Bird richness in three different habitat types along Yongkala to Thrumshingla National Highway in Phrumsengla National park Report prepared by: Jangchuk Gyeltshen, Central Park Range Office, Phrumsengla National Park

Abstract From the three transect lines laid in three different habitat types, a total of 51 individuals of were counted belonging to 8 orders, 14 families and 38 species. All the species were listed as Least Concern except Rufous-necked Hornbill as Vulnerable under IUCN 3.1 category. The mixed , transect#2 has the maximum number of species counted (n=20) followed by forest, transect# 3 (n=16) and broadleaved forest, transect#1 (n=15). General observations were made to assess threats to the conservation of birds in the study area. It was observed that human disturbances alongside the roads were one of the immediate threats. The survey was conducted within altitudinal range between 1860m-3319m above sea level.

1. Introduction Central Park Range is known for possessing rich bird species when compared to other jurisdiction of the Park Range areas. This is due to the fact that the area covers different habitat types offering wide range of habitats for the bird to thrive in. The national highway leading from Thrumshingla pass to Yongkala is one of such example which passes across different habitat types. Many tourists across the country visit this highway to enjoy bird watching. However, the Central Park Range has no information on avifaunal diversity across these habitats to provide information whenever being asked from the park management, tourists or higher authorities. In order to achieve this, the survey was conducted in three different habitat types to assess bird species richness. The survey was started on 2nd April 2016 at Yongkala-Norbugang highway, 12th April 2016 at Latongla to Sengor, 28th April 2016 at Sengor to Thrumshingla within altitudinal range between 1860m-3319m above sea level. The finding of this survey would provide baseline for carrying out bird conservation activities in the park since bird have a good system of spreading seeds (Mehmet, n.d). they are the predators, pollinators and scavengers in the ecosystem (Whelan et al,2008). The bird response to the change in their habitat is very rapid due to their high mobility; therefore study on avifaunal diversity acts as significant indicator to evaluate various habitats qualitatively and quantitatively (Kumar, J.A., & Chhaya, B. 2015).

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2. Survey area The survey was entirely conducted under Central Park Range jurisdiction (Figure 1) in three different habitat types along the Mongar-Bumthang highway with a Transect length of 1km by 20m Transect width (1000m*20m). Transect-1 includes Yongkala-Norbugang (Start point-N 27°19'22.02" E 91°07'50.60", altitude-1860m, End point- N 27°19'37.04" E 91°08'01.30", altitude-1892m) covering broadleaved forest. Transect-2 includes Latongla-Sengor (Start point- N 27°19'21.5" E 91.03'09.3", altitude-2276m, End point- N 27° 19'44.9" E 91°02'48.07", altitude-2773m) covering mixed conifer and Transect-3 (Start point-N 27°23'11.5", E 91°00'11.3", altitude-3319m, End point- N27°23'06.04", E 90°59'56.3", altitude-3395m) includes Sengor-Thrumshingla covering fir forest.

Figure 1: Map of Central Park Range jurisdiction showing study sites/transects in yellow dotted line

3. Method and materials Road length of 1km by width of 20m was used as a Transect line to count the bird species in three habitat types. A digital Camera (Canon powershots Sx50HS), Binocular (Bushnell 4x82)

2 and GPS estrix) was used to identify bird species. Counting of bird species was done in three ways. One is direct sighting within transect width, two is fly throughs (FT) sighting within transect width and three is fly over (FO) sighting within transect width. Field Guides to the Birds of and Birds of Indian Sub-continent by Tim Inskipp et al (2007 a, 1998b) are used to identify bird species. Some bird species were identified through calls and songs. Where possible photographs were taken for documentation and confirmation of species. Dominant species were recorded to assess plant species richness in different habitat types in the Transects. Know the of Bhutan by Ugyen,T. (2010) was used to identify plant species within the transect line.

4. Results 4.1. Bird species richness in broadleaved forest (Transect#1) A total of 15 species of birds were counted in the broadleaved forest Transect#1 (Yongkola- Norbugang) belonging to 8families (Table-1). Table 1: Checklist of species counted in broadleaved forest (Transect#1) Sl# Order Family Common Name Scientific Name 1 Wedge-tailed Green Columbiformes Pegion Treron sphenura 2 Galliformes Phasianidae Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola 3 Cuculiformes Cuculidae Oriental saturatus 4 Hierococcxy Cuculiformes Cuculidae Large Hawk Cuckoo sparveriodes 5 Piciformes Megalaimidae Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica 6 Passerformes Sylviidae Rufous Sebia Heterophasia capistrata 7 Passerformes Sylviidae Straited laughing Thrush Garrulax straitus 8 Grey Headed Canary Passerformes Tyrannidae Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 9 Passerformes Tyrannidae Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina 10 Dicrucus Passerformes Pycnonotidae Ashey Drongo macrorhynchos 11 Hypsipetes Passerformes Pycnonotidae Black Bubul leucocephalus 12 Passerformes Corvidae Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus 13 Piciformes Megalaimidae Great Barbet Megalaima virens 14 Passerformes Pycnonotidae Straited Bubul Pycnonotus stratus 15 Bucerotiformes Bucerotidae Rufous necked hornbill Aceros nipalensis

