of the Bar-headed Goose, HATHI, Dhaivat, Rajdeep Jhala, and Bhavesh photos.). Anser indicus from Anasagar and Trivedi. 2004. Unusual feeding behaviour NICODEMUS, A., and J. P. Jacob. 2004. Bird Foysagar lakes in and around Ajmer of River Terns (Sterna aurantia). 44 (5): pollinators of teak. 44 (5): 68-69. environs, Rajasthan, India. 44 (4) (July- 80. (With two b&w photos.). PATANKAR, Pratyush G. 2004. White Ibis August): 55-56. IYER, Mohan K. 2004. Thol Bird Sanctuary. nesting amidst chaos. 44 (2) (March- BORA, Arnob. 2004. After the Blackbreasted 44 (2) (March-April): 27-28. April): 27. Parrotbill. 44 (4) (July-August): 59-60. —. 2004. Nesting of Phalacrocoracidae, PATAR, Pranab J., Ranjan K. Borthakur, and CHAKKARAVARTHY, Q. Ashoka, P. Threskiornithidae and Ardeidae at Shimanta K. Goswami. 2004. Sighting of Neelanarayanan, and V. S. Raja. 2004. Ahmedabad Zoo. 44 (3) (May-June): 43- species listed in Red Data Book in Deobali Avifauna of Nehru Memorial College 44. Jalah, central Assam, India. 44 (4) (July- campus and its adjoining areas, —. 2004. Status of Sociable Lapwing August): 56-57. Puthanampatti, Tamilnadu. 44 (2) (March- (Vanellus gregarius): A report. 44 (4) PITTIE, Aasheesh. 2004. Review: Biology of April): 20-21. (July-August): 58-59. (With one map.). Indian barbets. By H.S.A. Yahya (2001). CHAKRAVARTHY, A. K. 2004. Breakaway KALAM, Abdul. 2004. Dust bath by Oriental Authorspress, New Delhi, Amsterdam. heronries? 44 (3) (May-June): 40-41. Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) Hardback, 14.5cm x 22cm (Illustrated —. 2004. Birds in mutual relationships. 44 in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, cover & dust cover, the latter with a (5): 78. Bahraich U.P.). 44 (4) (July-August): 64. portrait of the author & Salim Ali), pp, i- CHAUHAN, Rajeev. 2004. An unusual clutch KANOJE, Ravi Shanker. 2004. Sighting of xxvi, 1-170, 1 plate (colour, by; Carl size in Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) at Painted Stork, Oriental White Ibis and D’Silva), 2 photographs (colour, by; Kodaiya wetland district Mainpuri (Uttar Ferruginous Pochard in Chhattisgarh. 44 Rishad Naoroji, S. Sridhar), 2 photographs Pradesh). 44 (3) (May-June): 47. (4) (July-August): 61. (black & white), 1 line drawing, 2 maps, 8 CHHANGANI, Anil Kumar. 2004. Waterbirds —. 2004. Range extention of Indian Pitta. 44 text-figures, 37 tables. Cover price Rs. 450/ of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, (4) (July-August): 61. -. 44 (1) (January-February): 13-14. Rajasthan, India. 44 (3) (May-June): 41- KARMARKAR, Paresh. 2004. A tryst with the RAO, K. Mrutyumjaya. 2004. Report on 42. Sri Lankan birds. 44 (5): 73-74. Uppalapadu bird habitat. 44 (3) (May- —. 2004. Laughing Dove nest predated by KASAMBE, Raju. 2004. Crested Hawk Eagle June): 35-40. (With two tables, one text Blue Rock Pigeon. 44 (5): 79. (Spizaetus cirrhatus) foraging on Jungle figure and two b&w pics.). —. 2004. Cannibalism observed in Rufous Cat (Felis chaus). 44 (1) (January- RAVINDRAN, P. K. 2004. Random notes. 44 (4) Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda). 44 (5): February): 14-15. (July-August): 62. 79. —. 2004. Nesting of Blue Tailed Bee-eaters RAWAT, Mamta. 2004. Tobacco addiction CHHOKAR, Jagdeep S. 2004. White-backed (sic) in Amravati district of Maharashtra. among Bank Mynas. 44 (4) (July-August): Vultures nesting at IIM, Ahmedabad 44 (2) (March-April): 21-22. 61-62. campus. 44 (2) (March-April): 30. —. 2004. Unusual mounting behaviour of a SANTHARAM, V. 2004. More on Vedanthangal. CHOUDHARY, D. N. 2004. New nesting colony female Spotted Owlet (Athene brama). 44 44 (1) (January-February): 6-7. of Open Bill Storks in Godda District, (4) (July-August): 63-64. —. 2004. Review: Birds of Western Ghats, Jharkhand. 44 (3) (May-June): 47-48. KUMAR, Govind. 2004. Trip report: Kokan and Malabar (including birds of CHOUDHARY, D. N., and T. K. Ghosh. 2004. Thattekad-Munnar (Kerala). 44 (1) Goa). By Satish Pande, Saleel Tambe, Sighting of Greater Adjutant Storks in the (January-February): 3-6. Clement Francis M. and Niranjan Sant wetlands of north Bihar. 44 (4) (July- MADHYASTHA, N. A. 2004. A paradise for (2003). A book by Ela Foundation. August): 62-63. White-bellied Sea Eagle: Netrani Island. Published by Bombay Natural History DEVASAHAYAM, S., and Anita Devasahayam. 44 (1) (January-February): 14. Society/Oxford Unversity Press. Pp. 2004. Breeding season of garden birds at MANJUNATH, P., Pramod Subbarao, and 374+18+1 map. Hardbound. Price: Rs. 995/ Kozhikode District, Kerala. 44 (5): 70-71. Harish Bhat. 2004. Water bird census - (ISBN 019 566878 2). 44 (1) (January- (With one table.). conducted in the tanks of north February): 10-13. 46 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)
