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Home , Hill pigeon, Himalayan snowcock, Nubra, Robin accentor, Snowcock, Snow pigeon

26 Indian Vol. 1 No. 2 (March-April 2005)

Winter birds of the Gya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary, , Jammu and , Tsewang Namgail Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore570002, Karnataka, India. Email: [email protected]

Abstract has close ecological affinities with . 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 , the capital city of Ladakh, and were those of pheasants () and March 2003. 30 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 species in Ladakh excluding 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 chukar and Tibetan (97%) of the birds recorded breed in Ladakh, rare species such as the Black-necked hodgsoniae. Tibetan 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 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, 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 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 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 , and stony slopes, while Robin 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 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 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 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 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 livia Gya, R. data). Such high mortality of birds in acknowledged for their field assistance in Columba rupestris Gya, R. 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 together with Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides Paktse, chance of any disease spreading wide those of Bangladesh, , 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 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 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