Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No.

1-2 (January-April 2004) 1

Editorial
The seasons have changed and the inexhorable urge to Our aim
procreate has once again sucked the avian migrants away We wish to publish approximately 100 pages of printed
from our drying landscape. Life renews itself in Nature’s material annually, in six issues, published in February,
unceasing drama; buffetted constantly in eddies created by a April, June, August, October and, December, respectively.
tilted, spinning Earth, rotating forever around the source of This cannot be done, dear reader, without your help. From
life. you, we welcome articles, papers, annotated checklists, trip
In a sense, this Newsletter too is a renewal of our belief reports, notes on the behaviour and biology of one or more
in the importance of the amateur Indian birdwatcher, of his / species, book reviews, audio-recording reviews, letters,
her contribution to our rich ornithological literature. announcements and notices of events, news from the
birding world, etc. We also encourage artists and
Coining a title photographers to showcase their work on our covers.
Several well-wishers have written in to say that the title, We will gradually build a network of volunteer referees,
Newsletter for Ornithologists, is quite a mouthful. We feel specializing in the birdlife of a geographical / political area,
that ultimately it is the content of the newsletter that will a habitat, or fascinated with a particular family of birds.
make it popular among birdwatchers, not the title. After all, They will assist us in our work and lend credibility to it.
an ornithologist is also a birdwatcher and vice-versa.
Neither derives less pleasure in his pursuit by being labelled In this issue
one or the other. M.K.S. Pasha and his friends present a checklist of
birds of Pench Tiger Reserve, with abbreviated annotations.
Printed versus digital Checklists are the baseline data for further studies of
Today mailing lists are a rage with the computer savvy. avifauna of a region, and are increasingly used in
Their popularity increases day by day. Their usefulness management decisions regarding land-use. Their usefulness,
cannot be denied. They are an open forum, always backed up with detailed, old-fashioned field notes, can
accessible to the interested, just like a room full of like- never be commended enough.
minded people exchanging ideas and information. They are Daniel Wesley takes you into the miniature world of
strengthened by the amazing wizardry of electronic nesting sunbirds and Satish Pande and his friends, on the
archives, keywords and, threads—all efficient tools of data trail of the rare Forest Owlet.
retrieval. Above all else, they are free of charge and catholic Baljit Singh’s piece illustrates the importance of an
and impartial in their acceptance of inputs. Users have the open and alert mind and the confidence that birding notes
satisfaction of immediate gratification in print, hence their instill in putting two and two together. Its triumph is the
immense usefulness and popularity. unmentioned fact that meaningful birdwatching is not just
Where then, is the place of our Newsletter, in this the preserve of those who tramp through jungles.
wired, electronic world? I have frequently asked myself this Ranjit Manakadan and Sivakumar tentatively record a
question. You must excuse my bias for the printed word, vagrant. Prakash Gole informs about a meeting of the Goose
being a bibliographer. But there is truth and substance in the Specialist Group. There is much more.
relative permanence and accessibility of published material. The ‘Reviews’ section discusses four recently published
Especially for those, whose world is yet to be changed by books. We will bring to readers detailed reviews of
the Internet. The other advantages of a forum like our publications in the future. Books are the building blocks of
Newsletter, vis-à-vis Internet-based mailing lists, are the our libraries but unfortunately, no longer easily affordable.
processes of distillation and editing. The best material is A well-rounded review helps in clinching an investment
made available to the reader—the most accurate, the most decision!
readable, the most informative and the most enjoyable. Can In the column, ‘Recently published’, we present to
one deny the pleasure of sinking into a sofa with a cup of readers all that is being published worldwide, on birds of
coffee and settling to read the latest issue of the Newsletter the Indian region.
or a book? Mailing lists require computer hardware, Internet
connectivity and the straight-backed discipline of table and A request
chair. And the volatility of the medium is the playing field Now that the first issue of this new ornithologial
of viruses and hackers. How many people are there who publication is in your hands, we request you to make it a
would prefer reading backlit text to that which is printed on success. Please talk about it to friends, show it to people,
paper? In our time at least, a published Newsletter will and encourage them to subscribe and to write for it.
prevail. Future generations may tread a different path.
Aasheesh Pittie.
2 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Birds of Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, central India

M. K. S. Pasha*, R. Jaypal***, G. Areendran**, Q. Qureshi*** & K. Sankar***
*Corresponding author: Wildlife Protection Society of India, M-52, G.K.-I, New Delhi 110048
Email: pasha.wpsi@spectranet.com
**World Wide Fund for Nature – India, Secretariat, 172-B, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003
***Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001

Introduction 2. Miscellaneous forest: Teak mixed, Anogeissus latifolia-

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) (78°55’E--79°35’E and Bosewellia serrata mixed stand, hill forest and
21°8’N--22°N) lies in the southern lower reaches of Satpura Zizyphus-Butea mixed woodland.
Hills. According to the biogeographic classification of 3. Bamboo-dominant (Dendrocalamus strictus) forest.
Rodgers and Panwar (1988), PTR falls under 6E 4. Cleistanthus collinus woodland.
Biogeographic Province of the Deccan Peninsula. PTR was 5. Grassland–Savanna.
the 19th Tiger Reserve of India, notified as such in 1992-93. 6. Open scrub jungle: Dominated by Lantana camara.
The Reserve, spreading over the two districts of Seoni and 7. Wetlands: River, streams, ponds and reservoir.
Chhindwara, comprises of the Pench (or Priyadarshini) The terrain is gently undulating and is dissected by a
National Park, Pench Sanctuary and the reserve forest, number of seasonal streams and nullahs. The altitude of the
totally encompassing an area of 757.85 km2. Reserve ranges from 350m to 650m. Climatically the area
Little previous work has been carried out on the has four seasons: summer (March--June), monsoon (July–
avifauna of the Reserve. Kumar (1999) had listed 171 August), post monsoon (September–October) and winter
species of birds in the management plan of PTR. Some (November--February). The temperature in winter dips as
information however, on distribution of bird species, is low as –2°C and rises to a maximum of 49°C in summer.
available (Pasha and Sankar 1996, Pasha 1998). One of us The average rainfall is around 1400mm, 80% of which is
(R.J.) studied bird community structure of PTR between received during the southwest monsoon between July and
October 1997 and May 1998. M.K.S.P. and G.A. stayed in September.
PTR from February 1997 to August 2000 studying the
ecology of Gaur Bos gaurus Smith, 1827, and collected Methods
information on avifauna. Since there is no published The present list is the outcome of bird observations
checklist prior to this, the present work can form the carried out in PTR between February 1996 and July 2000,
baseline for further research. spread over all four seasons. The area was regularly
surveyed for birds in all the major habitats. Birds seen were
Study area identified and recorded along with habitat type and status
The Pench River, from which the Reserve derives its (resident, winter visitor, local migrant and straggler). On the
name, flows through the center of the park dividing it into basis of the frequency of sighting, the bird species were
the western Chhindwara Block (141.61km2) and the eastern assigned categories of abundance (absent, rare, uncommon,
Seoni Block (145.24km2). The river dries out in summer occasional and common). The birds recorded were
resulting in the formation of several puddles, which are an categorized into seven trophic guilds, namely insectivores,
important water source for the fauna of the Reserve. On the omnivores, carnivores, frugivores, granivores, piscivores
southern end of the river stands Totladoh hydroelectric dam. and nectarivores based on Ali and Ripley (1987).
The construction of the dam submerged 54km2 area of the
Reserve. In addition to this, a water tank (c.0.5km2) at Results and discussion
Bodha Nala was constructed in 1994 in the Seoni Block. 262 species of birds were recorded in PTR (Appendix
These water bodies attract and provide refuge to many 1). This study has added 84 species to the previous list of
migratory waterfowl and other water-bird species. PTR (Kumar 1999). Among the birds sighted, 162 are
The vegetation of the area falls into two major resident, 70 winter visitors, 3 summer visitors, 25 local
categories: Tropical Dry Deciduous and the Tropical Moist migrants and 2 vagrant / straggler species. The composition
Deciduous type (Champion and Seth 1968). These forest of birds in different guilds in PTR showed that the
types, for the present study, were further sub-divided as insectivorous guild was the most abundant (35% of the total
follows: species) and nectarivorous guild was the least abundant
1. Teak dominant forest: Teak (Tectona grandis) with guild with only (1%). The composition of other five guilds
associated species like Madhuca indica, Diospyros is 25% omnivores, 16% carnivores, 10% frugivores, 6%
melanoxylon, Terminalia tomentosa, Buchanania granivores and 7% piscivores.
lanzan, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Miliusa velutina and The Pench Reservoir spread over 50km2 is a major
Lannea coromandelica. attraction to the migratory waterfowls and the dead trees
scattered amidst the reservoir is good nesting site for many
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 3

water birds. Important species nesting in the reservoir are annually, predominantly during summer. These can be
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769), detrimental to breeding ground birds. Also, these fires affect
Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783), old, dead trees, which are essential for hole-nesting birds.
White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783), Effective preventive measures which the Reserve staff has
and Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus embarked upon, is an effective step to combat such
(Latham, 1790). The Painted Stork and Oriental White Ibis situations. Illegal fishing in Pench Reservoir used to be a
are “Near Threatened” (BirdLife International 2001: major threat to the Reserve’s flora and fauna and also to
Threatened birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red migratory waterfowl visiting this area every year. Since the
Data Book), while the Asian Openbill-Stork and White- Supreme Court’s Order in 2000, a complete ban on fishing
necked Stork have been recorded breeding here for the first has come into force. As a result the mortality of several
time. The waders in PTR occur in low numbers. The water birds, which used to get caught and entangled in the
plausible reason for the low abundance of waders in PTR fishing nets, has declined. Effective patrolling in PTR has
could be that, the edges of the forest end abruptly into these minimized the pressures on the reservoir. The park is
water bodies leaving practically little or no space for the becoming a major tourist attraction and the increase in
creation of the banks and shallow areas, which are essential tourist influx and the proposition of opening some areas of
for wading birds. Another point worth noting is the over- the reservoir for boating for the visitors needs to be looked
wintering of Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea with great caution. The staff still needs to be better
(Pallas, 1764) in PTR in 1997 and 1998. During these two equipped to provide strong resistance and overcome the
years c.50 birds stayed over in PTR till as late as April. existing problem.

Sightings of special interest References

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, Ali, S and S. D.Ripley 1983. Handbook of the birds of India
1758). Not a common winter visitor to PTR. Has been and Pakistan. Compact Edition. New Delhi: Oxford
sighted only once in the Pench reservoir in January University Press.
1999. Champion, H. G. and S. K. Seth 1968. A revised survey of
Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos (Pennant, 1769). A forests types of India. Govt. of India: New Delhi.
winter visitor to the area. Has been sighted Pasha, M.K.S. and K. Sankar 1996. Sighting of Pied harrier
continuously, every winter, since 1996. This harrier was Circus melanoleucos (Pennant) in Pench Tiger reserve,
first sighted in November 1995 (Pasha & Sankar 1996), Madhya Pradesh. Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 36 (2):
which is the range extension record for this raptor. 38-39.
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug J. E. Gray, 1834. Was Pasha, M. K. S. 1998. Spurfowls of Pench Tiger Reserve,
sighted once in March 1997. Madhya Pradesh. WPA News 57.
Painted Spurfowl Gallopardix lunulata (Valenciennes, Kumar, S. 1999. Management plan of Pench Tiger Reserve,
1825). Very rare in PTR. Seen only twice, at the same Madhya Pradesh (1990-1995). Unpublished.
site, in March and April l996 (Pasha 1998). In dry Rodgers, W. A. and H. S. Panwar 1988. Planning a Wildlife
deciduous forest dominated by teak (Tectona grandis). Protected Area Network in India. Vol I & II. Dehra
Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus Dun: Wildlife Institute of India.
(Boddaert, 1783). About seven to ten breeding pairs
are present in PTR. Commonly seen along the banks of Acknowledgements
Pench River in the northern part of the national park. We thank Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the
Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus (Vieillot, 1818). A male management of Pench Tiger Reserve for extending help during
was sighted once in scrubland, in the national park, near work in PTR. Mr. Gautam Soni (Forest guard) of PTR is
Karmajhiri village. thanked for showing the important bird areas and sharing
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli, information. We thank our field assistants, Mr. Guddu and Mr.
1786). A male was seen near Bodha Nala tank. The area Gurhan, for their field knowledge and for extending help in the
has moist deciduous vegetation, dominated by bamboo. fieldwork. Without them this work would not have been
possible. Mr. Gopi Sunder is thanked for going through the
Threats to the area manuscript and giving valuable comments. I (M.K.S.P.) thank
Ms. Belinda Wright for encouraging me to write and providing
Sporadic fires and illegal fishing are two major
support.
problems that the management of PTR faces. Fires occur
4 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Species Habitat Frequency Status

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) Wl C R
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl X W
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) Wl C R
Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Stephens, 1826 Wl O LM
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O LM
Darter Anhinga melanogaster Pennant, 1769 Wl U LM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) Wl C R
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 Wl C LM
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Linnaeus, 1766 Wl O LM
Large Egret Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl C R
Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1829) Wl C R
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) Gr, Os, Cs, Wl C R
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) Wl C R
Little Green Heron Butorides striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O R
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl C R
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) Wl O R
Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783) Wl O R
Black Stork Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O W
White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783) Wl O R
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus (Latham, 1790) Wl U R
Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus (Latham, 1790) Wl C R
Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa (Temminck, 1824) Wl U R
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O LM
Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica (Horsfield, 1821) Wl C LM
Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas, 1764) Wl C W
Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus (Gmelin, 1789) Wl U W
Gadwall Anas strepera Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
Eurasian Wigeon A. penelope Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
Mallard A. platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 Wl U W
Spot-billed Duck A. poecilorhyncha J.R. Forester, 1781 Wl U LM
Northern Pintail A. acuta Linnaeus, 1758 Wl C W
Garganey A. querquedula Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
Common Teal A. crecca Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina (Pallas, 1773) Wl O W
Common Pochard Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O W
Ferruginous Pochard A. nyroca (Guldenstadt, 1770) Wl O W
Tufted Pochard A. fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl U W
Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus (Temminck, 1821) Tk, Ms, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789) Gr, Os, Cs C R
Black Kite Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) Cs X R
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) Wl U R
Greater Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus (Horsfield, 1821) Wl O R
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) Cs C R
Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788) Ms, Cs C R
Long-billed Vulture G. indicus (Scopoli, 1786) Cs C R
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (Linnaeus, 1766) Cs X V
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli, 1786) Tk, Ms, Cs O R
Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788) Gr, Os, Cs U R
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela (Latham, 1790) Tk, Ms C R
Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O W
Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos (Pennant, 1769) Gr X W
Shikra Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 1788) Tk, Ms, Cc, Cs C R
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 5

Species Habitat Frequency Status

White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa (Franklin, 1832) Tk, Ms, Cc, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Linnaeus, 1758 Ms U W
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (Temminck, 1828) Tk, Ms U R
Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus (Vieillot, 1822) Tk O R
Booted Eagle H. pennatus (Gmelin, 1788) Tk O W
Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus (Gmelin, 1788) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Osprey Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O W
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 Gr, Cs C W
SakerFalcon Falco cherrug J.E. Gray, 1834 Ms, Os, Cs O R
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 Tk, Wl U W
Painted Francolin Francolinus pictus (Jardine & Selby, 1828) Ms, Os C R
Grey Francolin F. pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789) Os, Cs C R
Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica (Latham, 1790) Ms, Bm, Gr C R
Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea (Gmelin, 1789) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Painted Spurfowl G. lunulata (Valenciennes, 1825) Bm, Ms X R
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm, Os, Cs C R
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 Ms, Cc, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki Blyth, 1843 Gr, Os, Cs U R
Common Buttonquail T. suscitator (Gmelin, 1789) Ms, Gr, Os U R
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) Wl C R
Purple Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O R
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl C R
Common Coot Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 Wl C LM
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus (Latham, 1790) Wl O R
Greater Painted-Snipe Rostratula benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O R
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Scopoli, 1786 Wl O LM
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) Cs O R
River Lapwing V. duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826) Wl C R
Red-wattled Lapwing V. indicus (Boddaert, 1783) Cs, Wl C R
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O W
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Linnaeus, 1758 Wl C W
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Linnaeus, 1758 Wl U W
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
Little Stint Calidris minuta (Leisler, 1812) Wl O W
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl C R
Stone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Os, Cs C R
Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus (Gmelin, 1789) Cs U R
River Tern Sterna aurantia J.E. Gray, 1831 Wl O R
Painted Sandgrouse Pterocles indicus (Gmelin, 1789) Os O R
Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 Cs X R
Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790) Tk, Ms, Bm O R
Little Brown Dove S. senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) Os, Cs C R
Spotted Dove S. chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) Tk, Ms, Cc, Cs C R
Red Collared-Dove S. tranquebarica (Hermann, 1804) Ms, Bm O R
Eurasian Collared Dove S. decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) Tk, Os, Cs C R
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm X R
Yellow-leged Green-Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera (Latham, 1790) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Rose-ringed Parakeet P. krameri (Scopoli, 1769) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Gr, Cs C R
Plum-headed Parakeet P. cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus (Boddaert, 1783) Tk, Ms, Bm, Os, Cs C S
Brainfever Bird Hierococcyx varius (Vahl, 1797) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus Gould, 1838 Tk, Ms, Bm U LM
6 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Species Habitat Frequency Status

