Sighting of Green Avadavat formosa in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, Himanshu S. Palei

The Green avadavat Amandava formosa Latham, a Vulnerable , is endemic to central India (BirdLife International 2010). It is sparsely distributed from to and southern to northern Andhra (Jathar and Rahmani 2006). This has also been listed in Appendix II of CITES. In Odisha, this species has been reported in Koraput district (Majumdar 1988).

This note confirms the presence of the species from Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. While carrying out an ornithological survey of the Sanctuary, on 15 April 2009, a flock of consisting of 10 individuals was observed by the edge of a stream (190 41′ 54.9″N and 0830 06′ 30.3″). The flock was observed for eight minutes. The weather was warm and clear with a light wind. I took photographs (Fig. 1) along with notes on special features Figure 1. Green Avadavat Amandava formosa of the birds for confirming the bird later on. prime reasons for its decline (Ahmed Grewal, B. (2000). Birds of the The birds appeared to be same size as 1998). In Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Indian Subcontinent. The Local Colour of White rumped munia Odisha, India, habitat loss along with Limited, Hong Kong. striata. They had distinctive dark flank lack of awareness about this species Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. bars, red bill with green-and-yellow among stakeholders (local and forest Inskipp (2001). Birds of the Indian body. The bird was identified as Green officials ) is a major threat. Subcontinent.Christopher Helm, Avadavat Amandava formosa using London. Grimmett et al. (2001). The field notes References Jathar, G.A. & A.R. Rahmani and the photographs were checked Ahmed, A. (1998). Some observation (2006). Endemic Birds of India. with Grimmet et al. (2001), Grewal of the Green Avadavat in the Indian Buceros, , 11(2&3): 1-53. (2000) and Ali and Ripley (1987) and bird trade. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 27: Majumdar, N. (1988). On a collection confirmed the identification as Green 21-25. of birds from Koraput district, Orissa, avadavat. The same area was surveyed Ali, S. & S. D. Ripley (1987). The India.— Records of the Zoological from 16-20 April 2009 and made Handbook of the Birds of India and Survey of India, Miscellaneous further observations of at least 25 Pakistan. 2nd Compact Edition. Oxford Publications, Occasional Paper 108: 53. individuals. These birds were common University Press, Delhi. BirdLife International (2010). in the Eastern part of the Sanctuary. Department of Wildlife & Conservation Species factsheet: Amandava formosa. Biology, North Orissa University, The popularity of the species as a Retrived from http://www.birdlife.org. Takatpur, Baripada, Mayurbhanja, charismatic cage-bird is one of the on 12/10/2010 Orissa. E-mail:[email protected]

Announcement Third Seminar on Small Mammals Conservation Issues “SMALL MAMMALS VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE” May 15, 2012; Kathmandu, Nepal

Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF), New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal celebrates United Nations Decade on Biodiversity through Seminar on Small Mammals Conservation Issues as an annual event in collaboration and support from different NGOs and INGOs. SMCRF announces the Call for papers and posters for the “Third Seminar on Small Mammals Conservation Issues, May 15, 2012”. We consider Bats, Rodents, Lagomorphs, Small Cats and Carnivores under Small Mammals. We request for papers and posters from interested national, regional and international researchers, conservationists, freelancers and university students in this field.

Please contact: Seminar Organizing Committee: Hem Bahadur Katuwal, Sunil Thapa, Rama Karki Email: [email protected]; website: www.smcrf.org

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