*
Newsletter for
Birdwatchers
Vol.32 N0..7&8
July - August 1992
/ujt i^fcfi&K -eft 'Jjud)
WORLD ROUND-UP
JUNIN GREBE NEWS
A visit by ornithologists to Lake Junin in
Peru, only home to one of the most
threatened birds in the world, the Junin
Grebe Podiceps taczanowskii , has not
brought encouraging news. Due to
terrorist activity, there has been little
recent information on thisspecies, mak-
ing this visit by Thomas Valqui and
Javier Barrio, Peruvian ornithologists
workingforlCBP (funded by the Dillon
Ripley Fund) particularly significant.
In 1987, it was estimated that the
Junin Grebe population had declined
to 200-300 birds, and the species was
identified by the 1990 ICBP World
Conference as one of 1 3 birds urgently
requiring individual attention.
Although unable to make a popula-
tion estimate on their short visit, Valqui
and Barrio were horrified to find two
(possibly three) dead birds on a 2 km
stretch of shore in three days. Discus-
sions with a local fisherman revealed
~Y
Dead junin Grebes are washed-up regularly on
that this death toll was not unusual.
The chief cause of the decline of the
species is believed to be pollution from
mining activities, and changes in the
lake's water level due to a hydroelectric
plant that supplies the mine. The area
is also experiencing an exceptionally
dry period and other wildlife of the lake
the shores of the lake (Photo: T. Valqui/ICBP)
is also suffering, with dead fish and
birds found frequently.
The political situation continues to
make any work difficult, but Valqui and
Barrio are planning to return to Lake
Junin in July to assess the situation fully
and determine what can be done to
save this species.
CM
O
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Amani Sunbird, one of the threatened spe-
cies recorded by the team in the Udzungwa
Mountains (Painting: N. Arlott)
NEW SPECIES IN TANZANIA
A new species of francolin has been
discovered in Tanzania by a team of
Danish ornithologists. The new bird,
yet to be named, was found in forests
on the Udzungwa Mountains, eastern
Tanzania. The bird does not appear to
be closely related to any other species
in the genus, being very distinctive in
appearance and the type of habitat in
which it was found (montane forest).
The bird was found during ten months
fieldwork by four Danish students, Lars
Dinesen, Louis Hansen, Thomas
Lehmberg and Jens Otto Svendsen.
Their work was part of a Danish re-
search programme on the Eastern Arc
Mountains of Tanzania, led by Jon
Fjeldsa.
The remote inaccessible Udzungwa
Mountains are very little known
ornithologically. As well as the new
species, the team recorded four threat-
ened endemic species (Iringa Ground
Robin Dryocichloides lowei, Banded
Green Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques,
Rufous-winged Sunbird Nectarinia
rufipennis and Tanzanian Mountain
Weaver Ploceus nicolli), and three other
threatened species (Swynnerton's For-
est Robin Swynnertonia swynnertoni,
Dappled Mountain Robin Modulatrix
orostruthus and Amani Sunbird
Anthreptes pallidigaster). This work has
served to confirm the importance of the
Udzungwa Mountains for endemic and
threatened birds, and underlines the
significance of the recently gazetted
Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
CYPRUS BAN HOLDS FIRM
Last year President Vassiliou of Cyprus
took the brave decision, withstanding
intensive lobbying by the huntingcom-
munity, to ban the spring shooting of
migratory birds. The ban has also been
upheld this year, despite considerable
pressure from the hunting associations,
and an approaching general election.
President Vassiliou has informed the
hunting groups that there is no question
of the government changing its mind.
At ICBP's European Continental Sec-
tion Conference it was decided that a
strong letter of support should be sent
to the President, congratulating him on
his government's position.
Cypriot children are encouraged to watch
birds rather than shoot them (Photo: ICBP)
Vol. 32
No. 7 & 8 July - August 1992 Correspondence
CONTENTS
Editorial
• Kihim
• A Vulture Eating Community
• White Winged Wood Duck
• Captive Breeding of Endangered Birds
• Obituaries
• The Ornithological Society of India
Articles
• The Status of the White Winged Wood Duck in N E
India, by Bibhab Kumar Talukdar
• Vultures Endangered in Cuntur.and Prakasam
Districts, by K Mrutyumjaya Rao
• Observation of a Colour Banded-Demoiselle Crane in
Gujarat, by Taej Mundkur
• Birding at the Adayar Estuary, by B Rajasekhar
• The Lesser Coucal - A less-known Bird, by V
Santharam and P O Nameer
• Distribution of Painted Spurfowl in Karnataka, by J
N Prasad, S Karthikeyan, T S Srinivasa, S
Subramanya and L Shyamal
• Bird Ringing in Kodaikanal, by S Balachandran
• The Night Heron, by Thomas F Martin
Interesting Sightings
• Occurrence of the Hobby in Bangalore, by M S
Jayanth, G S Aditya and J Hemanth
• Koras Display, by C Susanthakumar
• Alpine Swifts over Madurai, by Kumaran
Sathasivam
• Orangcbilled Jungle Myna in the Plains of Upper
Assam, by D Barooah
• The Jungle Myna with Bluish Iris sighted in Dharwad
Urban, by J C Uttangi
• Range Extension of the Rubythroat in South India, by
K K Mohapatra and Prakash Rao
• Nesting of the White Eyed Buzzard-Eagle in
Pudukudi, Tanjavur Dt, by P Gnanaselvan
• Sighting of Skimmer at Najafgarh, Delhi, by Vivek
Menon and Tara Gandhi
• Sighting of the Great Whitebellied Heron in Jamjing
Reserve Forest, Assam, by Anwarduddin
Choudhury
• Sighting of the Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle
at Kavikalgandi, Chickmagalur District,
by S Karthikeyan
• The Blueheaded Rock Thrush, by Pamela C
Rasmussen and J S Serrao
• Agonostic Behaviour of the Blacknecked Crane in
Chushul, Ladakh, by S Asad Akhtar
• Nesting of Redwattled Lapwing, by Satish Kumar
Sharma
• Comments on Recent Issues of the Newsletter, by V
Santharam
• Yellowthroated Bulbul in the Anaimalai Hills, by R
Kannan
• Scientific Notes, by T V Jose
• Recommendations for Action on threatened
Waterfowl Species in South and West Asia
Editorial
Kihim
Most readers of this Newsletter must have acquired
considerable information about Kihim, the seaside village
on the mainland across Bombay harbour, where Salim Ali
first discovered the secrets of the nesting habits of the Baya
Weaver Bird. During a recent visit to Kihim (3rd to 29th
May) I looked over the " AKHBAR BOOK" in which I know
that Salim had written many notes relating to the birds of
the area. Both for their historical value, and for their
intrinsic merit, I thought it would be worthwhile
reproducing a few of these in the Newsletter. I do so with
a few explanations. I had hoped that it would be possible
to reproduce some notes in facsimile because his
handwriting is so handsome. Unfortunately, white ants
have done considerable damage to the pages — some of the
crucial ones — so reproduction is not possible. But a section
of one page is reproduced in this issue. I quote :—
"I shall confine myself merely to certain happenings in
the sphere of local ornithology. There is nothing unusual
in the happenings but they will be interesting records after
50 years. The generation now in the bud, of whom I have
high hopes will find them so (- 1 hope). It is rather early as
yet to say how many, and which, of the youngsters who are
enthusiastic at the moment will stay the course and grow
old with the same keenness for birds. I feel certain,
however, that even if most of them fall by the wayside they
will at least be able to bequeath to their children and
grand-children the correct prescription for telling a
woodpecker from a duck. This in itself will be a definite
advance...." (Several of the youngsters named by Salim
have in fact become keen birdwatchers. Editor.)
"A pair of Honey Buzzards had been nesting between
"YALI" and "RETREAT", two houses on the beach, for the
last twelve years to my knowledge - but never more than
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
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one pair. On 10th May, a 14 day old chick from this year's
nest in "Retreat" compound was ringed. If it grows up, it
may furnish some clue as regards the nesting pair next year.
Does the same pair nest here year after year? Is its place
taken in part or wholly by the (new) born youngsters? Or
do altogether new birds occupy the place, and what
happens to the yearly progeny? The same problem needs
solving re the "YAL1" pair of Whitebellicd Sea Eagles.
Rajah, the emeritus "YALI" mali, tells me he has seen "this"
pair nesting every year in the same place since he was a boy
- over 50 years ago. Never has he seen more than this one
pair about, and never have they succeeded in raising a
family! "Let the credit rest with the relator" as Babar would
have said, but the matter is not without strangeness and
certainly worthy of investigation. This season (i.e.
December 1942) the Eagles had shifted to a Casuarina in the
S.W. corner of Shahinda's
land. There were two eggs
in the nest - about 100 ft.
up - which vanished after
a week or so - rather
unaccountably.
Thereafter the birds lost
interest in the nest but
they are still in the same
neighbourhood. The
desertion by the Eagles of
their age-long nest site -
the beehive Casuarina
above the well N of Yali
Bungalow - was
undoubtedly due to the
large influx of
White-backed Vultures
that suddenly took a fancy
to Yali compound, and
cluttered all the fine
Casuarinas with their
large and filthy nests. The
ire of the "Squire" was
justly aroused.
He loaded his gun
And slew a dozen
which sent the rest
a — packing. It is hoped
that the Sea Eagles will
now return."
All this is getting too
long - so here are a few
items in brief. 2 flocks
Flamingoes (50 and 26)
flying N - 23 April. 2 pairs
Green Bee-eaters and 1
White-breasted Kingfisher nesting in "Al Murad"
compound.
1 Fulvous Fruit Bat (Rousettus Leschentaulti ) ringed by
me in April (43) in an old cave in Elephanta. It was found
struggling with black ants by Shamoon in Tali' compound
on 13th May. Believe it or not. Pitta 1, Blue-cheeked (or
Blue-tailed?) Bee- eaters appeared overnight 24th and 19th
May respectively, after rainy and stormy nights.
Last Blyth's Reed-Warbler at Bhombar 25 May. 1 pair
Quaker Babblers, for first time ever near "Latifia" 12 - 19
May
Arr. 23 April
Dep. 28 May
Sd/-SalimAli
27 May 1943
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
1 A Vulture Eating Community
The article by K M Rao about vultures being eaten in
A.P. shows the strong digestive systems of some people.
The vulture is well known for its ability to relish and
survive on putrid flesh, but apparently the metabolism of
the vulture converts decomposed flesh into palatable meat.
It will be a pity if vultures are killed for their meat. Who
will then do the scavenging?
White Winged Wood Duck
In his article B K Talukdar gives cheering news about
protective measures for the W W W Duck. He refers to
Jerdon's reference to the bird in the Birds of India published
in 1864. In Jerdon's days the bird was known as Casarca
Leucopters. I saw a pair of these birds in Slimbridge in 1972
at the Wildfowl Trust. Assamese tropical conditions were
beautifully simulated under the direction of Sir Peter Scott
who was responsible for the captive breeding project. It
would be appreciated if some reader of this Newsletter in
England would give us the latest news about this captive
breeding effort.
Captive Breeding of Endangered Birds
Captive breeding of endangered birds with the object of
releasing them in the wild is leading to some remarkable
successes. Aamir AH, 14 Ch. de la Tourelle, 1209 Geneva,
writes :
"Zafar will be interested to know that last Sunday I went
on an outing with the Zoological Society of Geneva to see
the Lammergeiers that have been released in the French
Alps. We were lucky and saw four. The leader of our outing
had been associated with the release of these birds and so
not only knew where to look for them but knew the
individuals by name. One bird is kept in a cage in an old
farmhouse because it seems he refuses to reproduce and
shows no interest in females of the species; they think he
has got too used to human beings and a quiet life and
* would not be able to fend for itself in the wild.
