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Birds of a feather
April 30, 2011
Whether or not you
are a bird watcher, do you have at least a passing acquaintance with
Delhi's birds? Well, here's your chance to begin. Earlier, information
on bird species was only available in a scattered form. Now, for the
first time, a new compilation, available on the site
www.bnhsenvis.nic.in - created by the Bombay
Natural History Society, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Environment and Forests - gives a state-wise national comparison at
the click of a button. It reveals Delhi has a whopping 450 species of
birds of all categories, including migratory ones. There are a number
of spots in the national capital region, fairly accessible, that give
you opportunities for bird-spotting, adventure treks, photography and
family outings (see graphic). Considering the size of our city-state,
the number of bird species is encouraging, especially when compared to
our bigger-sized neighbours, states several times the size of Delhi.
For instance, Haryana has 522 varieties of birds; Rajasthan has 496
and Uttar Pradesh 500. Even bigger states away from Delhi have
comparable numbers such as Maharashtra (493) and Karnataka (492).
Our avian friends
can be categorised into two major categories: migratory and resident
species. Migratory birds are mostly found in winters, few of them
coming miles away from north while few of them are local migrants
coming from one part of the country to other. Says Manu Bhatnagar of
conservation NGO Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage,
"The strength of the bird population shows the quality of life in a
city. As the green cover increases on the ground accompanied by the
greening of Yamuna flood plains, the number of birds increases."
Why birds love Delhi
Says Nikhil Debsar of Delhi Birds Club, "We have
almost every type of landscape. There are grasslands, forests, dry
lands, gardens, Yamuna waterfront, agriculture fields and even
scrubland as found at Asola and Tughlaqabad. All this offers a natural
habitat for variety of birds to home in here." Ample food availability
and suitable climatic conditions add to the positives for the city.
Adds Tarun K Roy, Delhi state coordinator for Wetlands International -
South Asia, "Apart from the resident and migratory birds, there is a
third category - the passage birds - which too adds to the diversity
of bird life. Delhi happens to lie on the birds' flyways. Several
species make a brief halt while crossing over, say, from south-east
Asia to terrains in the north-west of India." But does the encouraging
variety of species mean an increase in the overall bird population?
Not necessarily, say experts. A few species have seen a steady growth
while others have seen a steady decline. "We have lost 99 per cent of
the vulture population in last 10 years," adds Debsar. Greater
Flamingo, the count for which had earlier reached 500, has not been
seen for the last 10 years. The Spot billed duck and Brahmini duck,
too, have seen dwindling numbers, says Roy and adds, "(But) among the
resident species, the number for Purple Moorhen is steadily rising."
The white-rump Vulture is on the 'critical' list while Oriental Stork
is endangered. The Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Sarus
Crane and Indian Skimmer are few of the vulnerable birds, while Lesser
Flamingo and Black-tailed Godwit are nearly threatened species.
Habitat destruction
Apart from global climate change factors, local factors too affect
birds' habitat. The pollution in Yamuna is an increasing cause of
worry for the bird lovers. "Habitat disturbance such as cutting of a
large number of trees, human thoroughfare, air pollution and
now-a-days, mobile tower radiation, affect bird life in an adverse
way," Roy says. "Fast declining surface water bodies and missing soft
embankments around the existing ponds/lakes - which favour emergent
vegetation like weeds - too add to the woes of the winged species,"
warns Bhatnagar. Before they become extinct, brace up to train your
binoculars on your favourite bird species.
Link:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Birds-of-a-feather/Article1-691443.aspx
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अवघे पक्षिजीवन एका
'क्लिक'वर!
30 Apr 2011, 0355 hrs IST
आपल्या सभोवताली आढळणाऱ्या पक्ष्यांबरोबरच देशाच्या कानाकोपऱ्यात
वास्तव्यास असलेले पक्षी
, त्यांची शास्त्रीय माहिती आणि अद्ययावत घडामोडी
अधिकाधिक पक्षिमित्रांना मिळाव्यात , यासाठी
बॉम्बे नॅचरल हिस्ट्री सोसायटीच्या पर्यावरण माहिती प्रणाली केंदाने
www.bnhsenvis.nic.in
या वेबसाइटवर पक्षिजीवनाची सविस्तर माहिती मोफत उपलब्ध
केली आहे. पक्ष्यांच्या संवर्धनासाठी कार्यरत
असलेल्या बॉम्बे नॅचरल हिस्ट्री सोसायटीचे (
बीएनएचएस ) ' एन्व्हिस ' (
एन्व्हायन्मेर्ंटल इन्फर्मेशन सिस्टीम )
केंद हे भारत सरकारच्या वन आणि पर्यावरण मंत्रालयाच्या
सहाय्याने कार्यरत आहे . पक्ष्यांवर झालेले
संशोधन , पक्ष्यांचे जीवन ,
सद्यस्थिती याविषयी शास्त्रीय भाषेतील साहित्य इंटरनेट
आणि पुस्तकरूपात उपलब्ध आहे . पण सर्वसामान्य
पक्षिमित्र आणि अभ्यासकांना ही भाषा समजण्यास अनेक अडचणी येतात .
