Indian

Vol. 1 No. 4 July-August 2005 READY-RECKONER Internet Resources conservation organisations Birds: http://www.indiabirds.com/ 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. , together with those of , , 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 . Oxford: WILDLIFE TRUST OF INDIA: Wildlife Trust of India, A-220, New Oxford University Press. Friends Colony, New Delhi 110065, India. Website: www.wti.org.in. Inskipp, Carol & Tim Inskipp, 1985. A guide to the birds of Nepal. WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE-INDIA: 172-B, Lodi Estate, New London: Croom Helm. Delhi 110003, India. Website: www.wwfindia.org. Inskipp, Carol, Tim Inskipp & Richard Grimmett, 1999. Birds of Bhutan. Web-based email groups New Delhi: Oxford University Press. To join, send email to: Kazmierczak, Krys, 2000. A field guide to the birds of India, Sri Lanka, BANGALORE: [email protected] Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. New Delhi: BOMBAY: [email protected] Om Book Service. DELHI: [email protected] Roberts, T. J. 1991-92. The birds of Pakistan. 2 vols. Karachi: Oxford KERALA: [email protected] University Press. NORTHEAST INDIA: [email protected] Robson, Craig, 2000. A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. London: ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB: [email protected] New Holland. NAT-HISTORY INDIA: [email protected] English and scientific names should follow Manakadan, R., and Pittie, WEST BENGAL: [email protected] A. 2001. Standardised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Buceros 6 (1): i-ix, 1-38.

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, , 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. 4 (July-August 2005) 73 Indian Birds ISSN 0973-1407

Editor Emeritus Zafar Futehally

Editor Aasheesh Pittie Associate Editor Indian Birds V. Santharam, PhD. Vol. 1 No. 4. July-August 2005. Date of publication: 30 August 2005. Subscription information Six issues will be published annually in February, April, June, August, October, and Contents December. Editorial. 74 Type Annual 3-year Individual Rs. 100 Rs. 300 Birds of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh. Student (Up to 10th) Rs. 75 Rs. 225 Abdul Kalam 74 Institution Rs. 300 Rs. 900 Munias of Mt. Abu (Rajasthan, India) with special emphasis on threatened Foreign Individual $10 $30 Foreign Institution $50 $150 Green Munia Amandava formosa. Satya P. Mehra, Sarita Sharma & Reena Mathur 77 Please make payments favouring New Ornis Foundation Bird ringing aroiund Hyderabad city, Andhra Pradesh, India. Add Rs.25/- for outstation cheques. Humayun Taher, Hyder Jaffer & Hatim Jaffer 79

Send manuscripts and subscriptions to Distribution of White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus in India Editor, Indian Birds and a new record from Andhra Pradesh. New Ornis Foundation Aasheesh Pittie, Suhel Quader & Prakriti Pittie 81 P.O. Box # 2, Banjara Hills Hyderabad 500034, India Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris in Arunachal Pradesh. Email: [email protected] Ramana Athreya 83 Some vocalizations of the Jungle Prinia sylvatica during the breeding season in Maharashtra. Sharad Apte 84 NEW ORNIS FOUNDATION Melanism in Spotted Owlet Athene brama. Registration No. 314/2004 Satish Pande, Amit Pawashe & Anil Mahabal 86 URL: www.indianbirds.in Recoveries from Newsletter for Birdwatchers - 7. Trustees Zafar Futehally 87 Zafar Futehally International Conference on Bird and Environment, Haridwar, India. Aasheesh Pittie Vinaya Kumar Sethi, Vivek Saxena & Dinesh Bhatt 88 V. Santharam, PhD. Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis nesting in Sakrohar village, Rishad Naoroji Khagaria district, Bihar, India. Taej Mundkur, PhD. S. K. Choudhary, S. K. Tiwari, S. Dey & S. Dey 90 S. Subramanya, PhD. A record of Oriental Bay-owl Phodilus badius from Kaziranga National Park, Suhel Quader, PhD. Assam, India. Rathin Barman 91 Aims & Objectives • To publish a newsletter that will Range extension of Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting in the northern provide a platform to birdwatchers for Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. publishing notes and observations A. Shivaprakash 91 primarily on birds of South Asia. Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus in an agricultural field in Manipur, India. Laishangbam Sanjit 92 • To promote awareness of bird watching amongst the general public. Egg cannibalism in Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata. Laishangbam Sanjit & Dinesh Bhatt 92 • To establish and maintain links/liaison Reviews. 92 with other associations or organized bodies in India or abroad whose Correspondence. 95 objectives are in keeping with the objectives of the Trust (i.e. to support Front Cover Picture: Male Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola, Tikse Marshes, amateur birdwatchers with cash / kind Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir (12.vii.2005). for projects in ornithology). Photographer: Clement Francis. 74 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Editorial Let’s flock together for Indian ornithology environment and for recognising that reports of rare and unusual birds from an ndian ornithology requires a consistent contact with birds enriches people’s lives,” area and convert sighting reports of rare and Ilong-term effort at surveys that build up (RSPB. 2005. The state of the UK’s birds unusual birds into authenticated records and data over several years. Without concrete 2004.). information that can be reliably used for data it is impossible to indicate trends of I believe that there are enough scientific studies, such as determining bird populations, which in turn are birdwatchers in India to make such surveys species distributions and patterns of avian increasingly being used as a reflection of meaningful. The highly participatory vagrancy. To do this it has to first determine the state of the environment. Britain has a Annual Waterbird Census, commenced in the adequacy of the documentation of long history of such surveys like, Common 1987, is an example of what can be achieved. submitted reports. Records Committees also Bird Census (1962-2000) and Breeding Bird All that is needed is serious commitment to maintain an ‘official list of birds’ of the Survey (started in 1994), to name just two, channelise volunteer birdwatchers’ efforts area(s) they are responsible for. which have been used judiciously to mould towards a coordinated nation-wide Complimentary goals of Record Committees government policy. “The UK government programme. Such surveys will alert us include: Publishing periodic findings uses an annually-updated indicator based towards changes in bird populations. The reports; maintaining an information on trends in over 100 breeding bird species Bombay Natural History Society is suitably repository, consisting of: (a) submitted as one of its 20 ‘framework indicators’ of positioned to take up such a task, perhaps reports, (b) the deliberations of the progress towards sustainable development. as a project of the Indian Bird Conservation Committee, (c) opinions received from Since it was first launched by the Network. outside experts, and (d) copies of some of Department for Environment, Food and the relevant literature. Rural Affairs (Defra) in 1998, the wild bird Records Committee In fact, given the size of the country, there indicator has become valuable as a tool for It is high time too that India had a Records is scope for a Records Committee in each communicating the status of bird Committee. Among South Asian countries, state of India. populations in the UK to a wide audience, only Sri Lanka has one for some time now. as a surrogate measure of the health of the Records Committees scrutinise sighting - Aasheesh Pittie

Birds of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh Abdul Kalam Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: [email protected]

aterniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary specifics like Saccharum munja, birds were classified according to order and K(28°15’N, 81°61’E; c. 400km2) is located Shaccharum spontaneum, and Antidon species. Status of a particular species of bird on the Indo-Nepal border, in Bahraich district spp. In the Katerniaghat range the was assigned on the basis of number of (Uttar Pradesh). It is c. 30km east of Dudhwa grassland is planted with khair Acacia sightings. The occurrence of species in National Park and was declared a sanctuary catechu, semal Bombax cieba and different types of habitats is also given in in 1976. It lies in the Tarai-Bhabhar shisham Dalbergia sisso trees. the checklist. biogeographic subdivision of the upper 5. Mixed forest: Dominated by Terminalia Some interesting species sighted were: Gangetic Plain and supports a variety of alata, D. sisso, T. grandis and S. cumini. The Critically Endangered White-rumped habitats. I recorded seven types of habitats 6. Forest edge: Zone between grassland Vulture Gyps bengalensis breeds on tall while working on my M.Sc. dissertation and forest, forest and PWD road. Bombax sp., trees, planted on the river bank. (31.i.2003-8.iii.2003). These are: Grassland and forest edge is a good area The Vulnerable Swamp Francolin 1. Sal Forest: Dominated by Sal Shorea for sightings of Oriental Pied Hornbill. Francolinus gularis was seen once in the robusta and to a lesser extent by asna 7. Riverine: Girwa River, flows through the Katernighat range, while its call was heard Terminalia alata, haldu Adina sanctuary, and provides habitat for most of the time. The Sarus Crane Grus cardifolia, kusum, Schleichea oleosa migratory waterfowl and other antigone, also Vulnerable, is uncommon in and rohini Mallotus phillipensis. waterbirds. Dense cane-brakes the sanctuary. The Near Threatened Great 2. Teak forest: Dominated by Teak Tectona Dendrocalamus sp., dominate this Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis is very rare grandis. The others being, rohini, habitat. in the sanctuary. Oriental Pied Hornbill chamraudhi Ehretia laevis and jamun Birds were recorded from all the seven Anthraceros albirostris was sighted 4-5 Syzygium cumini. types of habitat. It was found that some times in flocks of 12-16 birds. Great Crested 3. Scrub forest: Main flora comprising of birds were specific to a particular habitat, Grebe Podiceps cristatus is not common, ber Zyzyphus jujuba, khair Acacia but in most of the cases some overlap was and was sighted thrice on Girwa River. catechu, rohini, and Eucalyptus spp. found in utilization of habitat by different 4. Grassland: Alluvial grassland, with species of birds. A checklist was made and Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 75

Checklist of birds of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Podicipedidae (Grebes) Red-wattled Lapwing V. indicus 3,7 C Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 7CScolopacidae (Sandpipers) Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 7 UC Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 7C Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants) Common Sandpiper Actis hypoleucos 7C Little Cormoant Phalacrocorax niger 7CRecurvirostridae (Stilts, Avocets) Greater Cormorant P. carbo 7UCBlack-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 7C Anhingidae (Darters) Glareolidae (Pratincoles) Darter Anhinga melanogaster 7UCSmall Pratincole Glareola lactea 7C Ardeidae (Heron, Egrets, Bitterns) Laridae (Gulls and Terns) Little Egret Egretta garzetta 7CCaspian Tern Sterna caspia 7UC Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 7UCRiver Tern S. aurantia 7C Purple Heron A. purpurea 7UCColumbidae (Pigeons, Doves) Large Egret Casmerodius albus 7UCBlue Rock Pigeon Columba livia 6C Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia 7COriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis 2,6 C Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 3,7 C Spotted Dove S. chinensis 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 C Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii 7CEurasian Collared-Dove S. decaocto 2,3,6 C Ciconiidae (Storks) Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica 1,2,3,4,5,6 C Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 7UCOrange-breasted Green-Pigeon Treron bicinta 6R Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans 7CYellow-legged Green-Pigeon White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 7CT. phoenicoptera 2,3,6 C Threskiornithidae (Ibises, Spoonbill) Psittacidae (Parakeets) Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa 7CAlexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria 1,2,4,5,6 C Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 7UCRose-ringed Parakeet P. krameri 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 C Anatidae (Geese, Ducks) Plum-headed Parakeet P. cyanocephala 3,6 C Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica C Cuculidae (Cuckoos, Malkohas, Coucals) Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 7CBrainfever Bird Hierococcyx varius 2,6 C Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata 7CDrongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris 6UC Northern Pintail A. acuta 7CAsian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea 2,6 C Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina 7CLarge Green-billed Malkoha Accipitridae (Hawks, Vultures) Phaenicophaeus tristis 4,6 C Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus 3 UC Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 6,7 C Black Kite Milvus migrans 3,6,7 C Lesser Coucal C. bengalensis 3,6 C Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus 3,7 C Strigidae (Owls) Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis 3,7 C Collared Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena 1UC Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela 3UCEurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo 6UC Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 3CAsian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides 1,5,6 C Shikra Accipiter badius 2,4 C Jungle Owlet G. radiatum 1,2,5,6 C Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 3CSpotted Owlet Athene brama 1,2 C Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis 3,6 UC Caprimulgidae () Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus 3,4 C Large-tailed macrurus 2,6 C Falconidae (Falcons) Common Indian Nightjar C. asiaticus 2,6 C Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 4UCAlcedinidae (Kingfishers) Phasianidae (Pheasants, Partridges, Quails) Stork-billed kingfisher Halcyon capensis 3,7 C Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus 3CWhite-breasted Kingfisher H. smyrnensis 3,6,7 C Grey Francolin F. pondicerianus 3CLesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 3,7 UC Swamp Francolin F. gularis 3 VU, UC Meropidae (Bee-Eaters) Red Juglefowl Gallus gallus 1,2,4,5,6 C Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis 3,6,7 C Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 4,6 C Coraciidae (Rollers) Gruidae (Cranes) Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 3,6 C Sarus Crane Grus antigone 3 VU, UC Upupidae (Hoopoes) Rallidae (Rails and Coots) Common Hoopoe Upupa epops 6C White-breasted Waterhen Bucerotidae (Hornbills) Amaurornis phoenicurus 7CIndian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris 2,6 C Purple Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio 7COriental Pied Hornbill Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 7UCAnthracoceros albirostris 2,3,6 C Common Coot Fulica atra 7CGreat Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis 3R Charadriidae (Plovers, Lapwings) Capitonidae (Barbets) River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelli 7CBrown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica 3,6 C 76 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Coppersmith Barbet M. haemacephala 6CGreenish Leaf-Warbler P. trochiloides 2,4 C Picidae (Woodpeckers) Common Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 2,4,6 C Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Muscicapidae: Muscicapinae (Flycatchers) Dendrocopos nanus 1UCRed-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva 1,6 C Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus 3UCVerditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina 2,4 C Little Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker Grey-headed Flycatcher Culcicapa ceylonensis 6UC Picus xanthopygaeus 4,5,6 C Muscicapidae: Monarchinae (Paradise-Flycatchers) Black-naped Green Woodpecker Picus canus 4UCAsian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi 2UC Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Remizidae (Penduline-Tits) Dinopium benghalense 1,2,3,4,5,6 C Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps 2R Greater Golden-backed Woodpecker Paridae (Tits) Chrysocolaptes lucidus 1,2,4,5,6 C Great Tit Parus major 1,2,3,4,5,6 C Alaudidae (Larks) Sittidae (Nuthatches) Common Crested Lark Galerida cristata 3,6 C Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea 2,4,5,6 C Hirundinidae (Swallows) Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria 4UC Common Swallow Hirundo rustica 7CDicaeidae (Flowerpeckers) Red-rumped Swallow H. duarica 6,7 C Tickell’s Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorynchos 2UC Motacillidae (Pipits, Wagtails) Nectariniidae (Sunbirds) White wagtail Motacilla alba 6,7 C Purple Sunbird Nectarina asiatica 2,6 C Large Pied Wagtail M. maderaspatensis 7UCCrimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja 2UC Yellow Wagtail M. flava 7CZosteropidae (White-eyes) Grey Wagtail M. cinerea 6,7 C Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus 4,5,6 C Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi 6CEstrildidae (Munias) Eurasian Tree Pipit A. trivialis 4,6 C Red Munia Amandava amandava 3,6 C Campephagidae (Minivets) White-throated Munia Lonchura malabarica 3UC Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus 4UCSpotted Munia L. punctulata 3C Long-tailed Minivet P. ethologus 2,4,5,6 C Ploceidae: Passerinae (Sparrows) Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus 2,4,5,6 C House Sparrow Passer domesticus 6C Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis 6UC Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 1,2,3,4,5,6 C Ploceidae: Ploceinae (Weavers) Red-vented Bulbul P. cafer 2,3,4 C Baya Weaver Ploceus phillippinus C Muscicapidae: Turdinae (Thrushes, etc.) Sturnidae (Starlings, Mynas) Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina 1,4,5 C Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum 6UC Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula 4,5,6 C Common Starling S. vulgaris 3,7 C Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 2,6 C Asian Pied Starling S. contra 3,6 C White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus 4,5,6 C Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 6C Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata 2CBank Myna A. ginginianus 6C Blue-capped Redstart Jungle Myna A. fuscus 6UC Phoenicurus caeruleucocephalus 6UC Dicruridae (Drongos) Black Redstart P. ochruros 1,2,6,5 C Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 6C Blue-fronted Redstart P. frontalis 1,3,6 C Ashy Drongo D. leucophaeus 2,4,5,6 C Common Stonechat S. torquata 3C White-bellied Drongo D. caerulesceus 4,5,6 C Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 3C Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo D. remifer 2C Muscicapidae: Timaliinae (Babblers, etc.) Spangled Drongo D. hottentottus 1,2,3,4 C Striated Babbler Turdoids earlei 3UC Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiseus 1,2,4,5,6 C Jungle Babbler T. striatus 2,6 C Corvidae (Crows, Treepies) Muscicapidae: Sylviinae (, Warblers) Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 1,2,3,4,5,6 C Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris 3UC House Crow Corvus splendens 2,6 C Ashy Prinia P. socialis 2,3,6 C Jungle Crow C. macrorhynchos 2,6 C Plain Prinia P. inornata 2,3,6 C Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 1,2,4,5,6 C Acknowledgements Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei 1,2,4,6 C I would like to thank Department of Wildlife Sciences, AMU, Aligarh for sponsoring the study. My sincere thanks to Forest Department, Habitat Status Katerniaghat for providing accommodation in the forest rest house and 1 = Teak forest C = Common (Sighted more than five times). other help. 2 = Scrub forest UC = Uncommon (Sighted less than five References 3 = Grassland times). Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley 1987. A pictorial guide of birds of Indian 4 = Sal forest R = Rare (Sighted once). Subcontinent. Oxford University Press. 5 = Mixed forest VU=Vulnerable. Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp. 2001. Pocket guide to the birds of 6 = Edge forest Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press. Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 77