We saw one of the birds dropping a bone on stones to
break it; all very thrilling."
Many years ago I saw a Lammergeier in Mussoorie
carry away and drop a bone. The birds in Mussoorie had
better watch out and multiply, otherwise they will be
subjected to captive breeding!
Obituaries
It is with very great regret that we learnt about the death
of Prof. K.K. Neelakantan, Prof. Ramesh M. Naik. and Mr.
H.B. Papanna. Prof. Neelakantan who retired as professor
of English, Kerala University, was the author of a 640 page
Malayalam book on 'Birds of Kerala' published by Kerala
Sahithya Academi, Trichur in 1958. Earlier it had appeared
as a serial in a Malayalam daily and had delighted
numerous readers. Prof. Neelakantan was one of the most
competent birdwatchers of Kerala and at the time of his
death on the 14th of June, he had just finished his work on
the updating of Salim Ali's "Birds of Kerala". I am sure that
some of his close associates will have the volume published
for it is obviously going to be an important work of
reference.
Prof. R.M. Naik who died on 8th December 1991 in
Rajkot, had been ailing for some time. At the time of his
death he had just retired as the Head of the Department of
Biosciences of Saurashtra University.
Mr. H.B. Papanna who died on 2nd July 1992 in
Bangalore, was an avid birdwatcher and photographer. His
photograph of two poachers carrying away a White Stork
shot by them, has appeared in many leading magazines. He
had vast field experience and had collected valuable data
on the nesting cycles of flycatchers, lapwings and
woodpeckers.
These three eminent ornithologists have succeeded in
enthusing a number of their young colleagues in
birdwatching, and this is the best memorial they leave
behind.
The Ornithological Society of India
In the past issues of the Newsletter, mention has been
made of the formation of the Ornithological Society of India
mainly due to the determination of Dr. Mrs. Asha
Chandola Saklani of Garhwal University. In November
1991, an ad hoc committee was established with Dr. Saklani
as Secretary General and Mr. Zafar Futehally as the
President. To further this project a meeting was held in
Bangalore on 23rd July, where over 30 senior birdwatchers,
mainly from Bangalore, assembled to meet Dr. Saklani and
to get her views regarding further operations.
It was clear that this Society is meant 'to act as a
coordinating institution to motivate and to get the best out
from the many regional birdwatching groups which have
come up in the last few years. If the O.S.I, can achieve its
objective and stimulate action by its members, it could
achieve a great deal.
The O.S.I, would also be interested in hosting the next
meeting of the International Ornithological Congress in
India. This possibility is still a long way off. The next I.O.C.
meeting will will be held in Vienna in 1994, and there are
many countries who are interested in hosting the one in
1998. If the O.S.I, really performs well on the ground, India
could have the pleasure of having an eminent group of
ornithologists of the world attending the conference here.
The presence of eminent people from abroad will certainly
give a great fillip to ornithological studies in India.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
THE STATUS OF THE WHITE WINGED WOOD DUCK IN
NORTH-EAST INDIA
BIBHAB KUMAR TALUKDAR, Ever Green, Samanway Path, Survey Basishta Road, P.O. Beltola, Guwahati 781 028, Assam
Introduction
A ghostly wail floating sound was heard in many parts
of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh up to 1960s. But at
present that ghostly sound is missing gradually from the
forests of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This was the call
of the White Winged Wood Duck (Cairina scutulata). In
Assam this duck is popularly known as Deohah (Spirit
Duck).
Cairina scutulata was first described by S. Muller in Java
in 1839 and the English name, the White Winged Wood
Duck was assigned to it by Blyth in 1849 from Burma. T.C.
Jerdon in his book "Birds of India" in 1864 recorded the
duck as the White Winged Shieldrake but he was not sure
if it was found in India or only in Burma. Their range at the
past was from western Assam through Burma, Malaysia to
Sumatra and Java. Dr. D.R. Wells in his book "Birds of
Malaysia" stated that there were no recent records of the
duck in Malaysia. Though the situation in Indonesia was
uncertain, but a decade ago Mr. Holmes has rediscovered
this duck in South-East Sumatra. However according to Dr.
Andy Green (1992) the WWWDuck is recorded in Sumatra
and Java and reported to be present in six of the eight
Sumatran provinces. In Bangladesh, the duck is reported
from Northern and Southern Chittagong Hill tracts. In
Vietnam only a single duck observed in 1990 mid winter
Waterfowl counts in Nam Bai Bet Tien National Park.
Habit and Habitat
The WWW Duck is a large and comparatively long duck
with black body (in case of male) and dark chestnut brown
(in case of female), conspicuous white patches on the
wings. The eye colour is cither red or orange. In N.E. India
the WWW Ducks live in Tropical wet evergreen forest,
Tropical semi-evergreen forest, Montane wet temperate
forest, Tropical moist-deciduous forest and nearby forest
streams, small sluggish rivers, riverpools amongst forest,
swamps, beels and sometimes in Rice fields. This duck is
very shy and nocturnal in their habit and it is infact very
difficult to locate them due to its nocturnal habit. In N.E.
India, the duck is found active from evening to early
morning. During the day time the ducks prefer to remain
in the dense forest and shaddy places.
The WWW Duck nests high up in trees. Generally most
of their nests were observed in Hollock tree (Terminalia
myriocarpa). Sometimes the ducks also make their nest on
the holes of Nahar tree (Mesua ferrea) and Hollong trees
(Dipterocarpus macrocarpus) and Teak tree (Tectona grandis)
in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The ducks rely on their
natural camouflage (Mimicry) and it is very difficult to
locate them in the gloomy variegated light of the forest. As
the ducks fly swiftly along the beels and streams, it is often
very difficult to estimate how far they might be or how,high
they are or at what speed they move. At dawn, when these
ducks are ready to fly again towards the dense forest, they
use their vibrant wailing call to get the attention of their
partners, so that they do not become separated in the
gloomy variegated light of the thick jungle.
4
Food
The WWW Duck generally take mollusca, small fish,
seeds, insects, Annelids and small snakes as food. WWW
Duck is also believed to take rice pest as food as the ducks
were found in many occasions in the dried or burnt paddy
field of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Conservation Measures Taken
In 1937 the Assam Government, realising the reduction
in the numbers of WWW Duck banned all shootings of the
duck. In 1962 WWF listed WWW Duck as a species in
danger of extinction. From 1975 the CCF (Assam) has
banned all collection of ducklings and eggs from forests.
Cairina scutulata is now one of the most endangered species
of Anatidae in the world. This duck is also listed on
Appendix 1 of the Convention of International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
WWW Duck is listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened *
Animals as vulnerable. But the duck should be upgraded
to the status of endangered duck in the world as its
population is decreasing very rapidly. The WWW Duck is
also listed in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
Present Status
In Assam, the Dibru-saikhowa Reserved forest was
declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1986 to protect
the WWW Duck. Dibru-saikhowa is a primarily riverain
area which includes within its limit the merging of lofty
Lohit and Debang rivers to form the mighty Brahmaputra.
This is truly wild area comprising very dense moist forest
formations and large expanses of marshland, with tall reed
salix associations making it a safe haven for the extremely
endangered WWW Duck.
%
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
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Mop showing the current range of Wliite winged ducks
But in October 1989, in the same Dibru-saikhowa, the
WWW Duck was threatened with extinction, as the Assam
Government decided to lease out fishery mahals inside this
wildlife sanctuary. At this time to rescue the WWW Duck
from a possible extinction, Aaranyak Nature Club of
Guwahati came forward and filed a writ petition at Gauhati
High Court against the decision of the State Government
to lease out fishery mahals inside the Dibru-saikhowa
wildlife sanctuary. Aaranyak Nature Club accused the
State Government of violating the Article 48 (A) and 51 A
(g) of the Constitution of India, Wildlife Protection Act,
1972, Forest Conservation Act 1980 and Environment
Protection Act 1986. Due to the legal cum publicity efforts
of the Club, the State Government had to cancel the
damaging decision of leasing out fishery mahals in Dibru-
saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary with effect from 1st April
1990. Due to the Aaranyak's initiative, the WWW Duck is
now safe in Dibru- saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. In Assam
the WWW Duck is confined to Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and
Lakhimpur and Dhemaji Districts and may be at Cachar,
Hailakandi and North Cachar Districts.
In Arunachal Pradesh the WWW Duck is reported
mainly from Siang, Dibang and Tirap Valley. The
Namdapha National Park, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary and
D'Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal
Pradesh provide shelters to this retiring species of
Anatidae.
Within N.E. India, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
provides shelter to the most endangered WWW Duck. But
the strong possibilities to find this bird in other states of
N.E. India cannot be ruled out. Mainly the Innerlinc forest
of Assam along the border of Manipur, Nagaland and
Mizoram, may have the WWW Duck, a controversy which
is yet to be solved by detailed field survey. This doubt arose
when the author found two WWW Duck in the Jiri Forest
of Assam which is situated near the Manipur Border.
Since 1989, the WWW Duck are mainly observed in the
following places of N.E. India :
Location
Coordinates
Slate
Dibru-saikhowa WL Sanct.
27.40N, 95.241- Assam
Phillobari Reserve Forest
27.31N, 95.42H Assam
Joypoore Reserve Forest
27.14N,95.24E Assam
Bordubi Tea Estate
27.35N, 95-41 E Assam
Jiri Reserve Forest
24.55N, 93.161-: Assam
Doomdooma Reserve Forest
27.36N, 95.42E Assam
Subansiri River
27.31N, 94.171- Assam
Dholajan
27.46N, 95.28E Assam
Namdapha National Park
27.30N, 96.20E Arunachal
Pradesh
Mehao WL Sanctuary
28.15N, 95.42E Arunachal
Pradesh
D'Ering WL Sanctuary
27.55N, 95.25E Arunachal
Pradesh
In addition to the above sites, some unconfirmed report
reveals that WWW Duck may also be found in the
following places :
1. Innerline Reserved Forest along Manipur, Nagaland
& Mizoram
2. Barail and North Cachar Hills Reserved Forest
specially in the area known as Bombaithal.
3. River Dhaleswari in Hailakandi District of Assam.
4. Namchick Reserved Forest in Dibrugarh District of
Assam.
5. Upper Noa Dihing of Arunachal Pradesh.
6. Pasighat area of Arunachal Pradesh.
Measures Needed to Save WWW Duck
The following measures will play important role in the
protection and conservation of WWW Duck in N.E. India
specially in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
FrAMnfefan
1 . WWW Duck should be declared as the State Bird of
Assam immediately and this act will help in the
conservation awareness to protect and preserve this
retiring species of Anatidae.
2. Strict enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972 in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, WWW Duck
being included in the Schedule I species.
Unfortunately till date Assam has not made a
Wildlife Protection Rule!
Creation of more protected forest aeas where the
WWW Duck are found. The key sites of WWW Duck
should be brought under the purview of the Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972.
4. A detailed survey of WWW Duck in N.E. India is the
crying need of the hour to get an idea about its
estimated population.
5. Awareness program should be initiated to
discourage hunting of WWW Duck in N.E. India.
VULTURES ENDANGERED IN GUNTUR AND PRAKASAM
DISTRICTS (AP) and VULTURE EATING COMMUNITY
KOKA MRUTYUNIAYA RAO, WB-1-15, Raja Sekhara Rao Pet, Bapatla 522 101, A P
Ever since I came to Bapatla in 1981 I could not see
vultures in and around Bapatla and surrounding villages.
Bapatla is a town in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh
about 80 km from Vijayawada on the Vijayawada-Madras
railway line. However, I often found carcasses (with the
skin stripped) left for stray dogs and crows. Enquiries
revealed that there is a community named "Banda" locally
called Bandollu. The banda community eats vultures,
crows and other carrion eating birds. They do not catch or
hunt other species of birds including waterfowl such as
ducks, egrets, storks, etc.