Indian Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus (Vahl, 1797) Tk, Bm, Os O R
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii (Lesson, 1830) Ms, Bm, Os O R
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 1815) Ms, Bm, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Barn Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) Cs U R
Oriental Scops-Owl Otus sunia (Hodgson, 1836) Tk, Ms U R
Collared Scops-Owl O. bakkamoena Pennant, 1769 Tk, Ms, Bm O R
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms O R
Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis (Gmelin, 1788) Tk U R
Mottled Wood-Owl Strix ocellata (Lesson, 1839) Tk, Ms U R
Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum (Tickell, 1833) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os C R
Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Temminck, 1821) Os, Cs U R
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) Ms X W
Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus Latham, 1790 Tk, Ms, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Common Indian Nightjar C. asiaticus Latham, 1790 Tk, Ms, Os, Cs C R
Franklin’s Nightjar C. affinis Horsfield, 1821 Gr, Os C R
White-rumped Needletail-Swift Zoonavena sylvatica (Tickell, 1846) Ms, Bm O R
Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis (J.E. Gray, 1829) Cs O R
House Swift Apus affinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) Cs, Wl C R
Crested Tree-Swift Hemiprocne coronata (Tickell, 1833) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl O R
Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) Wl O R
White-breasted Kingfisher H. smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Ms, Cc, Cs, Wl C R
Lesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758) Wl C R
Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 Ms, Cc, Os, Cs C R
Blue-tailed Bee-eater M. philippinus Linnaeus, 1766 Ms U W
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Cs C R
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 Cs C R
Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris (Scopoli, 1786) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus (Boddaert, 1783) Tk, Ms O R
Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica (Gmelin, 1788) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Coppersmith Barbet M. haemacephala (P.L.S. Müller, 1776) Tk, Ms C R
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Linnaeus, 1758 Os X W
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus (Vigors, 1832) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker D. mahrattensis (Latham, 1801) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus (Vieillot, 1818) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc U R
Small Yellow-naped Woodpecker Picus chlorolophus Vieillot, 1818 Tk, Bm U R
Little Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker P. xanthopygaeus J.E. Gray & G.R. Gray, 1846 Tk, Ms, Bm O R
Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Cc C R
Black-shouldered Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus (Boddaert, 1783) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Bm, Os C S
Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra cantillans Blyth, 1845 Gr, Cs O R
Red-winged Bush-Lark Mirafra erythroptera Blyth, 1845 Os, Cs C R
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea (Scopoli, 1786) Os, Cs C R
Rufous-tailed Finch-Lark Ammomanes phoenicurus (Franklin, 1831) Cs O R
Eastern Skylark Alauda gulgula Franklin, 1831 Gr, Cs O R
Plain Martin Riparia paludicola (Vieillot, 1817) Wl O R
Common Swallow Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 Gr, Cs, Wl C W
Wire-tailed Swallow H. smithii Leach, 1818 Wl C R
Red-rumped Swallow H. daurica Linnaeus, 1771 Gr, Os, Cs C W
Streak-throated Swallow H. fluvicola Blyth, 1855 Wl U LM
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus (Gmelin, 1789) Ms X W
White Wagtail Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 Wl O W
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 7

Species Habitat Frequency Status

Large Pied Wagtail M. maderaspatensis Gmelin, 1789 Wl C R
Citrine Wagtail M. citreola Pallas, 1776 Wl O W
Yellow Wagtail M. flava Linnaeus, 1758 Gr, Wl O W
Grey Wagtail M. cinerea Tunstall, 1771 Ms, Wl C W
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818 Cs C R
Tawny Pipit A. campestris (Linnaeus, 1758) Os, Cs O W
Brown Rock Pipit A. similis Jerdon, 1840 Os, Wl O W
Eurasian Tree Pipit A. trivialis (Linnaeus, 1758) Ms, Bm O W
Oriental Tree Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Richmond, 1907 Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C W
Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei (Lesson, 1830) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike C. melanoptera (Rüppell, 1839) Ms, Cc U LM
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms C R
White-bellied Minivet P. erythropygius (Jerdon, 1840) Os U LM
Long-tailed Minivet P. ethologus Bangs & Phillips, 1914 Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C W
Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus (Forster, 1781) Tk, Ms O LM
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis (Gould, 1836) Os X V
Red-vented Bulbul P. cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os C R
White-browed Bulbul P. luteolus (Lesson, 1841) Os O R
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Jerdon’s Chloropsis Chloropsis jerdoni (Blyth, 1844) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Gold-fronted Chloropsis Chloropsis aurifrons (Temminck, 1829) Tk, Ms O R
Brown Shrike L. cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 Os, Cs O W
Bay-backed Shrike L. vittatus Valenciennes, 1826 Gr, Os O R
Rufous-backed Shrike L. schach Linnaeus, 1758 Ms, Bm, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis Temminck, 1820 Os, Cs U LM
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius (Linnaeus, 1758) Cs C W
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina (Latham, 1790) Ms, Bm O R
Scaly Thrush Z. dauma (Latham, 1790) Bm U W
Tickell’s Thrush Turdus unicolor Tickell, 1833 Tk, Bm U W
Eurasian Blackbird T. merula Linnaeus, 1758 Ms, Bm O LM?
Dark-throated Thrush T. ruficollis Pallas, 1776 Tk, Bm U W
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Cc, Os C R
White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus (Scopoli, 1786) Ms, Bm U LM
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata (Linnaeus, 1766) Os, Cs C R
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros (Gmelin, 1774) Tk, Os, Cs C W
Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata (Linnaeus, 1766) Gr, Os, Cs O W
Pied Bushchat S. caprata (Linnaeus, 1766) Gr, Os O LM
Grey Bushchat S. ferrea Gray, 1846 Os U W
Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii Sykes, 1832 Ms, Bm U R
Rufous-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra (Franklin, 1831) Bm, Os C R
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin, 1789) Ms, Bm, Os C R
Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus (Dumont, 1823) Os X R
Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi (Sykes, 1832) Os, Cs U R
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus (Dumont, 1823) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os C R
Quaker Tit-Babbler Alcippe poioicephala (Jerdon, 1844) Ms, Bm U R
Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani Blyth, 1844 Os O R
Grey-breasted Prinia P. hodgsonii Blyth, 1844 Tk, Ms, Gr, Os C R
Jungle Prinia P. sylvatica Jerdon, 1840 Os O R
Ashy Prinia P. socialis Sykes, 1832 Gr, Os U R
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth, 1849 Ms, Os C W
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata (Lichtenstein, 1823) Os O W
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os C R
8 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Species Habitat Frequency Status

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) Ms, Gr, Os, Wl O W
Olivaceous Leaf-Warbler P. griseolus Blyth, 1847 Tk, Ms O W
Hume’s Warbler P. humei (Brooks, 1878) Tk, Ms O W
Greenish Leaf-Warbler P. trochiloides (Sundevall, 1837) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C W
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler P. magnirostris Blyth, 1843 Tk U W
Western Crowned Warbler P. occipitalis (Blyth, 1845) Tk, Ms U W
Common Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca (Linnaeus, 1758) Os C W
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Pallas, 1811 Ms, Cc U W
Brown-breasted Flycatcher M. muttui (Layard, 1854) Ms X W
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva (Bechstein, 1792) Tk, Ms, Bm, Os C W
Ultramarine Flycatcher F. superciliaris (Jerdon, 1840) Ms, Bm O W
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina (Swainson, 1838) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc O W
Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Blyth, 1843 Tk, Ms, Bm, Os C R
Grey-headed Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis (Swainson, 1820) Tk, Ms, Bm O W
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os O S
Black-naped Monarch-Flycatcher Hypothymis azurea (Boddaert, 1783) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
White-browed Fantail-Flycatcher R. aureola Lesson, 1830 Tk, Cc, Os C R
Great Tit Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Os C R
Black-lored Yellow Tit Parus xanthogenys Vigors, 1831 Tk, Ms, Bm O R
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile (Tickell, 1833) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Tickell’s Flowerpecker D. erythrorhynchos (Latham, 1790) Ms O R
Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica (Latham, 1790) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus (Temminck, 1824) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Crested Bunting Melophus lathami (Gray, 1831) Os X W
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Scopoli, 1769 Cs U W
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus (Pallas, 1770) Tk, Ms O W
Red Munia Amandava amandava (Linnaeus, 1758) Gr, Os C R
White-throated Munia Lonchura malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758) Os, Cs C R
White-rumped Munia L. striata (Linnaeus, 1766) Cs O LM
Spotted Munia L. punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Os, Cs O R
Black-headed Munia L. malacca (Linnaeus, 1766) Cs O LM
House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis (Burton, 1838) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc, Gr C LM
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Gr, Os, Cs O LM
Grey-headed Starling Sturnus malabaricus (Gmelin, 1789) Tk, Ms, Bm O R
Brahminy Starling S. pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Rosy Starling S. roseus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk O W
Common Starling S. vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 Os, Cs U W
Asian Pied Starling S. contra Linnaeus, 1758 Tk U R
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Cc, Os, Cs C R
Jungle Myna A. fuscus (Wagler, 1827) Ms X LM
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Cc O R
Black-headed Oriole O. xanthornus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 1817 Tk, Gr, Os, Cs C R
Ashy Drongo D. leucophaeus Vieillot, 1817 Tk, Ms O W
White-bellied Drongo D. caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) Tk, Ms C R
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1766) Tk, Ms, Bm C R
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Vieillot, 1817 Cs X LM
Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda (Latham, 1790) Tk, Ms, Bm, Cc C R
House Crow Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 Cs X R
Jungle Crow C. macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 Tk, Ms, Bm, Gr, Os, Cs C R
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 9

Habitat codes: Frequency codes:

Tk Teak forest C Common
Ms Miscellaneous forest (teak mixed, Anogeissus- O Occassional
Boswellia stand, hill forest, and zizyphus stand) U Uncommon
Bm Bamboo dominant forest X Rare
Cc Cleistanthus collinus woodland
Gr Grassland – Savanna Status codes:
Os Open scrub jungle (dominated by Lantana) R Resident
Cs Countryside / Cultivation W Winter visitor
Wl Wetlands (river, streams, ponds, and reservoir) S Summer visitor
LM Local migrant
V Vagrant / Straggler

A glimpse of the breeding biology of the Purple-rumped Sunbird

Nectarinia zeylonica (Linnaeus, 1766)
H. Daniel Wesley
126, Ramalinganagar South, Tiruchirappalli 620017

Presented here are the data (Table 1) on 14 pairs of fledging of one brood of young and nest-site selection for
eggs: their dates / times of deposition (Egg-laying), the next nest is 24 days; that between one fledging and the
incubation period and, the brooding and the fledging of the laying of the first egg of the succeeding clutch is 38 days.
nestlings of the Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia How many clutches a pair of birds brings forth per season is
zeylonica (Linnaeus, 1766). The upright arrows in the table not known. A striking behaviour is the making of a separate
stand for the time at which eggs were noticed in the nests, nest for every fresh clutch a pair lays. This may imply that
their time of exact laying was not known. The timings the species, spending much energy on nest construction, is a
without the arrows were almost exact in that they were poor breeder. But then, this is compensated for by the fact
arrived at from the behaviour of the female and her position of the species being a year-round breeder.
in the nest. When she was about to eject the eggs she stood The recent information on the bird’s behaviour (Kumar
with her breast thrust up and forward, blocking the entrance 2003) throws up a few points of interest. The eggs of the
hole, the head lifted and rocking forward and backward. birds of Palayamkottai and Thiruchirappalli are a deviant in
The egg ejected, she sat immediately on it, adjusting it, being plain grey without markings and the greenish tinge.
indicative of the egg being in the nest. That the bird laid another clutch immediately on the loss of
Egg pairs nine and ten were of a single pair of birds. a clutch in the same nest is not corroborated by my data. On
This pair had the misfortune of having to make three nests the contrary, as per the data on pairs nine and ten, the bird
for two clutches of eggs, all in a line in the Prosopis sp., has the potency to delay the deposition of the egg in case of
fence by my window. Their first nest, initiated on 9th nest / clutch catastrophe. In this light, the Hyderabad bird
November 1990 and completed on the 15th was abandoned, had it seems, only delayed the laying, by a day or so, and
the reason being I presume my agitating the nest-twig to the egg she did lay was the ‘exceptional’ third egg (Ali and
know if the female was occupying it for the night. The same Ripley 1987) of the clutch that was to have been. The
pair, continuing in the fence, built another nest 3m away plausibility of the bird delaying by a couple of days, the
and, completing it on 24th November 1990, laid two eggs, initiation of the clutch under normal situation, it appears, is
one each on 27th and 28th, brooding the young successfully that the eggs do not enter the oviduct till the nest is
to fledging stage. The nestlings fledging on 28th December completed. The completed nest is the stimulant for
1990, the parents started another nest on 21st January 1991 ovulation to take place. Hence she waits, of necessity, for
about 30cm away from the second nest, initiated a clutch on that number of days either in the nest or outside it during the
4th February 1991 to carry it through to fledging on 6th nights. And the waiting may or may not be to assess the
March 1991. security situation only, as I have argued elsewhere (Wesley
The following conclusions are made from the above 1996). It may serve the twin purpose1.
data: The species breeds throughout the year with a break of
1
two months, May-June. The gap between the second egg of Editors’ Note: The reason why the egg was laid quickly in Hyderabad and
a clutch and the initiation of the following clutch, if any, is not so at Tiruchirapalli cannot be fully explained just by the reasons given by
Mr. Wesley. There are several other things that need to be considered. For
68 days. The period between the second egg of a clutch and instance, the nest, which Mr. Wesley had observed and found a larger ‘gap’,
the starting of the next nest is 54 days; the gap between the than reported by Mr. Ashok Kumar, was disturbed by the former, which had
scared the bird. Whereas at the Hyderabad nest, the bird had the eggs, damaged
10 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

References Kumar, Ashok, 2003. Breeding behaviour of Nectarinia

Ali, Salim and S. Dillon Ripley, 1987. Compact handbook zeylonica. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 43 (6): 80-82.
of birds of India and Pakistan. Delhi: Oxford Wesley, H. D., 1991. Parental care in the Purple-rumped
University Press. Sunbird. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31 (3-4): 2-3.
Wesley, H. D., 1996. Breeding behaviour of Nectarinia
perhaps but the bird had not been scared off and so it did not consider zeylonica at two latitudes in the Indian peninsula.
rebuilding the nest. Resource availability, conditions ideal for nesting, etc., too
may decide whether the bird could afford building a new nest. Also comparing Newsletter for Birdwatchers 36 (2): 28-29.
the gaps between one successful brood and the next, with a replacement clutch,
may not be correct as the bird that has raised a successful brood may need time
to recuperate and also may still have to spend energy and time on the
fledglings till they are independent and capable of fending for themselves.

Table 1.
Nectarinia zeylonica: Data on egg laying, incubation and fledging from south* Tamil Nadu

Clutch Egg Laying: Date/Time Hatching: Date/Time Incubation Fledging date:

No. No. period (days) Nestling period (days)
1 1 27-12-1964: 07:00 hours 13-1-1965: 16:15 hours 16 28-1-1965 (15)
2 28-12-1964: 08:05 hours
2 1 10-2-1965: 08:40 hours 26-2-1965: 06:50 hours 15 13-3-1965 (15)
2 11-2-1965: 11:40 hours
3 1 25-8-1967: 06:55 hours 9-9-1967: 10:00 hours 15 24-9-1967 (15)
2 26-8-1967: 07:15 hours 10:50 hours
4 1 11-3-1969: 07:20 hours 27-3-1969: 07:15 hours 15 11-4-1969 (15)
2 12-3-1969: 07:35 hours 08:05 hours
5 1 6-4-1986: 17:30 hours 14-4-1986: 06:25 hours ? 30-4-1986 (15)
2 (Both eggs) 15-4-1986: 06:20 hours
6 1 23-11-1986: 06:35 hours 9-12-1986: 06:48 hours 15 23-12-1986 (14)
2 24-11-1986: 06:55 hours 13:35 hours
7 1 21-7-1988: 06:25 hours 6-8-1988: 06:34 hours 15 21-8-1988 (15)
2 22-7-1988: 06:35 hours 07:10 hours
8 1 2-4-1990: 06:30 hours 18-4-1990: 06:15 hours 15 ?
2 3-4-1990: 06:50 hours
9 1 27-11-1990: 10:30 hours 12-12-1990: 09:55 hours 15 28-12-1990 (15)
2 28-11-1990: 07:30 hours 13-12-1990: 08:00 hours
10 1 4-2-1991: 12:45 hours 19-2-1991: 17:30 hours 15 6-3-1991 (14)
2 5-2-1991: 13:50 hours 20-2-1991: 06:30 hours
11 1 14-8-1991: 09:00 hours 29-8-1991: 13:05 hours 15 15-9-1991 (16)
2 15-8-1991: 07:30 hours 30-8-1991: 06:30 hours
12 1 22-9-1992: 13:20 hours 7-10-1992: 17:10 hours 14 23-10-1992 (16)
2 23-9-1992: 08:10 hours Two nestlings
13 1 21-12-1992: 06:30 hours 6-1-1993: 07:30 hours 15 22-1-1993 (16)
2 22-12-1992: 06:20 hours
14 1 17-1-1994: 07:10 hours 1-2-1994: 06:35 hours 14 18-2-1994 (17)
2 18-1-1994: 07:30 hours : 13:30 hours

= Time of recording.
* = 1964-1969: Data from Palayamkottai. 1986-1994: Data from Tiruchirappalli.
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 11