Munias of Mt. Abu (Rajasthan, India) with special emphasis on threatened Green Munia Amandava formosa Satya P. Mehra1, Sarita Sharma2 and Reena Mathur3 1Kesar Bhawan, 90, B/D Saraswati Hosp., Ganeshnagar, Pahada, Udaipur 313001, Rajasthan, India. Email: [email protected]. 2C/O Mr. L. L. Sharma, village Gol, via Jawal, Sirohi, Rajasthan, India. 3Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: [email protected].

Introduction 112.98km2 is under unnotified sanctuary Distribution of Munias cCann (1942) spent a short holiday at area (Anonymous 2003). Mt. Abu Wildlife Above 1,500m: Gurushikhar and Bhairon ka MMt. Abu and wrote, “It is an ‘oasis’ Sanctuary is long and narrow in shape, but Pathar are two prominent points within this in the Rajputana desert, and a delightful the top spreads out into a picturesque range. Only White-throated Munia was place for a holiday”. On the one hand, the plateau, which is about 19km in length and sighted within this altitudinal range. Green rain-fed eastern side is full of semi-evergreen 5-8km in breadth. Munia was sighted around Taramandal and deciduous flora, on the other, the drier (Planetarium), at 1,630m. Methodology western side gives way to xerophytic and 1,200-1,500m: Charlie Point (Jalara Fields), Regular seasonal surveys were conducted deciduous plants (Champion 1961). In this Achalgarh, Oriya Village, Trevor’s Tank, from January 2004 – August 15, 2005. Notes varied habitat is found a diverse avifauna Palanpur Point, Jawai Dam, Shergaon, Kodra were taken on different species and the (Mehra & Sharma, in prep.). The Munias Dam and Sunset Point are important points altitude and habitat they occupied. For (Estrildinae) form an important part of this within this range. First five sites were convenience, five altitudinal zones were diversity, especially as this is the western selected for the avifaunal studies. Except created and the study area along with its limit of the distribution of the Globally Black-headed Munia, all the other four altitudinal zones was mapped (Figures 1 and Threatened Green Munia Amandava specie were sighted in this range. Red Munia 2). formosa. Mt. Abu has been assessed as an was rare and only sighted at Achalgarh The status of a species was established Important Bird Area due to the presence of whereas Green, White-throated and Spotted upon the following criteria: Very Common - this species. (Islam & Rahmani 2004). were very common in this zone. Achalgarh More than ten birds of a species during a Seven species of munias namely Red is important for the number of Green Munias survey or at any time of the day; Common - Munia Amandava amandava, Green Munia sighted there. More than five birds of a species during a A. formosa, White-throated Munia 900-1,200m: The main city along with survey or at any time of the day; Rare - Less Lonchura malabarica, White-rumped Delwara, Sunrise Valley, Salgaon, Nesting than five birds during a survey or at any Munia L. striata, Black-throated Munia L. Valley and Arna Village are important points time of the day; Very Rare - One or two kelaarti, Spotted Munia L. punctulata and within this range. All of them were selected sightings of a bird or two during the entire Black-headed Munia L. malacca are as study sites. In this zone all five species study period. reported from India (Ali and Ripley 1987). were sighted from different points. Delwara Five of these, namely, Red, Green, White- Observations was the main site for Green Munia. throated, Spotted and Black-headed Munias White-throated Munia was sighted almost 600-900m: No prominent point was present are present at Mt. Abu. Grimmett et al. (1999) in every part of the Abu Hills irrespective within this zone. Only White-throated and show that White-throated Munia is the most of the altitudes. Itwas observed from the Scaly-breasted Munias were sighted within widely distributed munia in India followed highest peak, Gurushikhar (1,722m), to the these limits. Scaly-breasted were mainly by Spotted, Red, White-rumped and Black- foothills of Mt. Abu. Spotted Munia was sighted in and around agricultural fields headed, whereas distribution of Black- commonly sighted in the agricultural fields whereas White-throated were common throated is restricted to the hills of in the altitudinal range of 600-1,500m. Green everywhere. southwest and east India, and that of Green Munia and Red Munia were found at the Below 600m: Chipaberi and Rishikesh temple Munia to patches of central India. Mt. Abu altitudinal range of 900-1,500m. Green Munia are among the important points of this zone. is the western limit of the Green Munia’s was very common on almost the entire Only White-throated and Spotted Munias distribution. plateau region above 900m, whereas Red were abundant in the lower area of Abu Hills. Munia was rare and found in a few limited Study Area patches of dense bushes. Black-headed Threats Mt. Abu (Ar-Booda, “the hill of wisdom”; Munia was very rare and this is the first The major threat for munias especially the Shyamaldas 1886) (24º36’N, 72º45’E, Sirohi recorded sighting at Mt. Abu. Only three Green Munia, is habitat alteration. Although district, Rajasthan) is the only hill station birds were sighted during June-July 2004. construction activities are banned by the (unnotified) in Rajasthan or Gujarat and is Except Green Munia, all the four species of Honorable Supreme Court from 2002, illegal situated at the average height of 1,219 m.s.l. munias were sighted throughout the day. clearing of land is still rampant. Being a in the Abu Hills, on the south-western Green Munias were seen during morning tourist spot, the development of hotels, and extremity of the Aravalis. Mt. Abu was and evening, mainly on open ground, in the temporary camping grounds or parking lots declared as a ‘closed area’ in the early 1960s short dense bushes of Lantana camara or on the feeding areas of this bird are constant (pers. comm., Karan Singh Rathore, RFO, Carissa spinarum, as well in ripe maize and threats. The activities of religious pilgrims Mt. Abu Wildlife Sanctuary). Although the jowar fields. On overcast days we sighted also tend to disturb Green Munias. entire 328km2 of Abu Hills have been them throughout the day. There have been unconfirmed reports of declared as protected, officially only poaching of this species (Mehra and Sharma 78 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

2004). This has now been confirmed by the Conclusions Rajasthan. tribals of village Gopala Nana, Saroopganj. At Abu Hills the Green Munia is restricted Bhargava, R. 1996. Notes on Green Munia. Although the trapping of this species is not to the altitudinal range which is highly prone J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 93: 588. intensive, they are occasionally trapped for to anthropogenic activities like construction Birdlife International 2001. Threatened birds traditional medicinal use (remedial properties and habitat alteration. This needs immediate of Asia: the Birdlife International Red were not disclosed to us) as well as to meet action if the dwindling population of the Data Book. Cambridge, UK: Birdlife the demand for aviary birds (?)from Gujarat. species is to be protected. International. Butler, E. A. 1875–1877. Notes on the Results and Discussions Acknowledgements avifauna of Mount Aboo and northern Five species of munias, out of the seven We thank Dr Asad R. Rahmani, Director Guzerat. Stray Feathers 3: 437–500; 4: 1– reported from India, were sighted in the BNHS, who encouraged us to study the 41; 5: 207–235. study area. The Black-headed Munia is Globally Threatened Green Munia in Champion, H. G. 1961. A preliminary survey reported for the first time from Mt. Abu. southern Rajasthan. We are thankful to the of the forest types of India. Indian Forest Butler (1875-1876) documented four species Department of Forest (Wildlife Division), Mt. Records, Silviculture 1 (1): 123-125. from here, excluding Black-headed Munia. Abu, especially to Mr Karan Singh Rathore Devarshi, D. and Trigunayat, M. M. 1989. Other works on the avifauna of Mt. Abu and Mr Mahendra Saxena for their kind and Checklist of the birds of Mt. Abu record the presence of Green, White- generous help during the study. Further we (Rajasthan). Pavo 27 (1&2): 59-63. throated and Spotted Munias (Prakash and are thankful to Mr Ramesh Mali for helping Grimmett, R, Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1999. Singh 1995; Sharma 2002). Devarshi and and making arrangements for our study. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford Trigunayat (1989) mention only White- Special thanks to Mr Ainsley Priestman, Mr University Press, New Delhi. throated Munia. Walter Aubert and their families for Islam, M. Z. and Rahmani, A. R. 2004. The overall status of munias in the Abu providing us with historic information on Important Bird Areas: Priority sites for Hills is: Red Munia Amandava amandava - the birds. We are also grateful to Dr A. K. conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Rare; Green Munia A. formosa - Common; Sharma, Mr Ajay Mehta, Mr Pradip Dave Network: Bombay Natural History White-throated Munia Lonchura and Mr Praveen Mehra for their kind Society and Birdlife International (UK). malabarica - Very Common; Spotted Munia assistance. Last but not least, we thank our McCann, C. 1942. A Bushman’s Holiday in L. punctulata - Common; Black-headed friends Shambhu Sharma and Praveen the Abu Hills. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Munia L. malacca - Very Rare. Sharma for their technical assistance and 43: 206-217. Ahmed (1997, 1998) considered trade a help in photography. Mehra, S. P.and Sharma, S. (in prep.). major threat to Green Munia, and as a result Altitudinal distribution of avifauna of Mt. of continued trapping, its populations References Abu, Rajasthan, India. appears to have been wiped out in many Ahmed, A. 1997. Live bird trade in northern Mehra, S. P. and Sharma, S. 2004. Additional areas (Bhargava 1996). Although trapping India. Delhi: TRAFFIC-India. site records of Green Munia Amandava is prevalent at Mt. Abu, it cannot be Ahmed, A. 1998. Some observations of the formosa (Latham) from Mt. Abu, Sirohi. considered a major threat to the species. Its Green Munia in the Indian bird trade. Newsl. Ornithologists 1(6): 84-85. population can be monitored by regular Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 27: 21–25. Prakash, I. and Singh, P. 1995. Some patrolling and involving local residents in Ali, Salim, and S. Dillon Ripley. 1987. observations on the birds of Abu hill, protecting its habitat. Increasing human Compact handbook of the birds of India Aravalli ranges. Pavo 33 (1–2): 99–110. population pressurises the sites where Green and Pakistan together with those of Sharma, S. K. 2002. Preliminary biodiversity Munias feed. Strict implementation of the Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri survey of protected areas of southern order of the Honorable Supreme Court is Lanka. 2nd ed. (Sponsored by the Rajasthan. Unpublished. Pp 24. the only solution to check the human Bombay Natural History Society.) Delhi: Shyamaldas. 1886. Veer Vinod - Mewar ka activities in the forest area. Oxford University Press. Itihaas (in Hindi). Vol 1-3. Motilal Anonymous. 2003. Rajasthan forest Banarsidas, Delhi. statistics, 2003. Forest Department,

Table 1: Status of Munias (Estrildidae) at Mt. Abu Altitude Red Munia Green Munia White-throated Munia Spotted Munia Black-headed Munia Amandava amandava A. formosa Lonchura malabarica L. punctulata L. malacca Above 1,500m Not sighted Rare Common Not sighted Not sighted 1,200-1,500m Rare Common Common Common Not sighted 900-1,200m Rare Common Common Common Very rare 600-900m Not sighted Not sighted Common Common Not sighted Below 600m Not sighted Not sighted Common Common Not sighted Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 79