I came to know that at present only a few families are
residing at Ammanabrolu in Prakasam district 50 km from
Bapatla. I went there on 27.6.90 and 14.7.90 and met an old
man named Kathula Venkaiah aged 75 years. He said there
are eight families at Ammanabrolu and about 300 families
in Guntur and Prakasm districts. He said even at
Ammanabrolu and surrounding villages vultures are not
seen for the last 10 to 12 years. As the vultures were not
available, the vulture catching nets were kept in a corner of
the house and the nets were completely worn out. At the
time when I met Venkaiah, his grandson, about 10 years
old, brought two crow chicks from a crow nest to consume
them. Venkaiah along with his other community men used
to catch vultures not only at Ammanabrolu and
surrounding villages, but also at Konijetikonda,
Kodisenakonda and at Boyanakonda far from his place
which are near Chilakaluripet and Narasaraopet in Guntur
district.
He said the vultures used to nest at Konijetikonda,
Kodisenakonda and Boyanakonda hills, and he describes
the nesting procedure as follows. In cliffs and rocky slopes
wherever they find a little place in between rocks, the
vultures gather four twigs and put them in a cross form,
such that two twigs are parallel and the other two twigs
perpendicular to the first two. These are covered with mud
and the bird lays only one egg. Not only on cliffs and rocky
slopes but they build even on the ground of a rocky valley
in the same manner. The Banda community people with
the help of ropes will get down to the spot to collect the
eggs and chicks.
Not only eating the vultures, but also consuming the
eggs and chicks, is one of the major causes for vultures to
become endangered in the Guntur and Prakasam districts.
.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
Tilt Nf I (or / Catching Vulluro
A. B. C. D = Bdmtxu Slicks \ / 1 ,2,3.4.5,6.7. » Wooden Spike's
For further enquiry and investigation I sent a person to
Chilakaluripet. He found one Banda family at
Chilakaluripet and learnt the vultures at present are not
nesting at Konigetikonda and at Kodisenakonda, and they
have not been seen for the last ten years at Chilakaluripeta
area. There is a report from the Village Development
Officer that she has observed 4 to 5 vultures after a cyclone,
eating a buffalo carcass on the outskirts of Bapatla. (The
cyclone was on 9.5.90 and f 0.5.90). After the cyclone I found
several carcasses eaten by stray dogs and crows and
, decaying by themselves and not eaten by vultures.
Mr Venkaiah has been asked for the species of vultures
they caught. He said now and then King Vulturess and
Scavenger Vultures are also found in the nets.
I took some photographs of the model net utilised for
catching small sized prey birds. The photographs show 1)
how the net is spread on the ground with wooden spikes,
2) how vultures were seen in thenet after being caught. The
net utilised for catching the vultures resembles a
Badminton net. It is capable of catching at least ten vultures
at a time.
Procedure for catching the Vultures
The sketch shows the arrangement of the net for
catching the vultures. The net consists of 4 bamboo sticks
A,B,C and D. The sticks C and D are 6" longer than A and
B. The one end of A and B sticks were tied to net and the
other ends will be tied with each other with a rope keeping
3" to 4" gap between the sticks such that they will move
easily while pulling the net. One end of C and D sticks tied
to 6th and 7th spike. The other 5 corners of the net will be
tied to the wooden spikes 1,2,3,4 and 5. There is a rope
about 20 meters length continued from the net.
The trapper will sit at the end of the 20 meter rope such
that the trapper will not be visible making a bush or other
article as a hide. The No.lspike, the rope and the trapper
lie in straight line. A groove about 1" to 2" depth was dug
along the net and the net is kept in the groove and covered
with sand and soil. The sticks and the spikes are also
covered with sand and soil. Big pieces of buffalo meat or
small parts of a dead animal are kept in the centre of the net
as a bait. Sometimes if the carcase is of sufficient size the
net will be spread around it. After arrival or gathering of
Vultures, about 10 numbers near the bait, the rope will be
pulled. The net will form as a tent shape and vultures will
be caught in the net.
Further study is required to get the status and breeding
places of vultures in the coastal districts of Andhra
Pradesh.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
OBSERVATION OF A COLOUR BANDED DEMOISELLE
CRANE IN GUJARAT, INIDA
TAEj MUNDKUR, Waterbird and Flyway Projects Officer, AWB, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai 59100, Malaysia
The precise origin and migratory routes of cranes in
India have always been a mystery. What is known is that
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo and Common Crane
Gurs grus migrate southwards into north west India over
the mountain passes of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and
through Nepal in the east (Ali and Ripley, 1983 Handbook).
Cranes migrating north from Gujarat have been observed
flying over the Great Rann of Kachchh.
So far, ringing of cranes in India has largely been on an
experimental basis, and attempts have recently been made
by the Bombay Natural History Society and Saurashtra
University in Rajkot. As far as I am aware, there have been
no recoveries of ringed cranes i n India, and the presen t note
deals with observations made in Gujarat of a juvenile
Demoiselle colour banded in east Russia.
On 10 February 1992, I visited the Nyari reservoir
(22°15'N, 70°43'E) near Rajkot city, as part of a routinue
check on the Indian River Terns Sterna aurantia that were
nesting on small rock islands. Adjacent to the colony was a
large flat island where Demoiselle and Common cranes
roosted every afternoon during winter.
It was late afternoon and there were about 75
Demoiselle at the roost and several thousand more
scattered round the rest of the muddy shores of the
reservoir.
Outline map of Asia with the possible direction of movement of a colour
banded Demoiselle Crane, banded at Daursky Nature Reserve, Russia and
observed in Rajkot, India. The boundary of the breeding range (in bold
dashed line) is adapted from Ali and Ripley (1983, Handbook).
Using a telescope, I scanned through the flock and was
surprised to see one individual with a patch of red above
the tarsal joint on the right leg. My initial thought was that
it was fresh blood - perhaps from a gun shot or caused
when the bird grazed against a power line.
Moving closer to get a better view it became clear that
the red patch was actually a red plastic band with a white
inscription. On the left leg there was a small metal ring. The
birds were alarmed by my approach, soon took off and flew
across the reservoir out of close view.
About a month later, I visited the reservoir on 24 March.
I was fortunate enough to find this individual in the
roosting flock again. This time it was possible to approach
closer and note that the band was inscribed with K32. The
number was repeated twice around the band.
Information received through the International Crane
Foundation, USA reveals that the individual was marked
by Russian workers on 11 July 1990 in the Daursky Nature
Reserve (49°9'N, 115°6'E) which is near Borun-Torey Lake
in Transbaikalia (see map).
Daursky is considerably further east than we had
originally suspected our Demoiselle Cranes in Gujarat to
originate from. A single observation such as this only allow
us to pinpoint the origin of the individual.
In recent years, ornothological organizations in the
region have been using a variety of color marking
techniques; dyes, bands, flags, and wingtags for studying
migratory routes of birds. For larger species, it is often
possible to see the colour mark or flag through a pair of
binoculars. For the smaller species it would be necessary to
use a telescope. The success of these studies depends
completely on the reports of sightings of the birds by
observers in the field. I would encourage fellow
birdwatchers to keep an eye out for colour marked birds
and report these findings, thereby contributing to very
important studies. Sightings may be sent to the NLB, the
BNHS or me to follow up. Many more such observations
will be required before a clearer picture of migration routes
emerge.
Of added interest is the fact that three Hooded Crane
Cms monarcha, colour-banded at the Daursky Nature
Reserve at the same time, were observed the following
January by staff of the Yamashina Institute of ornithology
in a famous wintering site near Izumi City in Japan. This
Species has very rarely been recorded in east India.
I am grateful to Dr George Archibald of the
International Crane Foundation in USA and Dr Kiyoaki
Ozaki of the Yamashina Institute of Ornithology in Japan
for providing the relevant information.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
i
BIRDING AT THE ADAYAR ESTUARY
B. RAJASEKHAR, Type5/6A, CLRl Qtrs, Adayar, Madras 600 020
In sharp contrast to Vcdanthangal bird sanctuary, the
birding at the Adayar Estuary this year has been pretty bad.
One reason for this of course was the absence of Santharam,
who is responsible for the over 180 species listed here,
which include some very rare ones like the Dusky Crag
Martin, Desert Wheatear, Crab Plover, etc. However the
poor activity this year has been mainly due to the
denotification of the sanctuary, thus allowing for an
increase in poaching and fishing activities. I myself
observed on several occasions fishermen trapping birds,
mainly Black winged Stilts. Some of the usual birds did not
turn up this year and the rest left too early due to the heavy
disturbances. Thus the few birdwatchers of Madras who
until now showed some interest here, have given up all
hopes and no longer come here on their weekends. I
monitored the area taking frequent counts this year and
when compared to the observations of earlier
birdwatchers, I find that there has been a considerable
decline.
But what most people fail to understand is that,
restoring the status of the sanctuary would help little to
bring back the activity. This is because, it is not waters of
the Estuary alone that contribute to the ecosystem, but the
vast open fields or meadows too. These fields which serve
as nesting as well as feeding grounds for the birds do not
come under the sanctuary, but under private ownership.
And with plans to construct a major complex here, all is
lost. Already, even before any structures have come up, the
mere presence of the workers has degraded the place to
such an extent that so far no nesting has been observed. We
have to wait and see how the Lapwings fare. This year there
» were no Oystercatchers, Flamingoes or Curlews and only
about 6 Red Shanks and far too few of the other birds. I have
listed below the maximum numbers of birds seen this year
at the Estuary.
At the rate at which things are taking place, there is
hardly anything one can do but to sit back and envy
birdwatchers like Santharam as they narrate their
experiences of long ago. Once he had written in a
journal.". ...A cool breeze was blowing from the sea as 1
walked towards...". Now all that such cool whiffs can cause
is a shudder up your spine as the Estuary becomes yet
another victim of mankind's greed.
I am grateful to Santharam for having introduced me to
the Estuary and will be thankful to all those who can help
solve this problem.
Anticipating the death of the sanctuary, I have done
some video filming of the birds this year and hope that it
will serve as a record of a sanctuary that was.
MAXIMUM NUMBERS OF THE BIRDS SEEN HERE
THIS YEAR (1992)
Golden Plovers
1623
Little Stints 1826
Little ringed Plover
1263
Black winged stilts 725
BrownheadedGulls
140
Black tailed God wits 137
Marsh sandpiper
120
Kentish plover 51
Little Egrets
39
Sand Plover 35
Avocets
35
Wood Sandpiper 7
Redshank
6
Common Sandpiper 5
Pond Heron
3
Median Egret 3
White wagtail
1
Marsh Harrier 1
and other common birds.
THE LESSER COUCAL —A LESS-KNOWN BIRD
V. SANTHARAM, C/o.Dr. P.S. Easa, Kerala Fores
P.O.N AMEER, 1st M.Sc, (Forestry) College
The campus of the Kerala Veterinary College, located at
Mannuthy, six kilometers to the east of Trichur town
encompasses an area of about 1 1 5 ha. Of this, nearly half of
the area (55 ha) is under fodder-grass cultivation. About 40
ha are cultivated or under orchards, the principal crops
being paddy, banana, coconut, mango etc. The rest of the
campus (20 ha) has buildings, roads, scrub, canals and
ponds. The terrain is plain to hilly. Though the campus is
highly modified by the agricultural and sylvopastoral
t Research Institute, Peechi 680 653,Kerala and
of Forestry, Vellanikkara 680 654, Kerala
systems, there are a number of remnant indigenous
moist-deciduous and evergreen tree species. The area
surrounding the campus are mainly agricultural lands.
Rubber plantations are seen along the eastern and southern
boundaries of the campus.