Malkhandi - a magic place

T. J. Roberts
Cae Gors, Rhoscefnhir, Nr. Pentraeth, Anglesey LL75 8YU, North Wales, United Kingdom

Though I was only able to stay in this spot in the big attraction for insects and nesting birds. It would make
Western Himalayas, about three or four times, it remains in heavy reading to try and list all the typical birds of that
my memory as a very special place. The location is called place, but amongst the common and conspicuous ones were
Malkhandi, and is situated in Hazara District of the NWFP, the Eurasian Golden Oriole, Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus,
on the east bank just above the Kunhar River which flows in 1758), whose fluting calls regularly punctuated the drone of
a southerly direction, parallel to, and to the east of the flying insects. At dawn each morning we were also
mighty Indus river. The whole valley is a popular tourist serenaded by the quite pretty little song of the Asian
resort, usually called the Kaghan Valley, after the main Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi (Linnaeus, 1758),
village in that valley. Malkhandi is a small Forest Reserve so different from its usual harsh contact calls. There were
with an Inspection bungalow bearing the same name. It is two other rather noisy denizens of this small patch of forest,
located up a narrow track; about 300 ft above the site of a the Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Vieillot, 1817, and
Trout Hatchery and Forest Tree Nursery located along side the Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus (P.L.S. Muller,
the main jeep track, which follows the Kunhar River 1776). At this time of year most had families to feed, but the
(34o42’N, 73o34’E). Here is a small dilapidated forest rest males still reserved a short morning period to proclaim their
house, with nearby a much more recently constructed Forest songs and the rather itinerant Black Bulbuls always
bungalow, not open to tourist or non-forest officials, and is announced their arrival in the vicinity with noisy squeaks
located amongst a beautiful rather isolated patch of mixed and mewing sounds. There was also a good population of
deciduous and coniferous forest, with areas both below and Grey-winged Blackbirds Turdus boulbul (Latham, 1790), as
above the valley largely cleared for terraced cultivation. well as roving parties of restless insectivorous Oriental
Whilst giving a general description of the area, I can do Whiteyes Zosterops palbebrosa (Temminck, 1824), and
no better that quote excerpts from my diary written during Grey-headed Flycatcher-Warblers Seicercus xanthoschistos
one of my last visits to Malkhandi on June 17th 1984. (G.R. Gray & J.E. Gray, 1846). Less common but regularly
After the second day of travel from our home and a encountered were two flycatchers which stick more closely
journey of seven hours from the plains of the Punjab where to a particular piece of hunting territory, The Rufous-bellied
my wife and I had stayed overnight, we were glad to find Niltava Niltava sundara (Hodgson, 1837) and The Grey-
the little rest house still unoccupied by any other traveller, headed Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis (Swainson,
and that the bathroom with broken wash basin, still had 1820). Many other birds were common and always present,
running water. including the skulking but noisy Brown-flanked Bush-
Malkhandi is rich in sub-montane vegetation, being Warbler Cettia fortipes (Horsfield, 1845), Great Tits Parus
located at 1,356m (4,450ft) elevation. Surprisingly there are major Linnaeus, 1758, Verditer Flycatchers Eumyias
no Horse Chestnut trees Aesculus hippocastanum, common thalassina (Swainson, 1838), Large Scaly-bellied Green
along the road below, but a good mixture of Mountain Ash Woodpeckers Picus squamatus Vigors, 1831, Long-tailed
Fraxinus xanthoxyloides, Pistachio Pistacia integerrima, Minivets Pericrocotus ethologus Bangs & Phillips, 1914,
the Maple Acer caesium known locally as ‘Tarkanna’, and and Oriental Turtle-Doves Streptopelia orientalis (Latham,
both The Holly Oak Quercus baloot and Himalayan Silver 1790). Surprisingly we heard no songs of the Indian Blue
Oak Quercus dilatata, locally known as ‘Ban’, and Robin Luscinia brunnea (Hodgson, 1837), perhaps the
surprisingly some Apricot Prunus armeniaca and Peach elevation was too low for them, nor did we ever hear the
trees P. persica, as well as the Wild Pear Pyrus pasha and Spotted Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus (Blyth, 1846) with it
the Himalayan Bird Cherry Prunus cornuta, besides a double bell call at night, so common higher up in the
scattering of Indian Deodar Cedrus deodara trees, at this forests.
time of the year bearing beautiful lime green rounded On this visit we were easily able to locate the nearby
female cones on it’s horizontal boughs. Under-story Asian Paradise-Flycatcher’s nest besides the steam. Shaped
included the usual Viburnums, Vitex negundo with pale like a triangular wine glass, it was not decorated on the
mauve flowers, and many creeping vines of the Vitis (wild outside with spiders egg cacoons, as is so common with this
grape) family. And another slender Maple tree which I had species, but cleverly woven at the tip of a drooping slender
not encountered anywhere else before in Pakistan, which branch and made mostly from fine grass and root fibres.
was identified for me, as Acer cappadocium, which as it’s The rather sparsely downed chicks were newly hatched and
name implies, extends as far west as Turkey and has very the female still spent short intervals brooding them, so that
attractive small silvery palmate leaves. we avoided going too close to see them. Within a stones
Behind our little rest house gurgled a small stream, throw of this nest was a Eurasian Golden Oriole’s nest in a
which not only lulled us into sleep at night, but also was a Pistachio Tree, with three young almost fully fledged and
12 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

showing streaked breasts and lime yellow upper plumage. much was going on around us in the sun dappled glades and
Two of them bulged half over the side of their rather we were also entertained on the evening before our
inadequate hammock shaped nest, waiting to be fed. Their departure, by watching a party of Slaty-headed Parakeets
nest seemed to be woven exclusively from grass. We were Psittacula himalayana (Lesson, 1832) with fully fledged
impressed by the regular visits of the male to feed them, as young, feeding on the tiny purplish brown flowers of the
he usually takes only the briefest perfunctory shifts on the Smoke Bush Cotinus coggyria. The young, well able to fly
nest during incubation. Less than a hundred yards from our and feed for themselves, seemed more keen to beg from
Rest House were two more conspicuous nests. The most their parents with much curious head bobbing rather than to
exciting for me, a Long-tailed Minivet’s nest which was enjoy the flowery feast. One final treat during that visit was
welded between three slender forking twigs, high up in the the opportunity to watch for a prolonged period a pair of
crown of a small Acer sp., tree. The nest iself was decorated Speckled Piculets Picumnus innominatus Burton, 1836,
outside with flakes of lichen and quite conspicuous. The foraging on low shrubs. This species is distinctly rare and
female was incubating and sitting tightly whenever we local in Pakistan, occurring in only several widely scattered
passed the nest. The Ashy Drongo’s nest was rather untidier localities. My diary notes describe how we had just returned
in appearance and did not look substantial, being woven from our morning walk when by the Rest House we were
into the fork amongst the uppermost branches of a small attracted by their weak tinny single noted calls. They were
tree, and built in a rough shallow cup shape with root and able to hang upside down on pendant twigs and perch
bark fibres. The female also seemed to be still incubating, as sideways on slender branches, their tiny grey green feet
we did not see any sign of young being fed. During our with two toes firmly gripped around each side of the twig.
leisurely walks around the forest track we had other They did not use their tails as a support when ascending a
memorable moments. Watching an Asian Paradise- vertical branch yet they seemed very proficient at so doing.
Flycatcher, foraging around the horizontal branches of a I noted that their white breasts were dotted in vertical
moss-draped oak bough, which flushed and seized a large radiating lines with blackish grey small crescent marks
Sphengid Hawkmoth. Flying to a lower branch, the hapless turning lower down to solid grey black spots, and that their
moth was jiggled around in its bill, until one by one the wing coverts were a lovely shade of golden olive, whilst
wings were scissored off. During the last stages of this their stubby tails were blackish grey with the outer tail
process, the heavy abdomen of this large moth twice slipped feather clearly showing white outer webs when they flew.
from its bill, only to be quickly recaptured in a downward They are so small that they can search for insects along the
swoop. lower shrubs or more slender twigs, which are inaccessible
We also watched a Black Bulbul, which had already to the heavier woodpeckers. Like all small birds they
caught a large female Preying Mantis before we noticed it; seemed particularly restless and constantly on the move,
of which we could clearly see it’s struggling legs visible on fluttering into the air to reach an adjacent twig, rather than
either side of the bird’s blood red bill. Perhaps this was not hopping along a branch as their larger cousins usually do
a usual meal for this largely frugivorous bulbul, because it when foraging.
hesitated several times, perched motionless, before finally, The birds obviously loved this place as well, and as it is
after more that several minutes, bashing the insect against a a reserved forest, I hope it will ever more remain a magical
twig and swallowing it in several rather jerky gulps. So place.

Additional records of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti Hume,

1873, in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
Raju Kasambe, Satish Pande*, Jayant Wadatkar and Amit Pawashe
*ELA Foundation, C-9, Bhosale Park, Sahakarnagar-2, Pune 411009. Email: satishpande@hotmail.com

F. R. Blewitt first collected a specimen of this owlet Subsequently during the surveys conducted by
from the dense forests of eastern Madhya Pradesh on 14th Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) from June 1998
December 1872 (Hume 1873). A. O. Hume dedicated the to June 1999, four nesting pairs of Forest Owlets were
bird to his friend and placed it in a new genus that he recorded in Toranmal forest range (Maharashtra) between
erected for it, calling it Heteroglaux blewitti (Hume, 1873). 400-500 m. elevation, in October 1998. Three of these nests
In the foothills of the Satpura Mountains north of Shahada were found at Shahada, while one nest was found in Taloda,
in Maharashtra, India, the endemic Forest Owlet that was about 30 km from Shahada (Ishtiaq 2000). Further, in the
thought to be extinct was rediscovered after 113 years on second phase of this study, conducted from 28 January to 22
25th November 1997, in a tropical dry deciduous forest, by February 2000, 25 Forest Owlets were located from two
American ornithologists (King and Rasmussen 1998). new sites in Maharashtra and Madhya Paredesh. Forest
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 13

Owlets had never been reported from these sites (Ishtiaq a new record but merely state the observation. During this
2000). Rithe (2003) reported nine Forest Owlets from the visit we were accompanied by a local Korku youth.
Satpuras in Melghat. Two birds at Raipur, two at Malur, We then decided to search in new areas for Forest
four at Jamodapadao and one at Mahendri, about 100 km to Owlets, by playing the recently taped call every half a
the east of Melghat. kilometre, as we proceeded further. After a journey of about
10km we were rewarded. Near the Jambukuwa water hole,
Records of two new sites: All these above-mentioned on bit No. 591 of the Harisal range, one Forest Owlet
locations are quite different from the additional sightings answered our tape-recorded call. This was the second new
recorded on 19-vi-2002 and 1-vi-2003 and described by us addition to the existing reported numbers of the Forest
here. Owlet. By this time it was late afternoon with the mercury
On 19-vi-2002, Raju Kasambe and Jayant Wadatkar reaching 460C. Our movements had become arduous due to
visited the Harisal range of Melghat Tiger Reserve, in the tormenting heat. We therefore stopped our search.
Malur bit No. 597, north of Malur village. Amidst a forest
of Tectona grandis, Madhuca indica, Terminalia tomentosa, Conservation and threats: The Forest Owlet is endemic to
Schleichera oleosa, Lagerstroemea parvifolia, Boswellia this area of the Satpura range and is Critically Endangered
serrata, Anogeissus latifolia, Lanne grandis, close to (BirdLife International 2001, IUCN 2002). This species is
Bhavar Nullah and ploughed fallow fields, at an altitude of also included under Schedule I (Part III: Birds) of the Wild
less than 100m, one Forest Owlet was sighted early in the Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Our two new records of this
morning. No calls were heard. The owlet was perching in endemic species are significant because every addition to
direct sunlight and gave excellent viewing and photographic the existing documented numbers, and identification of each
opportunity for 30 minutes. It then flew to the nest, in a teak new site, play an important role in ascertaining its
tree (Tectona grandis), situated at a height of 13-15 m population size, density and distribution. It enables planning
above the ground. The narrow nest entrance suggested that a of future conservation measures for the survival of this
Plum-headed Parakeet Psitaculla cyanocephala (Linnaeus, owlet. Ishtiaq (2000) emphasized an immediate need to
1766) had excavated the nest. Eight pellets were collected declare all the rediscovered sites as Important Bird Areas
from under the nest and revealed a skull with a beak of an (IBA), as they meet the criterion of a Globally Threatened
unidentified warbler in one pellet, and feathers with bird Species (BirdLife International 2001).
bones in the rest of them. Further, Ishtiaq (2000) has indicated that the major
About 200m from this Forest Owlet, two Spotted threat for the Forest Owlet is habitat degradation. Around
Owlets Athene brama (Temminck, 1821) were seen. A nest 5,000ha of forest had recently been clear-felled to serve as a
of this pair was seen at a height of 10-12m in the same rehabilitation site for people displaced by the Sardar
region. Interestingly we also recorded Jungle Owlet Sarovar Dam. Besides this, we have noticed that shifting
Glaucidium radiatum (Tickell, 1833) and Mottled Wood- cultivation is practiced extensively in the area occupied by
Owl Strix ocellata (Lesson, 1839) from the same locality. Forest Owlet. Hence not only their habitat but also nest
This fact indicates the importance of conservation of this trees are at a great risk. Tree felling in the area occupied by
area. A study to explore possible associations between these the Forest Owlet should be immediately checked. Another
species needs to be undertaken (Pande, in press.). larger danger lurks in the form of the proposed Upper Tapi
Competition for food between the Forest Owlet and other Irrigation Project, Stage II, which threatens to submerge the
owls may not be significant due to the partly diurnal habit 244ha of prime habitat of this rare owlet. James Duncan
of the former. (2003) has emphasized that more intensive research and
One year later, on 1-vi-2003, members of ELA management effort is needed to prevent this species from
Foundation and we visited a different location in the same disappearing from our planet. The balance unfortunately
area, south of Malur village. On the Chaurakund-Malur appears to be unfavorably tilted against the Forest Owlet.
road, at 6.45 a.m., a Forest Owlet was seen perched in the
shade of the trunk of a teak tree. It was at a height of about Acknowledgements
10m. After some time it flew to an adjacent tree, perched in Authors are thankful to DFO and RFO, Forest
direct sunlight and uttered the typical ‘cooing’ call. The Department at Melghat Tiger Reserve, for providing
mate answered this call from a distance of about 100m. necessary facilities during the survey period. We also thank
Satish Pande was ready with the audio recording equipment Dr Anil Mahabal, Scientist ‘E’ of Zoological Survey of
and Amit Pawashe and he recorded the call of the Forest India, WRS, Akurdi, Pune, for his guidance and valued help
Owlet. Other members of the team (Prashant Deshpande, in the preparation of this manuscript.
Chandrahas Kolhatkar and Mohan Panse) made a video
recording. The typical tail wagging and cooing were References
documented. The bird retreated to the shady portion of the Duncan, James, R. 2003. Owls of the world. Canada: Key
tree and dozed when the temperature started climbing. It is Porter Books.
possible that Rithe (2003) has already reported the same Hume, A.O. 1873. Novelties? Stray Featheres I (6)
pair from this area of Malur. We therefore do not claim it as (December): 464-483.
14 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Ishtiaq, Farah 2000. Red Data Bird – Forest Spotted Owlet. BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: The
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 40 (3) (May-June): 29-31. BirdLife International red data book. Part B. Vol. 2.
IUCN, 2002. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (Series editors: Collar, N.J., A.V. Andreev, S. Chan,
King, B.F. and P.C. Rasmussen 1998. The rediscovery of M.J. Crosby, S. Subramanya and J.A. Tobias)
the Forest Owlet Athene (Heteroglaux) blewitti. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International.
Forktail 14: 51-53. Rithe, Kishore 2003. Saving the Forest Owlet. Sanctuary
Rasmussen, P. C. and N.J. Collar 1998. Identification, Asia XXIII (1) (February) 30-33.
distribution and status of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux
(Athene) blewitti. Forktail 14: 41-49.