Bird ringing around Hyderabad city, Andhra Pradesh, India Humayun Taher1, Hyder Jaffer2 & Hatim Jaffer2 12-B Atlas Apartments, Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Email: [email protected]. Corresponding author. 218-7-360/8 Yakhutpura, Hyderabad 500023, India. Email: [email protected] he Birdwatcher’s Society of Andhra the express purpose of ringing. 1. One of the main things that we have TPradesh (BSAP), in conjunction with the Bearing in mind that, with the exception noticed is that Common Kestrels are highly Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), of Falco tinnunculus, none of the other territorial birds, and this territoriality is seen has been conducting bird ringing activities smaller raptors found around the city were in successive years. The territoriality has around Hyderabad city (Andhra Pradesh, migratory, we confined our activities to the also apparently given rise to a strong India) for five years (from 1998 through Common Kestrel. The other birds of prey homing instinct. These observations are 2002). Most of the birds so far ringed have (Falco chiquera, Accipiter badius, Elanus based on our trapping and re-trapping been raptors, particularly Common Kestrel caeruleus, Tyto alba and Circus records. We have only twice managed to Falco tinnunculus, with one Red-headed aeruginosus) that we ringed, had either been actually re-trap an earlier ringed bird (see Falcon Falco chiquera, three Shikras purchased or inadvertently caught, as we below), but we have seen the ringed birds Accipiter badius, one Black-shouldered were rather new to ringing at that stage and in the area from where they had originally Kite Elanus caeruleus, one Western Marsh- tended to become a trifle over-enthusiastic. been trapped. For example, a first year male Harrier Circus aeruginosus and one Barn Ringing was mostly conducted in the Common Kestrel which was trapped and Owl Tyto alba. In addition to these, we have areas around Nadergul, Jalpally, ringed (ring no. 44920) in Balapur on also ringed, at various times, two Pied Mamidipally, Tukkuguda and Balapur, (all 5.xii.1999, was seen later in the same area for Crested Cuckoos Clamator jacobinus, two in Rangareddi district), within a 10-15km over three months from that date. Our last Indian Pittas Pitta brachyura and one radius, east of Hyderabad. This area has sighting of the bird was on 23.iii.2000. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix, plus a suitable habitat for small raptors, Another Common Kestrel bearing ring few Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus. particularly Common Kestrel, because of the number C-44909 was caught near Nadergul Some of the birds which we have ringed from open grass areas and an abundance of on 11.i.1999, ringed and released. It was again time to time are given in Table 1. locusts and other small prey species that trapped in the same locality on 21.xi.1999. Below is given a brief account of ringing form the staple diet of this falcon. As a This indicates that the birds return each activities, with specific reference to raptorial result, there is always a sizeable population season to the same locality. birds (Table 1). All the data collected from of this species in the area during the season 2. Territoriality also appears to have the birds so far ringed is not presented. This when the birds migrate to south India. developed a good homing instinct in this will form the subject matter of a future article. Unfortunately, none of the ringed birds species. On one occasion, an adult male, The non-raptorial birds that were ringed has been recovered from outside India. which had been trapped in Nadergul on were mostly acquired from the illegal bird However, a few interesting aspects have 28.xi.1998, was brought to the city and market near Charminar, in the ‘Old City’. emerged from our ringing activities, which released near the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Most of the raptors were trapped by us for we describe below: (K.B.R.) National Park in Jubilee Hills. 80 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Subsequent to this, the bird was re-trapped chance at the house of one of the authors Discussion on 5.xii.1999 in Nadergul, in fact from the (HT) on the night of 3.iv.2001. The bird was The area near Nadergul is rich in raptorial birds same electricity pylon from which we had seen sitting on the veranda of a second floor and deserves to be protected. At various times we have seen several species of raptorial birds affected the first capture! (Ring No. C-56009). in an apartment block. Using a towel and a here, including, at one time, a sighting of over 3. In the winter of 1999-2000 we recorded powerful torch, we were able to secure the fifty Indian White-backed Vultures Gyps (saw) a Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanii near bird and keep it for the night. It was ringed bengalensis (14.iv.2000). Some of these sightings Nadergul. Despite several attempts, we were and released the next morning at the Kasu are extremely interesting and of uncommon / rare unable to catch that bird and so cannot Brahmananda Reddy National Park in species – of particular interest are the Bonelli’s confirm its sex. However, the many sight Jubilee Hills (Hyderabad city). Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus, Booted Eagle H. records that we have of it seem to indicate 6. Baya Weavers were ringed by BSAP pennatus, Lesser Kestrel, Laggar Falco jugger, that it was an immature bird. member Suhel Quader who was at that time Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo and Short-eared 4. The Indian Pitta and the Pied Crested involved with studies on the breeding of Owl Asio flammeus. This is one of the few areas around Hyderabad where we have seen three Cuckoo were acquired by one of us (HJ) this species at the ICRISAT Centre. The species of mammals: chinkara Gazella bennettii, from the Charminar bird market in birds were ringed in the course of his studies, jackal Canis aureus and striped hyena Hyaena Hyderabad. and the details have been communicated to the hyaena. 5. The Common Quail was acquired by BNHS, as part of the BSAP bird ringing data. Details of the ringing activities are given in Table 1. Table 1: Ringing data. Ring No. Species Sex Age Moult Plu. Brd. Ptch. Wing Bill Tars. Tail Wt. Locality Habitat Date Remarks Recaptured 56001 Falco chiquera M 5 4 4 1 200 20 40 160 170 15.04.98 Jalpally 56002 Accipiter badius M 5 1 4 1 180 20 55 140 170 26.04.98 Balapur 56003 Accipiter badius M 5 1 4 1 185 20 55 140 175 26.04.98 Jalpally 56004 Falco tinnunculus F 2 1 2 1 233 20 40 175 200 19.10.98 Nadergul 56005 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 243 10 40 159 200 A X 22.10.98 H. Sagar 56006 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 245 12 40 165 210 B X 22.10.98 Mamidipally 56007 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 245 12 40 164 200 24.11.98 Nadergul 56008 Falco tinnunculus F 4 1 2 1 249 12 40 170 215 24.11.98 Nadergul 56009 Falco tinnunculus M 5 1 4 1 250 22 33 182 220 28.11.98 Nadergul 05.12.99 56010 Falco tinnunculus F 3 6 3 1 243 22 40 180 215 31.01.99 Nadergul 44903 Circus aeruginosus M 2 4 2 1 356 30 81 160 550 A X 23.11.90 B.Hills (c.f.m.) 44904 Accipiter badius F 6 4 8 1 196 18 52 149 175 A X 22.01.91 B.Hills (c.f.m.) 44905 Falco tinnunculus M 5 8 4 1 256 19 43 178 155 A X 22.03.92 B.Hills (c.f.m.) 44906 Tyto alba F 6 1 5 1 300 43 80 138 300 A X 13.02.93 B.Hills (c.f.m.) 44909 Falco tinnunculus M 5 1 4 1 247 20 40 176 205 11.01.99 Nadergul 21.11.99 44910 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 260 20 40 180 250 10.02.99 B. Hills 44911 Falco tinnunculus F 2 1 2 1 243 20 40 173 220 24.03.99 Nadergul 44912 Falco tinnunculus M 5 1 4 1 238 20 40 170 210 29.03.99 Nadergul 44913 Falco tinnunculus M 4 1 3 1 245 20 40 184 190 06.11.99 Nadergul 44914 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 265 20 40 179 250 06.11.99 Nadergul 44915 Falco tinnunculus F 3 7 3 1 250 20 36 170 200 21.11.99 Nadergul 44916 Falco tinnunculus F 5 1 4 1 257 20 40 175 275 05.12.99 Nadergul 44917 Falco tinnunculus M 5 4 4 1 247 21 40 180 180 05.12.99 Balapur 44918 Falco tinnunculus F 2 7 2 1 250 22 40 190 250 05.12.99 Balapur 44920 Falco tinnunculus M 2 7 2 1 240 20 40 166 180 05.12.99 Balapur 44921 Falco tinnunculus M 5 1 4 1 245 20 40 165 200 09.01.00 Nadergul 44922 Falco tinnunculus M 2 7 2 1 250 20 41 185 275 15.01.00 Nadergul 44923 Falco tinnunculus M 3 1 3 1 240 20 40 170 250 10.04.00 Tukkuguda 44924 Falco tinnunculus M 3 4 3 1 252 20 40 170 250 12.02.00 Nadergul 44925 Falco tinnunculus M 2 1 2 1 245 22 36 180 260 14.04.00 Tukkuguda 44926 Falco tinnunculus M 5 1 4 1 240 22 37 190 180 13.12.01 Keesaragutta 44927 Falco tinnunculus M 3 1 3 1 235 22 38 190 185 02.01.02 Nadergul 44928 Falco tinnunculus F 2 1 2 1 245 22 40 193 200 12.01.02 Badangpet 44929 Falco tinnunculus M 3 1 3 1 240 22 38 192 180 12.01.02 Badangpet 56017 Falco tinnunculus F 2 1 3 1 261 15 46 173 205 31.12.01 Balapur AB-147510 Coturnix coturnix F 5 1 4 1 105 29 12 41 3.04.01 B. Hills Z-27901 Ploceus benghalensis M 5 1 4 1 73 12.1 21.5 45 22 21.06.97 Icrisat Z-27902 Ploceus benghalensis M 5 1 4 1 72 12.6 21 41 22.5 21.06.97 Icrisat AB-147501 Pitta brachyura ? 6 1 4 1 108 26 39 27 40 08.10.98 B. Hills (c.f.m.) B-44501 Clamator jacobinus F 6 1 4 1 144 25 32 158 60 03.07.98 B. Hills (c.f.m.) Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 81

Abbreviation 4=Immature - stage unknown. 7=Head & body. Brood patch Brd. Ptch. = Brood patch. 5=Adult. 8=General moult. 1=Absent. c.f.m = Captive from market. 6=Full grown but stage Plumage 2=Present but details not recorded. Plu = Plumage. unknown. 1=Down. 3=Skin smooth, glossy, free of feathers. Tars. = Tarsus. Moult 2=First year (Juvenile). 4=Skin smooth, network of blood vessels noticeable. Wt. = Weight in grams. 1=No moult. 3=Intermediate. 5=Skin thickened, blood vessels not seen, fluid layer under Key to table 2=Wing. 4=Adult. epidermis, brood patch resembles second degree burn. Age 3=Tail. 5=Eclipse. 6=Skin wrinkled, dried up, begins to form scales. 1=Nestling. 4=Wing & tail. 6=Breeding. 7=Skin becomes smooth, feather calami formed, brood 2=Juvenile (First Year). 5=Head. 7=Partial breeding. patch begins to be covered up. 3=Subadult. 6=Body. 8=Stage unknown.

Distribution of White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus in India and a new record from Andhra Pradesh Aasheesh Pittie1, Suhel Quader2 and Prakriti Pittie3 1, 38-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. 1Email: [email protected] 2Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected]

he White-winged Tern Chlidonias Goa: Lainer (2004) reports sightings between though 500 Whiskered Terns have, between Tleucopterus has been described as a August-September 1998. 1980-2000,” (in litt. S. Balachandran).] winter visitor to “Assam, Bangladesh and Kerala: On 27.iv.1997, Ravindran (2001) saw Sri Lanka, irregularly in the rest of the Indian up to three birds on different occasions Inland peninsula and in the Maldive and Andaman between 12-15.ix.1998 at Kole wetlands, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Pfister (2001) Is.” (Ripley 1982). Ali and Ripley (2001) give Thrissur. On 25.iv.2003, Mathew (2003) saw records one on 23.vi.1995 in Ladakh. Naoroji a few additional references of sightings from one at Thattekkad. Ravindran (2004) reports and Sangha (2004) saw two birds on Pakistan. Surprisingly, without any sightings from Kole wetlands in March, 3.ix.2000, at Trishul Tso, Ladakh, one of supporting evidence, Baker (1929) stated, April and September 1998-2000. which was in breeding plumage and the “In India…common all down the East other a juvenile. They did not see any other coast.” This, despite Blanford’s (1898) Eastern Coast terns. statement, “This Tern has not been clearly Eastern Coast: Perennou and Santharam Punjab: Undeland also recorded three and identified from any part of India west of (1990) recorded it as “a regular and common four birds on 10.v.1998 and 26.vii.1998 at Tipperah [=Tripura]…”. Whistler and passage migrant along the Coromandel (i.e., Harike Bird Sanctuary (Robson 1998a). Kinnear (1937) also emphasised this East) coast,” including “a large roost of c. Rajasthan: On 9.iv.1996, a male in breeding discrepancy. When Abdulali and others 50,000 migrant terns in Kaliveli (Tamil Nadu) dress was seen at Phulera Lake, Jaipur by spotted it on Mahim Causeway, Bombay (which) held over 2,000 whitewinged black Sangha and Vardhan (1998). Craig Robson city (=Mumbai) on 26.iii.1950, he wrote, terns.” [“During late 1989 and 1991, the spotted a single bird at Suriwal Lake near “…has not been recorded before from Whiskered Tern congregation at Kaliveli Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve on 6.xii.2001 anywhere in peninsular India,” (1950). was not more than 5,000 birds,” (in litt. S. (Robson 2002). Since Abdulali’s observation, several Balachandran).] Jharkhand: Baillie (1946) reported a single records of this square-tailed marsh tern have Orissa: Rao et al. (1994) include it in their bird on “Lakes” from 6-11.v.1945, Hazaribagh been published from India and we summarize checklist of birds for Chilika Lake. [“Occurs town. these here, placing them roughly into three regularly in small numbers of 100-200. Seen Delhi: Jackson (1969) reported it form zones: western coast, eastern coast and throughout the year except May-June. In Najafgarh Jheel on 5.v.1968. Vyas (1996) saw inland records. July-August 10-30 birds would be seen in one bird in breeding plumage on 9.vi.1986 breeding plumage. Was difficult to at Okhla Barrage. He also saw one in first Western Coast differentiate from September onwards, from winter plumage on 20.x.1996, again at Okhla Gujarat: On 12.v.1955, it was spotted at Whiskered Terns, due to its wintering and three on 30.viii.1997, at Madanpur Jasdan, purportedly the second such record plumage,” (in litt. S. Balachandran).] village (Vyas 2002). Undeland reported from the area (Shivrajkumar 1955). Mundkur Tamil Nadu: Melluish (1966) saw it on (Robson 1998a) four birds at Okhla on (1987) saw it on 14.v.1985 at Jamnagar. 30.iv.1966 at Pulicat Lake, Chennai and 25.viii.1997 and one on 9.viii.1998 (Robson Parasharya and Mukherjee (2001) spotted described it as “…something extraordinary 1998b). three birds at Porbander on 27.iv.1997. On and entirely unfamiliar”. Fifty birds were Karnataka: Thejaswi (2005) observed six 6.vi.2004, Varu (2004) reported it from Devisar ringed in December 1970 at Point Calimere birds in September 1999, at Kunthur Lake Tank, Bhuj. (Raju and Shekar 1971). Sugathan (1983) (Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka) amidst Maharashtra: Twenty-seven years after lists it as a common migrant at Point Calimere a “huge flock of over 2,500 Whiskered Terns Abdulali’s record, it was reported once again Sanctuary. Kannan (1986) recorded about Chlidonias hybridus, all in flight…” from Bombay (Mumbai), this time from “a hundred” on 17.iv.1983 at Adyar Estuary On 9.v.2005, we had gone birdwatching Colaba Point by Sinclair (1977). Prasad (2004) in Chennai. See Perennou and Satharam’s (06:30-08:30hrs) to Osman Sagar (17º22’N, gives a summary of records from western (1990) record, below. [“Present in Point 78º18’E; a.k.a. Gandipet), one of the lakes Maharashtra. Calimere, but none have been ringed even that supply water to Hyderabad city (Andhra 82 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Pradesh). This was primarily to investigate leucopterus in full breeding plumage! The already been reported by Baker from before a newspaper report about the presence of bird worked an area of water close to us and 1929. The other records from inland flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) there. The all three of us had excellent, long and locations are from Jammu and Kashmir, water-spread had shrunk drastically and repeated views as it flew about. This is the Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Karnataka standing on the bund we could easily see first report of this species from Andhra (Table 1). the opposite shoreline and count the birds Pradesh, and thus it should be added to the Ali and Ripley (2001) state, “Possibly less on it through a scope. Flying about over state’s checklist (Raju 1985, Taher and Pittie vagrant than appears, as liable to be the water were four or five River Terns 1989). overlooked among the numerous Sterna aurantia and 10-12 Whiskered Terns It is clear that on migration the White- Whiskered terns with which it keeps in Chlidonias hybridus, both in breeding winged Tern is more common along the winter, and is impossible to distinguish from plumage. As we watched them, we saw a eastern (EC) and western coasts (WC) of satisfactorily before it starts moulting into smallish tern that, on first glance, looked India, than it is in central (inland) India, and its distinctive summer dress.” Its gregarious like a Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda. recent reports of its presence on the eastern nature and the fact that it “keeps” with However, this one was different. Its square coast support Baker’s (1929) assumption Whiskered Terns is well-documented white tail glistened against the darker shades (Table 1). Records from central India are few. (Henry 1971, Roberts 1991, Grimmett et al. of its remaining plumage. Black feathers The first was from Raipur (Madhya 1998, Harrison 1999, Kennedy et al. 2000) covered its entire belly, chest, throat, head, Pradesh) from before 1929, most probably and is reinforced in Table 1 where 50% of nape, back, and under-wing coverts. Its on the authority of D’Abreu (Baker 1929). the observers recorded seeing White- wings were grey. The plumage was a Ali and Ripley (2001) erred in dating winged Terns accompanying a flock of the combination of vividly contrasting shades D’Abreu’s record from 1935, based on his commoner Whiskered Terns. This of white, grey and black. What we were paper in the Journal of the Bombay Natural emphasises the cardinal rule of observing seeing was a White-winged Tern Chlidonias History Society (D’Abreu 1935), when it had every single bird, even in a flock!