Despite the small area and modified vegetation, this
campus is quite rich in birdlife. About 120 species of birds
including 27 migrants have been recorded by Nameer. The
70
Newsletter for lUrdica tellers
family cuculidac is well-represented in the campus. Seven
of the fourteen species of cuckoos recorded in "Birds of
Kerala" are seen here. They are: Common Koel, Common
Hawk-Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Baybanded Cuckoo,
Plaintive Cuckoo, Grccnbilled Malkoha, Common
Crowpheasant or Coucal and Lesser Crowpheasant.
Among these, the last mentioned is perhaps the least
known and, in our opinion, greatly overlooked over much
of its range. In this note, wc describe our observations on
the Lesser Coucal with the hope that it would also help
others in identifying the species.
The descriptions given in the note arc based mainly on
our observations on 11 October, 1989, 22 August and 15
September 1991.
Habitat
The Lesser Coucal (Centropus toulou) was observed
more often in the grassy habitat provided by the fodder
farms. It appeared to prefer areas with grass of about 1 m
or so in height and was seldom noticed in fields where grass
was sparse or harvested. It was seen, at times, perched on
the small shrubs bordering the grass-lands but usually
perched on grass stalks and also seen on the ground,
moving among the grass. On a few occasions it was also
Size and identification
The Lesser Coucal is distinctly smaller and appears to
be a "compact edition" of the larger crowpheasant. The
proportion of the tail length in relation to the body length
appeared smaller in the Lesser Coucal. On one occasion, we
were able to judge the size of this coucal with a Spotted
Dovc(.Streptopcliachinensis) perched next to itand we found
the coucal was just about 5 cm (2 in) longer than the dove.
In colouration, the bird resembled the Common
Crowpheasant but with the following differences: The
chestnut colour appeared to be duller and covered the
wings and upper back (intra-scapular areas). Wc could not
see the white tail-tip said to be a diagonistic feature by
Dr.Salim Ali in 'Birds of Kerala'. This may be due to the
broken tail-tips noticed in some of the individuals. One
individual we saw with intact tail feathers had at least two
central feathers dark brownish grey with irregular and pale
white (not pure white) bands. (Stuart Baker in the "Fauna
of British Indian Birds" mentions that the tail is "tipped
narrowly with white or rufous and faintly cross-rayed").
The legs and beak were blackish and the iris appeared
darkish (and not crimson as publications indicate). This
may be due to the light conditions and/or the age of the-
birds seen.
One individual (in fact the first ever individual seen) by
Namccr on 11 October 1989 was distinctly different in
colouration and was perhaps a juvenile bird. It was very
similar to the one illustrated in 'Birds of Kerala'. The
upperparts were rufous, the ventral region being slightly
barred. The tail was black, the beak brownish to
flesh-coloured, iris brown to black and legs, black.
Calls
The birds were quite vocal, especially in the early
morning and late evening period. Calls were uttered from
an exposed perch-grass-stalk, bamboo, etc. The common
call-note was a series of 5-6 "whoots". Of these, the first two
"whoots" were uttered somewhat in a slow tempo and
from the third "whoot", the tempo was slightly faster.
These calls were rather weak, lacking the deep resonance
and volume of the regular call-notes of the common
crowpheasant. This call was rendered with the bill closed
and the bird would bend down its head while calling.
The second call-note heard less often could be described
as "Kurook" (as given in the "Handbook") or as "Kulook"
or "kirook". This invariably followed the series of
"whoots", but many times was dispensed of. This note was
heard in runs of 4,6,7,9 or 10. A complete set of both calls
lasted 1 2 seconds or less in duration. These latter notes were
somewhat remniscent of the "kutroo"calls of the Green
Barbet, but srafiTsbifthecawyih^ Hatotatsalls were rendered
with head raised and bill opened. Mr P.S. Sivaprasad
successfully recorded both these calls using a parabolic
reflector.
Other comments
The lesser Coucal was seen spending considerable time
inactive, just perched, especially in the late afternoons. The
bird was seen jerking up its wings and tail for several (5-10)
minutes after landing on a bush and the bamboo stalk. The
bird was not too shy and often permitted good
observations.
At least five pairs of Lesser Coucals are estimated to be
present in the Mannuthy Campus. We have unconfirmed
sight records of these birds from Periyar Tiger Reserve
(Mangala Devi Temple area) and Silent Valley. The birds
are also seen in the Vcllanikkara campus of the Kerala
Agricultural Unvicrsity, close to Mannuthy.
From our brief observations it appears that the Lesser
Coucal prefers grasslands. Because of its superficial
resemblance to the common crowpheasant, the bird is
perhaps overlooked. The size, calls and, to some extent, the
habitat should help in distinguishing the Lesser Coucal.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Prof. K.K. Neelakantan who gave
valuable hints which helped in the critical identification of
the Lesser Coucal. We also thank Mr. P.S. Sivaprasad who
recorded the calls of the Lesser Coucal and accompanied
us in the field.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
U
DISTRIBUTION OF PAINTED SPURFOWL IN KARNATAKA
J.N. PRASAD, S. KARTHIKEYAN and T.S. SR1N1VASA, C/o. Merlin Nature Club, 13, 8th Cross, 30th Main,
J. P. Nagar, I Phase, Bangalore 560 078 and
S. SUBRAMANYA and L. SHYAMAL, c/o. HPHT Scheme, J-Block, University of Agricultural Sciences,
CKVK Campus. Bangalore 560 065
The Pairifed Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata
(Valenciennes) is known to occur in the entire Peninsula
south of Ganges (Ripley, 1982), commoner in the central
and eastern parts of the Peninsula than western (Ali and
Ripley, 1987). Range largely overlaps and jigsaws
confusingly with that of the Red Spurfowl G. spadicea, but
as a rule Pained Spurfowl is more addicted to drier, rockier
foothills and broken terrain covered with dense
impenetrable thorn scrub (dominated by Lantana,
Ptcrelobium, Mimosa, Acacia etc.) and Bamboo jungle (Ali
and Ripley, 1987).
During his survey of birds of the erstwhile Mysore State,
Salim Ali did not come across the species anywhere in
1939-40. Only known record of the species for present
Karnataka State is that of Dr.Kumar D. Ghorpade (1973) at
Sandur, Bellary District where he says it is "one of the
commonest game birds in the forested parts of the valley
and the hills. It often sought refuge in trees while I was
pursuing it and I have come across the birds roosting in
short trees well after dusk. This Spurfowl is addicted to
gleaning spilt grain on the dusty hill roads, usually in the
evenings". However, during visits to various places in
Karnataka as a part of our regular bird watching trips, we
have come across the Painted Spurfowl at many places.
Presented below arc our observations on the species in
these localities.
Narasimha Devarabetta
Banathlmari
On 30th September 1990, while surveying the area in
Narasimha Devarabetta Range Forest (13°42'N, 77°44'E)
about 82 km north of Bangalore, three of us (JNP, SS and
TSS) observed a pair of Painted Spurfowls emerging from
between the clumps of Lemon grass Cymbopogan sp. The
birds perched at the base of a 1 .5 m tall boulder in the shade
of a tree and started preening. The pair was observed
climbing a steep slope of a boulder with effortless ease to
get to its top and started preening again. On 2nd December
1990, another pair was flushed by two of us (JNP, SS) from
beneath a Cassia fistula bush at the Bananthimari State
Forest (12°34'N, 77°23'E), about 60 km south of Bangalore.
Furtheron 18th Jauary 1991, at the Ragihalli State Forest
(12°46'N, 77° 33'E) about 30 km south of Bangalore, a pair
observed (JNP, SK) rummaging leaf litter amongst the
Lantana undergrowth, flew past and landed close to the
edge of a dry stream. Again, on 3rd February 1991 another
pair was observed at the Madcshwara State Forest
(12,°41'N, 77 °39'E). The pair which was foraging beneath a
Lantana bush, crossed a stretch of open ground and
vanished into a dense undergrowth of Lantana on seeing us
(JNP, SK).
At Jogimatti State Forest (14° 13'N, 76° 13'E) in
Chitradurga district a pair was seen (by SK, TSS) on 29th
December 1991, running across a stretch of open grass
growth.
On 9th January 1992, a pair was noticed outside the fort
in Nandi Hills (13°22'N, 77° 41'E) again in the dense scrub
on the roadside. This sighting of the species (by SK, JNP)
also happens to be the first sighting of the species for this
area as the same has not been met with by the earlier bird
surveys.
Again a pair of them were sighted (by LS) on 18-19
J5«£ary 1991 at Sangam Valley (12°17'N, 77°26'E) near the-
"7
12
confluence of the rivers Cauvery and Arkavathi in the
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. This also happens to be the
first report of the species for the locality.
It will be interesting to know if the species has been
sighted in other locations in Karnataka by the readers of the
Newsletter.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
REFERENCES
Ali,Sand S.D.Ripley (1987): Compact Handbook of the Bird sof India
and Pakistan, (2nd edition), Oxford Univ. Press, Bombay, PP:737
Chorpade, K.D. (1973): Preliminary notes on the Ornithology of
Sandur, Karnataka, J.Bombay nat.I list.Soc: 70(3): 409-531
Ripley, S.D (1982): A synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan (2nd
edition), Bombay Natural History Society, Pp: 652
BNHS RINGING ACTIVITIES AT KODAI HILLS
S. BALACHANDRAN, Scientist, BNHS Research Station,
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had
carried out bird ringing at Kodai Hills during the summer
seasons of 1970, 1982 & 1984. The Bird Migration Project
has organised bird ringing camps both in winter and
summer of the current season (1990-91). The objectives of
the winter camp is to monitor the species composition of
the Palcarctic migrants wintering in the high altitude of the
Palni Hills. To find out the migrants passing through the
Palni Hills during the spring passage, and also to establish
the altitudinal movement among the resident species, bird
ringing was carried out between April and June 1991 .
Sampling by netting has been carried out at different
habitats in the high altitude area of Poomparai, Berijam,
Marian Shola and Pulavachar. The major habitats covered
are shola forest, plantations (wattle, pine and eucalyptus)
and clearfelled area with secondary growth. As the area
around Poomparai have different microhabitats such as
natural forest, scrub jungle, secondary forest and various
plantations, maximum number of birds were caught.
A total of 892 birds of 35 species were ringed. The
migratory birds were caught till 10th May. Among the
resident species, laughing thrush Garrulax jerdonii and
white eye Zosterops palpebrosa were the abundant specie*;.
The other common species are shortwing Brachyoptcryx
major, verditer flycatcher Muscicapa albicaudata, black and
orange flycatcher M. nigrorufa, blackbird Turdus merula. All
the resident species almost completed their breeding by
May. 12 nestlings of four species (Merops leschenaultii (4),
Muscicapa albicaudata (2), Brachyoptcryx major (4), Saxicola
caprata (2) were ringed in May. Higher proportion of
juvenile laughing thrushes was caught in late May and
early June. Most of the resident species have commenced
their post-nuptial moult from the first week of May.
The six migratory species caught were blyth's reed
warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum, tickell's leaf warbler
Phylloscopus affinis affinis, greenish leaf warbler P.
trochiloides, largebilled leaf warbler P. magnirostris,
rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus and blue chat Erithacus
brunneus.
Vedaranyam, Thanjavur Dt. 614 810, TAMIL NADU
Bird ringing at lower elevation
Netting wasdoneatOothu-Pannaikadu area (1000-1 100
above MSL) for three days. The species composition is
entirely different from that of high altitude area. Yellow
browed bulbul Hypsipetes indicus, greyheaded bulbul
Pycnonotus priocephalus, rubythroated yellow bulbul P.
melanicterusgularis, spotted babbler Pellomeum ruficeps and
small green barbet Megalaima viridis are commonly seen
and caught.