Jungle Myna and Bank Myna. Too few, too many, then none at all!
Lt. General Baljit Singh
House 219, Sector 16-A, Chandigarh 160015

Over the past few decades whenever I happened to tribal Jharkhand. At 11:30 hours when the train reached
come by Jungle Mynas Acridotheres fuscus (Wagler, 1827), Kanpur Railway Station (80o10’N, 26o20’E), I stepped out
they were almost always in the company of the Common on the platform as I hoped to see a variety of birds including
Myna Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766). I had never the mynas. I was at once astonished because to the total
consciously noted the numbers of the one against the other exclusion of all species of birds, all I saw were hundreds
but I have carried the imprint that the Common would upon hundreds of Bank Mynas Acridotheres ginginianus
outnumber the Jungle Myna by about ten to one. For (Latham, 1790). Later at 16:10 hours, I was to witness
confirmation, I recently went back to the oldest, and the exactly the same scene at Allahabad Railway Station
first, bird book in which Jerdon (The birds of India, 1863; (81o51’N, 25o30’E) with just a few House Sparrows Passer
vol. II: 329) reproduces Hodgson’s observation on the domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Blue Rock Pigeons
Jungle Myna, “perpetually associating with A. tristis, every Columba livia Gmelin, 1789, thrown in. this is probably the
large flock of which has many individuals of this bird kind of setting which had inspired Ali and Ripley
among them.” (Handbook 1972, vol. 5: 181) to state how it particularly
At this stage, I decided to make a field sample survey of favoured railway stations, sauntering along confidingly on
the numbers of the Jungle Myna obtaining at Chandigarh the platform, in and out of passengers feet and baggage,
(30o45’N, 70o45E. 360m a.s.l.) vis-à-vis the Common picking up bits of food. We spent the next three weeks at
Myna. I opted for the Zakir Rose Garden for my survey. Mcluskie Ganj (23o48’N, 84o56E. 360m a.s.l.) where Bank
For, on the way out and return from my daily morning walk, Mynas have never been sighted but Jungle Mynas are seen
I traverse about 800m through it and am able to observe occasionally. However, from 8-26 March 2003 not a single
bird-life at random up to 30-50m all around. To give an idea Jungle Myna was spotted during my daily fairly extensive
of its space, it is paraded as the largest in Asia with 1,200 morning walks.
varieties of roses and more than 50 species of trees, most of The return journey was performed on 27th March.
them flowering. It is a favoured roosting and breeding site Surprise of surprises, there was no trace of any Bank Myna
for the resident birds and it also attracts local migrants and even as I tramped up and down the platform of Allahabad
‘passage’ birds through the year-long cycle of bird Railway Station at 10:30 hours for the next 15 minutes. At
movements. Here are the observations (2003). 14:40 hours the Kanpur Railway Station replicated exactly
the same scene! Ali and Ripley (op. cit.) state that this
S.No. Date and time Common Myna Jungle Myna Myna is “…subject to…seasonal local…movements...” In
1 21.ii: 07:55 17 4 the instant case this seemed inadequate to explain the two so
2 22.ii: 07:30 12 2 completely divergent observations made twenty days apart
3 23.ii: 08:15 20+ 3 at the same spots and the same clock hours. Perhaps what I
4 24.ii: 07:45 15+ 3 had witnessed is the sharp divide between the preferred
5 26.ii: 07:55 20 4 living habitat of this myna (towns, cities, bazaars and
6 28.ii: 08:00 30+ 9 railway stations) and its preferred breeding habitat (steep
7 2.iii: 08:30 35+ 2 earth banks, road cuttings and banks of rivers and canals).
8 5.iii: 07:30 42 2 Now Kanpur has the Ganges and the Chambal in close
vicinity and the Allahabad Railway Station is virtually on
Thus far, the above tabulation places one Jungle Myna the confluence of the Ganges, Jamuna and Sarswat rivers. In
for every seven of the Common. Now on 7th March, we all probability the Bank Mynas had left their living habitat
boarded the train that would transport us to the bad lands of for their breeding habitat between 7 and 27 March. Mr.
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 15

Gurmeet Singh, Deputy Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, (Scopoli, 1769). Finally one Common Myna arrived
who studied the Bank Myna for his M.Sc. degree (1992. and cleared every one from the site!
The ecology of the Bank Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) in an 11. 20th May, 08:00 hours: Since 23rd April, no Jungle
urban environment. University of Bombay: Bombay.), Mynas have been seen at all, anywhere.
backs my inference. Of course no conclusions can be formed on the basis of
On returning to Chandigarh it was not the turn of the a few observations. But what appears probable about the
Jungle Myna to astonish me with such vast congregations large but temporary influx and presence of the Jungle Myna
on my chosen corner in the Rose Garden where the here from about mid-March to end-April may well have a
Common Myna stood driven to near anonymity; at least for link with tree blossoms (the Bottle Brush and Silver Oak,
about ten days any way. Perhaps it is best to reproduce the for instance). The absence of Jungle Myna beginning about
observations I noted: end-April, which coincides with the fading of certain tree
1. 28th March, 07:00 hours: Jungle Mynas are just about blossoms, may also imply that there are no exceptions to Ali
everywhere. On one Jacaranda tree alone, there are 54 and Ripley’s assertion about the Jungle Myna “breeding
and elsewhere in the Rose Garden I saw 5 Common from foothills to c.2100m”. As they begin breeding in
Mynas only. March and once the biological urge sets in, off they got to
2. 30th March, 07:30 hours: Jungle Mynas in flocks of 10 the foothills and beyond. May be next year, someone will
to 50. They are so crazy over the nectar of the Bottle get up the Shivaliks and map out this movement. Will some
Brush Callistemon lanceolatus flowers that you could reader please also check out whether the seasonal
throw a butterfly net over them, almost! fluctuation of numbers of the Bank Myna at the Kanpur and
3. 1st April, 08:15 hours: Jungle Mynas, no change. Allahabad railway stations is related to their breeding
4. 2nd April, 08:00 hours: 33 Jungle Mynas on a Semal period, March-April? I concede that it may not make
tree Salmalia malabarica and 20 on a nearby Silver ornithological waves but it will be an interesting insight.
Oak Grevillea robusta. In contrast only four Common
Mynas encountered. Postscript
5. 4th April, 07:30 hours: The Jungle Mynas are also I had readied this article for dispatch when I hit a lucky
attracted to the nectar of the Silver Oak flowers. patch with the Jungle Myna at 07:45 hours on 25th May
6. 7th April, 07:30 hours: Jungle Mynas still around in 2003. One Jungle Myna in a blaze of a hurry landed almost
large numbers but beginning to form smaller at my feet, grabbed at some tid-bit and took off in a flash.
congregations of 5-15 birds. The rose garden full of Fortunately, I could follow his flight and saw him enter a
myna chatter. cavity of a tree trunk about 20m away. It was an old,
7. 10th April, 07:30 hours: Jungle Mynas now more or less gnarled Gulmohar tree Delonix regia, with a large cavity
in the same numbers as Common Mynas. The return about 10 inches across and five feet above the ground. But
‘passage’ of the Jungle Mynas may well have begun. Jungle Myna parents were busy carrying food to their
8. 14th April, 08:00 hours: Jungle Mynas diminishing in chicks in never-ceasing shuttles. Two very hungry gaping
numbers. Blossoms on Bottle Brush and Silver Oaks gullets kept bobbing up to the rim of the cavity. So there is a
have faded out. small permanent resident population of the Jungle Myna
9. 16th April, 07:30 hours: One flock of 20 Jungle Mynas. here and they do nest also. After all, Chandigarh is at the
10. 21st April, 07:00 hours: One reason why so few of the Shivalik foothills. On 28th May, three more active nests of
Common Mynas were visible is perhaps because the the Jungle Myna were seen in the same general area.
peak ‘passage’ of the Jungle Myna here coincides with A pair of Common Myna was nesting and happily co-
the peak nesting activity of the Common. There is no existing in another cavity of the same tree about 2m up and
direct evidence of the Jungle Myna nesting here. Surely away to a side. And three more, in cavities, in the decayed,
there must be a few Jungle Mynas resident here. Should thick whorl of a Semal, some 20m away.
they not be nesting? One pair was seen exploring a Now at the end of this article, someone may well ask
nest-cavity on a Semal tree and another contesting a what was all this pother about? Mere myna chatter!
cavity with a Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Sighting of Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758, in

Sriharikota Island, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Ranjit Manakadan and S. Sivakumar
Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400023

Two races of the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Linnaeus, Zarudny, 1905, which breeds in Kashmir and Ladakh (?)
1758, are reported from the Indian region. R. a. korejewi and straggles as far as Madhya Pradesh; and R. a. indicus
16 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Blyth, 1849, an extralimital species that winters in eastern failed to look for the presence of a brownish wash on the
Nepal, terai and Kathmandu valley, Bengal, south to upper breast (present in race korejewi), helpful in the
Kolkata (Calcutta), Bangladesh and N.E. India (Ali and separation of the races. However, we presume it to be
Ripley 1987). The race indicus differs from korejewi in indicus as the brownish wash was not noted in both our
being darker olive-brown; less grey above and below; jottings.
having a distinct brownish wash on upper breast (vs. clear The sighting of the Water Rail in Sriharikota is
grey); more white on throat (vs. white largely lacking); and interesting, as besides adding to the scanty records in
the brown eye-stripe more prominent behind eye (Ali and southern India, the sighting was towards the end of May, an
Ripley 1987). Recently, Punjabi (1997) sighted the species out-of-season sighting. Due to its skulking nature the
(race?) from Mumbai citing it as the southernmost record in species is easily missed and birders should keep a lookout
India. Kazmierczak (2000) points to stray records in for it with extra efforts to identity the race, as Ali & Ripley
southern India. However, on our enquiry to provide details (1987) comments, ‘owing to paucity of specimens and
of these sightings, he replied that these records are probably dependable records, status for the two races in our area
erroneous (in litt.). remains uncertain’.2
Sriharikota (Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh) is a
spindle shaped island (181 km2), bordered by the waters of References
Pulicat Lake (c.461km2) on its western, northern and Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley, 1987. Compact Handbook of the
southern borders and by the Bay of Bengal on the east. The Birds of India and Pakistan. New Delhi: Oxford
Island is accessible by road from the mainland from University Press.
Sullurpet, 18km to the west of its central portion. B.N.H.S., 1976. Birds of Sriharikota Island. A preliminary
Sriharikota is a “restricted area” due to its status as a survey by the BNHS submitted to ISRO. Bombay
satellite-launching base of the Indian Space Research Natural History Society, Mumbai.
Organisation (ISRO). Due to its special status, Sriharikota Kazmierczak, K., 2000. A Field guide to the birds of India,
has now the largest and best protected of the few remaining Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and
patches of Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest in India. The the Maldives. New Delhi: OM Book Service.
wetlands of the Island comprise of fresh and brackish water Punjabi, H., 1997. Sighting of Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
streams and lakes, and some abandoned and almost silted near Mumbai. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 94:156.
village ponds. Rao, P., 1998. The bird communities of the Tropical Dry
On 28th May 2003 at 07:00 hours, we sighted a Water Evergreen Forests of Sriharikota. Ph.D. Thesis.
Rail along one of the streams in Sriharikota. The Water Rail University of Bombay.
has not been recorded by earlier workers in Sriharikota Samant, J. S. and P. Rao, 1996. An ecological investigation
(BNHS 1976, Samant & Rao 1996, Rao 1998) nor during of the avian community of Sriharikota Island. Final
the first year of our on-going 3-year project on the faunal Technical Report. Bombay Natural History Society,
diversity of the Island. The species is easily separated from Bombay.
most other rails and crakes by it long red bill, and, is further
2
distinguished from the Blue-breasted Rail Gallirallus Editors’ Note: This observation of the authors extends the range of the
striatus, which also has a (less) relatively long reddish bill, Water Rail so much that it warrants caution. It has been published not so much
to imply acceptance as to alert birdwatchers to look out for the species in
by the latter’s barred upperparts (vs. brown blotches running particular and to pay more attention to the family Rallidae.
backwards). However, being unfamiliar with the species, we

A meeting of the Goose Specialist Group

Prakash Gole
1/B Abhimanshree Housing Society, Off Pashan Road, Pune 411008

The Goose Specialist Group of Wetlands International I attended the meeting on invitation as the coordinator
meets annually in one of the countries of Europe to discuss for Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus (Latham, 1790).
conservation and management of various goose species. The The meeting mainly discussed the problems of geese
2004 meeting took place in Odessa, Ukraine, in early wintering in various nations of Europe. A number of goose
March. Scientists from the University of Odessa organized species from Pink-footed Anser brachyrhynchus Baillon,
it. Specialists from Finland, Sweden, Germany, 1834, Greylag Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) and Greater
Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain were present in White-fronted Anser albifrons (Scopoli, 1769) to Lesser
strength, together with some from Hungary, Estonia and White-fronted Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758), Bean
Kazakhstan. Anser fabalis (Latham, 1787), Barnacle Branta leucopsis
(Bechstein, 1803), Brent Branta bernicla (Linnaeus, 1758),
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 17

and Red-breasted Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769) and breed In India we are familiar with Greylag which breeds
from Iceland to east Siberia in the Tundra region and winter from U.K. and Spain in the west to Ukraine in the east. It
from U.K. to Japan and south to India and Africa. On also winters in Africa and China besides India. In Donana
migration and in winter quarters the main threats they face National Park in Spain they are threatened by lead and
are hunting and habitat loss including fragmentation. In cadmium leaching from a nearby mine. In Ukraine, in one
some countries hunting pressure was staggering. Over of their breeding areas in Danube Delta National Park, their
50,000 Greater white-fronted geese used to be shot in the principal food item was found to be bulbs of Trapa natans,
Netherlands every year. Now hunting restrictions are in a common wetland plant in India. Another common Indian
force in many countries. This has resulted in a great plant Xanthium strumarium was also found to be growing in
increase in the numbers of this goose whose world the Danube delta.
population now exceeds seven million! I presented to the meeting whatever data I could collect
Incidentally delegates asked me if the numbers of about the world status of Bar-headed goose. Its major
Barheads are increasing since the ban on hunting in India, breeding areas lie in Tibet where in the nineties of the last
our country being the major wintering areas of this goose. century, over 10,000 pairs were said to be breeding (Jian
Their number obviously does not show any increase. But it jian Lu, pers. comm.). We have small breeding colonies of
is also true that their number is not regularly monitored in this goose in Ladakh, the largest one with over 50 breeding
our country. On the other hand A. indicus has become pairs was the one I discovered south of Tso Moriri in 1980.
somewhat of a problem in Europe. It has escaped from To my knowledge this colony has not been investigated
private collections and has been breeding in Sweden and since then. The goose no longer breeds in Russia and the
some other countries as a feral species. They want to get rid breeding population in Mongolia has declined from over
of it, as it is not a true European goose! 1,000 pairs to just a few. In 1997 I visited Kyrgyz Stan
The Lesser white-fronted, with a total world population where only 10 nests were found on an island in Song Kul, a
of less than 25,000 is now considered endangered. It breeds lake at an altitude of 3,000m. Breeding numbers of this
in tundra from Norway to Eastern Siberia and winters goose seem to have declined over most of its range, except
mainly in Azerbaijan and north China. It no longer breeds in in Tibet.
Sweden and Finland. A programme of re-introduction was Data about its wintering numbers come from winter
therefore carried out in Sweden using captive-bred chicks in waterfowl counts carried out in India, Pakistan, Nepal,
association with Barnacle geese as foster parents. China, etc. In Pakistan wintering numbers seem to have
Interestingly chicks became imprinted on the release site declined drastically. In India they are more or less stable
and not on foster parents. After migrating with foster with increase in some areas and decline in others. In Nepal
parents to Netherlands in winter, they returned to the release this goose appears mainly on passage. In 2000 I visited
site without any guidance from the foster parents. This Myanmar to assess the numbers wintering in that country
programme has now been stopped as gene contamination and found that over 4,000 geese winter on the banks of the
with Greater white-fronted was observed in the released Irawaddy. Counts in 2001-2003 by Joost van der Ven of
birds! Netherlands showed more or less identical numbers. I
Recently habitat loss, mainly conversion of wetlands estimated the total world population of Bar-headed to be of
and meadows to agriculture, became a major threat in the order of between 30,000 to 35,000 birds.
Belgium and Hungary; illegal fishing and oil pollution in However, compared to the data amassed by European
wetlands in Bulgaria; hunting, eco-tourism and a shipping nations about the breeding, wintering and migration of
canal proposed through the Danube Delta National Park in geese over Europe, we in Asia, seem to know little about
Ukraine and hunting pressure in almost all countries are the the goose situation in the Asian continent. In India goose
other threats encountered by geese today in Europe. research and monitoring seems to have not been taken in
Ukraine, together with Rumania and Bulgaria, are any seriousness. I have met goose researchers from Japan
major wintering areas for Greater white-fronted and Red- and China but such meetings are sporadic and exchange of
breasted geese. The latter is another endangered goose information extremely scant. It is usually difficult to
species. We saw huge flocks of both occurring close to each establish contacts in countries like Mongolia and
other though they rarely inter-mix. Greater white-fronted Kazakhstan, though the specialists from the latter country
outnumber Red-breasted by a proportion of 10:1. In one told me that they regularly ring Bar-headed and that most of
large saucer-shaped basin, dominated by agricultural the recoveries come from Tibet. In our country a satellite
fallows, we saw a 20,000 strong flock of Greater white- transmitter was placed on a Bar-headed wintering in
fronted. Next to them was a flock of about 2,000 Red- Bharatpur’s Keoladeo Ghana National Park. The goose
breasted. Impressive gatherings of Mute Swan Cygnus olor migrated to its breeding area in south Tibet after staging on
(Gmelin, 1789), Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna the Ganga and then flying directly to south Tibet. Ringing
(Linnaeus, 1758) and Northern Pintail Anas acuta Linnaeus, as a planned activity has almost ceased in India seriously
1758, were also seen in wetlands of Ukraine. These hampering acquisition of migration data.
wetlands support extensive reed beds of Phragmites sp., It is necessary for people interested in observing geese
harvested and exported to the Netherlands. to come together, pool their energies and resources to form
18 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

a database, establish regular contacts and improve our to visualize a Goose Specialist Group of Asia?
knowledge of this interesting group of birds. Is it too early

Blue-bearded Bee-eater and other birds in Kaigal, Chittoor District,

Andhra Pradesh
V.Santharam
Institute of Bird Studies & Natural History, Rishi Valley Education Centre, Rishi Valley P.O. 517 352, Chittoor District,
Andhra Pradesh. Email: birds@rishivalley.org