अनेकदा याविषयीची पुस्तकेही स्थानिक भाषेत उपलब्ध होत
नाहीत . त्यामुळे खास पक्षिमित्रांसाठी '
बीएनएचएस एन्व्हिस ' च्या
वेबसाइटवर पक्षिजीवनाच्या विज्ञानाचा माहितीसंग्रह इंग्रजीसह मराठी आणि
हिंदी भाषेत प्रसिद्ध करण्यात आला आहे, अशी
माहिती बीएनएचएसचे जनसंपर्क अधिकारी अतुल साठे यांनी दिली.
भारतीय उपखंडातील पक्ष्यांची परिस्थिती ,
त्यांची सूची व माहिती संग्रह हे या संकेतस्थळाचे
वैशिष्ट्य आहे . यामध्ये भारतीय पक्ष्यांचा
इतिहास , पौराणिक संदर्भ ,
राज्य आणि केंद शासित प्रदेशानुसार पक्षीसूची ,
केवळ भारतात आढळणारे पक्षी ,
संवेदनशील पक्षी प्रदेश यांसह भारतीय उपखंडातील पक्षी सूची ,
नामशेष होण्याच्या मार्गावर असलेले पक्षी यांविषयी
संदर्भांसह मार्गदर्शन करण्यात आले आहे . याशिवाय
भारतात येणारे स्थलांतरीत पक्षी , त्यांची
शास्त्रीय आणि सर्वसामान्यांना समजेल अशी माहिती ,
त्यांचा अधिवास , स्थलांतराविषयी
झालेले संशोधन अशा वैविध्यपूर्ण माहितीचे तब्बल पंधरा हजार संदर्भ
देण्यात आले आहेत , असेही साठे यांनी नमूद केले
.
Link:
http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8122755.cms
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BNHS website becomes more user-friendly
Apr 30, 2011, 05.06am IST
PUNE: The Bombay Natural History Society's Environmental Information
System website, which has exceptional database relating to avian
ecology of the subcontinent, has been made more interactive and the
information is now also available in Hindi and Marathi. The
recently-launched database of abstracts provides details of research
papers on avian ecology.
At the click of the mouse, one can get information on birds and avian
ecology, which is both useful for public as well as researchers. The
website also brings out a newsletter on avian ecology, which can be
subscribed.
The database includes state and Union territory-wise bird lists,
information on endemic birds of India, important bird areas, list of
birds in the subcontinent, endangered birds of India, names of birds
in regional languages, migratory birds of India, a checklist of Indian
water birds, changed common names or scientific names of birds in the
subcontinent. A BNHS spokesperson said the website's focus was on
getting more field information from bird watchers, students and nature
lovers. Experts answer their queries. Since 2003, the website is being
regularly updated to provide information on birds. The bibliographic
database contains more than 15,000 references and provides facility to
search through different fields, such as author, year, title and
journals.
The website also contains other interesting features like basic
information on Indian birds, history of Indian ornithology,
bird-watching tips, bird census, bird diversity in India, news on
birds, links to other important websites or journals on birds, other
ENVIS centres in India. An interactive section has been dedicated to
the rare grassland bird. Bustard and the species recovery plan for
another rare bird Jerdon's Courser. There is a kid's corner, which is
an interactive page meant for school children, and creates interest
among students regarding Indian avian diversity. There is also a
gallery of photographs.
The newsletter on avian ecology is called 'Buceros', which is
scientific in nature and provides information on latest national and
international news on birds, articles and abstracts of recently
published literature on ornithology. The BNHS ENVIS Centre has been
providing assistance to various user groups, such as researchers,
educationists, students, corporates, media and nature enthusiasts, by
answering their queries related to avian ecology. It encourages
readers to submit their data to the website.
Link:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-30/pune/29490324_1_migratory-birds-important-bird-areas-bird-census
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Avian Database Available on BNHS website
29 April 2011
Useful information on birds and avian ecology would be available on
the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) centre website of Bombay
Natural History Society (BNHS), supported by Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF).
The ENVIS website
www.bnhsenvis.nic.in
is a user-friendly website easy for navigation and is contemporary and
regularly updated to provide information in birds to maximum number of
people, both scientists as well as bird lovers. Its main strength is
its exceptional collection of databases related to avian ecology of
the Indian subcontinent.
Important databases on the site include state/ union territory-wise
bird list, endemic birds of India, important bird areas (IBAs), list
of birds of Indian subcontinent, threatened birds of India, names of
birds in regional languages of India, migratory birds of India,
checklist of Indian water birds and changed common names/scientific
names of birds of the Indian subcontinent. The bibliographic database
contains over 15,000 references and provides facility to search
through different fields such as author, year, title and journals. The
recently launched database of abstracts provides abstracts of research
papers on avian ecology based on keywords.
