Biodiversity Mapping Survey/Study in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) Birds Chapter Final Report Prepared by Dr. Asad R. Rahmani and Dr. Raju Kasambe With inputs by Anwaruddin Choudhury, Abidur Rahman, Rehan Ali and Siddhesh Surve 1 1. Introduction: Kaziranga National Park is an internationally famed wilderness, mainly known for the Indian One-horned Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis. However, Kaziranga has large populations of many birds. According to Barua and Sharma (1999), Kaziranga harbours about 478 bird species. Choudhury (2003) has listed 490 species. During our surveys and by collating information from senior and experience ornithologists, we have come up with a list of 514 bird species. There are as many as 27 globally Threatened species, among the highest recorded in an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area in India. Kaziranga is one of the outstanding IBAs, especially for birds of tall, wet grasslands of Endemic Bird Area 131 (Assam Plains Endemic Bird Area) and Biome 12 (Indo-Gangetic Plains) (BirdLife International, unpublished). Out of the 514 bird species, more than 200 are residents; the rest are migrants, including local migrants. Notable resident species with significant populations are: Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis, Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis, Pallas’s Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Greater Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Bristled Grass-warbler Chaetornis striatus, Marsh Babbler Pellorneum palustre, Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis flavirostris, and Finn’s Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus. Some of the uncommon vultures are the White-rumped Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed G. tenuirostris, and Red-headed Sarcogyps calvus. Six Slender-billed and four White-rumped Vulture were seen in January 2014. A couple of nests of Slender-billed are being observed in Kaziranga NP from 2001 to 2013, but the nests of White-rumped were not seen after 2005. Carcasses from natural death of wild animals ably support flocks of Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis. Other uncommon birds are Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda, Pied Falconet Microhierax melanoleucos, Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius, Jerdon’s Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni, Rufous- vented Prinia Prinia burnesii, Jerdon’s Babbler Chrysomma altirostre and Slender-billed Babbler Turdoides longirostris. Some of the species, especially of the tall grasslands and thick 2 shrubs may not be as rare as thought because finding them is rather difficult, especially on brief bird watching surveys. The White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis is an occasional species. Possibly, the Vulnerable Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea breeds in the park; it is considered a summer visitor by Barua & Sharma (1999). After Manas and Orang, Kaziranga has the largest and most secure population (about 30 adult territorial males) of the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Assam (Rahmani et al. 2014). Kaziranga is also famous for its nesting colonies of Spot-billed Pelican, and Greater and Lesser adjutants. Almost all species of tall, wet grasslands of the Brahmaputra floodplains are found here. Thus, Kaziranga is one of the most important bird areas of India. This fabulous IBA also has 23 Near Threatened species, some of them with significant wintering or breeding populations. According to the classification by BirdLife International (undated), this IBA lies in Biome 12 (Indo-Gangetic Plains). Of the 13 species listed in this biome, 12 are found in the park. Bird species of at least six other biomes are also seen, generally in winter. For instance, Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis, Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus, and Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus of Biome 5 (Eurasian High Montane) occur in Kaziranga in winter. Similarly, Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula hodgsonii, Slaty Blue Flycatcher F. tricolor, Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea, Himalayan Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis, Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata, Grey-bellied Tesia T. cyaniventer, Grey-sided Bush-warbler Cettia brunnifrons, and Chestnut-crowned Bush-warbler C. major all belonging to Biome 7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forests) winter in this site. Kaziranga is also famous for its large populations of waterbirds, especially Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. A Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus tagged in Mongolia was sighted there in 2013. In all, more than 20,000 waterbirds are found in the beels and riverine tracts in the national park area. Methodology: We conducted many road surveys in the Park and adjoining Reserve Forests and chaporis. Few boat surveys were also conducted in the Brahmaputra River passing through the 3 Park. Line transect or Point Count methods could not be used in the Park as we were not allowed to get down from the