We went camping to Kaigal, with students of Rishi Madanapalle (Chittoor district) as also reports of it being
Valley School. This riparian forest area is owned by hunted / captured for the pot. The other interesting birds seen
Krishnamurti Foundation India and is located on the were Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii Temminck, 1813,
Palamner-Kuppam road. The trip was short and lasted White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli,
just over 27 hours on 18th-19th January. 2004. The 1786), Spotted Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps Swainson, 1832,
habitat is mainly riparian with dry deciduous forests Black-naped Monarch-flycatcher Hypothymis azurea
(reduced to scrub or grassy stretches on the fringes) and (Boddaert, 1783), and White-spotted Fantail Flycatcher
cultivation. During our visit there was hardly any water Rhipidura albicollis albogularis (Lesson, 1831).
flowing in the stream and the only water in the vicinity This forest tract lies adjacent to the Kaundinya Wildlife
was in the few deep pools. Sanctuary, which has a small population of Asian Elephants
With a group of 27 highly energetic students one Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758, which seasonally migrate
rarely gets a chance to watch birds and I did not from Tamil Nadu. There are old records of the White-bellied
anticipate much on this trip. Yet I was able to record over Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra Gould, 1833, from these
40 bird species here. One of the interesting birds seen forests (Ali and Ripley 1983). Perhaps a detailed survey of
was the Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni these forests could tell us the present status of these birds and
(Jardine & Selby, 1828). A single bird was seen in the other interesting birds that are patchily distributed outside the
riparian habitat on the morning of 19th January. This Western Ghats.
species was earlier recorded in the Rishi Valley campus
in 2000-2001 (Santharam 2001) and it was exciting References
seeing it here. ALI, Salim and S. Dillon Ripley. 1983. Handbook of the birds
Another interesting bird identified from the calls was of India and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh,
the Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea (Gmelin, 1789). Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Compact edition. Delhi:
At least 2-3 birds were heard calling from the forest Oxford University Press.
sloping to the stream early that morning. There are Santharam, V. 2001. Blue-bearded Bee-eater in Rishi Valley.
reports of this bird from scrub / deciduous forests around Pitta 118 (February): 1.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (Gmelin, 1789)

feeding on insect road kills
S. Sivakumar
Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400023

On the evening of 8th September 2003 (around 16:00 opportunity for effective feeding with minimum effort.
hours), the weather was humid at Sriharikota Island They flew slowly over the road and made swooping dives to
(Andhra Pradesh). Passing patchy dark clouds gave shade pick up the dead dragonflies from the road.
intermittently. Thousands of dragonflies were flying low The Gull-billed Tern is one among the five species of
over the road that connects Sriharikota Island with the terns reported from Sriharikota Island and the adjoining
mainland (Sulurpet), by passing through the Pulicat Lake. Pulicat Lake (Rao 1998). In India, the bird breeds in
Vehicular traffic is high at this hour. This caused a heavy northwestern parts and is distributed widely throughout the
casualty among the dragonflies. A pair of Gull-billed Terns country during winter (Ali and Ripley 1987). The Gull-
Gelochelidon nilotica (Gmelin, 1789) utilized this billed Tern is an opportunistic feeder, more insectivorous
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 19

than most other terns. Its prey includes grasshoppers, References

dragonflies, moths and grubs. It also takes spiders, Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley, 1987: Compact Handbook of the
earthworms, small reptiles and frogs, small fish, aquatic Birds of India and Pakistan: Together with those of
invertebrates and, rarely, voles and small birds (del Hoyo et Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. New Delhi:
al. 1996). It is known that terns pick up food floating on Oxford University Press.
sewage and seawater near harbours. At the same time, this del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and J. Sargata, Eds. 1996. Handbook
observation of Gull-billed Terns feeding on insect road kills of the Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks.
is worth documenting. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
Rao, P. (1998). The bird communities of the Tropical Dry
Evergreen Forests of Sriharikota. Ph.D. thesis.
University of Bombay, Mumbai.

Two additions to the Rishi Valley bird list

V. Santharam
Institute of Bird Studies & Natural History, Rishi Valley Education Centre, Rishi Valley P.O. 517352, Chittoor District,
Andhra Pradesh. Email: birds@rishivalley.org

The Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis Linnaeus, overlooked due its superficial resemblance to the commoner
1766, and the Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica (Gmelin, Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758).
1789), were recently seen in the campus of Rishi Valley in
Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. Here are the details. Rain Quail: A single bird was collected in one of the
hostels of the school on the night of 27th June 2003. The
Black-naped Oriole: At least a pair was seen from 9th bird was alive with no external injuries but appeared
February to 10th April 2003 (I was away from the campus exhausted when it was brought to me the next morning. It
soon after). All the features that distinguish the species, was docile and made no attempts to fly when examined.
namely the darker and broader eye-stripes that joined up at The bird was easily identified by the field marks - the dark
the nape, less of black and more of green plumage on the breast patch and the bold streaks on the flanks were those of
wings and back and the more nasal call (the birds were very a male Rain Quail. It was later released in the scrub jungle
vocal) were noticed. Again in the winter of 2003, the birds and ran away into the thickets and disappeared.
were seen in Rishi Valley. There was more than a pair-- This bird is widespread in peninsular India and is
perhaps two–seen / heard regularly in the campus from 19th known to have imperfectly understood local movements
November 2003, and are still around as I write this (on 11th (Ali and Ripley 1983). Perhaps it moves about during the
April 2004). Having seen this species on several earlier monsoon.
occasions in the Western Ghats and in the Andamans, there References
was no difficulty in identifying it. Ali, S and S. Dillon Ripley (1983). Handbook of Birds of
The species is only “occasionally recorded…in India and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh,
winter…[in] Kerala and Bangladesh; resident in Andaman Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Compact edition. Delhi:
and Nicobar Islands; widely scattered records elsewhere…” Oxford University Press.
(Grimmett et. al., 1998). In Andhra Pradesh, this bird has Andheria, A. (1999) Birds of Whitefield and Kodi Tank
been recorded from the eastern coastal plains (Taher and (Bangalore) Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 39(2): 26-28.
Pittie 1989) and at Anantagiri Reserve Forest in Rangareddi Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp 1998.
district (Pittie 2001). In Karnataka it was recorded by Birds of the Indian subcontinent. Delhi: Oxford
Andheria (1999) in Whitefield and Bannerghatta National University Press.
Park on the outskirts of Bangalore, though not reported by Pittie, A. 2001. Interesting species for Andhra Pradesh.
Joesph George (1994). Pitta 119: 2.
In view of the paucity of reports from this region, this Taher, S. and A. Pittie (1989). A checklist of birds of
record is significant. Perhaps the bird may be a scarce but Andhra Pradesh. Published by the authors.
regular winter visitor in the southern peninsula but is often
20 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Reviews
A photographic guide to the birds of India and the and Species which is often very helpful. An extensive
Indian Subcontinent, including Pakistan, Nepal, bibliography and glossary and a section on useful addresses is
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & the Maldives. by a plus point added to its other qualities.
Grewal, Bikram, Bill Harvey, and Otto Pfister,
2002. 1st ed. Singapore: Periplus Editions (HK) Birds of the Indus. by Mubashir Hasan, 2001.
Ltd. 512 pages. $29.95 Karachi: Oxford University Press.

Aasheesh Pittie
Zafar Futehally 8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034
# 2205, Oakwood Apartment, Jakkasandra Layout, Koramangala, 3rd Email: aasheesh@vsnl.in
Block, 8th Main, Bangalore 560034. Email: zafar123@vsnl.net
Hardback (13.5 x 21.5cm, with illustrated dust cover), pp. i-
What a stream of books is flowing in! Whistler 1928,
xx, 1-348, 238 plates [colour photographs (236 of birds),
Salim Ali ‘41, Martin Woodcock ‘80, Grimmet et al. ‘98,
by; T.J. Roberts (11), Mubashir Hasan (150), Syed Asad Ali
Bikram 1993 onwards, Krys Kazmierczak 2001, Satish Pande
(46), Khan Mohammad (13), F.J. Koning (2), Rudi Hess
(Birds of the Western Ghats) 2003.
(1), Tim Hurrell (2), Robert R. Randall (1), Brenda Wheeler
Readers of the Newsletter are familiar with these books,
(1), Mark Malallieu (1) and, Rolf Passburg (8)]. ISBN 0-19-
though some of you may not have seen Bikram’s latest about
577938-X. Cover price Rs. 795/-.
which I am writing. It has an attractive cover (very important,
as “clothes make the man”) is easy to handle, its 512 pages
Contents: Half-title and notice (p. i); title (p. iii);
accommodated with the size of 6” x 4” x 1.5”. Outstanding
imprint (p. iv); dedication (p. v); Contents (pp. vii-x);
photographs and top class printing leave nothing to be desired
Acknowledge-ments (pp. xi-xii); Introduction (pp. xiii-xx);
and needless to comment on.
text (pp. 1-329); References (pp. 331-333); Index of English
The book is up to date, dealing with 800 of the 1305
names (pp. 335-339); Index of scientific names (pp. 340-
species which experts say now exist within the Subcontinent
344); Index of Urdu/Hindi names (pp. 345-348).
(Maldives too, included). Each page has at least one
The following photographers have not been credited on
photograph of the described with a colour coded map. If it is
the title page. Rudi Hess, Tim Hurrell, Robert R. Randall,
a resident bird its distribution is shown in red. If a migrant it
Brenda Wheeler and Mark Malallieu.
is shown in blue. The map relating to the Malabar Whistling
This work is an example of what an abiding interest in a
Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii (Vigors, 1831), shows a red
hobby can lead to. The author is a politician in Pakistan and
band along the Western Ghats with an arm spreading into
bird photography is his hobby. Now that there are ‘all-
Central India. In the case of the Blue Whistling Thrush M.
encompassing’ handbooks on the birds of the Indian
caeruleus (Scopoli, 1786), there is a blob of red in the
subcontinent, in the market, as there are too those covering
Himalayas coming down to the Bay of Bengal. Readers may
each of the individual countries, we should see more work
recall that in the Newsletter of May/June 2003, Lt. Gen.
on restricted areas and habitats as well as monographs on
Baljit Singh reports seeing this bird in Chandigarh. This
taxa at various levels, in the future. Hasan’s work limits
shows the importance of the amateur birder in updating the
itself to the birds of the Indus River watershed, for which he
work of scientists in the museums.
has selected c.236 species from 660 (p. xx) reported from
The book is beautifully organized and one learns many
Pakistan. The author gives a general introduction for each of
general facts, which add to our interest in the subject. The
the families he has selected, and then short species
extended Introduction deals with: Enjoying birdwatching,
accounts, which are also general in nature, with some
ornithology in the region, bird movements, breeding,
distribution notes, for each taxon. It is sad that the very
nomenclature, taxonomy and sequence and many other
motive for this work, the author’s photographs, show up
scientific topics explained in clear language. In the last
rather poorly, throughout. The editing too is slack at times:
decade the Orders, Families, Genera and Species have been
a picture of a falcon on page 70 is wrongly captioned
altered, eliminated or added to, on the basis of DNA findings.
“Shikra”; the photograph of nesting Cliff Swallows on page
We see from the Contents page that now there are 20
209 is upside-down; to name a couple. The cover price is
Families of Passerines and 41 Non-passerines. What remains
steep and not everyone can afford a copy easily.
unchanged is the number of birds endemic to India: 142. But
we might, in course of time, rope in the Red-faced Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus (Pennant, 1769), reported
by Lt. Gen. B. C. Nanda, from the Coorg forests a few years
ago.
Apart from the usual indices of Common (English) and
Scientific names there is also a Systematic List of Families
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 21

Petronia. Fifty years of post-Independence eating birds and bird-dispersed plants in the tropical dry
ornithology in India. J.C. Daniel & Gayatri W. evergreen forest of Point Calimere, South India); Asad R.
Ugra (Editors) (2003). Bombay: Bombay Natural Rahmani (pp. 231-252; Strategies for long-term
conservation of the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps
History Society & Oxford University Press. in India); S. Subramanya (pp. 253-279; Distribution, status
and conservation of Indian heronries); D.N. Mathew,
Aasheesh Pittie George Mathew and Tara Gandhi (pp. 280-283; Breeding
8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034
Email: aasheesh@vsnl.in seasons and conservation of the terns Sterna fuscata and
Anous stolidus in the Lakshadweep); Priya Davidar (pp.
Hardback (18.0 x 24.0cm, with illustrated cover), pp. i-vii, 284-287; Conservation priorities for the Andaman Islands);
1-342+6, frontispiece (portrait of Dr Salim Ali), plates Ranjit Manakadan, S. Alagarrajan and J.C. Daniel (pp. 288-
(colour & black & white), text-figures. ISBN 019-566653-4. 294, published in Buceros; The post-independence history
Cover price Rs. 400/-. of Indian ornithology); S.A. Hussain [pp. 318-342; Some
aspects of the biology and ecology of the Narcondam
Contents: Half-tit. (p. i); tit. (p. iii); imprint (p. iv); Hornbill (Rhyticeros narcondami)].
Preface (p. v, by; B.G. Deshmukh); Contents (pp. vi-vii); Even though most of the papers in this commemorative
text (pp. 1-342); "Notes" (4 pp.); advt. (2 pp.). volume have been published earlier, their quality is of a
This is a compilation of papers (“A centenary high standard and their intrinsic value timeless. The editors
dedication to Dr. Salim Ali 1896-1996”) published earlier in should be congratulated for re-publishing them in a separate
various volumes of the Journal of the Bombay Natural single volume for future generations of serious amateur and
History Society (JBNHS)—except for a couple (see below). professional ornithologists. Highly recommended, and
Only two papers are new. These are by Rishad Naoroji (pp. affordable.
46-52; Observations on the biology of the Mountain Hawk-
Eagle) and Edward C. Moulton (pp. 295-317; The A concise history of ornithology. The lives and
contributions of Allan O. Hume to the scientific works of its founding figures. by Michael Walters,
advancement of Indian Ornithology). 2003. London: Christopher Helm.
The other papers are by the following authors: J.C.
Daniel (pp. 1-6, published in Hornbill; Salim Ali–an Aasheesh Pittie
appreciation); Lady Y.P. McNeice (p. 7; Salim A. Ali); 8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034
J.B.S. Haldane (pp. 8-15; The non-violent scientific study of Email: aasheesh@vsnl.in
birds); Wan Tho Loke (pp. 16-23; Photographing the
Whitebellied Sea Eagle Haliaetus leucogaster (Gmelin); Hardback. (17 x 24cm, illustrated dust cover with a brief
V.C. Ambedkar and J.C. Daniel (pp. 24-45; A study of the biographical note on the author on back flap), pp. 1-255+1,
migration of the Common Teal Anas crecca Linn., based on 68 portraits (black & white), 25 illustrations (black & white
ring recoveries in India and USSR); Humayun Abdulali (pp. photos, 1 double-page). (ISBN 1-873403-97-6.). Cover
53-58; On the food and other habits of the Greater Flamingo Price: £30/-.
Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas in India); S. Dillon Ripley
(pp. 59-66; Zoogeographic considerations on the Indian Contents: Half-title (p. 1); title page (p. 3); imprint (p.
avifauna); Bharat Bhushan (pp. 67-80; The rediscovery of 4); Contents (p. 5); Preface (pp. 9-10); Early times (pp. 11-
the Jerdon’s or Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus 19); The renaissance of Ornithology (pp. 20-51); Eighteenth
bitorquatus; Salim Ali & J.H. Cook (pp. 81-100; century systems: Linnaeus, Brisson & Buffon, and their
Observations on Finn’s Baya Ploceus megarhynchus Hume legacy (pp. 52-68); Pallas and the new awakening (pp. 69-
rediscovered in the Kumaon terai); M.K. Himmatsinhji (pp. 74); Explorations of the Eighteenth Century (pp. 75-85);
101-103; Dr. Salim Ali’s contribution to Kutch The Germans and the Dutch (pp. 86-95); The beginnings of
ornithology); Lavkumar Khacher (pp. 104-154; The birds of American Ornithology (pp. 96-113); The Quinary and other
Gujarat – a Salim Ali centenary year overview); T.J. Nineteenth Century systems (pp. 114-131); New theories,
Roberts (pp. 155-162; Twentieth century changes in the and explanations in the Far East (pp. 132-148); The turn of
avifauna of Pakistan); Thilo W. Hoffmann (pp. 163-171; the Nineteenth Century and the introduction of trinomials
New bird records in Sri Lanka and some connected (pp. 149-163); Ornithology and ornithologists in the
matters); Anthony J. Gaston and V.J. Zacharias (pp. 172- Twentieth Century (pp. 164-175, by; John Coulson);
184; The recent distribution of endemic and disjunct birds Appendices 1-30 [pp. 176-235 (systems of classification)];
in Kerala: preliminary results of an ongoing survey); R. Appendices A & B (pp. 236-238); Bibliography (pp. 239-
Sankaran [pp. 185-197; Aerial display in the Lesser 250); Index (pp. 251-255).
Florican Sypheotides indica (J.F. Miller)]; Madhusudan The chapter by John Coulson has the following sub-
Katti and Trevor Price (pp. 198-215; Effects of climate on sections: Marking birds to study individuals (Survival and
Palaearctic warblers overwintering in India); P. mortality rates; Colour-ringing; Behaviour; Telemetry;
Balasubramanian (pp. 216-230; Interactions between fruit- Transponders); Molecular studies in avian taxonomy,
22 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