Table 1: White-winged Tern: Inland vs. coastal records and presence of other terns when it was sighted. Author (Year) Observation date Other terns present Coastal Inland Abdulali 1950 26.iii.1950 Gull-billed Mumbai (WC) — Baillie 1946 6-11.v.1945 No information — Hazaribagh Baker 1929 — No information — Raipur Jackson 1969 5.v.1968 Whiskered — Delhi Kannan 1986 10-29.iv.1983 Whiskered, Little Chennai (EC) — Lainer 2004 18.viii.1998, mid-Sept. and 1st week of Oct. No information Goa (WC) — Mathew 2003 25.iv.2003 No information Thattekad (WC) — Melluish 1966 30.iv.1966 Gull-billed Pulicat Lake (EC) — Mundkur 1987 14.v.1985 Whiskered Jamnagar (WC) — Naoroji & Sangha 2004 3.ix.2000 No other tern — Ladakh Parasharya & Mukherjee 2001 27.iv.1997 Whiskered Porbander (WC) — Pfister 2001 23.vi.1995 No information — Ladakh Raju & Shekar 1971 xii.1970 No information Pt. Calimere (EC) — Ravindran 2001 12-15.ix.1998 Whiskered Kole (WC) — Ravindran 2004 iii-iv.2000 Whiskered Malappuram (WC) — Robson 1998a 25.viii.1997 No information — Okhla Robson 1998b 10.v; 26.vii; 9.viii.1998 No information — Harike; Okhla Robson 2002 22-26.i.2002 No information — Suriwal Lake Sangha & Vardhan 1998 9-10.iv.1996 No information — Jaipur Shivrajkumar 1955 12.v.1955 Whiskered Jasdan (WC) — Sinclair 1977 27.x.1974 Whiskered Mumbai (WC) — Thejaswi 2005 ix.1999 Whiskered Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka Varu 2004 6.vi.2004 Whiskered Bhuj (WC) — Vyas 1996 9.vi.1986 Whiskered — Okhla Vyas 2002 20.x.1996; 30.viii.1997 Whiskered, Gull-billed — Delhi This study 9.v.2005 Whiskered — Hyderabad

Acknowledgements References leucopterus (Temm.)] in Bombay. J. Bombay We would like to thank S. Balachandran for Abdulali, H. 1950. Occurrence of the Nat. Hist. Soc. 49 (2): 310-311. commenting on an earlier version of this note. Whitewinged Black Tern [Chlidonias Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley. 2001. Handbook of the Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 83

birds of India and Pakistan together with those Mundkur, T. 1987. The Whitewinged Black Tern Robson, C. 1998a. From the field: India. O. B. C. of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Ceylon. 2nd Chlidonias leucopterus (Temminck) in Bull. 27: 61-66 (62). ed. Vol. 3 (Stone Curlews to Owls). Delhi: Saurashtra, Gujarat. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. —. 1998b. From the field: India. O. B. C. Bull. Oxford University Press . 84 (1): 208. 28: 44. Baillie, R. H. 1946. Hazaribagh bird recordings. Naoroji, R. and Harkirat Sangha. 2004. Project —. 2002. From the field: India. O. B. C. Bull. 35 J. Bengal Nat. Hist. Soc. XX (4): 111-127. Golden Eagle: Raptor surveys in Ladakh 1997- (June): 84-86. Baker, E. C. S. (Ed.) 1929. The fauna of British 2003 (In collaboration with the Indian Army). Sangha, H. S. and H. Vardhan. 1998. Occurrence India, including Ceylon and Burma. Birds. 2nd Unpublished report. of the Whitewinged Black Tern Chlidonias ed. Vol. 6. London: Taylor and Francis. Parasharya, B. M., and A. Mukherjee. 2001. leucopterus in Rajasthan. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Blanford, W. T. (Ed.) 1898. The fauna of British Sightings of Whitecheeked Tern Sterna Soc. 95 (1): 113-114. India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds). repressa, Whitewinged Black Tern Chlidonias Shivrajkumar. 1955. Occurrence of the Vol. 4. London: Taylor and Francis. leucopterus and Saunder’s Little Tern Sterna Whitewinged Black Tern (Chlidonias D’Abreu, E. A. 1935. A list of the birds of the saundersi at Porbander coast, Gujarat. J. leucopterus Temm.) in Saurashtra. J. Bombay Central Provinces. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 98 (1): 113-114. Nat. Hist. Soc. 53 (1): 130. 38 (1) (15 August): 95-116. Perennou, C., and V. Santharam. 1990. Status of Sinclair, J. C. 1977. Sight records of unusual birds Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp, and T. Inskipp. 1998. some birds in southeastern India. J. Bombay from Colaba Point, Bombay, Maharashtra. J. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 1st ed. Nat. Hist. Soc. 87 (2): 306-307. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 73 (3): 530-531. London: Christopher Helm, A & C Black. Pfister, O. 2001. Birds recorded during visits to (1976). Harrison, J. 1999. A Field Guide to the Birds of Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997. Forktail. Sugathan, R. 1983. Some interesting aspects of Sri Lanka. 1st ed. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford 17: 81-90. the avifauna of the Point Calimere Sanctuary, University Presss. Prasad, A. 2004. Annotated checklist of the birds Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. J. Bombay Henry, G. M. (Ed.) 1978. A Guide to the Birds of of Western Maharashtra. Buceros 8 (2&3): i- Nat. Hist. Soc. 79 (3): 567-575 (1982). Ceylon. Reissued 2nd ed. London: Oxford ii, 1-174 (2003). Taher, S. A. and A. Pittie. 1989. A Checklist of University Press. Raju, K. S. R. K. 1985. Checklist of Birds of Birds of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad, India: Jackson, P. 1969. Some new bird records for Visakhapatnam Region. Visakhapatnam: Published by the authors. Delhi. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 65 (3): 780- Andhra Pradesh Natural History Society. Thejaswi, S. 2005. Black Tern Chlidonias niger 782. (1968). Raju, K. S. R. K. and P. B. Shekar. 1971. Some (Linn.) in Mysore, Karnataka: First record Kannan, R. 1986. The Whitewinged Black Tern interesting bird records from Point Calimere. from inland southern India. J. Bombay Nat. Chlidonias leucopterus in the Coromandel J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 68 (2): 457-459. Hist. Soc. 101 (3) (27 April): 454-455 (2004). Coast. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 26 (1-2): Ravindran, P. K. 2001. Occurrence of the White- Varu, S. N. 2004. White-winged Black Tern 11-12. winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus in Chlidonias leucopterus in Kutch. Newsletter Kennedy, R. S., P. C. Gonzales, E. C. Dickinson, Kerala. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 98 (1): 112- for Ornithologists 1 (5): 77. H. C. Miranda Jr. and T. H. Fisher. 2000. A 113. Vyas, S. 1996. Checklist of the birds of the Delhi guide to the birds of the Philippines. Oxford: —. 2004. Random notes. Newsletter for region: an update. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Oxford University Press. Birdwatchers 44 (4) (July-August): 62. 93 (2): 219-237. Lainer, H. 2004. Additions to ‘The birds of Goa’ Ripley, S. D. 1982. A synopsis of the birds of —. 2002. Some interesting bird records from the (Lainer 1999). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 101 India and Pakistan together with those of Delhi area. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 99 (2): (1) (20 May): 163-165. Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Ceylon. 2nd ed. 325-330. Mathew, M. J. 2003. Birds of Thattekkad. Bombay; Oxford: Bombay Natural History Whistler, H. and N. B. Kinnear. 1937. The Newsletter for Birdwatchers 43 (4) (July- Society; Oxford University Press. Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats. August): 60. Roberts, T. J. 1991. The Birds of Pakistan: (Ornithological section). Part XV. J. Bombay Melluish, R. A. S. 1966. Unfamiliar visitors to Regional Studies and non-passeriformes. Vol. Nat. Hist. Soc. 39 (2): 246-263. Madras. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 6 (6): 1-2. 1. 2 vols. Karachi: Oxford University Press.

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris in Arunachal Pradesh Ramana Athreya National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, (Post Bag 3), Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

n 11.x.2004 I photographed a Horned be a sub-adult / first-winter female, from the (Kelsey, et al. 2001: http://www. OLark Eremophila alpestris in thinness of the gorget and the lack of the delhibird.org). The bird allowed close views Arunachal Pradesh. While Ali and Ripley forecrown black band. The races elwesi and for several minutes. On flying away to the (1987) report the species from all along the longirostris differ in body size and length top of a dead tree it uttered a subdued lark- Himalayas including Bhutan and NEFA of beak (Ali and Ripley 1987). like warbling. (Photo: www.indianbirds.in). (earlier name for Arunachal), Grimmett, et al. Not having the bird in hand and not (1998), and Kazmierczak (2000) have having seen any longirostris I can only say References completely excluded Bhutan from its range that the beak length did not appear to be Ali, S., & S. D. Ripley. 1987. Handbook of the and put a question mark on Arunachal incompatible with it being elwesi as indeed birds of India and Pakistan. Compact edition. Pradesh. Whatever be the reason for this the distribution as per Ali and Ripley (1987). Delhi: Oxford University Press. change in status it suggests that sightings The bird was seen early in the morning at Grimmett R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp. 1998. of this species in Arunachal have been very 3,600m altitude along a road cutting in a A guide to the birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the scarce at best. well-wooded (and well-watered) conifer Maldives. Princeton University Press. The photographs accompanying this forest, quite unlike the “Tibetan facies” that Kazmierczak, K. 2000. A field guide to the birds note speak for the identification and I will this species is partial to. However, there is a of the Indian Subcontinent. Pica Press. not delve on it in detail. The bird appears to record of this species even from Delhi 84 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Sightings of Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius in Rajasthan, excluding Bharatpur records Harkirat Singh Sangha B-27, Gautam Marg, Hanuman Nagar, Jaipur 302021. Email: [email protected]

he Sociable Lapwing Vanellus Table 1: Records of Sociable Lapwing in Rajasthan (excluding Bharatpur) T gregarius is a monotypic species of the No. of birds Date Site Source sub-family Vanellinae (family Charadriidae) 5 14.x.1995 Tal Chhapar, Churu Sangha 2000 and a winter migrant to north-west India. 1 11.i.1998 Revasa, Sikar Sangha 2000 The species is classified as Vulnerable because it has suffered a rapid decline and 15 28.i.1998 Tal Chhapar, Churu Sangha 2000 range contraction (BirdLife International 11 1.ii.1998 Tal Chhapar, Churu Sangha 2000 2000). 2 18.i.1999 Jaisalmer Sangha 2002 There are very few records of the species from Rajasthan, except from Keoladeo collected a specimen on 30.xii.1937 from Acknowledgements National Park, Bharatpur. The prevailing dry Nasirabad, Ajmer (BirdLife International I thank Shantanu Kumar, R. G. Soni, Manoj conditions in the park facilitated by an 2001). Whistler (1938) merely described it Kulshreshtha and Bholu Khan for unprecedented water shortage since last as “a cold weather visitor and common supplying their unpublished data. four-five years seem to have favoured according to Hume.” Many of the refrences Sociable Lapwing and other species. The in Whistler’s paper (1938) are “in very References Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus general terms”, for he has not mentioned Adam, R. M. 1873. Notes on the birds of the malabaricus is commoner in the park than any date or site and his sources are R. M. Sambhur Lake and its vicinity. Stray before and the Indian Courser Cursorius Adam, Dr King (who collected birds at Mt. Feathers 1: 361-404. coromandelicus is breeding in the park this Abu and Jodhpur for nearly two years, but Abdulali, H. 1970. A catalogue of the birds year (Bholu Khan, verbally). Regular published no account of his observations, in the collection of the Bombay Natural sightings of Sociable Lapwing in recent except for supplying specimens to Hume), History Society-5. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. years at Bharatpur suggest that today it is and A. O. Hume. Of the fourteen specimens Soc. 66 (3): 542-559. the most consistently visited site, by the in the collection of the Bombay Natural BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened species, in India. However, from other History Society none is from Rajasthan birds of the world. Barcelona and suitable areas in Rjasthan, like Tal Chhapar, (Abdulali 1970). Cambridge.: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife records are few and far between. Unlike All other published records from International. Keoladeo there is too much ground to cover Rajasthan are shown in Table 1. BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened there. Moreover, such sites have generally Unpublished records of Sociable Lapwing birds of Asia: The BirdLife International remained under-observed. in Rajasthan are from Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Red Data Book. Cambridge: BirdLife This paper reviews and supplements Hanumangarh districts. I observed a flock International. historical, published, data on this declining on 18.x.2003 comprising of six birds Sangha, H. S. 2000. Recent sightings of species. Keoladeo records have been including one juvenile, foraging on a sward Vanellus gregarius (Pallas) at Tal deliberatey excluded as these have been at Baramsar depression west of Jaisalmer. Chhapar and Revasa, Rajasthan. J. generally well documented (BirdLife Shantanu Kumar (verbally) recorded an Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 97 (2): 278-279. International 2001). individual at Badopal, Hanumangarh district Sangha, H. S. 2002. A supplementary note The first record from Rajasthan is more in December 2000 / January 2001. Manoj on the avifauna of the Thar Desert than 135 years old (Adam 1873). Although Kulshreshtha (verbally), Bryan Bland and (Rajasthan) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 99 Adam collected four specimens on 5.xii.1869, members of a birding group observed seven (1): 120-126. 5.xii.1872, 17.x.1873 and 6.xii.1873 from birds on 26.xii.1998 at Ganga village on way Whistler, H. 1938. The ornithological survey Sambhar, he found the species “not very to Sudasri, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. of Jodhpur State. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. common; during the cold weather it is to be R. G. Soni (verbally) observed / Soc. 40 (2): 213-235. met with sparingly about the plains,” (Adam photographed one juvenile on 22.x.1991, 1873). A January 1912 record is from Bikaner foraging on the edge of Jor-Bir depression, (specimen in BMNH) and A. E. Jones Bikaner.

Some vocalizations of the Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica during the breeding season in Maharashtra Sharad Apte “Ushahkal”, 1766 Ganeshnagar, Dr Ambedkar Road, Sangli 416416. Email: [email protected]