The website is available in English, Hindi and Marathi, and also
contains other interesting features including basic information on
Indian birds, history of Indian ornithology, tips on bird watching,
bird census, bird diversity in India and news on birds.
Link:
http://www.egovreach.in/social/?q=node/652&whois=&serarr
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Avians on internet
Friday, April 29, 2011
The
ENVIS website provides information on birds, bird watching, avian
census and much
more
information
about birds.
Nature lovers
may not have to visit libraries or educational institutions for
information on birds and avian ecology
anymore, as the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) centre
website of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS),
has made it available on their website, along with their newsletter on
avian ecology. This upgrade is supported by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF). The ENVIS website www.bnhsenvis.nic.in
is regularly updated to provide the latest
information on birds. The site has an exceptional collection of
databases related to avian ecology of the Indian subcontinent and on
the site including state/union bird list, endemic birds within India,
important bird areas (IBAs), list of birds found within the Indian
subcontinent, endangered birds of India,
names of birds in regional languages of India, migratory birds of
India, Indian water birds and changed common names/scientific names of
birds of Indian subcontinent. The
bibliographic database contains over 15,000 references and has the
option to search through author, year, title and journals. The website
is available in English, Hindi and Marathi,
and also contains other interesting features including information on
birds, history of Indian ornithology, tips on bird watching, bird
census, bird diversity in India and news on birds. Also an interactive
section is dedicated to the rare grassland bird - Bustard and the
Species Recovery Plan for another rare bird Jerdon’s Courser.
Link:
http://www.afternoondc.in/afternoondc/city-news/avians-on-internet/article_23400
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Useful info on birds on BNHS website
PTI | 10:04 PM, Apr 27, 2011
Useful information on birds and avian ecology would be available on
the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) centre website of Bombay
Natural History Society (BNHS), supported by Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF). The ENVIS website www.bnhsenvis.nic.in is a
user-friendly website easy for navigation and is contemporary and
regularly updated to provide information in birds to maximum number of
people, both scientists as well as bird lovers, BNHS director Dr A
Rahmani said today. Its main strength is its exceptional collection of
databases related to avian ecology of the Indian subcontinent.
Important databases on the site include state/ union territory-wise
bird list, endemic birds of India, important bird areas (IBAs), list
of birds of Indian subcontinent, threatened birds of India, names of
birds in regional languages of India, migratory birds of India,
checklist of Indian water birds and changed common names/scientific
names of birds of Indian subcontinent, Rahmani said. The bibliographic
database contains over 15,000 references and provides facility to
search through different fields such as author, year, title and
journals. The recently launched database of abstracts provides
abstracts of research papers on avian ecology based on keywords. The
website is available in English, Hindi and Marathi, and also contains
other interesting features including basic information on Indian
birds, history of Indian ornithology, tips on bird watching, bird
census, bird diversity in India and news on birds. An interactive
section is dedicated to the rare grassland bird - Bustard and the
Species Recovery Plan for another rare bird Jerdon's Courser, he said
adding that there is also a kid's corner, which is an interactive page
meant for school children. BNHS was selected for an ENVIS Centre by
MoEF during the year of Salim Ali Birth Centenary in 1996.
Link:
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/useful-info-on-birds-on-bnhs-website/664154.html
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Locals residents seek
early decision on GIB sanctuary area
Mar 14, 2011, 03.33am IST
Local
people living inside the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) sanctuary in
Solapur district have requested for an early decision from the Supreme
Court regarding notification of reducing the sanctuary area.
A workshop on the Great Indian Bustard
conservation was recently held in Solapur. It was organised by the Environmental
Information System (ENVIS)
of the Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS),
Indian Bird Conservation Network and the Forest Department (Wildlife -
Pune).
Sujit Narwade, scientist in charge of
the ENVIS, said during the workshop that local residents have
expressed concern over the pending decision on rationalisation of
boundaries of the sanctuary, because of which they are facing problems
while selling or buying properties, since there is confusion over
exactly how much area will remain within the proposed sanctuary
boundary. He said a proposal from the forest department about reducing
the sanctuary area from 8,400 sq km to 1,222 sq km area was sent with
an aim to ensure better management. The final decision is yet to come
from the Supreme Court.
He said that local residents are
worried since developmental works like construction of canals and
widening of national highways have been stalled because of the pending
decision, affecting the livelihood of villagers. Six talukas and many
villages are located inside this sanctuary.
At the workshop, experts highlighted
that to protect and conserve the Great Indian Bustard, local
participation and involvement of stakeholders was needed. "There are
local volunteers who regularly visit the field and document any
sighting of the bustards and their movement. The villagers can also
help. At present, there is no study on their local movement. People
residing in bustard habitats have co-existed with the birds and there
are hopes of revival of this sustainable relationship," Narwade said.
