Aal Izz well for harriers at Velavadar Park

Over 1,300 Sighted So Far, Numbers May Go Beyond
2,200 By November-end


Rajkot: Unlike some previous years, this winter season is going to be a special treat for wildlife and nature lovers as harriers, a rare and endangered species, have started arriving in large numbers at Blackbuck National Park (BNP), Velavadar, from Siberia. BNP Velavadar in Bhavnagar district is the largest communal roosting site of harriers in the world.
The forest department con ducted an initial population estimation exercise of harriers at BNP on October 29-30. The number of harriers sighted at the park was between 1,350 and l,400, which, forest officials said, is very impressive in comparison to the previous years. Last year only 979 harriers were sighted here, with the number being lowest in a decade.
Forest officials said the final population estimation would be conducted at the end of November during the peak season. “We are expecting the total number of harriers to go beyond 2,200-in the peak winter season when the final counting would be conducted,” said J.S. Solanki, Assistant Conservator of forests at BNP
Of the l6 harrier species in the world, at least four types — Montagu, Pallid, Eurasian Marsh and Hen — arrive at BNP every year. This season, all the four species have arrived. “This year, because of good rains and overall favorable weather, harriers are likely to be sighted in good numbers,” said forest official.
Harriers, the slender, long bare-legged, long-winged and long-toiled hawks with an owl-like facial ruff, are considered as farmers’ friends as they are predators. Their diet includes large insects, especially locust; fish; reptiles especially snakes; lizards and skulks, birds (both land and water) and small mammals (rodents).
Harriers are vital indicators of the health of ecosystem as its pray base is insects. “Harriers adapted to a lifestyle in open landscapes having habitats like wetlands, grasslands, crop fields, reeds and sedges, salt marshes and dray barren lands. Harriers often roost communally at night, both on pas sage and in winter quarters,” said a forest official.
“The good rain has created a favorable condition for harriers. Owing to impressive crops around the BNP, food chain for the harriers is also very good this time. These could be among the main
Reason for the arrival of large number of the migratory birds,” Solanki said.
The harriers are the only diurnal ‘raptor group or birds of prey’ nesting and roosting on the ground. The communal roost sites are critical resources for harriers’ survival as they spend considerable time over there. “These communal roosting sites are usually grasslands where they get concealment and protection from both predators and cold weather,” he said.
“Harriers generally start congregating at these sites about half an hour or so prior to sunset. They spend time pre-roosting in open ground close to their roost site, engaging themselves in resting, preening and vocalizing. This is probably done to attract others to increase the flock size. Just after sunset, an intensive inspection of the grassland—their roost site— is carried out and within hour they settle down for roosting. Early morning, around sunrise, they leave the roost and head towards their respective foraging grounds,” said Solanki.

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.