Recapture
A total of 14 birds of 7 species were recaptured which
were ringed in 1982 and 1984 summers. The birds
retrapped after 8 years arc laughing thrush, blackbird,
white eye, shortwing, black and orange flycatcher and
redwhiskered bulbul. By ringing and recapture method
now it is established that the longevity of smaller hill birds
like white eye and black and orange flycatcher is more than
eight years.
Altitudinal movement
Jungle babbler Turdoides striatus, spotted dove
Streptopelia chinensis and redwhiskered bulbul Pycnonotus
jocosus were observed in good numbers at high altitude
area (Poomparai). The absence of these species during
November indicate their altitudinal movement, probably i
to the lower elevation area and plains. Among the
migratory species too, the blyth's reed warbler and
greenish leaf warbler were scarce at Kodai Hills were
observed in good number during April (spring passage).
List of participants
1. Mr S.A. Hussain, Principal investigator, Bird
Migration Project. BNHS, Bombay.
2. Admiral M. Awati, Chairman, Project
Sub-Committee, BNHS.
3. Dr. Zafar Futehally, Palni Hill Conservation Council.
4. Dr. Rauf Ali, Palni Hill Conservation Council.
5. Mr R. Whitaker, Crocodile Bank, Madras.
6. Mrs. Philippa Mukherjee, Kodai International School.
7. Mr R. Panncer Selvam, Secretary, JO, Vedaranyam.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
13
•t
Nc
>. Common Name
Scientific name
18.
Laughing thrush
Garrulax jerdonii
1.
2.
Grey Jungle Fowl
Spotted Dove
Callus sonneratii
Streptopelia chinensis
19.
Black and Orange
flycatcher
Muscicapa nigrorufa
3.
Chestnutheaded bee-eater Mcrops leschenaultii
20.
Verditer flycatcher
Muscicapa albicaudata
4.
Small green barbet
Mcgalaima viridis
21.
Greyheaded flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis
5.
Larger Golden backed
22.
Blyth's Reed warbler
Acrocephalus dumetorum
woodpecker
Chrysocolaptes lucidus
23.
Largebilled leaf warbler
Phylloscopus magnirostris
6.
Jungle myna
Acridotheres fuscus
24.
Greenish leaf warbler
Phylloscopus trochiloides
7.
Hill myna
Gracula religiosa
25.
Tickell's leaf warbler
Phylloscopus ajfinis
8.
Pied flycatcher shrike
Hemipus picatus
26.
Shortwing
Brachyopteryx major
9.
Rubythroated yellow
Pycnonotus melanicterus
27.
Blue chat
Erithacus brunneus
bulbul
i gularis
28.
Yellow cheeked tit
Parus xanthogenys
10
Rcdwhiskcred bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
29.
Vclvctfrontcd nuthatch
Psitta frontalis
11
Redvented bulbul
Pycnonotus cafer
30.
Pied bush chat
Saxicola caprata
12
Greyheaded bulbul
Pycnonotus priocephalus
31.
Blackbird
Turdus merula
13
Yellowbrowed bulbul
Hypsipetes indicus
32.
Tickell's flowerpecker
Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
14
Black bulbul
Hypsipetes madagascariensis
33.
White eye
Zosterops palpebrosa
15
Spotted babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps
34.
Spotted munia
Lonchura punctulata
16
Scimitar babbler
Pomatorhinus schisticeps
35.
Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus
17
Jungle babbler
Turdoides striatus
THE NIGHT HERON
THOMAS F MARTIN, 12/16, Edward Road, Bangalore 560 052.
The Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, as its name
implies, is a bird that becomes active at sundown when it
forages for its daily fare; unlike most other species of heron
that are active during the hours of daylight. An exception
to this nocturnal behaviour takes place during the breeding
season when the demands of the young brood force the
parent birds to hunt for food during the hours of daylight.
The species have a somewhat short but dumpy
appearance in body and neck structure, and a stumpy
dagger-like bill; unlike the characteristic long body, neck
* and bill of some of its relatives. Both sexes are alike and
identified by the three long slender white plumes which
emerge from the region of the hindneck, and the grey and
buff-white body with the black crest and back which give
out a dark bottle green when reflected by the rays of the
sun. The pupils are surrounded by a diaphragm of reddish
tinge. The colour of the feet range from a pale
orange-yellow to a greenish yellow. The bill has a
blackish-yellow tinge. When fully matured, the species
attain a length of 58 cms and a wing-span of 100 cms. The
call of the night heron is a gu ttural "whark", which the bird
repeats at varying intervals when in flight. They may be
seen flying singly in succession or in small flocks at a height
of 40 metres or thereabout when passing overhead in
silhouette. The juvenile birds have a totally different
plumage to that of the adult birds, sporting a khaki-brown
hue with brownish stripes on the breast and the facial skin
exhibiting a greenish-yellow tinge.
The night heron is not a shy bird at most times, and will
usually permit the observer to approach quite near before
taking to wing in that typical lumbering manner of the
species. A very patient bird, Nycticorax nycticorax can and
does stand motionless for hours at a time like some graven
image in the muddy banks of a river, jheel or swamp, or on
a small projecting boulder or stone in the water; during
which time it maintains a strict vigil over the movements
of the aquatic life around. With the approach of a likely
prey, the night heron hurls itself in a fast lunge to impale
the victim on its sharp dagger-like bill or clasp it in a
scissors like grip.
The species generally nest in small colonies and appear
to have a special fancy for building their nests in a pcepul
or Bo Tree Ficus religiosa so sacred to the Hindus and
Buddhists, which stand amidst thinly populated hamlets
or in small suburban townships. The nest is fashioned in
the shape of a crude platform made of twigs and raised a
few metres from the ground, on which the hen lays an
average of 4 eggs and incubates them for about 21 days. The
fledgelings begin to fly at about 6 weeks old, and become
fully independent after 2 months when they start to fend
for themselves.
14
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
When nesting, the night herons can easily be
distinguished by the continuous din of confused cries and
discordant notes that they give out during their seemingly
ceaseless quarrels over territorial rights. I mention this
specific behaviour of the species based on my personal
observations over a number of years at the staff housing
colony of the Serraikella Glass Works at Kandra, located
about 18 kilometres from the steel city of Jamshedpur in
Bihar, where Nycticorax nycticorax would nidificate and
breed regularly in a peepul tree standing amidst the
aforesaid staff quarters. As to whether the species still
resort for nesting and breeding at such locale I am not
aware since arriving in Bangalore at the end of April 1985,
but it would be worthwhile and of interest if any reader of
the Newsletter who may be residing in Jamshedpur or near
about, undertake a birdwatching trip to ascertain if the
species still resort for nesting and breeding at the above
mentioned place, during the months of July to October, and
report their findings and observations in due course.
When I was a resident of Calcutta in West Bengal, my
encounters with the night heron were chiefly during the
winter months when I would visit the bheris in and around
Haroa, an outlying district township located about 60
kilometres from Calcutta. It was in the precincts of
Ramjaigherri bheri, about 8 kilometres down the
fairweather road which branches off from the main
approach road to the township of Haroa, that I was
privileged to closely observe the ways and habits of the
night heron during its non-breeding period. During my
annual visits to Kandra in Bihar, where I was a guest of my
close friend Rajan Lantz who has since passed away, I spent
much time in viewing and studying the species at close
quarters where they would regularly breed and roost in a
peepul tree in the area of the staff quarters just three blocks
away from where my dear friend was residing.
In Bihar, the locals refer to Nycticorax nycticorax as
"Whark" - a name obviously derived from its typical call.
In West Bengal and Bangladesh, the local inhabitants know
the bird by the name "Baigchoo" - a vernacular term for
which I am unable to offer an English definition. Perhaps
some kind reader of the Newsletter whose mother tongue
is Bengali would oblige by intimating the English
definition or derivative from which the term 'Baigchoo'
stems.
INTERESTING SIGHTINGS
OCCURRENCE OF THE HOBBY IN
BANGALORE. M.S. JAYANT, G.S. AD1TYA, 488,
'Akshaya', 11th Cross, 8th Main, J.P Nagar II Phase,
Bangalore 560 078, and /. HEMANTH, 55/71, H.B.
Samaja Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560 004
On 17 June 1989, we were watching birds in a lightly
wooded area with rocky outcrops at Kalkere, a place about
17 km from Bangalore city on the Bannerghatta road. The
wooded area consists mainly of Sal (Shorea talura) with
other trees like Pongam (Pongamia pinnata), Tamarind
(Tamarindus indica), Jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolius),
Eucalyptus and Millingtonia hortensis.
At 1015 hrs we had just entered the wooded area when
a falcon flashed past us, circled overhead and perched on
a nearby Jamun tree (Syzygium sp.). The falcon remained
there for nearly an hour and three quarters and let us
approach it as close as 2.5 m. We were able to make a
detailed note of its features.
The bird was pigeon-sized with its throat being dirty
white which deepened to fulvous, buff and rufous from
breast downwards. The vent and thighs were rust red. The
undcrparts were streaked black and being absent on thighs
and vent. The black moustachial stripe was very distinct.
The white half collar up to the nape and the white forehead
were other notable points. The crown was black and it
appeared darker than the rest of the upperparts. The
colours of the bare parts were in accordance with those
mentioned in the Handbook (Ali & Ripley, 1983). In flight,
we noted that the rump and the upper tail-coverts were
paler than the rest of the upperparts.
Considering the above points, we identified the bird as
the Hobby (Falco subbuteo). It was an adult bird. The
identification was further confirmed with the help of Birds
of Western Palearetic (Cramp & Simmons, 1982).
According to Ali & Ripley (1983) the Hobby is found all
over India up to Belgaum in the south from about
September to March/April. As our sighting of the species
was in mid June we think that it could have been a straggler.
This is the first ever record of this species for Bangalore and
the southern-most one for India.
KORAS DISPLAY. C. SUSANTHAKUMAR, Prakrithi, ,
Peroorkada P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695 005, Kerala *
On the morning of 1st May 1992, during a walk on the
bank of the Aakkulam Lake (Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala), 1 observed an interesting display of two 'Koras'
(water cock) Gallicrex cinera. The Koras were running on an
open marsh without being timid or shy. The colour of the
two birds was brown. One bird had a yellow comb. This
was the non-breeding plumage of the male kora. The birds
stopped near a reed thicket and made some harsh sounds.
Suddenly one bird jumped up from the ground up to 4 feet
and came back quickly with partially spreading wings. The
second bird standing near it was watching the display
curiously. After a few minutes the second bird also jumped
up from the ground up to 4 feet and came back in the same
manner. The whole display lasted over 20 minutes and the
birds were silent all through.
•
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
15
On the morning of 16th May 1992, 1 once again saw this
display in the same patch of marsh. This time I failed to see
the start of the display. On both these days one of the Koras
ultimately flew off. According to bird books "the Kora is a
very skulking bird, spending most of the day in thick
waterside vegetation, venturing out at dusk and dawn to
feed on crops, seeds or insects. The Kora is supposed to be
timid and shy during the day." But at Akkulam I observed
the birds at noon also and they did not appear to be too shy.
ALPINE SWIFTS OVER MADURAI. KUMARAN
SATHAS1VAM, 29, Jadamuni Koil Street, Madurai
625001
Any ornithologist who enjoys making lists will find
watching birds from the centre of Madurai city a frustrating
experience. In no time at all it seems, practically every
species that occurs here has been put down, and the list is
depressingly short. The 'regulars' number about half a
... dozen, and an equal number of species occur seasonally.
All others that find themselves on the list are those that
have strayed into this airspace purely by chance.
After three years of birding from this ornithological
moonscape, one has long since given up waiting for new
species, devoting oneself instead, to pursuits like the CBFP
(Common Birds Familiarisation Programme). This simply
means one spends hours on one's terrace memorizing the
field characters of Blue Rock Pigeons, Pariah Kites and
other birds one would normally not pay much attention to.