vehicle due to danger of Rhino, Elephant and Wild Buffalo. This prevented us from taking quantified data on selected bird species. However, more than 50 aggregate visits were made for collection of bird information. When any bird was seen, its location, number, gender (if dimorphic) and behaviour were noted in field note books. Help of bird fieldguides were taken for identification of birds in the field, and if possible photographs were taken which were later used for further identification. Due to rains and floods, we could not collect monsoon data as the Park was closed. As reported earlier, logistic and field work was extremely difficult due to various restrictions on the foot movement inside the Park for security reasons. Despite these difficulties, we were able to sight more than 300 birds ourselves. Data on remaining birds were collated from experienced birdwatchers who have been going to the Park for many years. 4 2. Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Kaziranga National Park 1. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Among the four species of grebes found in Assam, Little Grebe is perhaps the most widespread and common. In Kaziranga, it is found in almost all major wetlands, particularly just after the rains when water level is high. It does not occur in flowing rivers and streams, preferring placid deep water beels. 2. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus It is found in large, deep beels of the Park, and also sometimes in the slow-flowing rivers. It is regularly seen in the Brahmaputra and in Sohola Beel. 3. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis (NT) In the 1970s and 1980s, Agaratoli Range of Kaziranga was a well-known breeding area of Spot-billed Pelican. Even now few 10-15 nests are found on tall Semul trees opposite Rangamotia beat, but population appears to have declined in the Park (although its overall numbers in India are on the increase: Rahmani 2012). According to Rehan Ali (pers. comm.) till 1997-98, Sohola beel used to be full of these birds, sometimes more than a thousand, but now they are not seen in that number. Even now they are seen in all the ranges, sometimes in flock consisting of more than 100 individuals. We found them in Agaratoli as well as Kohora ranges in good numbers. 4. Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus (VU) Barua and Sharma (1999) and Choudhury (2000) have mentioned this as uncommon winter visitor in the Park, but we did not see any bird during our surveys. Both Grimmett et al. (2011) and Rasmussen & Anderton (2012) have not shown its distribution in north- east India. We contacted many ornithologists and tour guides – no one has reported this species. We suspect that it is a case of misidentification and the species should be removed from the list. 5. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus It is an uncommon winter visitor, sometimes seen in large flocks of 40-50 birds in large beels in winter. Rehan has seen it in Mihibeel in Central Range in 2015. About 20 were seen in Agaratoli in 2015. 6. Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis It is also called Indian Cormorant or Median Cormorant. It is uncommon on deep beels and also slow flowing rivers, often seen perched, with other cormorants on dry branches near water. 7. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 5 Among cormorants, Great Cormorant is the most conspicuous due to its size and numbers. Flocks consisting of 40-60 birds can be seen sitting on mounds, or swimming together to do cooperative fishing. They prefer deep beels and shift when the beels become shallow. They are often found in the Brahmaputra River and its large tributaries in the Park. Sometimes they are seen fishing with Smooth-coated Otter. 8. Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger It is found all over the Park, even in Water-Hyacinth covered beels with small exposed water surface made by regular movement of Rhino. It is generally solitary but small groups of 5-10 individuals are not uncommon to find perched on dry branches near waterbody. 9. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster (NT) It is listed as Near Threatened by BirdLife International and IUCN due to decline of its numbers in its vast range in South and South-east Asia. In India, it is still fairly common. Its habitat requirement of deep clear water with plenty of fish is not available everywhere due to pollution and overfishing. In Kaziranga it is found solitary or small scattered party in all large beels and rivers. 10. Little Egret Egretta garzetta It is found all over the Park, on the edges of large deep beels and rivers, and scattered individuals on shallow, drying up beels. It feeds on small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. It probably breeds in the Park in accessible heronries. During monsoon, the Park is closed and most areas are unapproachable except through boat or elephant. 11. Great Egret Egretta alba It is found all over the Park, on the edges of large deep beels and rivers, and scattered individuals on shallow, drying up beels. It feeds on small fish, frogs, snails, snakes and aquatic insects. It breeds with other heronry species in the Park and also bamboo clumps outside the boundary of the Park, near Kohora.