SATHIYASELVAM, P. 2004. Nidification and site middle of the woods. 44 (5): 79. February): Backcover. fidelity of the Black-crowned Night SINGH, Baljit. 2004. Comments on the cover THAKUR, Sanjay, and Aparna Watve. 2004. Heron, (Nycticorax nycticorax). 44 (4) photo. 44 (1) (January-February): Report of Lesser Kestrel (Falco (July-August): 63. Backcover. naumanni Fleischer) flock near SAXENA, Rajiv, and Gaurav Parihar. 2004. SINGHA, Hilloljyoti, Amarjit Narayan Dev, Thoseghar, Satara Dt. Maharashtra. 44 (4) Pesticides killing Demoiselle Cranes. 44 Rimpul Hazarika, Kaustoov Gopal (July-August): 60. (3) (May-June): 48. (With one b&w Goswami, and Banita Roy. 2004. Waterfowl TULJAPURKAR, Vijay. 2004. Birds in my photo.). census in Dheer Beel, Assam. 44 (3) garden. 44 (5): 75-78. SHARMA, Arunayan. 2004. Red-necked Grebe (May-June): 45. UTTANGI, J. C. 2004. Non-stop call of the (Podiceps griseigena) in West Bengal, a SIVAKUMAR, S., and Vibhu Prakash. 2004. Coppersmith, (Megalaima correction. 44 (1) (January-February): 15. Miscellaneous breeding information of haemacephala) observed lasting for —. 2004. Asian Koels are the first caller birds Collared Falconet Microhierax seven minutes in Dharwad urbans. 44 (2) of the day. 44 (2) (March-April): 29-30. caerulescens. 44 (4) (July-August): 57-58. (March-April): 29. (With two text-figs.). SRIDHAR, S. 2004. A note from the publisher: —. 2004. Robbing of eggs by female Koel, SHIVAPRAKASH, A. 2004. Nature trai in Anshi E. Hanumantha Rao no more. 44 (2) from the nest of Red-whiskered Bulbul forest area, North Kanara District, (March-April): 19. (Pycnonotus jocosus). 44 (5): 77. Karnataka. 44 (2) (March-April): 30-31. SUBBARAO, Pramod. 2004. Black headed VERGHESE, Abraham. 2004. Birdwatching in —. 2004. Occurrence of the Rusty-tailed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) at Srilanka. 44 (5): 71-72. Flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda) in the Daroji, Karnataka. 44 (1) (January-
Building bridges for migratory waterbird conservation in the Central Asian Flyway Taej Mundkur Wetlands International - South Asia, A-25, 2nd Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024, India. Email: [email protected]
he Central Asian Flyway (CAF) covers endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper pressures coupled with legal and illegal Tthe large continental area of Eurasia Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus, vulnerable hunting of birds have resulted in the decline between the Arctic and Indian Oceans. This Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis and local extinction of many waterbird Flyway comprises several important and and Relict Gull Larus relictus, and Black- populations. overlapping migration routes for the winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni, Management and conservation of different species of waterbirds, most of Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus and waterbird populations requires precise and which extend from the northern breeding Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus up-to-date information on their populations grounds in Siberia to South and Southwest semipalmatus are largely restricted to the and trends. Information on the status and Asia. Geographically the flyway includes an region although their non-breeding ranges trends of most waterbird populations in the area from the frigid arctic coastline and overlap with adjoining flyways. CAF area is limited and outdated. Actions offshore islands of Siberia to the Other migratory waterbird species pass to promote collection of data and their southernmost non-breeding (wintering) through this region on their annual analysis at the flyway and national level are grounds in the Maldives and the British migrations within flyways that connect the urgently needed to provide the basis for