Introduction resolve disputes about whether a taxon is a behaviour of birds: we can ask what ird vocalizations are of interest for at “good” species, and can provide information is being transmitted through Bleast two reasons. First, in information on the degree of relatedness these sounds, to whom, and under what and systematics, similarities and differences between species and subspecies, Second, circumstances. Much remains to be learnt in the structure of vocalizations can help the study of vocalizations tells us about the about the structure of bird vocalizations and Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 85 the contexts in which these are made. I of encroachment by humans for horticulture studied the songs and calls of the Jungle or construction of industrial estates, Prinia to elucidate these aspects of their townships or housing colonies. The Banjar vocalizations. Bhoomi Vikas Yojana, a project of the central government, has brought thousands of Study Area acres of land under cultivation, destroying Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (16º5’- the breeding and feeding grounds of such 17º9’N, 73º-74º22.5’E) is situated in species. Kadegaon taluka of Sangli district in southern Maharashtra, India. The Materials and Methods 1,087.75ha sanctuary is devoid of human The sanctuary was visited fortnightly during habitation and is covered by southern the main study period (a total of 55 overnight tropical thorn forest (type 6a; Champion and stays). Thereafter, I made monthly visits in Seth 1967). The climate is hot and dry. The the breeding season until November 2002. area lies at an average of about 500m above The vocalizations of the Jungle Prinia were m.s.l. The highest point is at about 900m recorded. These were digitised and above m.s.l. Annual temperatures vary from spectrographs were prepared in the sound a minimum of 8ºC to a maximum of 41ºC. The analysis program Syrinx, version 2.4s. average rainfall is about 400mm, most of which falls from June to October. July and Results and Discussion August are the wettest months. The breeding season of the Jungle Prinia I carried out an extensive study of bird extended from March to November, with a life in Sagareshwar sanctuary from August peak from June to September. The material 1997 to November 2000 (Unpublished). Total used in nest construction was grass and Figure 1: Spectographs of the three vocaliza- taxa, including subspecies, include 114 nests were always situated in a thorny bush tions recorded. The frequency describes the pitch forms representing 50 families. Out of these or in an Agave plant. The nests seemed of the sound; darker pixels indicate louder sound. 114, 47 are residents, 22 are winter migrants, largely located alongside forest roads or Note that the time scale (on the horizontal axis) is not the same for the three calls. Lines are drawn 15 are breeding migrants and 30 are footpaths well-traversed by humans. This under each syllable, together with a verbal de- represented by stray records within the may indicate that the birds get protection scription. sanctuary, but are resident in neighbouring from predators from proximity to human areas. During my study, I made a particular activity. Two nests were found within 100m Call type I: This call is described as pit effort to investigate the nesting, from each other along the main road of the pretty, a loud triple note with pit subdued, vocalizations and behaviour of the Jungle sanctuary. Of eight nests found (Table 1), by Ali and Ripley (1973). I verbalise it in Prinia Prinia sylvatica. six were located near the rest house. On Marathi as “chidriyak chidriyak 28.viii.1998, a nest under construction was chidriyak”. Although the call sounds like a Study Species found and it was observed that a single triple note, the spectrograph shows that Four geographical races of the Jungle Prinia individual (sex?) did all the construction there are at least five syllables in each occur in the Indian region: 1) P. s. gangetica, work; its partner was nearby throughout. phrase (Fig. 1). Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, No distinctive vocalizations were heard This song starts to be heard in March, and Northern Madhya Pradesh; 2) P. s . during nest construction. but remains sporadic until the end of May. sylvatica, the Indian peninsula from Upon the arrival of the monsoon, singing Maharashtra and nothern Madhya Pradesh Table 1: Seasonal changes in number of activity becomes vigorous. This song is south to Kanyakumari; 3) P. s. valida of Sri Jungle Prinia nests found presumably given by males; these Lanka; 4) P. s. insignis, Kutch and Month Number of active individuals select a high perch such as tall Rajasthan; and 5) P. s. mahendrae of nests found bush or sapling, or electric poles and wires Mahendragiri, Orissa (Ali and Ripley 1973). to deliver the song. The song continues for All these five races are strictly resident August 4 5 to 7 minutes with short pause of a few (Whistler 1963). September 2 seconds. Every now and then the bird The subspecies of concern here, P. s. October 1 changes its perch; thus it sings from various sylvatica, is distributed in peninsular India November 1 parts of its territory. This song is (Ali and Ripley 1973). This bird breeds at It appeared that only one bird (female?) of a presumably used to demarcate the very high density in Sagareshwar sanctuary. pair feeds chicks, while the other (male?) boundaries of the territory and to attract Except for deep ravines and hill tops, nests guards the nest. While young, the chicks females. Singing males are often seen driving are spread all over the sanctuary, the highest were fed with insect larvae. Older chicks intruders out of the territory. densities occurring around the guest house were fed with adult insects as well. Food When the pairs are formed, males show and dormitory. P. s . sylvatica prefers arid, selection in relation to the age of the chicks an elaborate courtship flight. The male rises bushy, fallow land and bushy hills. Because needs further study. some distance up in the air, nosedives and such fallow lands are considered Three distinct vocalizations were heard jerks up again. This up and down movement unproductive they are always under threat (Fig. 1). is repeated several times until male alights 86 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) in a bush. During this flight, a snapping 2. When the female (?) is away and out of Table 2: Nests found by locating sound is made either by wing or beak, but I the male’s (?) sight, the calling bird becomes individuals giving call type II. was unable to record it. Most of these silent. Date Notes on nest courtship flights were observed in July and 3. The female (?) collects food from a August. certain area and uses a particular route to 15.viii.1997 With two chicks approach the nest. Male (?) select a high 25.viii.1997 With two chicks Call type II: This call is delivered when the perch along this route. 15.x.1997 With two chicks nest has hatchlings. The male (?) selects a 01.xi.1998 Female seen carrying perch in the canopy or crown of a bush or Discussion larvae but nest remained tree to deliver this call. Exposed perches are Several aspects of the ecology of these birds untraced avoided. As the observer approaches the can be studied with the help of the calls 24.viii.2002 One chick; almost fledged nest, the bird becomes restless and they make. First, by basing censuses on the 29.ix.2002 Nest with three chicks increases the tempo of the call. I verbalise call type I, one can estimate the population 22.ix.2002 Female seen carrying this call as a long-drawn chuui-ek chuui-ek size and density of territorial males. It should larvae but nest remained (Fig. 1). also be possible to measure the sizes of untraced This vocalization seems to be an alarm territories by mapping the singing locations call, but the precise function needs further of individual males. Second, one can use study. This call allowed me to locate several call types II and III to locate nests to estimate Champion, H. G. and S. K. Seth. 1968. A revised survey of the forest types of India. Govt. of the density of active nests to study parental nests (Table 2). India Press: New Delhi, India. feeding behaviour, and to measure the Whistler, Hugh. 1963. Popular handbook of Call type III: I transcribe this as pit pit pit success rate of broods. Indian birds. Reprint of Revised & Enlarged (Fig. 1). The male selects a high perch in the 4th ed. London: Oliver & Boyd Ltd. vicinity of the nest and delivers this call from References an exposed branch. The bird appears restless Ali, Salim, and S. Dillon Ripley. 1973. Handbook [Editors’ note: Sound files of the three calls while delivering the call. Like type II, this of the birds of India and Pakistan together (MP3 format) have been uploaded on our website too appears to be an alarm call. On close with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and (www.indianbirds.in).] observation, I noticed the following points. Ceylon. Vol. 8 (Warblers to redstarts). 10 vols. Delhi: (Sponsored by Bombay Natural 1. When the female (?) approaches the History Society.) Oxford University Press nest with food, the male (?) starts calling. (2001).

Melanism in Spotted Owlet Athene brama Satish Pande1, Amit Pawashe1, Anil Mahabal2 1Ela Foundation, C-9, Bhosale Park, Sahakarnagar-2, Pune 411009, India. Email: [email protected] 2Zoological Survey of India Western Region Station, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

elanism is the occurrence of Athene brama was initiated near Pune, numbers 261 and 262 were placed in right M abnormally black coloured beginning from January 2002. During this and left tarsus respectively. In April 2004, individuals due to the excess presence of a study, the authors noticed a melanistic form the chicks fledged and subsequently the pigment called melanin in their skin, hair, of this owlet in the year 2003. The exact nest site was unoccupied. In July 2004, three feathers, etc. Colours of feathers in birds location of the nest hole where the owlets were again seen to be occupying the depend on combinations of the bichrome melanistic owl was recorded was same nest. Two were adults and one was pigments such as melanin, porphyrin and 18020’64”N, 74001’41”E at 800m near juvenile. One adult was normal and the other carotinoids. Genetic, hormonal and Saswad, Purandar taluk, Pune district, was partially melanistic but the juvenile was environmental ultimately dictate their Maharashtra. The nest was in a 75-year old melanistic. Photographs were taken this time expression. In contrast to melanism, Ficus bengalensis tree, at a height of 8m, (Uploaded on www.indianbirds.in), and it albinism is the total absence of pigment measuring 30x20cm with a depth of 45cm. In was assumed that the pair that was seen in melanin from the feathers, eyes, and skin. June 2003, four owlets were first seen near June 2003 had returned. This was a Detection of the absence of a particular the nest, of which two were chicks and both conjecture since ringing was not done earlier. pigment is often not possible, the were melanistic. One parent was of normal It was also assumed that the pair nesting generalized terms leucism or isabelline are plumage and the other parent was partially and fledging normal owlets from February preferred. Reports of melanism in birds are melanistic. No photographs were taken at until April 2004 was different from the pair rare and in nocturnal species are sparse. that time. The observations were however that fledged a melanistic owlet, even though Pande et al. (2003) report partial melanism in continued. both the pairs used the same nest. the following Indian birds: Brahminy In February 2004, two adult spotted The distribution of Southern Spotted Starling Sturnus pagodarum and Jungle owlets of normal plumage occupied the Owlet A. b. brama is confined to peninsular Babbler Turdoides striatus near Pune and same nest. Two chicks hatched from two India south of 200N latitude and has not been Chiplun, Maharashtra, respectively. eggs and both the chicks were of normal reported from Sri Lanka. The Northern A study of the population, ecology and plumage. These chicks were ringed. Two, Spotted Owlet A. b. indica is seen north of breeding biology of the Spotted Owlet plastic, lemon yellow coloured rings with this arbitrary line but overlap is seen around Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 87

200N latitude. The species is resident and by the partially melanistic parent, while the References affects ruins, old buildings, groves and juvenile melanistic owlet only reluctantly Ali, Salim and S. Dillon Ripley. 1969. Handbook ancient trees near human habitation and flew away on even closer approach. It was of the birds of India and Pakistan together cropland. Southern race is about 21 cm. in often difficult to locate the melanistic owlet with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and length, is darker grey and slightly smaller when it was perched and immobile. In our Sri Lanka. Vol. 3. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. than the northern race. The plumage study of several nests of the spotted owlets Duncan, James. 2003. Owls of the world. Canada: differences between the normal (Ali and with normal plumage in the same locality, Key Porter Books. Ripley 1969, Grimmett et al. 1998) and the chicks and parents took wing almost Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim melanistic plumages in the owlet that we simultaneously. Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian recorded are shown in Table 1. For obvious reasons, it is extremely Subcontinent. Christopher Helm: London. The irides of both were golden-yellow; difficult to identify melanism in nocturnal Pande, S., S. Tambe, C. M. Francis and N. however, it appeared that the eyes of the birds. True incidence of melanism in Sant. 2003. Birds of Western Ghats, Kokan melanistic form were smaller. nocturnal birds is unknown. We report in and Malabar (including birds of Goa). Oxford this paper, probably the first instance of University Press: India. Partially melanistic plumage of parent: One melanis, in wild population of any owl from parent with this plumage was darker overall India, in this case, in the Southern Spotted than the other, which had a normal plumage. Owlet. There were black to dark brown coloured Table 1: Normal and melanistic plumage patches on the pale colored chest and abdomen, instead of brown streaks. The Normal plumage Melanistic plumage facial disc was dark with smoky eyebrows. Plumage: grey brown. Dark brown to black. White spots on the crown, mantle and wing Facial disc and hind collar: white. Dark, collar not seen. coverts and the tail bars, though visible, Eyebrows: white, distinct. Indistinct. were not very prominent. Crown, mantle, wing coverts: white spotted. Indistinct white spotting. We observed an interesting behavior in Chest and belly: pale white with brown streaks. Uniformly dark with indistinct bars. the melanistic owlet. When the nest tree was Beak, feet and claws: grey. Dark black. approached for observations and collecting Tail: conspicuously barred. Bars indistinct. pellets, the owlet with normal plumage first Cere: smoky green. Dark. took wing, followed after closer approach

Recoveries from Newsletter for Birdwatchers – 7 Zafar Futehally #2005 Oakwood Apartments, Jakkasandra Layout, Koramangala, 3rd Block, 8th Main, Bangalore 560034, India. Email: [email protected]

y pace has been too slow, and the of the tree. And such are the complex chains sizeable amount of much-needed foreign MEditor is right in suggesting that I of cause and effect in Nature that one feels exchange by exports abroad.” write about the main happenings not on a almost tempted to give vicarious credit to “Some birds around Badrinath”, in two monthly but on a yearly basis. My last our native birds, at least in part, for India’s parts, (Aug. 1961 and Oct. 1961, by K. S. contribution brought the story up to July supremacy in the sport of hockey. The links Lavkumar) describes many of the common 1961. This note covers the period up to in this chain are as follows: The basis of the birds which visitors are certain to come December 1961. comparatively young but vigorous sports across – white-capped redstarts, Plumbeous The August 1961 issue carried extracts goods industry in the Punjab, which restarts, Himalayan whistling thrush, little from a lecture by Salim Ali on “Birds and supplied all the championship-winning Forktail, and the extraordinary brown dipper, Plants”, to the Singapore Branch of the hockey sticks, is the mulberry tree (Morus which procures its meal by “plunging into Malayan Nature Society. It is a fascinating indica). When the desert areas of the Punjab the eddying water straight to the bottom; piece and I quote one paragraph which will were first colonized by the introduction of then if the water is clear it can be seen be of interest not merely to ornithologists the vast network of irrigation canals, the walking on the floor against the but also to our sportsmen. mulberry tree was planted along their banks current…This suicidal feat of the little bird “On the credit side of the bird’s seed as a fast-growing soil binder. has always been rather alarming to watch…” dispersal account, also, two significant “The local birds took to the fruit with such Among the land birds described is the wall entries may be cited. The flourishing zest that within a very short period the creeper, “about the size of a large sparrow, sandalwood and oil industry of Southern mulberry tree became abundant and paved with round full wings like a hoopoe and the India, which yields a substantial revenue to the way for the flourishing plantations same uncertain flight of a butterfly…but it the State of Mysore, owes its existence which furnish the raw materials for is the habit of alighting and running up sheer largely to frugivorous birds like bulbuls and badminton and tennis rackets, cricket bats, walls that is diagnostic of the wall creeper, barbets which swallow the berries of the hockey sticks and numerous sports and it lives its perpendicular life on cliff faces sandalwood tree (Santalum album) and requisites. The bird-assisted industry now above 14,000 ft…descending to the foothills disseminate the seeds far and wide, thus not only caters for practically the entire in winter…” ensuring widespread natural regeneration needs of the country, but also earns a No one can fail to be impressed by the 88 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) antics of the two species of choughs, one – where she had “never seen as much museum skins in breeding plumage; in the with its coral red bill and legs, (Pyrrhocorax water”, and again on 23.vii.1961, when “the field it would be rash and of doubtful pyrrhocorax), and the other with a yellow waters had been drained to a very great scientific value to attempt to do so…” If bill and red legs (P. graculus). “…A chough extent”. In spite of this she was able to say any wagtail-ophile is interested in a copy I is a bird of the unfettered Himalayan that the place was “not only a paradise for will be glad to forward it. elements, forever circling and tossing, rising water birds but the greatest variety of In 1961 the Newsletter was sent free to all and falling, and as free as the winds that raptors is to be found here. I have seen 7 “subscribers”. When we wrote to the breathe across these magnificent kinds of eagles, apart from buzzards, Postmaster General for a concessional postal mountains.” harriers, falcons.” rate because the publication was of In July 1961, I accompanied Salim Ali to Capt. N. S. Tyabji (October 1961) “educational value”, his reply was that since Rudrapur, in Uttar Pradesh, from where there expressed his surprise at Mrs Ganguli not the Newsletter was being sent free, there was news about the recently re-discovered mentioning the little Indian pratincole can be no question of concession. From large-billed weaver bird (Finn’s Baya). Our (Glareola lactea), seen by him in large January 1961, the subscription was Rs. 5/- host was Mr C. M. Chaudhri, a retired Chief flocks of 3,000-5,000 birds. Among the per annum for 12 issues. In spite of its not Conservator of Forests from Orissa. His farm several other birds reported by Tyabji was being “free” all subsequent attempts to get of 350 acres, covered with grass and reeds, a flock of about 200 pheasant-tailed jacanas, the concession failed. I hope we have better typical of “Bhabar” country, was an 20 sarus cranes and 50 black-necked storks. luck with Indian Birds. especially good habitat for warblers, and Salim Ali followed up Tyabji’s note in the Many of the persons who encouraged the from elephant-back we listed 85 species November 1961 issue, questioning some of Newsletter during its initial year by letters / within the confines of the farm. Among these the identifications. Rain Quail: “Is it not more articles have fallen by the way or are out of was the yellow-headed fantail warbler likely that the ‘small flock (about 12 birds) sight, but I mention them here as a mark of (Cisticola exilis) recorded for the first time observed in a newly ploughed field’ were in gratitude. I am listing only those who have in Kumaon a few years ago. Three species fact bush quails? The place and habit not featured in Recoveries. So far Prof. K. of bayas were nesting on the farm, the certainly suggest that latter. For the benefit K. Neelakantan, Y. S. Shivrajkumar, M. K. common, the striated and the black-throated, of future observers it seems desirable to Fatehsinhji, M. Sasikumaran, C. Nandini, and it was instructive to see the differing straighten out these doubts.” George P. V., S. Thomas Satyamurti, Lalsinh architecture of each species. My only In the September 1961 issue Salim Ali M. Raol, R. A. Stewart Melluish, R. N. disappointment was that we had not seen a produced a useful note on “Field Chatterjee, P. V. Bole, M. M. Mistry, Anwar tiger. These beasts are frequent visitors to Identifications of some Migratory Song Khan, Naresh Singh (WLW UP), Ahi Rudra the farm and our host showed us a few damp Birds”. In this “a beginning (was) made with (DFO Darjeeling), P. K. Rajagopalan (Virus and shady spots where they occasionally a group of wagtails in whose plumage Research Centre, Shimoga), J. T. M. Gibson, have their afternoon siesta. However, not yellow is predominant.” This should be of K. Janaskuraman, P. W. Soman, Amir J. Ali, having come across tigers on the premises great interest to birders even today, for in M. Sasaikumar, R. S. Prasad (Haffkine also has its advantages. spite of several illustrated books which are Institute, Bombay), Mrs Desiree Proud One of the keenest and most reliable now available, the different races of (Kathmandu), Dr W. Rydzewski (Editor, The birders of this period was Mrs Usha Ganguli. migratory wagtails are difficult to separate Ring), H. G. Acharya, Dr J. P. Joshua (Liberia, On 28.v.1961, she waded through knee-deep one from the other. With his characteristic West Africa), A. S. Tyabji (Jamshedpur), Mrs water at Najafgarh Jheel to find live nests of caution he wrote “Subspecies of individual Jamal Ara (Ranchi), B. A. Palkhiwala and, B. black-winged stilts, and she gave a very examples of wagtails are often impossible G. Ghate. useful account of birds present there in May to determine with certainty even from