So. when species Number thirty turns up, onejs
unprepared.
At the end of February this year, I had a very brief
glimpse of a different bird flying near a group of House
Swifts. I dismissed this as one of the sporadic Palm Swifts.
Even when the same bird turned up at the same time the
next morning, I did not realise that a 'new' species was
» afoot. It was only on the third consecutive morning that I
asked myself what sort of Palm Swift it was that was so
white below and had such dark wings.
I got several opportunities to see the Alpine Swifts again
over the next few weeks, for it was indeed Apus melba that
came daily in the morning over my house for a month.
Apparently moving in a loosely spread out group, the
swifts came overhead mostly at 8 'O' clock, sometimes as
early as 7.20, at other times as late as 8.20. There were days
when I did not make it upstairs at the right time and missed
seeing them. Invariably they were heading east. The
greatest number of Alpines I saw on any one day was five,
but it is very likely there were more in the group as my view
was restricted by buildings. In spite of the slow beating of
the long, swept back wings (rather different from the rapid
fluttering of the House Swifts) the birds went past very
quickly. I had to be content with observations lasting just a
few seconds each of a species which was 'new' to me. The
Alpine Swifts seem to have stopped flying over here now
in April.
A series of near-daily sightings over a month in a period
of three years makes it difficult to assign any status to the
species.
District" (JBNHS Vol.XLIV) is the only work I know of its
type dealing with the region, and Nichols' records of the
Alpine Swift in the district ("uncommon, sometimes
solitary, sometimes as many as 20 together") all fall
between January 27 and September 10. Nichols says that
"in August Jerdon observed near Madura flocks
apparently migrating eastward". Interestingly, birds taken
here seem to belong to the race bakeri resident in Sri Lanka.
I feel that there is a good case here for pooling of records
of the Aline Swift through the NLBW. Of this species the
Handbook says: "Our knowledge of the spatial foraging
movements of these wide-ranging swifts is as yet too
nebulous for a satisfactory evaluation of the races and their
status within our limits". Every observation would help in
piecing together the jigsaw-puzzle.
THE ORANGE BILLED JUNGLE MYNA IN
PLAINS OF UPPER ASSAM. DR. D. BAROOAH,
Dass Pharmacy, Sibsagar 785 640, Assam.
A small number of Orangebilled Jungle Myna are
observed in the town of Sibsagar since 1990 specially
around the tankofSibsagar. The bird is also present in quiet
residential areas of the town but not in the central bazar
area. "A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian
Subcontinent" by Ali and Ripley describes the
geographical location as 'Nagaland, South through
Manipurand Mizoram to theChittagang hill tracts'. But the
town of Sibsagar is situated in the plains of Assam, at least
20 km from the hills of Nagaland.
Though much alike to the Jungle Myna (Acridotheres
fuscus) in size and shape, the Orangebilled Jungle Myna
(Acridotheres javanicus) can be differentiated from the
former by (1) Crome yellow coloured bill, (2) Tougher and
larger tufts of hair of the forehead and (3) Dark grey , often
shining body feathers. The overall picture is a more robust
looking bird than the Jungle Myna. Moreover Orangebilled
Jungle Myna is mostly a solitary bird, sometimes also seen
in pairs, whereas the Jungle Myna is usually seen in small
groups of 6-10 individuals.
Nest building material was seen carried to the orchard
of the Baptist Church Compound situated in the side of the
tank of Sibsagar, but no attempt was made to locate the nest
fearing the possibility of exposing the nest to
unsympathetic persons.
16
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
THE JUNGLE MYNA WITH BLUISH IRIS,
SIGHTED IN DHARWAD URBAN. Dr.J.C.
UTTANGI, 36, Mission Compound, Dharwad 580 001,
India
The city of Dharwad still has a green and shady
appearance although, during the last few decades of
urbanization it has lost quite a few orchards and many of
its old forest trees, scrub and underwood trees have been
cut to build houses in their place. To add to the greenery,
other trees like Eucalyptus and Coconut are being planted
around houses, along roads and open areas. Birds passing
by this forested city cannot go without being attracted by a
few fruit and shady trees which have remained due to
controlling influence. Necessity knows no law but,
preservation of sanctity must be recognised by every
citizen as binding.
On 30th April 1992, it drizzled over Dharwad city for a
while in the evening and stopped. It was 5.30 p.m. when
the evening sun came out to shine again. I was standing at
the door of our house in the Mission compound and
looking on towards the still overcast eastern sky. As I stood
there looking, I noticed a small flock of six birds
approaching me directly. Suddenly checking their speed
the birds came down to perch on the electric wires just 40
feet away from our house. Four of them sat on the upper
wire line and the other two below it. It was interesting to
notice that while perching the flock had managed to
occupy a place on the wires where the five porcelain
cup-like knobs were set on the shoulders of the pole. The
birds looked as though they were imitating these knobs.
Perhaps a hawk on top would mistake them for knobs.
Thinking they were common Mynas, I reluctantly
turned to glance at the birds but, my curiosity was aroused
when I perceived a tuft of feathers behind their beaks.
Having been caught in the recent drizzle the funky looking
birds had come out to bask in the open sun. As they fell
busy preening and pecking I got time to go inside and fetch
my 8 x40 Super Zenith Binocular. What a fascination it was
to see the birds sitting in that position with a dark sky
background behind the birds and the bright sun shining
from in front. 1 could clearly see their orange yellow beaks
and legs and the tuft of feathers not very bushy. What was
most fascinating to see was their bluish iris which the birds
kept gently moving over their eye balls. It did not take time
to identify the species. The ashy grey body and the bluish
iris proclaimed that they were the Southern Jungle Myna,
mahrattensis considered conspecific to Acridotheres fuscus.
This is the first time I have seen this race within the urban
limits of Dharwad. The Northern race has a bright yellow
iris. The group of Jungle Mynas need a review study
through a survey.
RANGE EXTENSION OF THE RUBYTHROAT '
IN SOUTH INDIA. K.K. MOHAPATRA and
PRAKASH RAO, Bird Migration Project, Bombay .
Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shahid Bhagat
Singh Road, Bombay 400 023
During the course of the BNHS Bird Migration study
carried out in the Eastern ghat ranges of Southern Andhra
Pradesh, three Ruby throats Erithacus calliope, a male (BNHS
Ring A-218432 on 21.11.89) and two females (BNHS Ring
A-237005 and A-237007 on 2.2.91) were ringed and released
in the scrub forests around Tirumala Hills (13 14' 30" N, 79
21'30"E).
The male had a distinct scarlet chin and throat bordered
by a black line on the sides of chin, while the females had
white supercilium and a white throat with traces of pink.
The fulvous brown breast and buffish belly readily
differentiated them from the similar looking Himalayan
Rubythroat Erithacus pectoralis which has a grayish breast, 4
white belly and white tipped tail. The measurements were
well within the known range of the bird.
The male was ringed in early winter (Nov-1989) while
the females towards the latter half (Feb-1991). Ali and
Ripley (1987) restrict its range to NE Andhra Pradesh in the
Visakhapatnam Hill ranges which are approximately 600
km north. The present record extends the range of the bird
suggesting that the birds may find their way to similar
biotopes in southern India.
Reference
Ali S.A. and Ripley S.D. (1987): Compact Handbook of the Birds of
India and Pakistan. Second Edition, Oxford University Press.
NESTING OF THE WHITE EYED
BUZZARD-EAGLE IN PUDUKUDI, THANJAVUR
DISTRICT. P. GNANASELVAN, President, Nature
Conservation and Education Council, Nature Home, 47- A, -
Main Road, Pudukudi, P.O., Thanjavur District 613 402 *
On 17th April, 1992 a friendly villager informed me
about a Varichali (Shikra) nest with two eggs in a Tamarind
tree. I was slightly confused at first, because I have been
watching the local raptors and their nests in our area. A
quick scan of my field note book revealed that, all the seven
Shikra (Accipiter badius) nests under my observation had
their eggs up to 28th March, and now all the seven nests are
having half grown nestlings.
On 18th early morning I visited the nest site and to my
pleasant surprise I was able to identify the raptor as a White
Eyed Buzzard-Eagle (Butastur teesa). This is my second
personal sighting of this bird. (Last sighting in March 1990
near Karavetti lake of Tiruchirapalli district).
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
17
The eggs measured 33 x 45 mm and 34 x 45 mm. One
egg was hatched on 20th and another on 22nd. The
fledglings are red mixed orange coloured and not creamy
white as Shikra and Lagger falcon.
Regarding this White Eyed Buzzard, I would like to hear
more from your readers about its distribution and breeding
status in South India.
(Editor's Note: Saw one many years ago near our house
in Dodda-Gubbi in Bangalore and recall seeing one in
Aurangabad thirty years ago. It seems to be getting a 'rare'
bird).
SIGHTING OF SKIMMER AT NAJAFGARH,
DELHI. VIVEK MENON and TARA GANDHI
The Indian skimmer Rhynchops albicollis Swainson was
a common bird on the Yamuna in the early parts of the
century. Major-General Hutson (1943-45) lists the species as
frequenting rivers near Delhi (probably the Yamuna). Usha
4 Ganguly (1955) notes it only once near Dasna Jheel and
terms it resident but not too common. The Skimmer has
since then been comparatively overlooked or has seen a
drastic reduction in population finding no mention in bird
counts over the last decade (Kalpavriksh 1987, Shrishti
1990). It is thought that the peculiar feeding habit of the
bird, which involves utilising the top few centimeters for
fishing has made it particularly susceptible to water
pollution. It has been proved time and again that the water
is becoming rapidly and extensively polluted and at certain
stretches along the Yamuna have zero oxygen levels. The
skimmer had therefore been often quoted as being a reliable
pollution indicator for the region.
A pair of skimmers were seen by a bird watching group
of Shrishti during a visit to the Najafgarh drain on the 21st.
of July 1991. They were sitting on a sand spit surrounded
by water and were occasionally fishing and re-alighting on
the sand spit. The disappearances of the sand spits in many
» wetlands, mainly owing to dredging practices could very
well be another important reason for the disappearance of
the species from the region. Other birds such as the
pratincole have also shown corresponding declines in and
around Delhi giving further credence to such a hypotheses.
Apart from these plausible reasons for their
disappearance, a further cause for their overlooking may
be the sacanty data available for wetlands during the
summers. It is believed that most wetland counts, censuses
and birdwatching outings are conducted during winter
months and that the habitat remains largely unvisited
during summer. The sighting of these birds for perhaps the
first time in a decade in the summers, is a pointer towards
surveying our wetlands in the hotter months as well.
References
Ali, S., Ripley, S.D. (1983). Compact Handbook of the Birds of India
and Pakistan, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Sahadev, P., Sabharwal, V. (1987). An analysis of the Delhi Bird
counts, Kalpavriksh
Srishti (1990-91). Asian Midwinter Waterfowl Census data
Ganguly, U. (1950). Birds of the Delhi area
Hutson, H.W. (1950). The Birds about Delhi.
SIGHTING OF THE GREAT WHITEBELLIED
HERON IN JAMJING RESERVE FOREST,
ASSAM, ANWARUDDIN CHOUDHURY, Addl.
District Magistrate, Karbi Anglong, For. Corr. Near Gate
No.l of Nehru Stadium, Islampur Road , Guwahati
781 007, Assam
The Great Whitebellied Heron Ardea insignis (Hume,
1878) is a very rare bird and its sighting records are also few
and far between. Hence, any sighting of this bird is quite
significant.