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The most frequently observed bird species are Rufous sibia and Great Barbet (n=6) followed by Hill Partridge (n=3) and Wedge-tailed Green Pegion (n=2). Rufous-necked Hornbill was sighted only in this area at the end of Transect point. As per IUCN 3.1category, the Rufous necked Hornbill is listed as Vulnerable species. This bird is a flagship species where they have significant role in seed dispersal in the forest (Jinamoy et al, 2014). The dominant plant species redorded in this area are Castanopsis hystrix, Mecaranga postulata and Ficus auricula. Some of the plant includes Musa spp., Murraya paniculata, Maesa chisia, Ardisia macrocarpa, Castanopsis hystrix, Clerodendrum sp., Ostradious paniculata, Angelhardia sp., Beilschmiedia sp., Mallotus philippensis, Brassaiopsis , Rhus chinensis and Toona ciliata, Murraya paniculata, Q.griffithii, Maesa chisia, Ardisia macrocarpa, Castanopsis hystrix, Clerodendrum sp., Rhus chinensis, Rhus paniculata, Beilschmiedia sp., Schima wallichiia

Figure 2: Broadleaved habitat showing Transect#1 4.2.Bird species richness in mixed conifer forest (Transect#2) A total of 20 species of birds were counted in the mixed conifer Transect#2 (Latongla-Saith Kilo/Sengor) belonging to 10families (Table-2).

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Table 2: Checklist of bird species counted in mixed conifer forest in Transect#2. Sl# Order Family Common Names Scientific Names 1 Cuculiforme s Columbidae Speckled Wood Pigeon Hodgsonii 2 Apodidae Himalayan Phaenicophaeus tristis 3 Galliformes Phasianidae Hill Patridge Aborophila Torqeuola 4 Cuculiforme s Cuculidae Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus 5 Passerformes Sylviidae Rufous Sebia Heterophasia capistrata 6 Passerformes Sylviidae Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis 7 Chestnut Crowned Laughing Passerformes Sylviidae Thrush Garrulax erythocephalus 8 White Throated laughing Passerformes Sylviidae Thrush Garrulax albogularis 9 Passerformes Sylviidae Straited laughing Thrush Garrulax straitus 10 Passerformes Sylviidae Chestnut Tailed Minla Minla striugula 11 Passerformes Sylviidae Striped Throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis 12 Passerformes Sylviidae Greenish Wrabler Phylloscopus trochiloides 13 Passerformes Sylviidae Red Tailed Minla Minla ignotincta 14 Passerformes Corvidae Large Billed Crow Corvus macrorphynchos 15 Passerformes Corvidae Yellow Throated Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha 16 Passerformes Corvidae Long Tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus 17 Chloris spinoides Yellow-breasted Green Passerformes Fringillidae Finch 18 Passerformes Paridae Green backed Tit Parus monticolus 19 Passerformes Necteriniidae Mrs Gould Sunbird Aelopyga gouldiae 20 Passerformes Musicapidae Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

The most frequently observed bird species in this Transect (Figure) are Himalayan Swiftlet (n= 15), Speckled Wood Pigeon (n= 11) followed by White-throated Laughingthrush (n=8). The dominant plant species found in this area are Tsuaga dumosa, Quercus Semicarpifolia, Larix griffithii with undergrowth plant species of Daphne bhoula. Some of the plant species recorded at the transect line are Rosa siricia, Pieris formusa, Rosa microphylla, Lyonia ovalifolia, Sorbus sp.,

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Figure 3: Mixed conifer habitat showing Transect#2 4.3.Bird species richness in fir forest (Transect#3) A total of 16 species of birds were counted in the fir forest in Transect#3 (Sengor-Thrumshingla) belonging to 11families (Table-3).