systematics and biology (Paternity and pair fidelity; “However, the dominant figure in early 19th century
Taxonomy and systematics). Indian ornithology was Edward Blyth, who for many years
The 30 Appendices on systems of classification list the was curator of the Asiatic Society’s Museum at Calcutta. He
work of Walter Charleton, Möhring, J.C. Schaeffer, was the first trained Zoologist of his time to go to India.
Brisson, Linnaeus (10th ed.), Linnaeus (12th ed.), Brünnich, Blyth was born in London on 23 December 1810, of a
Latham, Pallas, Gloger, Merrem, Blainville, L’Herminier, Norfolk family. His father died in 1820, and his mother
Nitzsch, Wagler, Lacépède, Illiger, Vieillot, Temminck, originally intended him for a career in the Church, but, on
Bonaparte, Avium Conspectus of Tschudi, Cuvier, J.J. advice from his headmaster, sent him to study chemistry.
Kaup, Boie, Hogg, Huxley, Sundevall’s Tentamen, His passion for natural history disinclined him for any other
Lilljeborg 1866, Reichenow, Fürbringer and, Gadow. pursuits, and, on coming of age, he opened a chemist’s shop
Appendix ‘A’ is a list of birds from Emperor Rudolph II’s in Tooting, London, But he gave this business so little
collection, and Appendix ‘B’ is a list of birds described by attention that it inevitably failed. He devoted all his time to
Quoy & Gaimard on Freycinet’s Voyage 1817-1820. ornithology and entomology, and contributed many papers
“This book is a detailed historical account of the study on Zoology to the Proceedings of the Zoological Society. It
of birds, from the earliest written records through to the was largely on the basis of his editing of Griffith’s edition
twentieth century...The lives and works of key of Cuvier’s Le Renge Animal that he was recruited by
ornithologists through history are presented here—the Horace Wilson in 1841 as curator of the Museum of the
exploreres, the naturalists and the conservationists who have Asiatic Society of Bengal at Calcutta. For over 20 years he
painstakingly built up our knowledge and understanding of rendered devoted service to the Society, submitting detailed
birds over the centuries. As this fascinating story monthly reports (which often filled 15-20 pages), publishing
approaches the modern era, it reveals how burgeoning many descriptions of new species. During all these years, he
knowledge and shifting ideologies have interacted to shape subsisted on a pittance of a salary, and his periodic
ornithology as the complex scientific discipline we applications for an increase in remuneration were cast aside.
recognise today...” (dust cover, front flap). In spite of the disgraceful treatment he received at the hands
The history of mankind is the story of individuals, and of the Society, Blyth never made any complaint, and
so is the case with the history of Ornithology. The subject is accepted the capricious and often unreasonable criticisms of
so vast, and the episodes that make it up so engrossing, that his excellent work with equanimity. After his retirement, he
a detailed account would warrant separate biographies of wrote: “I had always a presentiment that my successor in
each player. But that is not the purpose of this work. It is the Museum would be more adequately remunerated,
not easy to paint a picture that reveals, on one canvas, such beginning with just double what I had after more than 20
a history. A sweeping grasp of the subject is needed years work…” Fuel for a court case today, but Blyth
allowing one to look at it from a distance, ensuring that the dismissed it philosophically, as the great-hearted and
horizons are wide enough to encompass enough detail to underrated man he was. Grote, in writing Blyth’s obituary
make the work both entertaining and revealing. The author, in 1875, remarked: “Few men who have written so much
who was the curator of birds’ eggs for 30 years at the have left in their writings so little that is bitter.” Blyth died
Natural History Museum, Tring, UK, achieves this with after a long and exceptionally productive career, as on of
brilliance. the pioneer Zoologists in the continent of Asia. Sadly, he is
I hope that the quote below, dealing with the little remembered today. He was the mentor of T.C. Jerdon,
Ornithology of the Indian region, will whet the appetite of William Blandford [sic (=Blanford)], and particularly A.O.
readers to delve deeper in the history of a subject that is Hume. There is no rational explanation of why Blyth has
close to their heart. been ignored by the history of Zoology. He aroused the
“As late as the 1820s almost nothing was known of the malice of J.E. Gray of the British Museum, as a result of a
ornithology of India except for some collections of native complaint made against his brother G.R. Gray. This does
drawings made by Indian army officers. One of the earliest not, however, explain his neglect in the 20th century.”
and best known of these was the collection of General “Allan Octavian Hume was born in 1829, the son of a
Hardwicke, a selection of which were engraved and Scottish MP. He served as a midshipman in the Royal Navy,
published in 1830, edited by J.E. Gray of the British studied medicine at University College Hospital and at the
Museum. It was about 1830 that the beginnings of scientific age of 20 was posted to the Bengal Civil Service. From
investigation were laid by the researches of Major Franklin 1849 to 1867, he served as district officer at Etawah in the
and Colonel Sykes, both of whom wrote papers in the NW Provinces, from 1867 to 1870 as commissioner to a
Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1831-32. In 1832, centralized department, and from 1870 to 1879 as Secretary
the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal was to the Government of India. He showed great gallantry
commenced and published in Calcutta, which, along with a during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, risking his life on several
number of other journals, contained valuable papers by occasions. He worked tirelessly in promoting education,
Hodgson, Hutton, Pearson, Tickell, McClelland and others. reforming the local police, and in 1859 founded a popular
Hodgson, who resided in Nepal, was the pioneer in that paper The People’s Friend, published at a very low price so
country.” that it would be accessible to the poorest of village youths.
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 23

As Commissioner, he introduced agricultural reforms, received many forewarnings of the Mutiny, in the hope that
suitable to the particular needs of the people. He was always he could do something to avert the tragedy. He is a figure
sensitive to local and traditional practice and never sought unjustly forgotten in Indian political history. On his return
to impose `foreign’ measures. Besides matters directly to Britain in 1894, he settled in Dulwich and threw himself
pertaining to agriculture and horticulture, Hume had to deal into local politics, serving on many committees, often as
with forestry, including the conservation of forests, the Chairman or President. This was the man, who, in his `spare
restoration of denuded areas, and the supply of firewood to time’, studied the ornithology of the Indian sub-continent,
the public. He was also required to attend to fisheries, and spent about £20,000 of his own money (a huge sum in
emigration, meteorological observations, museums, and those days) in accumulating an ornithological museum and
exhibitions of art and industry, shipping, harbours, library, which was the largest in Asia at that time. (It
lighthouses and customs. In 1879, after 30 years of devoted consisted of 63,000 bird skins and 19,000 eggs). He had
service, he was summarily dismissed from his post in the planned to write a vast book on the ornithology of India and
secretariat of the Government of India, because he had made voluminous notes, but in 1884, while absent from
expressed his views freely, without regard to the opinions or home, a servant sold the manuscript in the market for waste
intentions of his superiors. Hume retired from public service paper. As a result, in 1885 he presented his entire collection
in 1882 and became founder of the Indian National to the Natural History Museum in London. In 1872, he had
Congress. For this purpose, he travelled to England in 1883 started, at his own expense, the journal Stray Feathers,
to seek the support of influential friends there. The First edited it, and wrote many of the articles him self. It was
Session of the Congress was held from 25 to 30 December published until 1899 when it had to be discontinued, as by
1885. He seems to have been one of the few Englishmen then Hume was living in England,” (pp. 156-157).
completely trusted by the people of India, and he had

Recently Published
BOOKS Muslim University; World Pheasant Association, South
BAMBARADENIYA, C. N. B., and S. P. Ekanayake, 2003. A Asia Regional Office (SARO).
Guide to the Biodiversity of Knuckles Forest Region. 1st LEWIS, Michael, 2003. Inventing Global Ecology: Tracking
ed. Colombo: I.U.C.N. Sri Lanka Country Office. (ISBN the Biodiversity Ideal in India, 1945-1997. 1st ed. (New
955-8177-202.) Perspectives in South Asian History, 5.) New Delhi:
BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, 2003. Saving Asia’s Threatened Orient Longman. (ISBN 81-250-2377-1.)
Birds: A Guide for Government and Civil Society. 1st ed. MANAKADAN, Ranjit, and V. Kannan, 2003. A study of the
Cambridge, UK.: BirdLife International. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Gmelin in
DANIEL, J. C., and Gayatri W. Ugra, (Eds.) 2003. Petronia. southern India with special reference to its conservation:
Fifty Years of Post-Independence Ornithology in India. Final report 2000-2003. (Unpublished Report.) Mumbai:
1st ed. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society & Bombay Natural History Society.
Oxford University Press. (ISBN 019-566653-4.) MONGA, Sunjoy, 2003. Birds of Mumbai. 1st ed. Mumbai:
DICKINSON, Edward C., (Ed.) 2003. The Howard and Moore India Book House. (ISBN 81-7508-391-3.)
Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Revised PANDE, Satish, Saleel Tambe, Clement Francis M, and
and enlarged 3rd ed. London: Christopher Helm. (ISBN Niranjan Sant, 2003. Birds of Western Ghats, Kokan and
0-7136-6536-X.) Malabar (Including Birds of Goa). 1st ed. Mumbai:
EMERTON, Lucy, and L. D. C. B. Kekulandala, 2003. Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University
Assessment of the Economic Value of Muthurajawela Press. Hbk. (ISBN 019566878-2.)
Wetland Sanctuary. (Occasional Papers of IUCN Sri PRAKRITI SAMSAD, 2003. Participant’s Guide: Migratory
Lanka, No. 4.) Colombo: IUCN Sri Lanka Country Birdwatch 2003. Santragachhi Railway Jheel. Kolkata:
Office. (ISBN 955-8177-19-9.) Prakriti Samsad.
GRIMMETT, Richard, and Tim Inskipp, 2003. Birds of REUBEN, Rachel, (Ed.) 2003. Humayun Abdulali-Naturalist.
Northern India. 1st ed. New Delhi: Oxford University Portrait and Tribute. New Delhi: Mosaic Books. (ISBN
Press. 81-901297-6-7.)
GUPTA, Reeta Dutta, 2003. Salim Ali: India’s Birdman. WALTERS, Michael, 2003. A Concise History of Ornithology.
(Charitavali Series.) New Delhi: Rupa & Co. (ISBN 81- The Lives and Works of its Founding Figures. 1st ed.
291-0045-2.) London: Christopher Helm. (ISBN 1-873403-97-6.)
JAVED, Salim, and Rahul Kaul, 2003. Field Methods for Bird WHITAKER, Zai, 2003. Sálim Ali for schools. A children’s
Surveys. 1st ed. New Delhi: Bombay Natural History biography. 1st ed. Delhi: Permanent Black. (ISBN 81-
Society; Department of Wildlife Sciences; Aligarh 7824-058-0.)
24 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

PAPERS Etawah and Mainpuri districts, Uttar Pradesh, India. 19

FORKTAIL (August): 15-20. (With 1 map, 2 text-figs., & 3 tables.).
BARAL, Nabin, 2003. Status of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi, and B. C. Choudhury, 2003. Nest
bengalensis in Nepal. 19 (August): 51-55. sanitation in Sarus Cranes Grus antigone in Uttar
BASNET, Suchit, and Badri Chaudhary, 2003. Purple-backed Pradesh, India. 19 (August): 144-146.
Starling Sturnus sturninus: a new species for Nepal. 19 THOMPSON, Paul M., and David L. Johnson, 2003. Further
(August): 129. notable bird records from Bangladesh. 19 (August): 85-
CHOUDHURY, Anwaruddin, 2003. Birds of Eaglenest Wildlife 102. (With 1 map.).
Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Arunachal URFI, Abdul Jamil, 2003. The birds of Okhla barrage bird
Pradesh, India. 19 (August): 1-13. (With 1 map and 2 sanctuary, Delhi, India. 19 (August): 39-50. (With 1 map
tables.). & 2 tables.).
---, 2003. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar: a new species
for Bhutan. 19 (August): 149. HORNBILL
---, 2003. Some additions to the birds of Nagaland, north-est BHAT, Kedar, 2003. One summer morning.., 2003 (July-
India. 19 (August): 150. September): 30-31. (With 3 col. photos.).
GOKULA, V., and C. Venkatraman, 2003. Foraging and DHUMAL, Sushma, 2003. On foot in the Himalayan valleys,
breeding biology of the Malabar Parakeet Psittacula 2003 (July-September): 26-28. (With 5 col. photos.).
columboides in the Siruvani foothills, Tamil Nadu, India. ISHTIAQ, Farah, 2003. Pelicans and People: The two-tier
19 (August): 138-139. village of Kokkare Bellur, Karnataka, India. By K. Manu
GOKULA, V., and Lalitha Vijayan, 2003. Foraging and and Sara Jolly. Published by Kalpavriksh, 2000. 22 x 14
nesting behaviour of Asian Paradise-Flycatcher cm, pp. 33. 2002 (October-December): 13 (2002).
Terpsiphone paradisi in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, ISLAM, Zafar-ul, 2003. Documenting the Important Bird
Tamil Nadu, India. 19 (August): 142-144. Areas, 2003 (July-September): 33. (With 1 col. photo.).
LU, X, 2003. Notes on flocking and breeding behaviour of LAD, P. M, 2003. Will history repeat itself in Flamingo City?
Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota in eastern Tibet. 19 October-December 2003: 26. (With 2 col. photographs.).
(August): 151-152. (With 2 tables.). LALAS, Mahendra Singh, 2003. Godawan in a temple. 2002
MALLALIEU, Mark, 2003. Red Phalarope Phalaropus (October-December): 21-23 (2002). (With 3 colour
fulicaria: A new species for Pakistan. 19 (August): 133- photos.).
134. MANAKADAN, Ranjit, 2003. Cuckoo Problems. By E.C.
NAING, Thet Zaw, 2003. Ecology of the White-browed Stuart Baker. Published by H.F. & G. Witherby, London,
Nuthatch Sitta victoriae in Natmataung National Park, 1942. 207 pp. 8 colour and 4 monochrome plates (13.5 x
Myanmar, with notes on other significant species. 19 21 cm), 2003 (April-June): 14-15.
(August): 57-62. (With 2 tables.). PATEL, Amrita, 2003. Success story. 2002 (October-
SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Rishad Naoroji, 2003. High- December): 26 (2002). (With 3 colour photos.).
altitude records of the House Crow Corvus splendens in RAMACHANDRAN, K, 2003. Avian guests, 2003 (January-
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, India. 19 March): 20-21. (With 3 col. photographs.).
(August): 141-142. REUBEN, Rachel, 2003. The return of the native? 2002
SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and R. G. Soni, 2003. Red (October-December): 24-25 (2002). (With 1 plate by
Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria in Rajasthan: The second Carl D’Silva.).
record for India. 19 (August): 129-130. RUGHANI, Bharat, 2003. Unusual partners. 2002 (October-
SANTHARAM, V., 2003. Distribution, ecology and December): 27 (2002).
conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker SANKARAN, Ravi, 2003. Extinction by protection. October-
Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. 19 December 2003: 2-3. (With 5 col. photographs and a
(August): 31-38. (With 1 map & 6 tables.). note by J.C. Daniel.).
SHARMA, Arunayan, 2003. First records of Spoon-billed SINGH, Baljit, 2003. Of Bluethroats and Rubythroats, 2003
Sandpiper Calidris pygmeus in the Indian Sundarbans (January-March): 22-24. (With 3 col. pll. by Carl
delta, West Bengal. 19 (August): 136-137. D’Silva.).
SINGHA, Hillaljyoti, Asad R. Rahmani, Malcolm C. Coulter, SINGH, Samar, 2003. The wonder bird of India, 2003 (April-
and Salim Javed, 2003. Surveys for Greater Adjutant June): 24-26. (With 2 col. pics.).
Leptoptilos dubius in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, TIWARI, J. K, 2003. Has the Pied Tit population in western
India during 1994-1996. 19 (August): 146-148. (With 3 Kutch recovered? 2002 (October-December): 28 (2002).
tables.). ---, 2003. The pink city of Gujarat. October-December 2003:
SIVAKUMAR, Kuppusamy, 2003. Some observations on the 22-24. (With 4 col. photographs.).
breeding biology of birds on Great Nicobar Island, India.
19 (August): 130-131. IBIS
SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi, 2003. Notes on the breeding biology of JAMES, Helen F., Per G. P. Ericson, Beth Slikas, Fu-Min Lei,
the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in Frank B. Gill, and Storrs L. Olson, 2003. Pseudopodoces
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 25