Link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Locals-residents-seek-early-decision-on-GIB-sanctuary-area/articleshow/7696257.cms
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Conserving Indian birds, with public support
Sunday, February 06, 2011 AT 07:58 PM (IST)
Ornithology, the study of birds, including their physiology, ecology,
behaviour and classification is one of the less explored branches of
zoology. The ENVIS (Environmental Information System) centre on avian
ecology located at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has been
instrumental in studying different aspects of avian fauna in India
since the last fifteen years. The centre is now looking forward to
people's participation for conservation of birds The
scientist-in-charge, Sujit Narwade spoke to Supriya Shelar.
What is the ENVIS centre on avian ecology all about?
ENVIS (Environmental Information System) is a network of subject
specific centers located in various institutions throughout India. All
the 76 ENVIS centres in the country work under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests. Maharashtra also has six ENVIS centres,
including four in Mumbai and one each in Pune and Nagpur. Primarily,
all the ENVIS centres collect and disseminate environment related
information to various user groups including researchers, policy
planners and decision makers. Each centre is dedicated to one specific
cause, like the centre at BNHS which is for avian ecology. It was
established in1996, when the inland wetlands was also its work area.
However, after 5 or 6 years of its formation, the additional
responsibility of inland wetlands was handed over to the Coimbatore-based institution
called the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACONH)
and the centre at BNHS is now wholly dedicated to avian ecology.
How rich is India as far as avian fauna is concerned?
India is quite rich in avian fauna, accounting for around ten per cent
of the global bird species. Of the around 10,000 bird species the
world over, around 1,200 species are found in India. As the country
has varied geographical areas like thick forests in the Western Ghats,
deserts, grasslands, wetlands and the Himalayan mountain ranges, the
bio-diversity is also rich. Eastern Himalayas is a hot spot for avian
fauna and is the gateway for all the migratory birds in India. It's
our responsibility to conserve this rich avian fauna. The habitat
specific species are on the threshold of extinction. Already two bird
species - the Pink Headed Duck and Himalayan Quail - have become
extinct. During the past 5 to10 years, the number of endangered
species has been increasing alarmingly, with inclusion of 156 species
in this category.
Being an ornithologist, what
is your observation on the inclination of youth towards ornithology as
a career?
As
compared to the UK and the USA, the research on avian ecology is
comparatively very low in India. Also the number of institutions
working in this field are less. It's really a very sad scenario.
Interestingly, the awareness among general public on birds is quite
satisfactory as compared to other wildlife. But considering the
monetary returns in the corporate field, there is a tendency to
restrict bird-watching to a hobby and not to choose it as a
profession. Further, most bird-watchers are based in urban metros,
whereas it is rural India which is rich in avian fauna and other
wildlife. There is a need to generate interest among common people and
train them in bird-watching, documentation and continuous monitoring.
Is ENVIS planning anything on these lines?
Yes. The centre is encouraging public participation in strengthening
of the bird checklist data in India using the WorldBirds portal. The
data recorded by people is extremely valuable for conservation at all
levels - from local site protection to national and international
policy-making. It is impossible for conservation organizations to
visit all areas for all species, and members of the public can help
fill in the gaps. The
www.worldbirds.org
portal allows anybody to choose a country and submit their bird
observations. We are planning to extract, verify and compile the
location- wise bird checklists using this portal. We are planning to
document avian ecology from extremely remote areas of the country. It
will help the experts in compilation of minute details of avian fauna
from local people.
Tell something about the newsletter of the centre.
Our
newsletter is called Buceros, named after the genus under which the
Great Pied Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is classified. During
the early days of BNHS (formed in1883), one Great Hornbill used to
stay in the BNHS premises. The bird, named 'Williams', was associated
with the BNHS for 26 years and thus became the part of the BNHS
family. In its memory, BNHS adopted the Great Hornbill as the logo and
mascot. The newsletter, published thrice a year has till date covered important
issues like Ramsar sites, vernacular and standardized English names of
the birds of the Indian subcontinent, the history of Indian
ornithology, threatened
birds of India and the Important Bird Areas (IBA) programme in India.
Can you elaborate on the IBA programme?
The IBA is the project by the BirdLife International - an apex body
for conservation of birds. It selects one of the institutes in each
country as partner. BNHS is the partner in India. With the help of
partner organisations, important bird areas are identified based on
the number of birds observed in the particular area, number of
extinct, endajngered and endemic bird species and even the
non-protected areas. Maharashtra has 20 IBAs including Nannaj (Solapur
district), Shivadi (Mumbai), Bhimashankar (Pune) and Nandur
Madhmeshwar (Nashik) to name a few.
What are the future projects of the centre?
The
ongoing activity of the Bustard Forum, started in September last year,
focuses on the species recovery of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) - an
endangered bird species. By conducting workshops and data collection,
the forum will try to protect the three species of GIB found in India.