Indian Ocean Territory of Dio Garcia, thus northern Central Asian countries with South improving the knowledge base. incorporating about 30 countries of Central, East Asia and Australasia (the East Asian- As the birds cross international borders East and South Asia and the Trans- Australasian Flyway), Africa and Europe of several countries and provide a link Caucasus. (the East African Flyway), and the Indian between the peoples of CAF region, the The CAF covers at least 274 migratory Ocean to the south. responsibility for the well-being and waterbird populations of 175 species, The CAF comprises large semi-arid conservation of these species and for the including 26 globally threatened and near- habitats with a limited number of wetlands, sustainable use of their habitats rests with threatened species that breed, migrate and particularly in the staging areas of Central all countries. Management of waterbird spend the non-breeding (winter) period Asia and different groups of migratory habitats requires coordinated multi-sectoral within the region. Species such as the waterbirds appear to overlap considerably planning and implementation to realise the critically threatened Sociable Plover Vanellus in the usage of important sites. While recent needs of biodiversity conservation and local gregarious, vulnerable Black-necked Crane work on satellite telemetry and years of people. Grus nigricollis and Indian Skimmer ringing of birds has yielded some Many countries in the CAF have Rynchops albicollis, Bar-headed Goose information, very little is known about the developing economies with inadequate Anser indicus, Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha precise migration routes and staging areas allocation of resources for research and struthersii, and Brownheaded Gull Larus of most species. conservation and for involvement of local brunnicephalus are completely (or largely) Rapid human population growth and stakeholders in sustainable management of restricted to the CAF region. development across the region has wetlands, grasslands, and other habitats. In In addition, the breeding ranges of some dramatically increased pressure on intertidal addition, changes in political systems and species, including the critically threatened and freshwater wetlands, grasslands and instabilities in some countries, language and Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus, Slender- other habitats, which has resulted in their other barriers have not enabled strong billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris, degradation, pollution, and loss. The habitat cooperation to be developed between Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) 47 agencies in all the flyway countries to Between 10 and 13 June 2005, to promote conservation of migratory cooperate in information sharing, research representatives of the 30 CAF countries, waterbirds in the Central Asian Flyway. and conservation activities. international agencies, non-government Besides this, it is anticipated that the The first meeting of the governments of organisations and technical experts will meeting will result in increased interaction the CAF was organized in Tashkent, converge at the prestigious India Habitat and cooperation between governments, Uzbekistan, in August 2001. The meeting Centre in New Delhi for a three-day meeting. conventions, technical experts and was very successful in recognising the The Wildlife Institute of India and Wetlands conservationists from countries in the importance of cooperation and the need for International are providing logistic support flyway as a basis for promoting concrete an International Action Plan that outlines for the event. actions to ensure the conservation of regional priorities for action to conserve One of the main outputs of the Meeting migratory waterbirds and their habitats. migratory waterbirds and their habitats. will be to have endorsed a Central Asian In addition to this, a side meeting on 12 Over the last few years, various efforts Flyway Action Plan to Conserve Migratory June of range states is being held to discuss have been made to bring the main players Waterbirds and their Habitats and to agree and endorse the Proposed Western / together again to culminate this planning on the international framework under which