humilis, a misclassified terrestrial tit (Paridae) of the Kestrel Falco naumanni in Matheran, a hill station near
Tibetan Plateau: evolutionary consequences of shifting Mumbai. 100 (1) (17 July): 118-120.
adaptive zones. 145 (2) (April): 185-202. (With 6 text- ANDHERIA, Anish, Supriya Jhunjhunwala, and Paritosh
figs., and 2 tables.). Khanvilkar, 2003. Sighting of Malabar Pied Hornbill
M.L.B, 2003. Review: Hasan, M. Birds of the Indus. 348 Anthracoceros coronatus in Sanjay Gandhi National
pages, colour photographs. Karachi. Oxford University Park, Mumbai. 100 (1) (17 July): 142-143.
Press, 2002. Hardback, UKP 12.95, ISBN 0-19-577938- BALASUBRAMANIAN, P., and B. Maheswaran, 2003.
X. 145 (4): 525. Frugivory, seed dispersal and regeneration by birds in
MOULIN, Sibyle, Ettore Randi, Cristiano Tabarroni, and south Indian forests. 100 (2&3) (23 September): 411-
Alain Hennache, 2003. Mitochondrial DNA 431. (With 7 text figs., and 1 pl.).
diversification among the subspecies of the Silver and BARAL, Nabin, Bijay Tamang, and Nilesh Timilsina, 2003.
Kalij Pheasants, Lophura nycthemera and L. Status of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in
leucomelanos, Phasianidae. 145 (1): 160. RAMAN, T. R. Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. 99 (3) (28 February):
Shankar, 2003. Assessment of census techniques for 413-417 (2002). (With 1 table and 2 maps.).
interspecific comparisons of tropical rainforest bird BARUA, Maan, 2003. Occurrence of the Indian Skimmer
densities: a field evaluation in the Western Ghats, India. Rhynchops albicollis Swainson in Assam. 99 (3) (28
145: 9-21. (With 3 tables and 3 figures.). February): 526 (2002).
CONROY, Colin, 2003. Grey-headed Lapwings Vanellus
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY cinereus seen around Machilipatnam, Krishna District,
ARCHIBALD, G. W., K. S. Gopi Sundar, and J. Barzen, 2003. Andhra Pradesh, India. 100 (1) (17 July): 122-123.
A review of the three subspecies of Sarus Cranes Grus DANIEL, J. C, 2003. Obituary. Humayun Abdulali. 100 (2&3)
antigone. 16: 5-15. (With 13 b&w photos.). (23 September): 614-615. (With 1 b&w photo.).
DHAMANKAR, Atul, 2003. Sarus arrival in Chandrapur, east D’CUNHA, E. P. Eric, 2003. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga
Maharashtra. 16: 42-43. siparaja seheriae in Madhya Pradesh. 100 (1) (17 July):
GOLE, Prakash, 2003. Forest and bird associations. 15: 24-26 147-148.
(2002). DEVARE, Mihir N, 2003. Breeding record of the Sykes’s
KHACHER, Lavkumar, 2003. Sarus Cranes: An emblem of Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis (Sykes) [sic] in
failure of India’s conservation movement? 16: 47-48. Harike, Punjab, India. 99 (3) (28 February): 528-529
MAHAJAN, S. D, 2003. Plant-bird association. 15: 15-18 (2002).
(2002). GANGULI-LACHUNGPA, Usha, and Bishnu Lal Sharma, 2003.
NALAVADE, Sanjeev B, 2003. Pole and wire associated birds Common Coot Fulica atra from Kyongnosla in East
of the Deccan area. 15: 19-23 (2002). Sikkim. 100 (1) (17 July): 121.
PANDE, Suruchi, 2003. Krauncha and Sarasa in Sanskrit GARGI, and Vibhu Prakash, 2003. Unusual association
literature. 16: 49-51. between a pair of Sarus Cranes Grus antigone and
SUNDAR, K. S. Gopi, and B. C. Choudhury, 2003. The Indian Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus at Keoladeo National
Sarus Crane Grus a. antigone: A literature review. 16: Park, Bharatpur. 99 (3) (28 February): 520-521 (2002).
16-41. (With six tables and six text-figs.). HIMMATSINHJI, M. K, 2003. Observations of squatting
VAN DER VEN, Joost, 2003. Sarus Crane in northern posture adopted by Chlamydotis undulata (Jaquin). 99
Myanmar, Kachin State. 16: 44-46. (With one map.). (3) (28 February): 522 (2002). (With 1 b&w. photograph
by; M.K. Ranjitsinhji.).
JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY HOLT, Paul, 2003. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula
SOCIETY zanthopygia in Kerala. 100 (1) (17 July): 145-146.
ACHARJYO, L. N., Vinod Kumar, and S. K. Patnaik, 2003. On HOLT, Paul I., and Rick Heil, 2003. A sight record of Buff-
the longevity of the Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis in Goa. 100
in captivity. 100 (2&3) (23 September): 626. (1) (17 July): 123-126.
ALLEN, Desmond, Paul I. Holt, and Jon Hornbuckle, 2003. HUSSAIN, S. A, 2003. Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka:
Leaf-presenting as a possible courtship behaviour by A profile and a strategy for the future. 100 (2&3) (23
Pied Falconets Microhierax melanoleucos. 99 (3) (28 September): 202-213. (With 1 map, 2 col. photos, 5
February): 518-520 (2002). tables and 3 appendices.).
ANDHERIA, Anish P, 2003. Sighting of the Rock Bunting JAYSON, E. A., and C. Sivaperuman, 2003. Sighting of Lesser
Emberiza cia Linn. in Ranthambore National Park, Frigatebird Fregata ariel Gray in the Kole Wetlands of
Rajasthan. 99 (3) (28 February): 536-537 (2002). Thrissur, Kerala. 100 (1) (17 July): 107-108. (With 1 pl.,
ANDHERIA, Anish, 2003. First sighting of Lesser Adjutant- comprising of 2 b&w. photos.).
Stork Leptoptilos javanicus from Sanjay Gandhi JOHNSON, J. Mangalaraj, 2003. Black Ibis Pseudibis
National Park, Mumbai. 100 (1) (17 July): 111. papillosa feeding on frogs from crab holes. 100 (1) (17
---, 2003. Southernmost record of Eastern Calandra-Lark July): 111-112.
Melanocorypha bimaculata and sighting of Lesser
26 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

KATDARE, Vishwas, and Ram Mone, 2003. Status of White- PITTIE, Aasheesh, 2003. A note on the circumorbital skin
bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster in Ratnagiri colour of Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris. 100
District, Maharashtra. 100 (1) (17 July): 113-116. (With (1) (17 July): 141-142.
5 tables.). ---, 2003. On the dates of publication of the Journal of the
KATDARE, Vishwas, Rohan Lovalekar, and Ameya Modak, Bombay Natural History Society, volumes I-100 (1886-
2003. Incubation period of Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga 2003), and other matters. 100 (2&3) (23 September):
siparaja. 100 (1) (17 July): 148-149. 589-613.
KHAN, Mohammad Ali Reza, 2003. Disappearance of the PRICE, Trevor, Jennifer Zee, Kartika Jamdar, and N. Jamdar,
White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata from the 2003. Bird species diversity along the Himalaya: A
Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary: A saga of large-scale comparison of Himachal Pradesh with Kashmir. 100
destruction of mixed evergreen forest in Bangladesh. 100 (2&3) (23 September): 394-410. (With 2 text figs., and 2
(2&3) (23 September): 202-213. (With 1 map and 4 col. pll.).
photos.). RAHA, Bishwarup, 2003. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
KING, Ben, 2003. The song of Ninox scutulata obscura. 100 scavenging on cattle carcass. 99 (3) (28 February): 516
(2&3) (23 September): 388-389. (With 1 text fig.). (2002).
KULKARNI, Deepali, and Banda Pednekar, 2003. Some ---, 2003. Sightings of Ortolan Bunting Emeriza hortulana at
observations on nesting of Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus the grassland around Gangapur, Nasik. 99 (3) (28
fasciatus (Vieillot). 100 (1) (17 July): 113. February): 536 (2002).
KULKARNI, Sarang, and Manish Chandi, 2003. Note on RAHMANI, Asad R, 2003. Editorial: Think of common birds
breeding of Andaman Teal Anas gibberifrons in South also. 99 (3) (28 February): 387-388 (2002).
Andaman Islands, India. 100 (1) (17 July): 112-113. RANA, Gargi, and Vibhu Prakash, 2003. Cannibalism in
KULSHRESHTHA, Manoj, and Harkirat Singh Sangha, 2003. Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis in
The Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis found Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 100 (1)
nesting in Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan. 100 (1) (17 (17 July): 116-117.
July): 149-150. ---, 2003. Unusual feeding association between Siberian
KUMAR, R. Suresh, 2003. Ring recovery from Great Crane Grus leucogeranus and Wild Boar Sus scrofa in
Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in India. 100 (2&3) Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 100 (1)
(23 September): 621-624. (With 1 text fig., and 1 table.). (17 July): 120-121.
LAINER, Heinz, 2003. Terns of the Vengurla Rocks, a review RAO, R. Shyama Prasad, 2003. Termite removal from nest
and update. 100 (1) (17 July): 126-135. material and repair of damaged nest by White-rumped
MUKHERJEE, Aeshita, C. K. Borad, and B. M. Parasharya, Munia Lonchura striata. 100 (1) (17 July): 151.
2003. Range extension of Alexandrine Parakeet ROBERTS, T. J, 2003. Learning about vocal communication in
Psittacula eupatria in Gujarat. 100 (1) (17 July): 135- birds. 100 (2&3) (23 September): 390-393.
136. ROBIN, V. V., and Priya Davidar, 2003. The vertical
NAIK, Sattyasheel, 2003. Group fishing of House Crows stratification of birds in mixed species flocks at
(Corvus splendens) with River Terns (Sterna aurantia). Parambikulam, south India: A comparison between two
100 (1) (17 July): 126. (With 2 b&w. photos.). habitats. 99 (3) (28 February): 389-399 (2002). (With
NAIK, Satyasheel N, 2003. Blue Rock Pigeons foraging on tables 1-7 and, 1 appendix.).
tamarind leaves. 99 (3) (28 February): 527 (2002). RYALL, Colin, 2003. Mimicry of a crow chick by an Asian
NEUMANN-DENZAU, Gertrud, and Helmut Denzau, 2003. Koel Eudynamys scolopacea as a defence against attack
Buffy Fish-Owl (Ketupa ketupu) in Sundarbans, by House Crows Corvus splendens. 100 (1) (17 July):
Bangladesh. 100 (1) (17 July): 138-139. (With 4 col. 136-138.
photos.). SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Rishad Naoroji, 2003. Oriental
PALOT, Muhammed Jafer, and V. P. Soniya, 2003. House Turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis: a new species for the
Crow Corvus splendens Vieillot feeding on midges. 99 Thar Desert. 99 (3) (28 February): 528 (2002).
(3) (28 February): 533 (2002). ---, 2003. Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides
PARASHARYA, B. M., S. N. Varu, C. K. Borad, and Aeshita Vigors in the Thar Desert. 99 (3) (28 February): 534-535
Mukherjee, 2003. Sturnus malabaricus blythii in Gujarat (2002).
state. 99 (3) (28 February): 531-532 (2002). SANGHA, Harkirat S., Rishad Naoroji, and Maan Barua,
PATEL, Piyush, 2003. Possible new record of Sturnus 2003. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: an addition to
malabaricus blythii in Valsad District, Gujarat. 99 (3) the avifauna of Ladakh. 100 (1) (17 July): 104-105.
(28 February): 530-531 (2002). SANGHA, Harkirat Singh, and Harsh Vardhan, 2003. Ruddy
PATI, B. P, 2003. Sighting of the Lesser Florican Sypheotides Turnstone Arenaria interpres Linn. at Phulera Lake,
indica in Gir Interpretation Zone, Devaliya, Gir Rajasthan. 99 (3) (28 February): 525 (2002).
Sanctuary. 100 (1) (17 July): 122. SANGHANI, Tushar M, 2003. Variation recorded in the iris,
leg and foot colouration in Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis.
100 (1) (17 July): 109.
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 27

SANTHARAM, V., 2003. Sight records of the Sand Martin SIVAPERUMAN, C., and E. A. Jayson, 2003. Occurrence of
Riparia riparia in southern India. 99 (3) (28 February): Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata Linn. in Kole
529-530 (2002). (With 1 table.). Wetlands of Thrissur, Kerala. 99 (3) (28 February): 517-
---, 2003. Fruit and nectar resourcees in a moist deciduous 518 (2002).
forest and their use by birds - a preliminary report. 99 (3) ---, 2003. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus vociferus
(28 February): 537-542 (2002). (With 2 tables.). (Latham) preying on Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
---, 2003. Indian Pond-Herons Ardeola grayii feeding on Linnaeus. 99 (3) (28 February): 518 (2002).
dragonflies. 100 (1) (17 July): 107-108. SONIYA, V. P, 2003. Unusual nesting material in the nest of
---, 2003. The Grey-headed Lapwing in Tamil Nadu - a Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gmelin. 99 (3) (28
rejoinder. 100 (1) (17 July): 123. February): 527 (2002).
---, 2003. Breeding records of the Asian Brown Flycatcher SRINIVASULU, C, 2003. Sight record of the Little Pied
Muscicapa dauurica in southern India. 100 (1) (17 July): Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni Sharpe in Andhra
146-147. Pradesh. 99 (3) (28 February): 534 (2002).
---, 2003. Birds of Goa - some supplementary notes. 100 (1) UNNITHAN, S., and G. V. K. Unnithan, 2003. A breeding
(17 July): 151-152. colony of River Tern Sterna aurantia, Small Pratincole
---, 2003. Foraging associations and interactions in Glareola lactea and Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus
woodpeckers. 100 (2&3) (23 September): 627-628. indicus at Lonavla. 99 (3) (28 February): 522-525
(With 1 table.). (2002).
SHARMA, Satish Kumar, 2003. Nocturnal feeding by White- URFI, Abdul Jamil, 2003. Record of a nesting colony of
bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens. 100 (1) (17 July): Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala at Man-Marodi
144. Island in the Gulf of Kutch. 100 (1) (17 July): 109-110.
---, 2003. Total albinism in a Large Grey Babbler Turdoides (With 1 map.).
malcolmi. 100 (1) (17 July): 144-145. VARU, S. N., and M. H. Trivedi, 2003. Recovery of a ringed
SHIVAPRAKASH, A, 2003. Unusual behaviour of Purple Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo in Kutch. 100 (2&3) (23
Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica. 99 (3) (28 February): 535 September): 624-625.
(2002). VERMA, Ashok, 2003. Wintering site fidelity in Western
SHUKLA, Ashish, 2003. Attempt by a Cattle Egret Bubulcus Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linn.), in Keoladeo
ibis coromandus to feed on an adult House Shrew Suncus National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 100 (1) (17 July):
murinus (Linn.). 99 (3) (28 February): 517 (2002). 117-118.
SINGH, Arun P, 2003. Birds of Tabo: A lesser known cold VERMA, Ashok, and Brijendra Singh, 2003. First record of
desert in the Western Himalaya. 100 (1) (17 July): 152- Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica (Miller) from
154. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 100
SINGHA, Hillaljyoti, Asad R. Rahmani, Malcolm C. Coulter, (2&3) (23 September): 625-626.
and Salim Javed, 2003. Breeding behaviour of the YAHYA, H. S. A., and Ashfaq Ahmed Zarri, 2003. Status,
Greater Adjutant-Stork Leptoptilos dubius in Assam, ecology and behaviour of Narcondam Hornbill, (Aceros
India. 100 (1) (17 July): 9-26. (With 1 text-fig., and 2 pll. narcondami) in Narcondam Island, Andaman and
with 7 b&w. photos.). Nicobar Islands, India. 99 (3) (28 February): 434-445
SIVAKUMAR, K., and R. Sankaran, 2003. The incubation (2002). (With 1 map, 2 text-figures and, 2 tables.).
mound and hatching success of the Nicobar Megapode
Megapodius nicobariensis Blyth. 100 (2&3) (23
September): 375-387. (With 4 text-figs., and 1 pl.).

Correspondence
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer foraging on But on closer observation I saw that they were actually
Drumstick Moringa oleifera leaves eating the leaves of the Drumstick tree. I don’t understand
Arunayan Sharma why they were eating them. I thought it was an unusual,
Director, Centre for Ecological Engineering, In front of perhaps stray incident.
T.O.P., Netaji Subhash Road, Malda 732101, West Bengal. After that observation, whenever I got the opportunity, I
Email: ecoeng@rediffmail.com observed Red-vented Bulbuls’ foraging behaviour in my
On 14th January 1998, I was observing birds in my garden. To my surprise, till April 2003, I actually saw Red-
garden at English Bazaar, Malda district, West Bengal. It vented Bulbuls foraging on Drumstick leaves on 36
was late in the morning when I noticed two Red-vented occassions. I now believe that at least in this part of the
Bulbuls Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766), flying into a country, leaves of the Drumstick tree form a part of the diet
Drumstick tree Moringa oleifera. I was surprised to see of Red-vented Bulbuls.
them plucking the leaves. Or were they eating caterpillars?
28 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Forest Wagtail in Chennai, Tamil Nadu grasses and placing them in the hole. The male was more
Janaki Lenin active at this job.
P.O. Box 21, Chengalpattu 603001, Tamil Nadu. Suddenly I saw a pair of Brahminy Starlings Sturnus
Email: draco@vsnl.com pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789), wandering on the same roof.
We live outside Chennai (Madras city), adjacent to a After a while they approached the sparrows’ nest, to usurp
scrub forest. Of late we have a lot of Forest Wagtails it. The sparrows were smaller than the starlings, but they
Dendronanthus indicus (Gmelin, 1789), wandering through defended their home territory with loud chirps and frequent
the garden and around the house. Yesterday (11.iv.2004) “attacks” at the starlings. This lasted for 10-15 minutes,
after 13:00 hours, one of our dogs drew my attention to a after which time the starlings flew away. On the same day,
Forest Wagtail standing next to the house. The dog put her at around 14:00 hours, I saw them struggling once again for
whole snout on top of the bird (physically touching it) and control of the nest hole. This time the starlings also
sniffed it. The bird allowed me to approach, and I picked it “attacked” the sparrows. The struggle lasted for 5-6 minutes
up. It had no signs of any injury (no sign of dog saliva after which the starlings flew away.
either); it looked perfectly normal. It was standing normally Next morning, at 08:30 hours, I again heard the unusual
and yet it wasn’t walking away. It held onto my finger chirping of sparrow. I saw that struggle between the
tightly, maintaining its balance but wouldn’t perch on a tree sparrows and starlings had reached the stage where they
branch when I tried to place it on one. So I kept it in a small were aggressively pecking at each other. But this time the
cage for an hour. Then not knowing what else I could do for starlings seemed more aggressive. They were compelling
it, I took it out again to see if it was any better and this time the sparrows to vacate that nest with frequent attacks. The
it did fly away. sparrows were desperate. The Brahminy Starlings’ black
crest was erect with their aggression.
House Sparrow killed by Brahminy Starling All of a sudden, a starling grasped the cock sparrow
D. N. Choudhary under its foot, pinning it down with its pointed claws and
Lecturer, Department of Zoology, P. N. College (J. P. University), started pecking it. The other starling joined in. The hen
Parsa, Saran 841219, Bihar
sparrow seemed helpless. The cock sparrow was severely
In the 2nd week of April 2003, between 09:00-09:30
injured and bleeding.
hours, I observed a pair of House Sparrows Passer
I was taken aback at this sudden change of events. I
domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758), busy building their nest. They
tried to save the bird, but failed.
selected a small space in a 10” x 10” hole in a brick pillar,
situated in an undisturbed place on the roof. All day the
partners were busy collecting straw, thin dry twigs and