Another important project is 'Climate change impacts on the
conservation of birds in Asia'. It's a global initiative by BirdLife
International, the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) and
the Audubon Society of UK to create a web-based network to provide a
platform for collection, storage and retrieval of bird observations
worldwide. The process of data compilation is going on, with the
director BNHS Dr Asad Rahmani coordinating the project.
Link:
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/sakaaltimesbeta/20110206/5448268155838959900.htm
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For
the love of bustard
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
In order to sustain the relationship
between the villagersand
the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the Environmental
Information System (ENVIS)
Centre of Avian Ecology at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS),
Indian BirdConservation Network
(IBCN) and the Forest Department, Wildlife (Pune) held a joint
conference in Solapur last week.
The workshop on GIB conservation comprised
participants from the forest department, birdwatchers, lawyers,
students, and villagers from
across the state supporting bustard conservation.
Sujit Narwade, Scientist in-charge, ENVIS Centre, said, “Thanks to the
support from the locals, the bustards have been surviving for
generations. However in the current situation the bird needs
collective efforts from every Solapurkar.” Villagers earlier
had protested against GIB Sanctuary as they had expressed concern over
the pending decision of rationalization of its boundaries, because
they are facing problems in sale deed activities. Developmental work
such as construction of canals and road widening of national highways
has been stalled, affecting livelihood of villagers.
The vast expanse of the existing GIB
Sanctuary in Solapur, spanning several talukas for a long time has
been a simmering issue. Moreover, the Pune Forrest Department is also
in favour of reducing the sanctuary area for its better management.
However, the final decision is yet to come from the Supreme Court.
It is also notable that GIBs have been
spotted even outside the sanctuary limits. This highlights the
importance of non-protected areas in conservation.
Legal aspects of GIB conservation include
understanding the details of the Sections and Acts under which GIB has
been protected.
Link:
http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/for-the-love-of-bustard/article_19785
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Bird banding by BNHS to track journey route of winged visitors
Pune, Feb 5
In an effort to track the migratory routes of birds in the Sinhagad
fort forest near here, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
carried out the first banding session in the region, tagging about 75
winged creatures this week.
Witnessed by a large number of environment activists and nature
enthusiasts, the BNHS team caught birds belonging to 25 species in the
nets put up in the Sinhgad valley which included the Asian
Paradise-Flycatcher, Leaf Warbler, and Grey Wagtail.
Elaborating on the BNHS banding session-cum-training workshop for bird
lovers in Pune region, Sujit Naravade, researcher, told PTI that
during the excercise aimed at creating wild life awareness, the team
led by S Balchandran weighed the birds, noting down their measurements
of wings, head, torso, beak and tail before releasing them into the
azure skies.
Since not much information is currently available on the routes they
take, the tracking of journeys of migratory birds is expected to
provide important clues for planning of protected areas for their
habitat. The birds that were banded by BNHS, the nodal agency for bird
ringing in the country, comprised six to seven species of migratory
birds which frequent the Indian sub continent flying their way from
Urasia, Russia, Siberia and Middle East as they cross the eastern
Himalayas, Naravade said.
With regard to the Sinhagad valley, where around 130 bird species have
been sighted, he said the loss of habitat was a major threat to the
winged population as the fort region is being treated as a picnic spot
by revellers whose growing numbers have led to mushrooming of hotels
and other commercial activities.
"There is an urgent need to reduce this disturbance to the birds in
the valley and use of plastic by tourists resulting in ecological and
environmental degradation of the region which needs preservation
measures," Naravade pointed out.
The tourist cars were being allowed to go to top of the fort to the
detriment of bird population, he added. The data on ringed birds
collected through recapture and subsequent release or its recovery as
dead bird go a long way in helping ornithologists to study their life
and movement pattern.
Link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/134964/bird-banding-bnhs-track-journey.html
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
BNHS trains enthusiasts in bird banding
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 AT 10:30 AM (IST)
The first ever bird banding workshop, held in the Sinhagad Fort Valley
recently, was a feast for bird lovers. The major focus of the workshop
was tjraining in bird banding or ringing. The project was conducted by
the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in association with
city-based Foliage Outdoors. The BNHS is the authorised agency in the
country to conduct bird banding. “Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird
Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu conducts the bird banding at large scale on
regular basis. Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary in Orissa is another hot
spot for bird banding,” said scientist in-charge at ENVIS Centre at
BNHS Sujit Naravade. “Satellite tracking is the best tool with direct
connection, but it's an expensive method. Comparatively bird banding
is affordable. It requires aluminum rings of various sizes as per the
size of birds. Bird banding can be done for both migratory and
resident birds,” he added. During the exercise, strategic locations
are identified, preferably near streams or on the boundaries of
forests and farmlands. A mist net made up of delicate nylon threads is
put up to catch the birds. Once the bird is caught, the ring is
attached in its leg, with utmost care so that it does not get injured.