Central Asian Site Network for Siberian work. The breakthrough was the kind it will be promoted. Wetlands International Cranes (and other waterbirds), with logistic invitation of the Ministry of Environment on behalf of CMS has prepared the Action support from the International Crane and Forests, India to host a meeting that Plan. Foundation. The meeting is being held would be held under the auspices of the The proposed Action Plan calls for a wide under the auspices of the CMS Convention on Migratory Species of Wild range of actions at the flyway and national Memorandum of Agreement for the Animals (CMS). levels, including improved legislation for Conservation of the Siberian Crane, which species, regulations on hunting, habitat provides a framework for the conservation management, training, education and of this threatened species. It is proposed awareness, and species monitoring. In that the Siberian Crane Site Network will be addition, it calls for the establishment of a a forerunner for a larger migratory waterbird network of internationally important sites network that will be established under the proposed Central Asian Flyway Action Plan. For those interested in more detailed information on the two meetings, all documentation will be available on the CMS websites: http://www.cms.int/bodies/ meetings/regional/caf/caf_meeting.htm and Errata: Indian Birds (Vol. 1 No. 1). 1. Page 9, column 1, line 8: Change ‘leuconogenys’ to leucogenys. 2. Page 9, column 1, line 13: Change ‘Myiophonus’ to Myophonus. 3. Page 9, column 1, line 27: Change ‘cryniger’ to crinigera. 4. Page 9, column 2, line 27: Change ‘Orilus orilus’ to Oriolus oriolus. 5. Page 16, column 1, paragraph 3: Delete. 6. Page 16, column 1, paragraph 4: Treat as caption for sketch on same page. 7. The sketches on pages 4, 14 and 23 are by Sachin Jaltaré. 48 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) Correspondence Pesticides and birds beginning to explore other areas of deal of happiness and I wanted to share this “I have been studying the relationship business. with all people who are in touch with our between birds, pests, insects and pesticides I have recorded about 21 bird species natural world. Acts like these can bring so in Malda district, West Bengal, for a few that have fallen prey to pesticides in this much happiness if only we have the time to years now. It is evident that the use of area. These include: Small Bee-eater Merops just look and observe. pesticides and insecticides reduces the role orientalis, Small Minivet Pericrocotus Jyoti Narang of our insectivorous avian friends. What is cinnamomeus, Red-whiskered Bulbul “Panchayan”, 86, Nandidurg Road, less studied in India is the role pesticides Pycnonotus jocosus, Red-vented Bulbul P. Bangalore. play in directly or indirectly killing pollinator cafer, Common Iora Aegithina tiphia, and insectivorous bird species. My studies Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius, Bouquets in Malda have led me to conclude that there and Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus. I want to extend my warmest is a direct link between increased use of Immediate action is required to save congratulations to you on the launch of pesticides and increased incidence of bird these birds of Malda. The effect of Indian Birds and on the registration of “New deaths. pesticides on birds also gets one wondering Ornis Foundation.” It seems to me eminently Mango trade is one of the most important about what effect it could have on other logical to have such a trust responsible for businesses in Malda. The district is famous animals, and the human population, of the this publication, thus allowing for collegial for the quality and taste of its many varieties area. Meanwhile, as we concern ourselves supervision of the publication, its direction of mangoes — “Gopalbhog, Amrapali, with saving birds from poaching, habitat loss and content. The magazine’s name change Khirsapati, Langra, and Fazli.” Mango and illegal trade, what are we doing about makes it more user-friendly and attractive production depends on temperature, these silent killers? for those who do not hold advanced seasonal rainfall and proper maintenance of Arunayan Sharma degrees in ornithology, but who are simply flowering trees. In Malda, the flowering Email: [email protected] straightforward, amateur bird lovers like season begins in November–December, and myself. I’m looking forward to seeing the goes on until June–July. In these seven to A crow and its cache magazine’s content and subscriptions, the nine months, traders at every level need to I would like to share a small incident about excellent bird-related artwork, the new maximise their profits. The health of these my bond with nature. My childhood was website – and all its accompanying activities trees, therefore, becomes a secondary spent in a farm with cows, dogs, birds and – grow and prosper over the years concern. The only aim is short-term gain: to even a python, which had got into our ahead. Again, congratulations! sell the fruits at the highest possible profit. cowshed. Luckily for me even today though William Selover The fact that a large number of birds die I live in a city, my house is full of old trees, Email: [email protected] during these months, especially during the dogs, cows and birds which come to feed mango-harvesting season, goes virtually on our fruit trees. I saw the new ‘avatar’ of our dear Indian unnoticed. One afternoon while I was taking my dogs Birds. No matter what the name is it is an Insects and small birds that feed on the for a walk, a crow with an egg-like object in excellent issue. The articles and and the sap of mango blossoms either die instantly his beak hopped in front of me and hid it in overall look is very good. Thanks. or become drowsy during the spraying of a flowerpot. Carefully covering it with dry Raju Kasambe pesticides. I witnessed many such instances leaves, he hopped back to me. I had a biscuit Email: [email protected] in the mango orchards in Malda. There were in my hand. I offered it and he readily ate it. also a number of instances where small and I was a bit curious so I asked my servant Received Indian Birds 1 (1) Jan-Feb 2005 medium-sized birds fed on dead insects boy to see what the crow had concealed. It issue. Many thanks for this. Please also covered in a film of pesticides. They died turned out to be a beautiful white stone with accept my heartiest congratulations on the within a few hours after the spraying a marking on it that resembled a bird. I launching of the new journal. This is operation was complete. If these birds thought the servant boy, being a small kid, wonderful. You got probably the best name consume even a few insects, they become might be tempted to keep the stone himself for any happening journal on Indian birds. drowsy and cannot fly, falling an easy prey and to avoid this, I was taking it into my Congratulations. I also liked the lay-out and to stray dogs and cats. house when the crow flew in front of me as design of the journal (I would hate to call it Year after year, I recorded the recurrence if protesting against my taking it. So I put a newsletter, it is far better than that). Keep of this phenomenon during the pesticide- the stone atop my car, which was parked it up. spraying season. The indiscriminate use of close by. Promptly the crow picked it up Dr Dipankar Ghose pesticides has also caused the quality of again and hid it as carefully in another Email: [email protected] mangoes to decline over a period. The flowerpot. popular Malda mangoes are today smaller Since then, he has changed it to other in size, and don’t quite taste the same. There locations. In the bargain, the crow and I have is a hypothesis that this could be the long- become great friends; he even hops and term effect of sustained use of pesticides. stands next to my dog and is around in the Over the last few years, the production of morning and evening when I go outside. mangoes has declined, and traders are This little friendship has brought me a great Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005) This issue is printed on ITCs eco-friendly paper - bleached without elemental chlorine. (Compliments of ITC Limited, Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division) Phones: 040-23312774,23312768, 23312770.Fax:040-23393985.Grams:PITTILAM Email: [email protected]. Website: www.pittielectriclam.com Manufacturers ofelectrical laminations&stampings Rufous-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna Photos: Lt. Gen. 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