Miscellaneous
Launch of the Asian Waterbird Census report 1997-2001
David Li
AWC International Coordinator and Waterbird Conservation Officer (Asia)
Wetlands International, 3A39, Block A, Kelana Centre Point, SS7/19 Petaling Jaya, 47301 Selangor, Malaysia

We are pleased to announce that Wetlands International Convention, 32 Migratory Waterbird Network Sites in the
has formally launched a new Asian Waterbird Census East Asian-Australasian Flyway and 43 Important Bird
(AWC) 1997-2001 report titled “Numbers and distribution Areas.
of Waterbirds and Wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region. A total of 291 species of migratory and resident
Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1997-2001” waterbirds and 15 species of wetland-dependent raptors
(Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ISBN 90 (birds of prey) were recorded; and a maximum of over 4.5
5882-020-3), on 4 April 2004 in Edinburgh, U.K., in million waterbirds were counted in 2001.
conjunction with the Global Flyway Conference jointly The publication provides distribution maps for 110
organised by the U.K. and Dutch governments and species, including 24 globally threatened species.
Wetlands International. The data in the report aims to contribute to conservation
The report presents the latest information on waterbird efforts of wetland management bodies, government
numbers and distribution, as well as the status of important agencies, conventions and NGOs at the local and the
wetlands in Asia. international level. Forewords by the Secretary General of
This report summarises the results of the counts from the Convention on Wetlands and the Executive Secretary of
1,392 sites in 22 countries including 61 wetlands of the Convention on Migratory Species (two major
international importance listed under the Ramsar international data users) call on their contracting parties to
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 29

use this publication to promote wetland and waterbird 2001. Of the sites covered, a total of 61 have been
conservation nationally. This demonstrates the importance designated as internationally important sites under the
of the AWC. Ramsar Convention (as at 31 December 2003), 32 as
For your immediate information, the summary of the Migratory Waterbird Network Sites in the East Asian-
report is attached at the end of this email. Additionally, the Australasian Flyway (as at 31 December 2003) and 43
Ramsar Website has provided a writeup on this launch. Important Bird Areas (as stated in BirdLife International’s
The publication is available from the Natural History IBA publications for Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines,
Book Service http://www.nhbs.co.uk, and will be available Taiwan and Vietnam, as at 31 December 2003).
for downloading shortly at Wetlands International Website: Eighty-two sites in 10 countries, about 6% of the total
http://www.wetlands.org. number of sites counted, were reported to support more than
20,000 birds. Of these 82 sites, 22 (c.27%) are Ramsar sites
SUMMARY and 11 (c.13%) belong to the Migratory Waterbird Site
Background Networks in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was initiated in Total numbers of waterbirds counted were 2,223,805
1987 and runs simultaneously with other waterbird censuses (314 sites), 1,794,280 (385 sites), 3,266,649 (625 sites),
carried out in Africa, Europe, Central and West Asia and 3,233,096 (594 sites) and 4,571,522 (770 sites) in 1997,
Latin America under the umbrella of the International 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively.
Waterbird Census (IWC), which is organised by Wetlands Totals of 291 species of waterbirds and 15 species of
International. The IWC is the largest and longest running wetland-dependent raptors (birds of prey) were recorded.
faunal monitoring programme in the world. Over 43% of these are restricted to the region covered by
The AWC started on the Indian subcontinent in January the census (126 waterbird species and seven species of
1987 and has grown rapidly to cover Asia, Australasia and wetland-dependent raptors). The ten most numerous species
eastern Russia. Since 1987, a total of more than 5,700 sites were Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (489,652 in 2000),
from 25 countries have been counted at least once. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata (259,155 in 2001),
The AWC census takes place annually, during the Northern Pintail Anas acuta (237,105 in 2001), Baikal Teal
second and third weeks of January, and is carried out by Anas formosa (231,482 in 1999), Eurasian Wigeon Anas
volunteers interested in collecting information on waterbirds penelope (207,936 in 2001), Common Teal Anas crecca
and wetlands as a basis for contributing to their (194,723 in 2001), Gadwall Anas strepera (188,631in
conservation. 2001), Common Coot Fulica atra (178, 458 in 2001), Spot-
The data collected by the AWC have been used in billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha (161,494 in 2000) and
various reports and contributes to a range of conservation Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (160,280 in 2001).
activities from local to global levels, including: Species and Thirty-seven of the species recorded are recognized as
site conservation and research programmes and campaigns Globally Threatened, according to BirdLife International
to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands in many (2001). They include two Critically Endangered, 11
countries; The development of national wetland and Endangered and 24 Vulnerable, species; 31 of these are
waterbird conservation Action Plans and Strategies; The restricted to the region covered by the census. In addition,
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in identifying wetlands of 17 Lower Risk species (one Conservation Dependent, 16
international importance through regular monitoring of Near Threatened) were recorded. Good coverage of at least
waterbirds and Ramsar List sites; The Convention on 14 congregatory threatened species (Spot-billed Pelican
Migratory Species, by monitoring the status of migratory Pelecanus philippensis, Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana,
waterbirds and their habitats; The Convention on Biological Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, Lesser White-
Diversity’s goal of conservation and sustainable use of fronted Goose Anser erythropus, Swan Goose Anser
biodiversity; The implementation of the Asia-Pacific cygnoides, Baikal Teal Anas formosa, White-headed Duck
Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005, Oxyura leucocephala, Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis,
through monitoring of waterbirds and their sites, including Hooded Crane Grus monacha, Red-crowned Crane Grus
sites listed under the three East Asian-Australasian japonensis, White-naped Crane Grus vipio, Siberian Crane
Migratory Waterbird Site Networks; BirdLife Grus leucogeranus, Saunders’ Gull Larus saundersi, and
International’s Important Bird Area (IBA) Programme; Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis) reinforces the value of
IUCN/BirdLife’s Globally Threatened Bird Update (GTB) the census in monitoring the distribution and abundance of
Programme; and Wetlands International’s Waterbird these threatened populations and the need for additional
Population Estimates (WPE). attention to be paid to enhancing this role. A total of 145
The data given in this publication represent the results species covered by the census are listed in the Appendices
of the AWC from 1997 to 2001. of the Convention on Migratory Species; of which 35 are
Globally Threatened and Lower Risk species and are listed
Highlights of the 1997-2001 censuses in Appendix I while 10 species are listed in Appendix II.
A total of 22 countries participated in the censuses and Additionally, 26 species are listed by the Convention on
1,392 sites were covered at least once between 1997 and International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
30 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

and Flora (CITES); 14 (including 12 globally threatened

and Lower Risk species) and 12 (including three globally A total of 649 sites in South Asia were counted at least
threatened and Lower Risk species) species are listed in once; count information was provided by all countries except
Appendices I and II respectively. Afghanistan and the Maldives. Total numbers of waterbirds
Information on uses of and threats to sites reporting counted were 508,030 (126 sites), 504,480 (194 sites),
more than 20,000 waterbirds revealed strong anthropogenic 1,005,325 (285 sites), 576,278 (164 sites) and 2,372,849 (327
influences through fishing, agriculture at and around the sites) in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively. Totals
sites, and overgrowth of vegetation (on-site uses and of 173 species of waterbirds and 14 species of wetland-
threats), with eutrophication resulting from on-site activities dependent raptors were counted, 32 of which are globally
threatened and Lower Risk.
and in the catchments, through, for example, pollution
(domestic sewage, fertilisers, solid wastes, etc.) and
Species distribution
excessive siltation. Of concern is the reported partial or
Distribution maps are presented for a selection of 110
complete reclamation of a small proportion of these
species, including 24 globally threatened and nine Near
internationally important sites. Improved reporting of
Threatened species for which relatively significant data are
information on uses and threats at all sites is being
available.
promoted to provide a more comprehensive mechanism to
increase our knowledge base and to enable preventive
Future directions
actions to be undertaken in a timely manner through local
The report outlines plans to be implemented during
and international action.
2004-2006. These range from actions to enhance geographic
The collection of data was coordinated and carried out
and site coverage, strengthen coordination and
by a dedicated volunteer network of National/Sub-national
communication activities, provide training to improve the
Coordinators and over 1,000 volunteers in 22 countries.
quality of data collected, upgrade database systems used to
The AWC covers the following three main regions:
collate information, support improved decision making for
South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. Australasia is
waterbird and wetland conservation at international and
also covered as part of the AWC.
national levels through enhanced use of AWC data and
develop a fund raising strategy to support activities of the
South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
census.
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)

Falcons in focus
Aasheesh Pittie
8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034. Email: aasheesh@vsnl.in

Driving towards the “Red Lakes,” a set of twin small through the binocs into mine. I could not hold his intense
ponds in ICRISAT Campus (near Hyderabad), I glimpsed stare.
through the corner of my eye, a grey arrow streaking across From his elevated, shadowed perch, he watched the flat
the landscape, and disappearing into the crown of a Toddy landscape spread away all around, a quilt-work of
Palm. We stopped on the bund, unfolding the spindly legs undisturbed brown and ploughed red earth, of yellowing
of our tripods, to scope onto a pair of Avocets that had been and green vegetation, of stagnant paddies and distant water.
reported from here around Diwali. A small flock of waders Small clusters of trees huddled here and there and bare
huddled close to the fast-evaporating small pool. Ruffs branched thorny shrubs spoke an arid language. A bright
stood about, some on the ground, sleeping with beaks under sun shone from behind me in a wind scrubbed cloudless
a wing, a few knee-deep in water, probing listlessly. No sky. The surrounding industrial hub was a noxious nuisance.
sign of avocets! Swinging my binoculars towards the crown If there were larks in the fields close by, they lay low,
of the Toddy palm, I spied the profile of a Red-headed merging their browns with the furrowed earth. A roller
Falcon. The tiercel would have seen our car long ago, as he rasped in the background, not threatened by the hunter, but
shot through ether, abandoning a pouring landscape in his nervous in his presence.
wake, to perch abruptly with a stone-hewn stillness in the Suddenly he rose, pumping his pointed wings with a
palm. I could only see his bust over a frond. The hunters’ surge of purpose and power. In the blinking of an eye he
large all-seeing eye, brown, and yellow-rimmed, reflecting exploded from the sun upon the Common Swallow that had
the very world it absorbs; the powerful curved beak; the been zipping and unzipping the sky in pursuit of midges. At
chestnut hood and moustache. His white throat gleamed the last moment the swallow tumbled out of the tiercel’s
with bounced sunlight. He watched me then, in a casually scorched trajectory, glimpsing the brilliance of the sun in
alert way, boring with his eight times more powerful eyes his blazing eye as it slipped past the tiercel’s flung anchor
shape, avoiding miraculously, the clutching talon. When I
 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004) 31

took the binoculars from my eye, pointing out the drama to Fear, they say, gives strength. Mercurial reflexes, honed
CTH, we saw the falcon blurring towards her mate on in the pursuit of flying insects, and the sagacity of an earth
closed wings. Miraculously the terrified swallow avoided traveller migrating between distant shores, thrummed in the
the red-masked meteor, as both raptors overshot the genes of the lucky swallow. In a moment, plummeting on
fluttering little feathered heartbeat. The element of surprise curved wings, the falcon lit on the palm frond from where
was blown but the hunters pressed on. Again and again the the tiercel had launched his attack and he followed on her
swallow escaped by a whisker, buffeted about in the heels. The world swung back on its axis and surrounding
frenzied violence of the attack, the rushing roar of wind birdcalls reached my ear again. CTH pointed towards a
caught in a whirl of horizons, a panic-struck heart thudding woodpecker. In that moment of distraction, the falcon
frantically within its frail plumage. Predator and prey slipped away. The tiercel continued to watch a warming
pouncing and prancing, locked in the tragic ballet of world as swallows now hunted their winged prey between
survival, spiraled to pinpoints in the domed firmament. him and the sun.

What is ‘sea-watching’?
Anand Prasad
Middlewood, Roeburndale West, Lancaster, U.K. LA2 9LL
Email: swamianandprasad@yahoo.com

Sounds a bit weird? Maybe sitting on a beach How do I get a chair to the promontory?
somewhere, sipping some tropical cocktail gazing into azure On a motorbike.
blue ocean waiting for some seagull to land on someone’s On a motorbike?
deck chair. Not quite. Ok so it took some trial and error. Driving down an
The monsoon is tailing off, (although it doesn’t always ancient track (this time literally ancient, as it is the road
seem so), but in August it is raining several times a day. around an old fort) and therefore minor mishaps involving
Where do you need to sea-watch? As close to the sea as turning around and discovering no chair, but luckily not too
possible. So you choose a promontory. So you are miles far back, in a muddy puddle (yes Indian puddle!). I have
from shelter. thoughts about discarding chair completely, but the body /
When are you likely to see the best birds? When it is back says otherwise, rub off the mud with my sweatband,
blowing like hell and raining. and get to it?
When is a telescope useless? When it is covered in rain Get to what?
or even worse sea-spray. OK tripod, all set up cripple style.
When is a telescope’s thousand pounds worth of Cripple style?
technical precision also made redundant? When the wind is Completely un-straight leaning in towards me so I don’t
shaking your preciously magnified image in a similarly have to bend the back.
magnified amount. Oh, isn’t that a bit awkward?
Are you getting the dialectics involved here? Yes! Well remember if it’s too easy its not birding is it.
When is the best time to sea-watch? Before the crack of Oh!
dawn of course (all birders have a religious belief that if you So its now 6.30 plenty of time for the skuas! All set up
are not suffering its not really birding). scope pointing out to the sea, and…
Just because I read somewhere that most of the skua And?
one birder saw was before 7am I believe him. Even though I And nothing, maybe something will be along in a
have seen skuas at any time, the religious dogma must be minute.
mow followed. Oh…so what happens when that big black cloud gets
So at 5.45 the alarm goes off. On with the sun block here?
(you never know), pull back the mossy-net to get some air On with the raincoat, cover the scope and wait it out.
into the mildewed bed, quick swill of aqua and off we go. Didn’t you say that’s the best time to watch the birds?
Who? Oh! never mind.
The gear and me of course. [It’s now 7.30 no skuas and sweet FA of anything else
Gear? either, this is time when normal birders get going.]
Well scope, tripod, bins, book, pen and chair. Ah, OK 7.31, our first birds.
Chair? Oh, where?
Yes, plastic Indian all-purpose chair, for poor buggers See those little dots, those.
with bad backs. Those, but they are how far away?
Oh!
32 Newsletter for Ornithologists Vol. 1 No. 1-2 (January-April 2004)

Oh, about 5km, sometimes they come closer, especially What a shame!
when the wind is blowing. So see you at 9.30 then. OK, bye.
Oh! So how do you know what you are looking at?
It’s all a question of jizz. [Scene: The estuary. Time: reasonable.]
Jizz? Jizz? So where are these birds then?
General Impression, Shape and Size. Out on that sand bank.
Doesn’t that spell GISS? What sand bank?
Well the exact meaning has been lost in the ancient Oh, out there, you’ll see when we get closer.
archives of birderism, its thought to come from the RAF. Closer?
Oh! So what jizz did those ones have? Yes we’re wading out there.
Don’t know, too far out. Oh! Wait a minute, here’s What! Through that water?
some more terns; look really big. It’s only up to your ankles.
Isn’t it these flying over our heads? Oh! …Hey I thought you said it was only up to the
Oh yes, Little Terns. ankles, how come my shorts are all wet?
So what are we hoping to see here? Oh, the tide must still be going out, it’s not so bad; it
Well there are the six tern species that are here all will be OK on the way back.
winter. Rubbish. We don’t want them. We are after the four [15 minutes later]
plus species, which are regular on passage migration, plus Oh…how come all those birds are up in the air?
skuas, storm-petrels and anything else that could turn up. Some Kite must have scared them; they will be back in
OK so how do tell the difference between these 11 a while.
species of Tern if they are just winged dots on the horizon? Oh…I thought you said they were coming back?
Well, remember that word jizz. Well those had shallow Well they sometimes come back, maybe those
wing beats so it was probably a Gull-billed or perhaps a fishermen are making them nervous, well we had better
Common Tern whereas if they had quick and deep wing head back now the tide is coming in again.
action they were probably Sandwich or Lesser Crested or But we haven’t seen any birds?
perhaps one the smaller Terns, Roseate or White-cheeked. Oh birding can be like that, otherwise why would we do
Sounds very iffy to me! it, eh!
No, it’s all very scientific really. We can always try Morjim beach at high tide that
Sound like a load of bollocks! usually has some terns on the incoming tide?
Aye, you might have something there. Well we could No thanks; I think I will give it a miss.
always go to the estuary. You can get really close to the All right then, maybe see you tomorrow.
birds there. Well I might come just to see you riding down that
Oh that sounds better, when can we go? track with a plastic chair on the back of a motorbike and
OK, so we have to have these top-secret tide tables that your tripod straddled across the handlebars, you must look a
a mate of mine managed to get hold of from the shipping rare sight.
company. Yes, you should see the looks I get, they think I have
Sounds like pretty dangerous stuff? some new super-dooper, radar device or machine gun
Oh, yes it is, you never know who might come creeping placement, well bye, not such a great day today, if the wind
up these estuaries. picks up maybe we will see a Shearwater or Tropicbird
Oh you mean like the Goan liberation movement? tomorrow!
Yes something like that. (P.S. this was a couple of days written before I actually
OK, so see you tomorrow; at what time? Wait! No need saw a frigatebird and Brown Noddy on one day, so there is
to tell me, before the crack of dawn? definitely a God).
Actually no, bit of shame really, the tide will not be out
till 10am so we can’t.