The details like sex, weight, size, shape and colour of wings, tail
and bill are recorded. The name of the ringing authority, date and
location is recorded on the tag before releasing the bird. Speaking
about the workshop, director, Foliage Outdoors, Rahul Rao, said, “The
valley adjacent to Sinhagad is rich in avian ecology. Since the past
three years, we have been monitoring the valley. During the event, 55
birds from 20 species were tagged, including the Asian
Paradise-flycatcher, the Leaf Warbler, Grey Wagtail and Red-throated
Flycatcher.”
Link:
http://72.78.249.126/SakaalTimesBeta/20110202/5392888823442376001.htm
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
Wings of delight
Sun Feb 01 2009, 01:39 hrs
The city’s birdwatchers flock together
The
hunt is not an exercise of will
But patient love
relaxing on a hill
To note the movement of
a timid wing
_ Nissim Ezekiel in
Poet,
Lover, Birdwatcher
Years
ago, Nissim Ezekiel drew similarities between a poet, lover and
birdwatcher in one of his much appreciated poems. Over the years, the
number of those who will agree with his words has only multiplied as
the community of birdwatchers has increased in the city and continues
to grow. “Since Mumbai has the advantage of being a coastal city, it
has a wide variety of bird species. Over 350 species of birds have
been recorded over the years in the Mumbai surrounds,” says naturalist
Sunjoy Monga. Nearly 50 per cent of these species do not breed here,
these are the various type of migrants or seasonal visitors to the
region, he adds. And they are the ones who make the otherwise dull
winter in Mumbai interesting. And bird-lovers take out their pairs of
binoculars and reference books before setting out on the trail of
two-winged creatures. “Most of the
people who come for our bird-watching outings in Mumbai are learners.
These trips teach them how to use binoculars, reference books as well
as study and document bird movements. They later on go to the spots
outside Mumbai where birds population is higher,” says Avinash Kubal
of the Maharastra Nature Park. “With the surge in the number of
birdwatchers, the documentation of birds has also got a boost,” says
Sujit Narwade of the Bombay Natural History Society.
Link:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/wings-of-delight/417684/
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
India's first Airport bird audit
Date:
2009-01-21 Place: Mumbai
The recent crash-landing of an American
plane on New York's Hudson River after being hit by a flock of geese
has got the airport officials in India serious about tackling the
issue. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to conduct India's
first airport bird audit in Mumbai and four other major airports in
the country Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad after a reported
increase in bird activity around major airfields. On January 15, an
Airbus A320 had a miraculous escape in New York after both the engines
of the aircraft were disabled following a bird strike. Survivors
waited patiently on the wings of the plane for several hours on the
Hudson River until they were rescued. Officials
of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Mumbai
International Airport Ltd (MIAL), environment and urban management
experts will form a committee to jointly conduct the audit. "This
audit will help in guiding environment management committees, which
are supposed to ensure that airport surroundings are clean and do not
to attract birds," Naseem Zaidi, director general, DGCA, told MiD DAY.
Ironically, the last time a scientific
study on birds around the airports was done in the late 1990s.
However, the situation was different then. At that time there were
lots of vultures around the airports because of the tall vegetation.
Now, because of the grass, one spots numerous smaller birds. "No
study has been done for the Mumbai Airport in the last decade. The
only ones that were done were in collaboration with the Indian Air
Force for certain airbases in northern India," said Sujit Narwade,
scientist in-charge environment information system, Bombay Natural
History Society. "The audit needs to study bird flying patterns and
bring out particular details like their population, flock strength and
above all, find a solution to the problem," said Narwade.
Following the civil aviation rules in
place, MIAL has deployed safety measures like positioning bird
chasers, crackers and other equipment in the runway area. "But with 45
bird-hits between June 2008 and January 20 this year, it is evident
that the safety arrangements must improve," said M G Jhungare,
aerodrome general manager, Mumbai airport. Officials of the Indian
Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said the civic officials and
residents are to be equally blamed for the mess around the airports.
"Once the mess around the airports is cleared, only the migratory
birds will remain. Bird chasers will be able to solve this problem,"
said Vikram Yadav, ICPA general secretary.
The audit involves
The audit will take a re-look at the
manner of shooing birds at the airport and suggest any new mechanism
required to tackle the mess. For instance, while the Delhi
International Airport Ltd has deployed a sonic bird chaser, Mumbai
International Airport Ltd has men who burst crackers upon seeing
birds. Unlike dogs, none of the birds are caught, but only shooed
away.
Major incidents
This year on January 16, engines of a
Kolkata-Guwahati Jetlite flight caught fire following a bird hit. In
July 2008, a bird hit an Air Mauritius aircraft during takeoff
following which the pilot applied emergency brakes leading to a fire
in the underbelly. Two hundred-and-fifty-two passengers were evacuated
unhurt.