On 17 January, 1990 while surveying the Jamjing beel in
the Jamjing Reserve Forest of Dhemaji district in Upper
Assam I spotted a larger heron in a secluded area with tall
ml (Arundo donax) grasses around. It was alert with head
and neck fully stretched. It differed from the commoner
grey heron
"3? I (Ardea drier ea)
by having
slate-grey
upperparts (v.
ashy gey),
lacking black
crest and the
black patch on
shoulder
(conspicuous
on standing
grey heron). It
was very shy
unlike the grey
and purple
herons (A.
purpurea) I
observed over
the years. It was
a great
whitebellied
heron, my first sighting of the species. Later on perhaps one
more (may be the same one) seen. The birds took to flight
at my sight and prolonged observation was not possible.
Some other birds seen in the Jamjing beel included many
purple herons (all singly), spotted billed pelicans (Pelecanus
philippensis), Openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans), darter
(Anhinga rufa), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), pond heron
(Ardeola grayii), and lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus).
Jamjing RF (area, 91 km2) with wet savannah grassland,
marshes and a number of beels is one of the largest
unprotected wetlands of Assam.
^
18
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
SIGHTING OF RUFOUSBELLIED HAWK- EAGLE
AT KAVIKALGANDI, CHICKMAGALUR
DISTRICT. S. KARTHIKEYAN, 24, Opp. Banashankari
Temple, 8th Block, Jayanagar P.O., Bangalore 560 082 -
Kavikalgandi (13 24' N, 75 44' E) is about 14 km from
Chickmagalur, Karnataka and at a height of about 1632 m
above MSL. The habitat of this place is typical of the
Western Ghats with grasslands and sholas interspersed
with coffee plantation. It is also very close to the highest
peak in Karnataka - Mulaianagiri (1918 m above MSL). -
During a visit to this place along with T.S. Srinivasa,
D.V. Girish and T.V.N. Murthy, also birdwatchers on 8
October 1991, my attention was drawn towards a raptor
with falcon-like rapid wing beats below us as it flew over
the valley. It gradually gained height, thus affording an
excellent view of its upper and underparts. The rusty
brown underparts with a contrasting white throat were
very distinct and was immediately identified as the
Rufousbellied Hawk Eagle Hieraatus kienerii (E. Geoffrey).
The present sighting is the only third time the species is
being reported from Karnataka. The two previous ones are
that of Salim Ali (1943) during his visit to Settihalli,
Shimoga District, between 25 January and 2 February 1940
as part of his survey of erstwhile Mysore, the second is of
an individual seen at Dandeli Game Sanctuary on 19
December 1955 by Dharamkumarsinhji (1961).
The species has been recorded from Western Ghats,
north Karnataka through Kerala and Himalayas. In its
southwestern range it is known to occur up to an altitude
of 1200 m and up to 1500 m above MSL in the Himalayas
(Ali and Ripley, 1987). The altitude at which the
Rufousbellied Hawk Eagle was seen is about 1632 m -
approximately 400 m more than the altitude where the
species is known to occur in its southwestern range while
the difference is not very significant compared to its
Himalayan range. The present sighting though within the
known range, is the first record for Chickmagalur district.
References
Ali, S. (1943). The Birds of Mysore, Part IV. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.
44(1), 9-26.
Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. (1987). Compact Handbook of the Birds of
India and Pakistan, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, p.737.
Dharamkumarsinhji, R.S. (1961). Rufousbellied Hawk Eagle,
Lophotriorchis kienerii kienerii (E. Geoffrey) in North Kanara. J.
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 58(2), p. 514.
CORRESPONDENCE
THE BLUEHEADED ROCK THRUSH. Dr.PAMELA
C. RASMUSSEN, (Scientific Assistant to Dr S DILLON
RIPLEY, Smithsonian, Washington D.C. In camp
Bombay), and, J.S. SERRAO, c/o Bombay Natural History
Society
Mrs Geeta Iyer and Mr Karthik Shankar's reporting of
the Blueheaded Rock Thrush (Monticolus cinclorhynchus in
Newsletter 32(5/6) : 15 is the second record for Andhra
Pradesh. The credit for the first record should go to Mr *
Trevor Price, who came across: a single bird in the last week
of November, two each in January and February and five
in March the following year, two males were met with in
November and in February in the subsequent year at
Lammasinghi in the Eastern Ghats (J.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.
Vol.76, 417). Readers will find this information included in
the 2nd revised edition of Vol.9 of the Handbook of Birds
of India and Pakistan on which we are presently working.
Incidentally, the compact edition of the Handbook
marked as '2nd edition' contains only up to Vol.4 revised.
AGONOSTIC BEHAVIOUR OF THE
BLACKNECKED CRANE IN CHUSHUL,
LADAKH, INDIA. S. ASAD AKHTAR, Scientist, Bird
Migration Project, BNHS, Hornbill House, Bombay
400 023
On 22nd July 1987, at about 1600 hrs, I was watching
through a telescope (magnification 29x), a family of the
Blacknecked Crane Grus nigricollis, with two downy chicks, +
about three weeks old. They were foraging in a marsh with
a few patches of deepwater. This marsh locally known as
'Dimik' is located approximately four km North east of
Chushul 34 35' N; 78 43' E, elevation, 4328m), (For details
see Blacknecked Crane in Ladakh, second Annual report
1987). The adult cranes were foraging at some distance
from each other, while the juveniles were resting together
in a grassy patch, their heads barely visible above the grass.
Few ducks were swimming around in the water patch,
while the adult cranes foraged at the edge. Suddenly, one
of the cranes rushed forward and grabbed a duck after
chasing it around for sometime. It jerked the victim
violently for a while and later released it. No attempt was
made to smother it on the ground. This aggressive
behaviour on the part of the cranes, was observed on two
more occasions. On one occasion, it was Garganey teal Anas
querquedula, while on the other it was a juvenile Brahminy
duck Tadorna ferruginea. On both the occasions, the ducks *
did not show any aggressive behaviour towards the cranes
or their chicks, except that they had strayed close to the
chicks. This probably provoked the cranes to chase and
attack them. S.A. Hussain (pers. comm.) reported similar
behaviour from Hanle (32 47' N; 79 04' E; elevation 4340 m)
when the adult cranes chased the Brahminy ducks which
strayed close to their nest. He also reported that the ravens
Corvus corax, in Hanle would mob the cranes on the nest
which would chase them away. The cranes might be
attempting to swallow the duckling, as some Grus species
are known to prey upon young birds (Irene 1981,
Walkinshaw, 1981). Since the cranes were nesting and as
the breeding birds requirements of protein is high (Wallace,
1955) the cranes might be attempting to prey on the ducks.
as a source of protein.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
19
The above mentioned aggressive behavior of the cranes,
is probably a reflection of competition for scarce food.
Cranes are known to be intolerant of other birds near the
nest or near chicks (Masatomi and Kitagawa, 1974; Zongao,
et al. 1974; Sergi 1981; Guo 1981) and their aggressive
behaviour could also be related to the defense of nestlings.
USE OF DROPPNGS OF INDIAN HARE FOR
NEST MAKING BY REDWATTLED LAPWING.
SATISH KUMAR SHARMA, Arboriculturist, World
Forestry Arboretum, Jhalana Dungri, Jaipur 302 004
On 1st June 1992, I located a nest of Redwattled
Lapwing Vanellus indicus on one of the lawns of World
Forestry Arboretum, Jaipur. After hatching of all the four
eggs, parent deserted the nest on 9th June 1992. After
departure of inmates from the nest, all the nest building
materials used by the birds were collected, enumerated and
weighed. The findings are given in Table 1.
Table 1
£ Nest building material collected by Redwattled Lapwing
SI. Items nos. % Weight %
No. Nos. (gms) Weight
1
Droppings of
Indian Hare
138
40.35
20.00
17.24
?
Pieces of bricks
77
22.51
25.00
21.55
3
Pieces of stones
107
31.28
7.00
60.34
4
Pieces of straws
20
5.84
1.00
0.86
It is evident from Table 1 that droppings of Indian Hare
(Lepus nigricollis) may be used for making the nest by
Redwattled Lapwing. Use of droppings of Indian Hare for
making a nest by Redwattled Lapwing is not cited in
Handbook, however it is mentioned that mud pellets, goat
droppings, cowdung and pebbles are utilized for making
the nest. Material like droppings of Indian Hare are easily
available for that part of population of Redwattled
Lapwing which lives in agricultural fields, fringes of
forests, wastelands etc. i.e. away from human habitations.
^Reference
AH, S. and Riploy, S.D. (1983). Handbook of Birds of India and
Pakistan (compact edition)
COMMENTS ON RECENT ISSUES OF THE
'NEWSLETTER'. V. SANTHARAM, C/o Dr P.S. Easa,
Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Kerala
First of all, I would like to point out a typographical
error in the article on Vedanthangal Santuary written by
myself and Mr Menon [NLBW XXXI (11 & 12) p.7]. In the
'Methods and Materials' section, the last paragraph has a
sentence which should read "The Little Cormorants, shags
and large Little, Median, Large and Cattle Egrets were
grouped as cormorants were counted as 'cormorants' while
'Egrets'" and not as published.
In this article on the spotbilled PelicanfNLBW 32 (1 &2)],
Shri S. Sridhar refers to the Aredu-Sarapalle pelicanry of
Andhra Pradesh. This pelicanry, discovered by Prof K.K.
Neelakantan in the late 194Cs was found abandoned over
two decades ago. Nelapattu, in the Nellore district, 100 km
north of Madras is the largest pelicanry in Andhra at
present with approximately 200 nesting pairs.
On the observation of Shri K. Karthikeyan on a Magpie
Robin preying on a leech [NLBW, 32 3-4): 10], I wish to point
out that the orange-headed ground thrush (Zoothera citrina
citrina) has been known to take leeches. On- the food of this
species, the Handbook Vol.8, pp.88, says "...also leeches
locally, but in spite of their great abundance these taken by
a few individuals only...".
In the same issue, M /s J.N. Prasad and U. Harish Kumar
write about Jerdon's Chloropsis feeding on the flowers of
Pithecellobium duke. I have also seen, in Peechi, in
November 1991-January 1992, on quite a few occasions, at
least four species of birds feeding on the flowers of Clitoria
ternatea Linn., a common climber with blue flowers. The
species involved were Koel, Small Green Barbet, Fairy
Bluebird and Redvented Bulbul. Perhaps more species
were also feeding on these flowers but I did not concentrate
much on this behaviour as I was busy with my
woodpeckers.
Regarding the note on Sunbird's bath by Dr Vijay
Tuljapurkar, I wish to draw attention to a similar
observation on the Purplerumped Sunbird in Madras by
me, published in the 1979 issue of 'Newsletter'.
YELLOWTHROATED BULBUL IN THE
ANAIMALAI HILLS. R. KANNAN, Hornbill Project,
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Top Slip 642 141 (via)
Pollachi, T.N.
One of the more interesting finds during the recent
Madras Naturalists' Society expedition to the Anaimalais
was the Yellow throated bulbul. Two birds were seen on 12
May 1992, by a roadside waterfall on the Pollachi- Valparai
highway, 28 km from Pollachi, just as the road begins its
winding ascent from the Aliyar dam area. The area was
typical yellow throated bulbul country - hillside scrub with
stunted trees.
The Handbook mentions of one old record from the
Kerala side of the Anaimalais (Davison, 1886, Ibis: 146). The
specimen could occur in the Sethumalai side of the
foothills, i.e. the entrance to the Indira Gandhi Wildlife
Sanctuary (Top Slip range). I plan to survey this area for the
bird shortly. The habitat here looks ideal for the species.
The bird, with its extremely restricted distribution in
S.India, is causing concern amongst conservationists. Most
of its range falls outside protected areas and its habitat is
constantly disturbed by encroachment, grazing and
firewood collection. It has reportedly disappeared from
certain areas. I have spoken to the Director of the newly
formed Salim Ali Centre (SACON) to initiate an intensive
status survey of this species.