International Conference on Bird and Environment, Haridwar, India Vinaya Kumar Sethi1, Vivek Saxena1 & Dinesh Bhatt1* 1Avian Diversity & Bioacoustics Lab., Dept. of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India. * Corresponding author ([email protected]) and Organising Secretary of the Conference. four-day international conference on bioacoustics”, speakers examined communicative efficiency of acoustic A‘Bird and Environment’ was held in numerous biological aspects of vocal signals and thus their evolution with Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar from behaviour such as diversity of acoustic consequences for their use by 21-24.xi.2004. Over 160 ornithologists, communication, sexual selection and conservationists in monitoring population conservation biologists, government neurobiology of bird song, discrimination of endangered species.” In the first session, representatives and naturalists, including 31 of temporal fine structures of songs by presentations were made on various aspects from 17 countries, participated in the birds, etc. of the uses of songs and calls in the social meeting. There were 9 plenary lectures, 25 In his Plenary, in the first session, life of birds by Dietmar Todt (Free University, invited talks, 60 oral and, 51 poster entitled, “The science of bird songs: nature’s Berlin Germany), J. E. Vielliard (University presentations during the sessions. music”, Peter Marler (University of Estadual de Campins, Brazil), Ole Neasbye In the first and second sessions California, Davis, USA), the father of ‘avian Larsen (University of Southern Denmark, namely, “The biology of avian vocal communication system’, said, Denmark), Nicolas Mathevon (University behaviour” and “Advances in avian “Environmental factors influence the Jean Monnet-Saint-Etienne, France, Anil Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 89

Kumar (Wildlife Institute of India, biodiversity values. It has been realized that University, Srinagar) on seasonal Dehradun) and Vinaya Kumar Sethi a systematic and regular biomonitoring of reproduction in birds of tropics. In her (Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar). the wetlands in bird sanctuaries and wildlife lecture through two superb models, namely The second session began with a habitats of India is required. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus and Plenary by Clive K. Catchpole (University Lei Fumin (Chinese Academy of Spotted Munia Lonchura punctulata, she of London, UK) on the neurobiology of Sciences, Beijing) delivered a Plenary lecture explained how tropical / subtropical birds birdsong. He pointed out that the main in the session, “Avian biodiversity have provided significant insights into driving force behind the evolution of song conservation I” on the topic ‘An alternative environmental control of seasonal is sexual selection and female choice has hotspot for the avian diversity conservation reproduction in birds. During this session exerted pressure to make male songs more priority’ and emphasized that Hengduan Vinod Kumar (Univeristy of Lucknow, complex and attractive to females. Maria Mountains to Qinling Mountains in south Lucknow) in his invited talk, pointed out Lusia da Silva (University do Guama, Belem, eastern China along the eastern, that melatonin, which is a part of the avian Brazil), R. A. Suthers (Indiana University, southeastern and northeastern Tibetan circadian system, did not play a direct role Bloomington, USA), Theirry Aubin Plateau should be promoted as the hottest in photoperiodic induction of circadian (University of Paris, France), Robert Dooling area of Chinese biodiversity with the highest rhythms mediated seasonal reproduction. (University of Maryland, USA), Kazuo conservation priority. Lalitha Vijayan Saumen Kumar Maitra (Viswa Bharti Okanoya (Chiba University, Japan), Miki (SACON, Coimbatore), H. S. A. Yahya University, Shantiniketan) showed that the Takahashi (Chiba University, Japan), K K (Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh) seasonal recovery of gametogenesis might Sharma (Jamshedpur Cooperative College, described the avifauna of Andaman and not be a function of photoperiods and / or Jamshedpur) and Christina B. Castelino Narcondom Islands respectively and the pineal organ in Rose-ringed Parakeet. (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA) suggested that some mangrove forests and Besides these invited talks in this session contributed significantly to the theme of the moist deciduous forests in Middle oral presentations were made by B. K. session. Andaman may be declared as protected Tripathi (Regional Institute of Education, The role of birds in agricultural area. Other speakers of the session such as Bhopal) Sangeeta Rani, Sudhi Singh, Amit ecosystem is well known. In the session, Shwartz Assaf (The Hebrew University of Kumar Trivedi (University of Lucknow, “Agriculture Ornithology”, participants Jerusalem, Israel), S. Somasundaram Lucknow) and Anushi (Meerut University, discussed and developed strategies for the (SACON, Coimbatore), Anika Tere (Gujarat Meerut). management of avian diversity in Agricultural University, Anand), Romesh Kr. Global climatic change is probably the agricultural ecosystem so that the Sharma (Z.S.I., Dehradun) presented data most important environmental challenge that requirements of all the species are met, on avian biodiversity of different parts from faces our planet. In the session “Avian benefits of insectivorous birds in pest India / Israel. ecology and breeding biology I”, this control could be explored and the pressure Under the session, “Avian biodiversity conference discussed the impact of these of granivorous birds on crops could be and conservation II”, the Plenary was changes on birds’ lives. In her invited talk, minimized. In his invited talk, B. M. delivered by Lalitha Vijayan (SACON, Michele Loneux (Zoological Institute, Van Parasharya (Anand Agricultural University, Coimbatore) on the conservation of wetland Beneden, Belgium) reported the effect of Anand, Gujarat) pointed out that for the birds in India. She pointed out that a total of climatic fluctuations and global warming on conservation of birds found in agricultural 655 wetlands were identified and surveyed European Black Grouse population areas, eco-friendly management of for birds all over India and all the wetlands dynamics. Lo-Liu-Chih (Shu-Te University, agricultural landscapes is required. K. L. showed contamination by heavy metals and Taiwan) and Anoop Das (SACON, Mathew (Gujarat Agricultural University, pesticide residues. Aeshita Mukherjee Coimbatore) also presented their findings Jamnagar, Gujarat), V. R. Reddy (A.N.G.R. (University of Capetown, South Africa), on avian ecology and breeding biology. It Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Arun Kumar (Z.S.I., Dehradun), P. K. Saikia was discussed that aspects of avian Hyderabad), Mani Chellappan (Kerala (Guwahati University, Guwahati ), P. C. Tak behaviour and ecology could be used as Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala), (Z.S.I., Dehradun), R. C. Gupta (Kurukshetra informative indicators of large scale climatic and C. S. Malhi (Punjab Agricultural University, Kurukshetra), Kailash Chandra change. University, Ludhiyana) presented their (Z.S.I., Jabalpur) presented papers. Under the session “Avian ecology and findings in this session. The session “Avian endocrinology, breeding biology II”, Wina Meckvichai With increasing industrialization and photoperiodism and seasonal reproduct- (Chulalongkorn University, Bankok, urbanization of the landscapes in India and ion”, highlighted the role of hormones, Thialand) and T Shivanandappa (Central abroad it has become important to protect annual changes in day length, temperature Food Technology Reseach Institute, ecologically important habitats from further and humidity in causing or phasing Mysore) delivered invited talks on the human impacts. Under the sessions, “Avian seasonal events in birds, like migration and breeding biology of island birds of the biodiversity and conservation” I and II, this reproduction. This knowledge has Andaman Sea and Ranganathittu Bird conference discussed the current status and implications to issues related to Sanctuary respectively. Other speakers, distribution of birds in IBAs (Important Bird conservation and management of namely, N. Gomathi (B.N.H.S., Mumbai), K. Areas) and other landscapes. In addition, threatened and endangered species and C. Soni (Lohia Post Graduate College, the presentations provided an update on adaptation of birds to the threat of global Rajasthan), V. C. Soni (Saurashtra University, the situation in India highlighting a number warming. The Plenary lecture was delivered Rajkot) also presented their data. In her of critically threatened sites of high by Prof. Asha Chandola-Saklani (Garhwal studies Gomathi found a decreasing trend 90 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) in the population of Long-billed Vulture, a Tokyo, Japan) highlighted research in the (a) There is a need to increase knowledge most critically endangered species, at field of habitat use and behavioural biology. and awareness of wetlands and their Bayana, Bharatpur (Rajasthan). Three poster sessions (51 participants) values and all wetland-type habitats The senior Indian ornithologist, S. A. exhibited avian biodiversity on a global should be conserved through Hussain (Karkala, Karnataka) and, Hans scale including reports from deteriorating legislation and government policies. Winkler (Austrian Academy of Sciences, habitats of the world and their impact on (b) Studies should concentrate on satellite Austria) delivered invited talks in the bird biodiversity. tracking of migratory birds involving session, “Avian migration, habitat use and In the valedictory session, chief guest both laboratory and field scientists in general behaviour”. S.A. Hussain described R. S. Tolia (Chief Secretary of Uttaranchal) developing a richer understanding of the bird migration pattern in the Indian stated that India is one of the 12 mega- the subject and for the conservation of Subcontinent. He gave an overview of the biodiversity countries of the world which migratory birds. most recent research work conducted in this provide suitable habitat for the conservation (c) The state and central government field. Hans Winkler reported that migrants of all kinds of biodiversity. Peter Marler should establish an integrated possessed smaller brains than residents. (University of California, Davis), Co- conservation and development The other participants of this session, A. chairperson of the International Advisory network for newly identified IBAs and Mukherjee (University of Cape town, South Committee of the conference presented the strengthen national legislation for the Africa), Sangeeta Rani (Lucknow University, conference report and suggested that there protection of sites that are of Lucknow), Pratyush Patankar (M S is need for such conferences to fill the large- exceptional importance for biodiversity. University of Baroda, Vadodara), Mohd. gap in the conservation efforts at global (d) Detailed studies on the ecology and Arshad (B. Z. University, Pakistan), V. K. level. The recommendations of the breeding behaviour of endangered Tomar (I.A.R.I., New Delhi), D. M. Jathewa conference were presented by S. A. Hussain avian species should be undertaken for (Junagarh Agriculture University, (Karkala, Karnataka). It was recommended better conservation and management Jamnagar), and M. Soma (University of that: measures.

Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis nesting in Sakrohar village, Khagaria district, Bihar, India Sunil K. Choudhary, Santosh Kr. Tiwari, Sushant Dey & Subhasis Dey University Department of Botany, T. M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur 812007, Bihar, India. Email: [email protected]

n 3.iii.2004 while on a distribution sur and leaves of Arjuna Terminalia arjuna, Fund, as part of their Asian Vulture Ovey of Greater Adjutant-Stork palm trees, and of other unidentified plant Population Project (http://www. Leptoptilos dubius, we saw 20 Indian White- material. Only one chick (c. 70cm long) was peregrinefund.org/vulture/ backed Vultures Gyps bengalensis in present in each of the two nests. The chicks coverage.asp?speciesID=2). A map on this Sakrohar village (25°36’26.0”N, were able to move around the nest on their website displays active nesting sites of 86°49’53.7”E), which is located in the own. A parent attacked the researcher and Gyps vultures in India (26 in all, 1985/86- floodplain area of the Kosi River in Khagaria his palm was injured in defending himself. 2003/04). This record was the first one from district of Bihar, about 107km north-east of We watched the nests for three days after Bihar. Bhagalpur. Local people reported that the this observation and found to our We have numerous secondary reports vultures had arrived in the village 10-12 days satisfaction that the vultures did not desert about the sighting of Gyps vultures in this ago, around 20-22.ii.2004. We located two the nests. From interviews with local locality. In view of the Critically Endangered nests on Palmyra Palms Borassus flabellifer. residents about the vulture’s arrival in the status of Indian White-backed Vultures We could not see inside the nests at that village (around 20-22.ii.2004), and our first (Islam and Rahmani 2002), more search trips time, as we were on a different mission. sighting of the vultures in the village on in the locality are required to establish its We visited the village again on 11.iv.2004, 3.iii.2004, when the nests were already built, range of distribution in the area, and a study especially to document the details of the we estimated the age of the chicks as one- on annual basis on its habitat, population nesting of the vultures. Both the nests, one month old. At great risk we were able to abundance and nesting. each on a Palmyra, were located at a height take some photographs and took some Acknowledgements of about 20m. The nests were built at the video-footage of the nests, chicks and the We are grateful to Wildlife Trust of India for junction of three fronds’ bases. The insides surrounding place in general. It will be financial assistance in the Greater Adjutant Stork of the nests were not visible from the interesting to mention that we had spotted Search Project under RAP. Our observation on ground. A bamboo ladder was erected close a group of 50 Indian White-backed Vultures Gyps bengalensis is an offshoot of this project. to the palms that could be climbed up to a feeding on a buffalo carcass, in an Navtola We are also thankful to Mr Harischandra Singh height that matched that of the nest. This (25°31’48”N, 86°41’45”E, Khagaria district, and Mr Arun Kumar, owners of the two Palmyra was done with great difficulty with the help c. 80km from Bhagalpur), adjacent to the palms in Sakrohar village, who permitted and of local people. One researcher climbed up present sighting on 8.vii.2002. That flock helped us to investigate the nests. to peep into the nests. Each nest was 90cm had many juveniles in it. Reference long, 45cm wide and 12cm deep and had no Our present observation of two Indian Islam, M. Zafar-ul, and Asad R. Rahmani. 2002. distinct shape. The base of the nest was White-backed Vultures in north-east Bihar Threatened birds of India. Buceros 7 (1&2): 6 made up of haphazardly arranged dried twigs has been documented by The Peregrine pr.ll., iii-x, 1-102. Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 91