Birds commonly involved in hits
Pariah or Black Kite is a medium-sized
bird
Red-wattled
Lapwing, a small bird usually seen in pairs or small flocks
Cattle Egret, known as a cosmopolitan
type of a heron
Apart from these, pigeons and crows also
affect flights
Link:
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/210109-Ministry-of-Civil-Aviation-Us-Aircraft-Hudson-river-bird-audit-Mumbai-International-Airport.htm
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
Flamingos may stay
away: Expert
AGENCIES, Jan 1, 2009, 05.31am IST
MUMBAI:
A delay in the arrival of flamingos in the city has raised fears that
the migratory birds might have shifted their place of settlement to
another spot.
The
large pink to scarlet web-footed wading birds flock to the mudflats
near Uran and Sewri in search of the blue green algae on which they
thrive. However, it seems they have settled at another place nearby
where food is abundant, said scientist-in-charge of Envis Centre of
the Bombay Natural History Society Sanjay Narvade.
"Of
late, the habitat near Sewri in Central Mumbai has been affected due
to shipping works, oil dispersal and dying mangroves. So it is quite
possible that the migratory birds may have moved on,'' Narvade added.
A few years ago the gregarious bird, with a down-bent bill, generally
used to arrive as early as October and stayed on up to March-April or
till the first rainfall.
Link:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-01/mumbai/28000759_1_migratory-birds-flamingos-sewri
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
Odyssey
on the wing
Tue Sep 16 2008, 02:01
hrs
It all started in winter last year, when Czech and Indian scientists
decided to solve the puzzle of the journey of two black storks — large
red-billed fish-eating birds — that visited India annually during the
course of their winter migration.
In
December 2007, a team of five, including Czech ornithologist Lubomir
Peske, three bird lovers from the Czech Republic and Dr Girish Jathar
from Bombay Natural History Society zeroed in on little-known Akola in
Maharashtra (near Nagpur) where the birds were found. “We tagged a
juvenile and an adult at a local reservoir called Macchi Talao,”
Jathar says.
The
tracking of these two radio-tagged black storks, which migrate
individually to India from Palaearctic regions (around Siberia), has
found that the foreign migrants cover up to 700 km, at altitudes
ranging between 3,000-5,000 feet every day. Interestingly, they seem
to prefer small freshwater ponds and reservoirs that dot the country,
as opposed to visiting protected birding sites or even major rivers,
thus illustrating the importance of even minor waterbodies in global
ecology. Following satellite telemetry signals, it was eventually
found that while the juvenile was shot over Kabul on April 13, the
adult is safe in Tikenlik in Tarim basin in China.
Link:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/odyssey-on-the-wing/361877/0
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
Battling for life: It’s survival of the fittest for Mumbai’s birds
Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008, 3:02 IST
Mumbai may be surging ahead in a bid to become a world class city, but
in the process, is in danger of losing many of its birds that were
once as much a part of the cityscape as the flyovers and skyscrapers.
Sightings of birds like the cormorants, herons and egrets,
chestnut-tailed starlings and rosy starlings are becoming increasingly
rare. Despite claims of being home to 50-odd bird species, there is no
official record of the bird population in the city.
The main reason for this,
say experts, is rampant tree cutting that’s being allowed in the name
of development. “The city once housed many beautiful birds, some of
which have vanished; others are on verge of extinction,” says
ornithologist Adesh Shivkar.
But a number of species
like barn owls, crows and black kites appear to be thriving — their
numbers have risen sharply over the last few years. “Birds like crows,
rock pigeons and koels [cuckoos] have adapted well to urban life,”
says Shivkar. The tonnes of garbage generated by the city is a boon
for these birds. “The rapid increase in their population is a menace.
Apart from threatening the existence of smaller birds like sparrows,
crows and pigeons are a health hazard for human beings,” says Shivkar.
According to Girish Jathar,
scientist in-charge of the ENVIS Centre of the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), purple rumped sunbirds, common tailor birds, ashy rain
wobblers, house sparrows and Indian robins are losing their natural
habitat “because of the changing architecture and rampant tree
cutting.”
Many of the city’s huge
heronries in Bandra, Five Gardens in Matunga, Hindu Colony in Dadar
and Navy Nagar in Colaba are losing ground in the face of urban
development.
Other species like the
Oriental white eye, the grey hornbill and the common flame back
woodpecker, which, till two decades ago were seen all over the city,
are now found only in Malabar and BARC Hills. Lack of awareness among
the general public, says Shivkar, is another reason for the decline in
the bird population. The BNHS has a total membership of 6,000
Mumbaikars, while London’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
over one million members. “No one is bothered about protecting the
birds,” says Shivkar. But the cries of these birds are being drowned
by the cacophony of urban life, and few seem to be listening.
Link:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_battling-for-life-it-s-survival-of-the-fittest-for-mumbai-s-birds_1156700
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
Flamingos are coming later every year for the party by the bayside
Monday, Nov 20, 2006, 23:32 IST
It’s that time of the year when the bird-loving population of Mumbai
celebrates the arrival of its favourite feathered visitors - the
lesser flamingos. Numbering over 20,000, the lesser flamingos, a
species of migratory birds, usually arrive at the Sewri mudflats by
October-end. However, this year, their visit is almost a month
overdue. This, bird-watchers in the city say, could be cause for
concern.