20
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
SCIENTIFIC NOTES. T.V. JOSE, Flat No. 8, Reena
Apartments, Chincholi Bunder Road, Malad (W), Bombay
400 064
The following has reference to NLBW (1&2), Jan-Feb
1992, p.l, "Scientific Notes" featured in the Editorial.
There is no doubt that ornithology got too scientific for
Salim Ali and no less so to most of us readers of N.L. But
the mention that ornithology is "infested" with graphs, etc.
is bad in taste.
We are interested in birds and their activities not fully *
knowing that such interest is the basic motivation to
understand what they are. It is this innocent interest that
grows into insights, and scientific studies based on them
unfold physiological and psychological aspects of a bird.
The sense of wonder and curiosity to know more (and the
enjoyment one gets in knowing a bird closer and closer)
inherent in the initial interest often innate among us, must
be allowed to grow, and N.L. has a vital role to play here.
Please do not encourage readers of N.L. to write notes
meant mainly for enjoyment.
Crisis Facing the World's
"Global water withdrawals are believed to have
grown more than 35-fold during the past three decades,
and are projected to increase by 30-35% by 2000. Current
patterns of freshwater use cannot be sustained if human
populations reach 10 billion by 2050".
With this striking analysis "Caring for the Earth : a
strategy for sustainable living" highlights the crisis
facing the world's freshwater resources. Similarly, as the
UN meets for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro this
month, water management is viewed by many as being
of more immediate concern than the higher profile issues
of climate change and sea-level rise. In simple terms, our
planet does not have enough freshwater for human
society to continue to use these resources as we have done
for much of our past. We need to change the way in which
we use and manage the world's freshwater, and to do so
now.
But freshwater is uneven in its distribution in both
time and space. Years of drought are frequently followed
by floods, while in any given year some countries suffer
devastating drought, while only a few hundred
kilometres away others have abundant supplies of
freshwater. For much of the past, governments have
responded to this variability in the availability of
freshwater by seeking to control the rivers and their water,
storing it in dams for redistribution during the dry season
and in times of drought, and building canals and dykes
designed to prevent flooding during the rains and in
exceptionally wet years.
Most readers will be familiar with the environmental
effects of many of these water projects, and with the
long-running opposition of many conservation bodies to
such structural approaches to managing the world's
water resources. Today however these voices have been
joined by an increasingly vocal constituency of
development professionals who argue that not only do
many of these projects fail to generate the benefits
intended, but that the majority of those that do, benefit
only the urban and industrial sector, while leading to a
further decline in the well-being of the rural poor. In their
place, a fully integrated approach to the management of
water resources and the natural ecosystems which
Freshwater Resources
support them is being called for, one which looks at the
needs of all water users.
This holistic approach to water management was one
of the central themes of the UN Conference on Water and
the Environment which was held in Dublin, Ireland from
26-31 January 1992. Drawing attention to the severity of
the water crisis, the Dublin Statement highlights the
importance of water in sustaining natural ecosystems and
calls for integrated management of river basins in order
to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. In doing so the
Conference has thrown down a challenge to the
conservation movement. Now, instead of simply calling
for an alternative approach to water management, we
need to provide detailed technical guidance showing
how natural aquatic ecosystems can be managed for
long-term benefits. In short, we need to move beyond the
rhetoric of conservation theory and demonstrate that it
works.
Following only ten days after the Dublin Conference,
the World Parks Congress in Caracas, Venezuela from
10-21 February, took an important step in this direction
by holding as one of the conference workshops, a debate
on Protected Areas and the Hydrological Cycle. By
bringing together examples of how protected areas can
both protect freshwater resources and provide a frame
work for sustainable use of ecosystems dependent upon
a regular flow of freshwater, this workshop took an
important step towards strengthening efforts by the
conservation community to respond to the Dublin
challenge. This however is but a tiny step in the right
direction, and the coming years will need to see a
substantial increase in the attention given by the
conservation community to demonstrating that the
maintenance of natural hydrological regimes can indeed
yield substantially greater benefits for human society
than continued large-scale investment in altering
riverflow. Integrated wetland management is central to
this response and the wetland conservation community
will need to play a central role in addressing this
challenge.
by Patrick Dugan, Wetlands Programme Coordinator, IUCN
Courtesy : IUCN Wetlands Programme Newsletter, June 1992
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
22
*
Threatened Waterfowl Species Working Group
Recommendations for Action on Threatened Waterfowl
Species in South and West Asia
Threatened Anatidae
1. Implementation of the international action plan
recently prepared for the White- winged Wood Duck
is urgently required. This includes a thorough
survey of the protected areas of Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh for the White-winged Wood
Duck, to establish the distribution of the species and
whether or not it is adequately protected. An
immediate survey is also required of the Chittagong
Hill Tracts in Bangladesh where the species is
present but under extreme threat from hunting and
habitat destruction.
2. Adequate protection should be given to the
White-headed Duck population wintering in Punjab
Province, Pakistan, and its habitat. Ucchali, Jahlar,
Khabbckki, Nammal and Kalar Kahar lakes should
all be strictly protected.
3. The Right Bank Outfall Drain Project as currently
designed will change the ecology of Hamal Katchri
and other wetlands in Sindh of great importance to
the Marbled Teal. The Project should therefore be
reviewed and alternative solutions found.
Regular surveys should be conducted of all Sindh
wetlands to clarify the distribution, movements and
breeding sites of this population of Marbled Teal to assess
the impacts of the RBOD Project.
Other Threatened Waterbirds
1. Owing to their great importance for threatened
species such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Indian
Skimmer, the following wetlands in Bangladesh
should be granted immediate protection : Nijhum
Dweep, Ghasiar Char, Sonar Char, east Dhal Char,
Char Dhigal, Urir Char and key wetlands in the Haor
Basin (particularly Pingla and Chatla beels at
Hakaluki Haor and part of Hail Haor).
2. Research into the distribution, breeding biology and
causes of decline of the Black-bellied Tern is required
in eastern Pakistan, India and Nepal. Important
breeding areas should be protected.
3. Research is needed into the breeding success of
Greater Adjutants, especially concerning the
possible effects of human fishing in reducing the
food supply during the period of chick
development. Studies should also be carried out on
possible competitive exclusion of Greater Adjutants
by Lesser Adjutants.
4. Greater Adjutants and Bar-headed Geese should be
included in Schedule I of the Protection Act in India.
5. Black-bellied Tem, Indian Skimmer and Oriental
Darter should be assigned to the "Indeterminate"
category in the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Animals.
6. Loss of nesting trees at the major Kokkare Bellur
Pclicanry in Karnataka has contributed to the decline
of the Spot-billed Pelican in India. Provision of
artificial nest platforms should be attempted on an
experimental basis.
7. Attempts should be made to improve the design of
artificial nest baskets provided for Oriental Darters
at Tekkadi Reservoir, Kerala, and to monitor their
effectiveness.
8. Surveys should be undertaken to establish the status
of the Andaman Teal and Andaman Rail.
9. Education programmes are required to raise
awareness of threatened species in areas where they
concentrate and so may seem common and therefore
under no threat.
10. Ecological research (followed by conservation
action) on all of the following scarce and threatened
waterfowl of South and West Asia should be of high
priority in research programmes undertaken by
research institutes (universities etc.) in the region :
Spot-billed Pelican
Dalmatian Pelican
Pygmy Cormorant
African Darter*
Oriental Darter
White-bellied Heron
Lesser Adjutant
Greater Adjutant
Black-necked Stork*
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Bar-headed Goose
Red- breasted Goose
White-winged
Wood-Duck
Marbled Teal
Baer's Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
White-headed Duck
Black-headed Duck
Siberian Crane
Watercock*
Masked Finfoot
Sociable Plover
Slender-billed Curlew
Cover Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura). Always alert and curious, this
bright coloured bird of the "Jewel-Thrush" family, moves swiftly over
the tangled roots of the forest floor in long and easy hops. This uncanny
ventriloquist gives out a loud melodious double whistle "wieet-piyou" ,
that makes it difficult to locate. Being shy by nature, it takes off at once
with a swift direct flight, through the forest canopy.
Photo: S. Sridhar, arps
Editor ZAFAR FUTEHALLY, Moitaka, BearShola Road,
Kodaikanal624101.
Printed and Published by S. Sridhar at Navbharath Enterprises,
Seshadripuram, Bangalore 560 020, for Private Circulation only.
Red Data Bird
Lesser Kestrel
by Jean-Pierre Biber
The Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni is
a bird of open areas, avoiding closed
forest, wetlands, and farmland with tall
crops. In the Western Palearctic, it is
found in continental and forest steppes
and semi-desertic land, foraging in
meadows, pastures, steppe-like habi-
tat, non-intensively cultivated land and
occasionally in scrub (garrigue) and
open woodland. Itpreferswarmorhot
areas with short vegetation and patches
of bare ground, where it can easily find
its prey.
In its North African breeding areas
and its winter quarters, it forages in
savanna, steppe, thornbush vegetation,
and on open grassland or farmland.
The main food consists of invertebrates,
chiefly larger Orthoptera. Inwinterthe
Lesser Kestrel relies largely on swarms
of locusts.
(Painting: N. Arlott)
Most Lesser Kestrels winter in Africa.
Information on wintering numbers in
West Africa is limited, but it is likely that
this region holds relatively low num-
bers. The main wintering areas lie in
eastern Africa, from Kenya south to
Botswana, and especially South Africa.
The Lesser Kestrel has a Palearctic
breeding distribution, south of 55°N
latitude. Relatively i ittle is known about
the exact breeding range of the species
in Asia. In Europe Snd northern Africa,
the Lesser Kestrel has a mainly Mediter-
ranean distribution, but it is also known
to breed in large oarts of the former
USSR.
The Lesser Kestrel normally breeds in
monospecificcoloniesofl 20-250 pairs.
With the decline of the species, small
colonies of less than 1 pairs and single
pairs have become more and more
common. They ne;t in holes in walls of
old houses, stables, barns, castles or
churches or under their roofs, usually
under the tiles of the lower edge of the
roof. They also breed in tree holes, in
earth cliffs, and sometimes in rocks,
quarries or heaps of stones. In Europe,
they used to be common in many
towns and villages of the Mediterra-
nean Basin.
The Lesser Kestrel has shown major
population declines in large parts of its
western Palearctic breeding range and
has disappeared from many countries
where it bred until recently. The main
reason for this decline is thought to be
the loss of hunting habitat due to ur-
banisation, agricultural intensification
and the abandonment of traditional
Lesser Kestrel (Photo: A. Robles/SEO)
pastoral activities. The large scale appli-
cation of pesticides in modern agricul-
ture reduces food availability and seems
to be partly to blame for the decline of
the species. This holds both for the
West Palearctic breeding area and the
African winter quarters. Many nest sites
in older building have been eliminated
during renovation, or such buildings
have been removed and replaced with
modern ones no longer providing nest-
ing niches. This seems to affect the
species in many regions where it used
to be commonly linked to human set-
tlements. Competition for nest sites
with other bird species, mainly the
Jackdaw, and kleptoparasitism by the
same species, may have a serious im-
pact in mixed colonies. Pesticides are
also known to have reduced breeding
success in some areas, but it is not clear
whether this is due to intake in breeding
areas or in the winter quarters. Human
persecution and disturbance may lo-
cally affect breeding birds.
In planning action for the protection
of the Lesser Kestrel, the conservation
of suitable foraging habitat around ex- S
isting breeding colonies should receive ~
highest priority. To this end, careful §
land-use planning to avoid develop- 1
ment of such areas is essential. The use H
of pesticides should be regulated and $
alternative pest control techniques g
should be applied. It is worth noting 2
that conservation measures for the ^
Lesser Kestrel are likely to have positive -
effects for other threatened grassland $
bird species (such as White Stork Ciconia g
ciconia and Great Bustard Otis tarda). <->
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