A record of Oriental Bay-owl Phodilus badius from Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India Rathin Barman Wildlife Trust of India, Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation, Kaziranga National Park, Borjuri, Bokakhat, Assam, India. Email: [email protected]

riental Bay-owl Phodilus badius is immediately brought to the Centre for photographs taken during its brief stay at Oscarce and uncommon in the forests Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation CWRC were the first ever photographs of north-east India. Baker (1901) reported (CWRC), which is a facility to rescue and taken of this bird, in Assam and probably in this bird from the bamboo forests of North rehabilitate wild , established by India, as few experts said. Cachar and mentioned that at times it may Wildlife Trust of India and Assam Forest stray into secondary forest. Stevens (1915) Department at Borjuri, near Bokkhat, the Acknowledgements recorded it once from the plains of Dibrugarh head quarters of Kaziranga National Park. Kaziranga Park Authority, Assam Forest in 1904 and once from Pathalipam of north Eyewitnesses said they saw an uncommon Department, Mr L. N. Barua, ACF, Kaziranga Lakhimpur in 1908. It was recorded in in bird being chased by a crow (Corvidae) in National Park, Mr Maan Barua, Dr A. U. February 1998 in Namdapha National Park, the morning. The bird tried to fly away, but Choudhury, Mr Vivek Menon, and Mr Arunachal Pradesh (Paul Holt, verbally, to somehow dropped into the courtyard of a Bhupendra Nath Talukdar. Maan Barua) and from Pakee Tiger Reserve, house on the outskirts of the town. It was Arunachal Pradesh (Aparajita Dutta, picked up by residents who realized it was References verbally, to Maan Barua). In 1999 Maan an owl. The bird was examined at CWRC Baker, E. C. Stuart. 1897. The birds of north Barua had an unconfirmed record of this bird and no external injury was found. It was Cachar. Part VIII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. from the eastern range of Kaziranaga then kept in a carton for further observations Soc. XI (2) (1 November): 222-233. National Park, Assam. Choudhury (2000) for any internal injuries, if any. At the end Choudhury, A. 2000. The birds of Assam. listed this bird as rare and uncommon and of the day, none were apparent. The bird Gibbon Books and WWF-I-NERO. had no sightings from Assam himself. was perfectly healthy and it was decided to Stevens, H. 1914-15. Notes on the birds of On the morning of 29.i.2003 an adult release it at night. Photographs were taken upper Assam. 3 parts. J. Bombay Nat. Oriental Bay-owl was rescued by some and it was released at night. It waited for Hist. Soc. 23: 234-268, 547-570, 721-736. villagers when it was strayed into a house five minutes in the open carton before in Bokakhat Town, Assam. It was vanishing into the darkness. The

Range extension of Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting in the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. A. Shivaprakash 478, “Bidadi”, 3rd Cross, 8th Main, ‘H’ Block, Ramakrishna Nagar, Mysore 570022, Karnataka, India. Email: [email protected]

hile on a trek in the northern Western on a low overhanging branch of a tree, intervening ghat forests in the state where WGhats in Pune district of Maharashtra, keenly watching the water below. It made suitable habitat is present. a solitary Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo several unsuccessful attempts to catch fish. meninting was observed at the Mangala After each dive, it flew to a new position on Reference Ganga stream, a tributary of River Mula near a rock nearby or to other low branches of Ali, Salim, and S. Dillon Ripley. 1987. Payalichiwadi village, at the foothills of the tree. The bird was observed for twelve Compact handbook of the birds of India Kalad Gad Hill. This place is located in the minutes when the harsh sound of a diesel and Pakistan together with those of valley between Kalad Gad and Ganachakkar pump startled it and it flew away. Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri range of hills, the eastern expanse of the Ali & Ripley (1987) list this kingfisher’s Lanka. (Sponsored by the Bombay Western Ghats. The forest type that is seen domain as the humid Western Ghats strip in Natural History Society.) Delhi: Oxford here is a stunted evergreen forest. The bird Goa, Mysore, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri hills) and University Press. was seen at 07:30hrs on a cold morning. It Kerala. Prasad (2004) lists it from Hedvi Prasad, Anand. 2004. Annotated checklist was almost the size of the Small Blue Konkan and Sindhudurg district of the birds of Western Maharashtra. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis but with an intense (Maharashtra). This sighting is noteworthy Buceros 8 (2&3): i-ii, 1-174 (2003). blue back, distinct blue ear coverts and deep to establish the range extension of the Blue- rufous under parts. eared Kingfisher to the northern Western The bird was busy fishing, and behaved Ghats in Maharashtra. It also indicates that like a Small Blue Kingfisher. It was perched the kingfisher could possibly occur in the 92 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005)

Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus in an agricultural field in Manipur, India. Laishangbam Sanjit Department of Zoology & Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India.

n 1.i.2000, I did a census of birds in the Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. I then al. (1998) mentioned it as an erratic visitor in Oagricultural fields near Uyung looked around for more birds of this species. the area. My rescued bird was nursed and Makhong village (24°28’N, 93°40’E), which I found ten more individuals sitting / set free after 5 days. lies on the periphery of the Thangjing Hill standing on the raised paths (locally called ranges in the east Himalayan state of “loubuk louri”) in the agricultural field. The Reference Manipur (India). Some local boys, who were mild breeze made their crests very Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, and Tim working in the field, had caught a bird with prominent. Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian a crested head. They told me that the bird Locals informed me that it was common Subcontinent. 1st ed. (With the was called “Salangkhak”. This is a Manipuri in winter and quite numerous in the month collaboration of Sarath Kotagama and name for all species of the lapwing family. I of January, particularly in this area. The bird Shahid Ali.) (Helm Identification Guides.) took the bird from them and realised that was observed during the winter of 2001- London: Christopher Helm, A & C Black. the lapwing with the crested head was a 2003, in the same field or area. Grimmett et

Egg cannibalism in Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata Laishangbam Sanjit and Dinesh Bhatt Avian Biodiversity and Bioacoustic Lab, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University, Hardwar 249404. Email: [email protected]

ungle Babbler Turdoides striata is a in the area. On 4.ix.2003 at 08:30hrs, we with the Records of Avian Biodiversity and Jresident bird, endemic to the Indian observed an unusual behavior. As soon as Bioacoustic Laboratory, Department of Subcontinent. Jungle Babblers are chiefly the female laid an egg, she broke the shell Zoology and Environmental Sciences, insectivorous, augmenting their diet with of the egg and ate its contents. (Egg-eating Gurukula Kangri University, Hardwar (India). fruits, seeds and nectar. They feed chiefly is apparently prevalent in poultry and is on the ground, hopping about and buisily supposed to result from a calcium-defficient Reference turning over leaves (Grimmett et al. 1998). diet. In poultry, stress is also a cause for Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim On 2.ix.2003, we found a cup-shaped nest egg-eating.) She then picked up the lovely Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian of dry grass and twigs of Turdoides striata green-coloured shell with her beak and flew Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, in Kankhal area of Hardwar (29° 57’N, away with it. She leaves the egg-shell on New Delhi. 78°12’E). It was about 4m above ground, on the roof of a nearby house. top of a bush and seemed quite exposed to This entire sequence was recorded in a predators (birds of prey) which were aplenty ten-minute video which has been deposited

Reviews

Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. C. Anderton (p. 11)], text-figs. 1-5 (Fig. 1: within the ambit of “South Asia”: Field guide. Vol. 1; Birds of South Asia. Bird topology; fig. 2: Geographic and Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, The Ripley Guide. Attributes and status. political names mentioned in text; fig. 3: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives Vol. 2. — By Pamela C. Rasmussen and John Number of breeding species; fig. 4: Number and Chagos Archipelago. This is the first C. Anderton. 2005. Barcelona: Lynx of regional endemic species; fig. 5: sample field guide to cover Afghanistan or Chagos Edicions. ISBN: Vol. 1: 84-87334-65-2; Vol. 2: sonagrams); 1,000+ sonagrams. Archipelago. 84-87334-66-0; Vols. 1&2: 84-87334-67-9. The field guide (vol. 1) contains over 3,400 Copies can be ordered from: www.lynx.com. amela Rasmussen and John Anderton’s illustrations in 180 colour plates painted Price for the set: • 75/- [= c. Rs 4,000/-]. Plong-awaited Birds of South Asia (2005) especially for this book. These depict Vol. 1: Hardback (15.0 x 22.0cm, with has finally arrived. This two-volume set virtually all species and most distinctive illustrated cover), pp. 1-378+6, plates I-II magnificently caps a decade of high-quality subspecies and plumages, some of which (endpapers, front), III-IV (endpapers, rear), ornithological publications on the avifauna appear in no other guide. The plates are plates 1-180, 1,450+ maps (colour, of South Asia (Inskipp et al. 1996; largely of a very high standard and are placed distribution). Vol. 2: Hardback (15.0 x 22.0cm, Kazmierczak & Singh 1998; Grimmett et al. on the right-hand-side (recto) of an open with illustrated cover), pp. 1-683+5, 1998, 1999; Kazmierczak 2000). The first book while on facing pages (verso) are colour endpapers [Maps (front: South Asia, volume comprises a field guide while the range maps, 1,450 in all, annotated as to physical; back: South Asia, main regional second, entitled “Attributes and status”, geographic variation, status (breeding habitat zones)], 3 portraits [b&w: S. D. detailed information about species. The visitor, endemics, geographic variation, Ripley (p. 8), Pamela Rasmussen (p. 11), John authors include the following political areas year-round resident, two-way migration, Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 93 spring migration, fall migration, winter maps of the scale and size used in field distributions within South Asia,” (ibid.). In visitor, isolated record, etc.), and habitat. guides, by their very nature, cannot be the present work, more details of distribution On the verso too are concise texts giving completely accurate nor to everyone’s are provided in the second volume, the information necessary to identify each satisfaction. Frankly, more detailed ones including questionable records, frauds, etc. species. The endpapers have keys to the would end up being cluttered and messy. The second volume contains detailed main plates for quick access. The maps in the Ripley Guide are based attributes and status of each taxon. It is Birdwatchers in India may have become largely on verified specimens, which fact arranged in the following order: Contents familiar, by now, with the field guides of might reduce the range of species when (p. 5); List of families (p. 6); Preface: An Grimmett et al. (1998) and Kazmierczak compared with those in the other books, but appreciation of S. Dillon Ripley (by Bruce (2000). Let me assure you that the book one could say they are more defensible in Beehler, pp. 8-10); About the authors (p. 11); under review is a march ahead of both. It their accuracy. Too, they are usefully Introduction [pp. 12-35: Coverage of the has a convenient layout that includes annotated and, for the first time (another book; Geography and avifauna; Moult and plates, distribution maps, and texts, on first!), differentiate winter from spring and plumages; Measurements; Illustrations; facing pages. There is no need to flip pages fall records. The authors are quite clear about Identification (ID); Vocalisations; to look at maps. Neither of the earlier books what they have done. They categorically Taxonomy; Names; Maps; Records; History achieved this. On the text and map page, state, “Records routinely admitted of ornithology in South Asia; families are broken further into convenient elsewhere to checklists and maps are of Conservation]; Acknowledgements (pp. 36- sections, based either on genera and/or various types and often of uncertain 38); Species accounts and sonagrams (pp. physical characters, with light blue bands, reliability and provenance. The backbone 39-601); Appendix 1: Hypothetical species thereby reducing the searchable options in of our knowledge of distributions of birds (pp. 603-604); Appendix 2: Rejected species the field. The judicious use of space is in South Asia has always been based on (p. 605); Appendix 3: Taxonomic changes astounding. The exquisite plates are by museum specimens. Specimens form much (pp. 606-613; Appendix 4: Glossary (pp. 614- leading artists of the world, (none is from of the most reliable source of distributional 616); Appendix 5: Gazetteer of localities South Asia). But it is gratifying to note that data because they are tangible evidence that mentioned in text (pp. 617-623); Appendix there are several Asian ornithologists, e.g., (theoretically) may be re-evaluated by any 6: Major birding localities (pp. 624-625); Pratap Singh, Dhananjaya Katju and Deepal researcher at any time. However, our Appendix 7: Useful addresses and contacts Warakagoda, who have made important knowledge of bird distributions has long (p. 626); Appendix 8: Brief regional histories contributions to the work. The been compromised by the fact that (pp. 627-629); Appendix 9: Major regional acknowledgements (Vol. 2, pp. 36-38) brim statements based on specimen data have specimen holdings by museum (p. 630); with many more names of South Asian been confounded by statements not based Appendix 10: Threatened species (p. 631); ornithologists. If I had to choose favourite on such data but on surmise…as well as on References (pp. 633-640); Main index (pp. plates from this volume, it would have to be mistaken identifications and localities, and 641-683). the works of John Schmitt (birds of prey) confused taxonomies. In more recent years, Species accounts have sub-sections that and L. McQueen (owls), and those are not specimen collecting has largely been deal with identification (including variation necessarily my favourite bird families! John replaced by observational data (sight and size), occurrence, habits, voice, and Anderton’s plates grow on you. Initially, I records). We consider that sight reports taxonomy. They are cross-referenced to Ali must confess, I did not take to them. have too often been taken as reliable without and Ripley’s Handbook (1983) by the serial Gradually I realised that he lends the adequate documentation (for the entire numbers used by the latter, and to the plates illustrated bird a remarkable volume and life region, only Sri Lanka has had a long- in volume one. that imparts it a very realistic three- standing records committee). We have Volume two, entitled “Attributes and dimensional quality. However, some like taken the conservative position of status,” is, according to this reviewer, what plate 132 do not depict the true plumage considering that important records makes the two-volume set so special. The colour of the Turdoides species, which tend warranting inclusion as definite here are print is small, no doubt, but the wealth of generally towards a dirty brown rather than those supported by extant specimens or information that is packed into it is the grey shown. On some plates, plumages clearly identifiable, extant photographs that phenomenal, making it an ideal lodestone are depicted much darker than actual may be re-examined as necessary, to return to after a day of field-work. Splitting colours (e.g., plates 84 and 104), giving a accompanied by published details that the work into two volumes is a brilliant idea wrong impression of some taxa (e.g. confirm the identity of the bird without for it provides the best of both worlds to a Coracina melanoptera on pl. 104). I question and provide additional user – a highly portable classic field guide daresay, given the fabulous jizz that corroborative data,” (vol. 2, p. 27). They and a road-worthy, information-packed data- Anderton has breathed into his birds, his however clarify that, “…the absence of bank, for reference. Bruce Beehler’s colouring too would be scrupulous. This indication for a given region on a map “Appreciation of S. Dillon Ripley” is a neat could well be a case where the printed plates cannot be taken as absolute proof that a summation of the phenomenal do not do justice to the originals! species has never been recorded in a given ornithological work that Ripley has left The distribution range maps may area; original research is required to behind. More than that, it gives tantalising disappoint some users and may indeed be document each case history. We believe this views of the man behind the scientist. deemed inaccurate by others, which were book will facilitate such research and will Some of the important aspects of this the general verdicts for those in Grimmett provide the background for understanding volume are as follows: Taxonomy: The (1998) and Kazmierczak (2000). In all fairness, problems in the historic record of bird authors state that, “During preparation of 94 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) this book, we realised that it was recordings, would not have been possible splendid set, and is highly recommended. counterproductive to retain many taxa as there. subspecies when it became obvious through Names: The authors have taken pains to References comparisons of morphology and ensure that the genders of specific and Ali, Salim, and S. Dillon Ripley. 1983. Handbook vocalisations that they would not continue subspecific names agree with generic of the birds of India and Pakistan together to be thus treated in the future… names as suggested by David and Gosselin with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Remembering that the decisions to lump (2002a, b). In addition, “All specific and Sri Lanka. Compact ed. (Sponsored by the Bombay Natural History Society.) Delhi: species were made in the absence (or without subspecific names used herein have been Oxford University Press. consideration) of much of the data now reviewed by N. David and M. Gosselin, David, Normand, and Michel Gosselin. 2002a. available, we propose, in a number of whose additional unpublished suggestions Gender agreement of avian species names. instances, a different taxonomic arrangement for gender agreement have been enacted Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 122 from that currently accepted by most herein,” (p. 26). It is heartening to read that (1): 14-49. sources,” (p. 25). This has resulted in 198 the authors have prudently “chosen to David, Normand, and Michel Gosselin. 2002b. species-level differences from the taxonomic follow the relatively familiar order used by The grammatical gender of avian genera. treatment of Ali and Ripley (1983) and 128 the Bombay Natural History Society ENVIS Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 122 species-level differences from that of Inskipp list (Manakadan and Pittie 2001),” having (4): 257-282. Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, and Tim et al. (1996)! These changes fall under five “enacted a few minor well-corroborated Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian categories: those split from extralimital modifications to the order indicated by Subcontinent. 1st ed. London: Christopher species, splits within region, new or present data…Where we have not Helm, A & C Black. overlooked taxon, reallocation of race(s), and introduced any taxonomic changes, Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, and Tim those that have been deleted. An example common (English) names used mainly Inskipp. 1999. Pocket guide to the birds of the is the polytypic Golden Oriole Oriolus follow the ENVIS list…” Indian Subcontinent. 1st Ed. New Delhi: oriolus, treated in Ali and Ripley (1983) as This volume also contains a list of 85 Oxford University Press. O. o. oriolus and O. o. kundoo. The present taxon that are “Hypothetical in [the] region”, Inskipp, Tim, Nigel Lindsey, and William work treats them as two separate species, i.e. those that might occur or have actually Duckworth. 1996. An annotated checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Bedfordshire, the “European Golden Oriole O. oriolus” been reported to occur within the region U.K.: Oriental Bird Club. and “Indian Golden Oriole O. kundoo” and without adequate supportive evidence of Kazmierczak, Krys, and Raj Singh. 1998. A states that the latter “Does not appear to the claim. This is the first time that such a birdwatchers’ guide to India. 1st ed. Sandy, intergrade with O. oriolus, despite proximity list has been compiled for South Asia, U.K.: Prion Ltd. of breeding ranges. Differences in where, unfortunately, records have been Kazmierczak, Krys. 2000. A field guide to birds morphology and (evidently) vocalisations generally either accepted or rejected quite of the Indian Subcontinent. 1st ed. London: are comparable or greater than those summarily in the past. This list sets a Pica Press / Christopher Helm. between certain other oriole species; hence consistent standard for the acceptance of Manakadan, Ranjit, and Aasheesh Pittie. 2001. kundoo treated here as full species,” (p. each species. Such records should ideally Standardised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Buceros 586). Brief justifications are provided for all be vetted by national records committees, 6 (1): i-ix, 1-37. such taxonomic decisions, and in most cases which are inexplicably lacking in all Rasmussen, Pamela C. 2005. On producing Birds detailed vocal analyses and sonagrams are countries except Sri Lanka. of South Asia. Indian Birds 1 (3): 50-56. also provided as substantiation. There are interesting sections on the -Aasheesh Pittie Vocalisations: The study of avian innumerable serious frauds committed by vocalisations has advanced considerably in Col. Richard Meinertzhagen and the lapses Handbook of Indian wetland birds and the past decade and is being used of Stuart Baker, one of the most prolific of their conservation. By Arun Kumar, J. P. increasingly in taxonomy and systematics writers on matters ornithological, and a very Sati, P. C. Tak, and J. R. B. Alfred. 2005. 1st the world over. The work under review educative history of ornithology of South ed. Kolkata: Director, Zoological Survey of presents, for the first time, over a thousand Asia as well as brief regional histories. India. Price: Rs 1,500; $80; £60. 35% discount detailed sonagrams of bird vocalisations The one flame that illuminates this to students, scholars and amateur birders. from South Asia. It might take a while before stupendous work is the amount of original Available from: http://www.weblineinfosoft. we get used to sonagrams and adept at using research that has been assimilated into it. com/zsi/hbiwb.pdf. them as tools for study and identification. Almost every aspect of south Asian This is a good place to start, for the ornithology has been re-evaluated after aving participated every year in the introduction gives samples of the main studying original sources and nothing HAsian Waterbird Census, since its types of bird vocalisations (vol. 2, p. 24, seems to have been accepted just because inception in 1987, I feel a surge of happiness figure 5), depicting whether a squiggle on it was published earlier! The authors are to within me whenever a publication on the graph is a trill or a warble or indeed a be commended for this rigourous scrutiny, wetlands comes to hand. If it deals with birds buzz! Ideally, bird vocalisations are more which sets a remarkably high standard of it is a double-blessing. In those early days useful in a field guide, for on-the-spot scientific accuracy among publications on of coordinated effort (and yet so individual), reference in the field. However, the south Asian ornithology. A brief view of it was difficult to come by a book with good elaboration meted vocalisations in volume this laborious process was revealed by the illustrations of wetland birds. Gradually, two, wherein detailed analyses for most lead author in the last issue of Indian Birds better quality material got published, till we species are made directly from tape (Rasmussen 2005). All-in-all this is a had the fabulously portable “Waterbirds of Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) 95

