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SHORT NOTE First Sighting Record of Indian Spotted ( Changa Hastata ) in Akola District, Maharashtra

Mr. Shishir M Shendokar *

*Wildlife and Environment Conservation Society, 42, Green Park Colony, Shegaon Road, Amravati, Maharashtra.

Abstract On 19 November 2015 has been sighted at Panjabrao Deshmukh krushi vidhyapeeth, Akola. This was the first sighting * Corresponding Author: record of the Indian Spotted Eagle from Akola district. There are very few

* sighting records of this in Vidarbha other than this. Indian Spotted Mr. Shishir M Shendokar Eagle is widespread but a poorly known species. Its population is declining

Email: [email protected] that could be the reason it has been categorised as vulnerable by IUCN. Sighting records of such threatened species are very important because this is a baseline data which could be used to study the species further. Past Received: 27/11/2017 sightings of this species in Vidarbha province of Maharashtra along with Accepted: 24/12/2017 the reasons of its sightings and migrations routes have been discussed in this research note.

Keywords: Indian Spotted Eagle, Sighting records, Vidarbha region.

Indian Spotted Eagle (Changa hastata ) appears agriculture, wetlands and open forest and forest to be wide spread species that has always been clearin g year round (Davidson, 2003). recorded at very low densities in the lowlands of the On 19 November 2015 early in the morning Sun Indian subcontinent occurring in , , spread a golden light around 0705 hr at Panjabrao and (Robson, 2000; Parry et al., 2002; Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola research Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005). As Greater Spotted land (20 42’50.1”N 77 03’29.7”E) near the compound Eagle ( ) , Indian spotted Eagle is stocky, of farm I saw a Eagle perching on the top of Babul medium size eagle with short and broad wings, buzzard Tree (Acacia sp. ). The eagle flushed and flew around like head with comparatively fine bill, long and closely and landed in another tree in next farm, I approached it feathered tarsi, and a rather short tail. Adult are slowly until I could see it clearly in the binocular and essentially brown and successfully identifying this took a photo, while flying its under wing pattern seen species requires good views. The gape has lips that are clearly. It had the pale brown under wing coverts and extensive and fleshy and extend to the middle of eye. darker and bill gape reaching level to The legs appear longer and thinner due to the tarsi centre of eye. The eagle had six fingered primaries, being less thickly feathered. In adults the brown color while the has seven; features of the plumage is paler and as a result there is an showed were typical of the Indian Spotted Eagle. But I obvious contrast between the paler wing covert and was not fully satisfied so for assurance I used field flight feathers, both above and below. The head is large guide and confirmed the specie. I observed the eagle in relation to body size. In flight rounder wings and throughout winter season up to last sighting which was lighter, slimmer and less bulky than Greater Spotted on 27 th Feb 2016 in same area at different locations Eagle (A. clanga ). In juvenile and subsequent sub-adult around in the range of 5 km. This has dry scrub plumages, the pale spot on the upper wing covert are forest with scarce tall trees. It also has cultivated land, smaller and contrast less from the ground color of the may be due favorable habitat an adult Indian Spotted upper wing covert and flight feathers, than do those of Eagle had sighted regularly last year throughout winter Greater Spotted Eagle (A. clanga). season and a sub-adult in this year in winter, but in rest This species is a powerful predator that seizes of the months of year I never spotted this eagle in this its, mostly mammalian, prey from the ground while area. quartering over open areas within, or near forest. It also This is the first sighting records of the Indian preys on frog and bird. It is a tree nesting species, Spotted Eagle from Akola district. There is very few favoring open such as low intensity sighting record in Vidarbha other than this. Arun M. –

Journal of Wildlife Research | October-December, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 04 | Pages 59-60 © 2017 Jakraya Shendokar…First Sighting Record of Indian Spotted Eagle (Changa Hastata) in Akola District, Maharashtra

from Sakoli District Bhandara by Nalwade S. on 9 th June 2006 (). Except these few sighting records no other data is available for this species.

Conclusion Indian Spotted Eagle is a widespread but remains a poorly known species. Bird Life International describes Indian Spotted Eagle as Vulnerable due to small declining population. The exact cause of declining population is not yet understood so; more research is needed to determine factors affecting this species and the exact rate of

declin e. Habitat alteration and conversion may be one and Bharos K. sighted single Spotted Eagle at Jamnadi of the reasons for its decreasing number. In such cases dam, Katol, Nagpur District on 24 th Feb 2013. Londhe sighting records are very important to know their A. sighted it in Umred Nagpur District on 9 th Feb 2014. distribution, migrations and current status. This type of In Tadoba Andhar Tiger reserve Chandrapur District. It baseline data can be used for further study of such was sighted it on 1 st Feb 2015 and 6 th March 2015. It . was reported from Khapri Lake on 13 nd Dec 2015 and

References Bird Life International (2016). Clanga hastata. The IUCN Kasambe R and Wadatkar J S (2007). of Pohara Red List of Threatened Species Malkhed Reserve Forest, Amravati Maharashtra - An 2016:e.T22729779A95021573.http://dx.doi.org/10.230 Update Annotated Checklist , 2768-2770. 5/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22729779A95021573.en . Naoroji R (2007). Birds of Prey of the Indian Subcontinent. Check list of Birds Vidar bha region of Maharashtra. VNHS Om Books International, New Delhi , 443-451. Center, Nagpur. Parry SJ, Clark WS and Prakash V (2002). On the taxonomic http://ebird.org/ebird/map/inseag1?neg=true and status of the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata . Ibis, env.minX=74.18786317656258 and 144(4): 665-675. env.minY=18.96282343091947 and Rasmussen PC and Anderton J C (2005) . Birds of : env.maxX=81.69152528593758 and The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx env.maxY=22.008661899206895 and zh=true and Edicions, Washington, DC and Barcelona. gp=false and ev=Z and mr=1 -12 and bmo=1 and Wadatkar JS and Kasambe R (2002) . Checklist of Birds of emo=12 and yr=all and byr=1900 and eyr=2016. Pohara Malkhed Reserve Forest, District Amravati, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22729779/0 . Maharashtra. Zoos Print Journal , 17(6): 807-811. Kasambe R and Sani T (2009). Avifauna in and around Wadatkar JS, Kasambe R and Wagh GA (2010). Checklist of Nagpur city of Maharashtra-an annotated, authentic, Birds of Amravati District Published by WECS . pp. 20. contemporary checklist. Newsletter for Birdwachers, 49(3): 35-40.

Journal of Wildlife Research | October -December, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 04 | Pages 59 -60 © 2017 Jakraya 60