“We have noticed this trend
for the past couple of years. There has been a four-to-five week shift
in the arrival of the lesser flamingos,” said Sunjoy Monga, a
naturalist and birding expert. Last year too, birders had expressed
concern, before the flamingos finally arrived on November 22.
According to Monga, late
breeding could be the reason for the delay. And late breeding, in
turn, is a direct result of changing weather patterns. “You can blame
it on the late rains. The Rann of Kutch region, which is the main
breeding ground of the lesser flamingo’s received the heaviest
rainfall in recent years, which could have resulted in late breeding,”
he said.
The flamingos need a
certain water level and a certain level of salinity of water for
breeding. Excessive rainfall affects this level adversely, causing
problems. Girish Jathar, scientist-in-charge, Envis (Environmental
Information system) Center, BNHS, said, “Their late June departure
from here could have some role in their late arrival.” He added that
all other migratory birds, some even from as far as Siberia and
Central Asia, had arrived by late October and early November. “I
visited the Sewri mudflats last Saturday and saw no sign of the
flamingos,” he added.
The flamingo population in
Mumbai is scattered around the Sewri mudflats, Uran, Thane creek and
Airoli. Birding experts are confident that there is no disturbance in
the delicate ecological balance of these areas. The construction of
Sewri-Nhava Sheva sealink, which was reportedly a potential threat to
the flamingoes, has not started yet.
“It is difficult to
pinpoint the reason for the delay. However, if the birds do not arrive
by November 30, it indicates a problem,” said Nitin Jamdar, a birding
expert who founded Birds of Bombay, a network of people interested in
birding.
Link:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_flamingos-are-coming-later-every-year-for-the-party-by-the-bayside_1065227
------------------------------x------------------------x----------------------------x----------------------------
In Navapur, they look at the skies for an answer, spot migratory birds
Feb 22, 2006 at 0234
hrs IST
A quiet
search has begun around Navapur’s water bodies and this time it’s not
poultry under scrutiny. Wild birds, guests from Eastern Europe and
Central, Northern Asia to this little town, are now on the radar of
the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), just in case one of the
birds has flown in with the flu that’s killed poultry. A three-member
BNHS team today surveyed Navapur’s largest water body—the Rangavali
reservoir—and trained a telescope and powerful binoculars across the
shore to count 20 wild bird species. Significantly, 14 of these
species are foreign migrants, including five out of six species of
ducks. The good news is that the wild birds were healthy and not a
single dead or dying bird was found. But not leaving anything to
chance - despite imported bird feed being considered a source of the
flu - a second BNHS team of a vet, ornithologists and professional
trappers will arrive at Navapur shortly, to trap wild birds and
collect blood samples that will be tested at the Bhopal laboratory
where the H5N1 virus was detected in poultry here. “The skies over
Navapur are the East African and West Asian flyway for migratory
birds,”’ says BNHS ornithologist Girish Jathar, as he scans the water.
About 150 migratory bird species come to India every year, out of
which 18 species, mostly ducks and geese, visit Maharashtra every
winter, and return after March. Internationally, wild birds,
especially waterfowl and shore birds are now under watch as potential
sources of influenza in birds. Wild birds shed the bird flu virus
through droppings, saliva and nasal discharge, and concern has stepped
up after a wild duck and two wild swans died, reportedly of the bird
flu, in France and Germany respectively. BNHS decided to rush in a
team the day news of the bird flu was confirmed. The team is prepared
with satellite images of Navapur’s reservoirs and a Global Positioning
System (GPS) that indicates distance of poultry farms from the water
bodies. “If infected poultry and wild birds mingle, the effects can be
disastrous,” Jathar says. Luckily, the GPS indicated that the nearest
poultry farm from Rangavali is 13.8 kms away. In Nandurbar district,
the team has recorded 12 wild bird species, all migratory. “To confirm
that the wild migratory birds are not carriers of bird flu, we’ll be
coming to trap them and take blood samples,” says S Balachandran,
senior BNHS scientist in Mumbai, who is preparing to visit Navapur
once today’s team returns with a “probability” report of sites where
migratory birds can be trapped. In December and January,
Balachandran’s team collected samples of birds around Chilka Lake,
Orissa, that were tested for the bird flu after some bird deaths were
reported. “The results were negative, but this time also we need to
confirm,” says Balachandran. This avian influenza and wild bird
monitoring project is funded by the Ministry of Environment and
Forest. While today’s team was relieved the wild birds looked safe and
healthy, professionals will soon arrive to execute the bird trapping,
during one night, hours before dawn. The tests in Bhopal will indicate
a final result, but until then, no panic.
Link:
http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/88398/
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