Asia” [Sonobe & Usui (Eds.) 1993] and the to convey data graphically. taken outside India, and therefore may depict subsequent general field guides of Grimmett Some criticisms that surface are: races that are not found within India. An et al. (1999) and Kazmierczak (2000). These The following wetland-dependant taxa example is the photograph of Ceyx erithaca invariably had brief texts containing have not been included in this work: The rufidorsa (p. 263), which is often treated as identification notes, no more. The work families Ploceidae (Weavers) and a conspecific of the dark-backed nominate under review has a great deal more to offer Estrildidae (Munias), and the reed-loving race. Now each is elevated to species status, in the areas of status and conservation of warblers (Locustella and Acrocephalus C. erithaca and C. rufidorsa. C. rufidorsa wetland birds and comes at an opportune spp.) of the Sylviidae. Inclusion of is a vagrant in Sikkim, but is commoner in time when wetlands are under threat all over Troglodytes troglodytes seems SE-Asia. C. erithaca is the one found widely the country either from overuse, abuse or unnecessary. in the Western Ghats and in NE India, whose draining for agriculture. Page numbers of plates are not included picture would have been more relevant. At This work can be divided into two distinct in the species accounts, making them least C. erithaca is depicted on pl. 37 (p. parts. The first part (comprising chapters difficult to find, as they are not gathered 270). This does not however, dim the one and two) is a field guide of 310 taxa of together, but scattered throughout the spotlight from several top-class wetland birds (as defined by the authors), book. photographs from within and outside the with species accounts that include The distribution maps for Western country sprinkled throughout the work. information on diagnostics, voice, habitat, Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus and Gehan’s magnificent full-page portrait of the habits, food, status and distribution, remarks Eastern Marsh-Harrier C. spilonotus are the Large Egret (penultimate page) shows a bird and threshold number. A distribution map same (p. 251). This is wrong as the latter is in courting colours with flaming red legs and is provided alongside each species. One or reported from the extreme NE of the country. blue-black bill [not “nbr” (= non-breeding) more colour photographs illustrate these The map for Peregrine Falcon Falco as stated]. Vijay Cavale’s pair of Bar-headed accounts, interspersed with colour plates. prergrinus (sic) (=peregrinus) (p. 255), is Geese (p. 108) captures the graceful lines of The second part, which is truly the also incorrect, in that it depicts the species this most delicate bird, even though the pair strength of this book, is a compilation of to be a resident of most of the country. On sits in grass. original as well as previously published the contrary, the race that not only frequents The Glossary (p. xxi) contains several material ranging from the status of wetland wetlands more but also spreads across the initial abbreviations, “R/LM” to “V Com”, birds (chapter 3), the socio-economics of country (F. p. calidus, earlier treated that are repeated with some extra explanation, wetlands (chapter 4), to the wide network of erroneously under F. p. japonicus) is from the preceding “Terms and protected areas in India (chapter 5). The migratory. The map should have had a wash abbreviations used” (pp. xix-xx). Quite a few authors also provide the student of wetland of blue colour (denoting a migrant) instead photos are also repeatedly used, which birds with information on the framework for of green, or ideally, a mixture of both, for the could have been avoided. conservation that is present in the country. resident Shaheen (F. p. peregrinator) All these glitches can be easily overcome Various conventions on wetlands and though prefering hilly regions and foothills, in a second edition. For all students of migratory species and an overview of Indian uses wetlands opportunistically. wetland birds this book is a must and for Ramsar sites are listed in several appendices “Accentors (Family Prunellidae)” is every budding ornithologist, all at the end, which might be eye-openers for wrongly given as the title of the Turdinae biodiversity-, irrigation- and tourism-related many who do not realise the amount of work (Muscicapidae), on p. 284, even though it departments of various state and central that goes into making countries agree on is correctly placed as that on p. 41. As a government fora, this book contains vital ways and means of protecting migrating consequence, the description of the family information, conveniently compiled in one species and their habitats. The entire section Prunellidae (p. 284) becomes irrelevant. place. is replete with graphs, tables and maps used Several of the photographs have been -Aasheesh Pittie

Correspondence

Was this a 12-hour Tsunami warning? A dog fed in the dustbin, but none of the hoardings, buildings, etc., at every 200-300m On 25.xii.2004 I observed an unusual crows came down alongside it to feed. In a intervals. behavior of birds in Neelangarai, a coastal matter of minutes the number of birds began On the ill-fated day of 26.xii.2004, the suburban locality of Chennai (Tamil Nadu). to grow as mynas, drongos, parakeets and chirping of birds, which starts early in the In a locality full of parakeets, treepie, grey several other species started to gather on morning was absent. The familiar crow, with shrike, crows, pariah kites, egrets, bulbuls, the coconut trees nearby. Yet there was an a hooked beak, which comes every morning green bee-eater, kingfishers, the occasional unusual lull, but they were restless. There for its mandatory rice, failed to turn up at hoopoe, the pet peacock next door and many might have been at least 500 birds of various 05:45hrs. more, this unusual activity caused alarm. species. It was also seen that they continued The earthquake occurred at 06:28hrs off It all started with a murder of about 100 to look around in an alert way. the Sumatran coast (magnitude 9.0, one of crows gathering on the electricity This behavior was observed between the most powerful ever in the world). The transmission wires. There was an unusual 17:30—17:45hrs on 25.xii.2004.They then Tsunami then struck the coast 2-3hrs later. calm. I had initially reckoned it was a carcass flew away towards the shore, grouping The birds did not resume their normal in the vicinity that brought them together. together again and again on top of activity till late in the afternoon the same 96 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 4 (July-August 2005) day. started feeding the young the next day. threatening the courser. However as this There were reports on television that Taej Mundkur behaviour was indeed strange we felt that it the Tsunami would recur due to after shocks. Swarankit, Plot No 6, Mahatma Housing was worth recording. I failed to believe the meteorology Society, Kothrud, B. Raha & N. Bhure department, the birds were moving about Pune City 411029, India. Email: [email protected] normally. There have been no Tsunamis, Email: [email protected] aftershocks on our coast since. Agumbe, Karnataka, India As early as 1961 similar observations Nesting of Common Moorhen Gallinula I was one of four people on a recce between on behaviour of birds and animals were made chloropus in Kerala 12-14.ii.2005 to establish a multi-purpose by Laurens van der Post, in his book, ‘The I am very happy to get the Newsletter for field base in the Western Ghats at Agumbe heart of the hunter’. I wonder whether this Ornithologists as Indian Birds, and to learn (670m above m.s.l., Shimoga district, was, in some unfathomable way, a warning about the New Ornis Foundation. Karnataka). The base was initially intended of things to come. This is a response to the note on the for herpetology, ornithology and botany. Kaushik Krishnan nesting of Common Moorhen Gallinula The location was previously cleared to farm New #2/775, Old # 3/458A, Kazura chloropus in Kerala by P. K. Ravindran paddy and areca-nut. The site is well known Gardens, 1st Street, Nellangarai, Chennai (Indian Birds 1: 17). On reading it, it would for its heavy annual rainfall. Being the dry 600041, India. appear that this is the first record of nesting season, the area and its surroundings were from Kerala. The nesting of this species was extremely dry, with recorded relative Sighting of Steppe Eagles Aquila first recorded by K. K. Neelakantan from humidity below 40% with temperatures nipalensis near Belgaum, Munnar in April 1974 (J.Bombay Nat. Hist. between 17ºC-32ºC. Maharashtra, India Soc. 72: 537). Again it was found nesting in On 12.ii.2005 we noticed a flock of five On 25.xii.2004, I was 20km east of Belgaum Sultan’s Battery in the Wynaad district in Spotted Doves Streptopelia chinensis (Maharshtra, India). About 07:00hrs I October 1984, 1985, 1986 by P. K. Uthaman. foraging at the base of a creeper. Out of noticed seven large Aquila eagles sitting Three-four chicks were found then at a reed- nowhere, a Besra Sparrowhawk Accipiter on the top of a tree, basking. A closer look filled tank in Poomala. They are also virgatus scattered the flock and struck what revealed that their cere clearly reached breeding in Brahmakulam in Palghat district. appeared to be a sub-adult dove, after which beyond the pupil, which identified all of them In many of the “chalees” (lagoons) and at the victim hid within the creeper. Some two as Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis. The the famous large “chalee” in Thirunnavaya minutes later, visibly shaken and possibly surrounding landscape consisted of fallow they are regularly seen and occasional injured, it flew out of the bush and was agricultural land with some scrubby areas. breeding is recorded by local birdwatchers. immediately grabbed by the hawk and A garbage dump, used by neighbouring L. Namassivayan spirited away. A White-necked Stork villages and poultry farms, was also present. Kerala Natural History Society, Ciconia episcopus was observed amongst The eagles were seen in the company of Elappully, Palakkad 678622, Kerala. riparian vegetation at a nearby stream. The Black Kites Milvus migrans, Brahminy Kites sole ophidian observed was the non- Haliastur indus and Cattle Egrets Bubulcus An incident between a Black Drongo venomous and endemic Bedomme’s ibis. All eagles were perched on mango Dicrurus macrocercus and an Indian Keelback Amphiesma beddomei at around Mangifera indica and tamarind Tamarindus Courser Cursorius coromandelicus 10:00hrs on 13.ii.2005. indus tree. On 11.i.2005, at 10:30hrs, while watching a The location for the field station has huge I visited the area six times, with intervals pair of Indian Coursers Cursorius potential for study on a variety of organisms, of two to three days in between each visit. coromandelicus at Pandavleni grasslands and while my colleagues’ and my own The number of eagles remained the same (Nashik district, Maharashtra) we saw that interest largely relates to herpetofauna, birds and I saw hardly any activity. Once in a while one of the birds had caught a large of the region have to be documented and they chased a kite and pirated a morsel from caterpillar and hurried off in one direction in ornithologists are welcome to assist in it. order to prevent (?) its mate from taking it gathering baseline information on the These eagles were seen in the area for a away. avifauna. Please contact me for details. little over three weeks till 23.i.2005. Three A Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Nikhil Whitaker years ago, I had seen more than 25 eagles (? was sitting ten feet away on an Acacia Madras Crocodile Bank / Centre for sp.) in this area, when they had remained in arabica bush at a height of five feet. It saw Herpetology, P. O. Box 4, Mamallapuram, the vicinity for less than one week. the courser carrying this caterpillar, and Tamil Nadu 603104. Niranjan Sant swooped down at it, coming face to face Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] with courser. On landing, it flattened itself on the ground, simultaneously beating its Storm-blown Shikra family rehabilitated wings in slow motion, constantly staring at A Shikra Accipiter badius family was the courser with its bill open. The courser reunited (9.v.2005) after a storm had knocked dropped the caterpillar, which the drongo down the nesting tree. There were three grabbed and flew back to the bush it had young at various stages of development. come from. We made a basket nest and placed that in an It is difficult to say whether the drongo adjoining tree. The parents came back and was begging for the caterpillar or With Compliments of G. B. K. Charitable Trust Rajan House, 2nd Floor, A. M. Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025. For private circulation only.

Oriental Bay-owl Phodilus badius Photo : Rathin Barman

Stepppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Photo : Niranjan Sant

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