Sl# Order Family Common Names Scientific Names 1 Cuculiformes Cuculidae Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris 2 Galliformes Phasianidae Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola 3 Ciconiformes Accipitridae Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizzaetus nipalensis 4 Apodiformes Apodidae House Apus Affinis 5 Passerformes Sylviidae Black-faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis 6 Passerformes Sylviidae Phylloscopus trichiloides 7 Passerformes Sylviidae Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush Gurrulax erythocephalus 8 Passerformes Sylviidae Rufous Winged Fulvetta Alcippe Castanecep 9 Passerformes Sylviidae Rufous Vented Yuhina Yuhina OCCpitalis 10 Passerformes Muscicapidae Blue Whistling Thrush Myophorus caeruleus 11 Passerformes Muscicapidae Rufous Billed Niltava Niltava sundara 12 Passerformes Paridae Grey-crested Tit Parus dichrous 13 Passerformes Paridae Green BackedTit Parus monticolus 14 Passerformes Necteriniidae Mrs Gould's Sunbird Aelhopyga gouldiae 15 Passerformes Fringillidae Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 16 Yuhina nigrimenta Passerformes Zosteropidae Black -chinned yuhinia

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The most frequently observed bird species in this habitat are Green-backed Tit (n=10) and Greenish Warbler (n=10) followed by Black-faced Laughingthrush. The dominant species in this study area is fir Abies densa with dominant undergrowth plant species of Rhodendron hodgsonii, Tsuga dumosa and Rhodendron arboretum. Some of the plant species recorded are Sorbus sp., Rosa microphylla, Rosa Siricia, Larix griffithii, Daphne Bhoula, Rhododendron camelliflorum, Rhododendron falconeri.

Figure 4: Fir habitat showing Transect#3

5. Threat to bird conservation The survey team noted that one of the common threats to the bird conservation in the study area is widening of roads and black topping along Mongar-Bumthang highway. Birds which prefer cliffs and rocky area have hampered. Their nesting sites and foraging sites were affected due to extraction of boulders and damaging of trees along the road sides especially between Latongla- Saith Kilo at Sengor. Black topping of road at Latongla and Thrumshingla had disturbed bird foraging and nesting as well. We suspected that PWD labour may be killing birds for their consumption. This was evident from the sighting of traps and snares nearby roads. Heavy traffic movement is also expected to affect bird conservation in the park.

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6. Discuss and conclusion The result of the survey shows that bird species richness is more in the mixed conifer forest in Transect#2 (n=20), followed by fir forest in Transect#3 (n=16), broadleaved forest in Transect#1 (n=15). This figure doesn’t give full account of the bird species that are present in the areas. This is because the survey may have impacted due to season and the frequency of survey conducted. Yet, the result can be good for the park management to compare and look for the conservation of birds that were rarely seen and have globally important conservation status. Such example is sighting of Rufous-necked hornbill in the broadleaved habitat. In future, similar survey is recommended during winter season to have full account of the bird species in the designated transects.

Acknowledgement I would like to thank Chief Forest Officer, PNP for always supporting and encouraging us with regard to carrying out of survey and research in our area. Mr.Pema Tobgay, Tashi Jamtsho, Wangda Jatsho and Tandin Wangchuk are thankful for their active involvement in helping me to identify plant species. Mr.Pema Tobgay is not to be forgotten for helping me to identify birds, taking photographs of birds and providing me the prepared google maps of three transects. Mr.Tashi Jamtsho has helped me in plant data compilation. Mr.Tandin Wangchuk has helped me in compiling bird data. I would like to thank all of them for their support and cooperation in bringing up this report. Finally, I would like to thank Mr.Thinley, the In-Charge of Sengor Sub- Park Range Office for providing us logistic support during the survey and also helping us to identify some of the plant species.

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References DoFPS (2014-2018). Conservation Management Plan of Thrumshingla National Park. Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture & . Grimmet, R., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T. (2000). Pocket Guide to the Birds of Indian Sub- continent. Pp190 Inskipp, C., Inskipp,T., Grimmet, R. (2007). Birds of Bhutan. pp192. Jinamoy, S., Trissurat, Y., Pattanavibool, A. , Pisdamkham, C., Thongsikem,S., Veerasamphan, V.,Poonswad, P., Kemp, A.(nd). Predictive distribution modelling for rufous-necked hornbill Aceros nipalensis (Hodgson, 1829) in the core area of the Western Forest Complex, . Conservation & Biology. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 62: 12–20R.pp12-20.

Kumar, J.K., & Chhaya, B. (2015). The Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Birds in a Moderately Developed Urban Habitat of Gulabpura, Rajasthan, Department of Zoology, M.L.V. Government College, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, INDIA. Aquatic Toxicology and Wildlife Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur Rajasthan, INDIA Thinley,U. (2010). Know the plants of Bhutan.pp100.Volume II. pp278.

Whelan, C.J., Wenny, D.G., Marquis, R.J. (2008). Ecosystem services provided by birds. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1134:25-60. doi: 10.1196/annals.1439.003.

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Bird photographs taken during the survey

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