Insulate killer cables or bury them, says government

400 FLAMINGO DEATHS Insulate high tension cables or put them underground when they run close to the breeding grounds of the migratory Greater Flamingos in the Khadir region of Kutch. The state forest and environment department issued this order to the Gujarat Energy Transmission Company (Getco) on Thursday after Times of India (TOl) reported that 400 flamingos had been killed here in the past 10 days because they came in contact with the cables. Principal Secretary for forests and environment S.K.Nanda told TOl, “Getco will have to complete the work before September next year when a new batch of flamingos arrives.” He has also asked sensor forest officers to identify other such sites where the birds maybe in danger. “We will ensure the cables are laid underground at all sites used by the flamingos.” The officials have already identified an eight km stretch in Khadir where the maximum birds have been killed. TOl had reported on Thursday that the maximum number of birds may have been killed at night. They may have been startled by a passing vehicle or by the attack of a predatory bird and, in panic, flown straight into the high tension cables. On Thursday, Gujarat Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) S K Goyal held a series of meetings with Getco officials to find ways to immediately reduce the ‘bird-hits’. Surinder Kumag Negi, Getco’s managing director said, “We are sending a team of experts to the area to find a solution.” Till the cables are put underground, Getco will cover them with reflector tape which will shine at night and hopefully keep the birds at bay. Only in June this year, a large number of Flamingoes were killed in similar fashion in Bhavnagar and had become easy fodder for stray dogs. Courtesy:- Times Of India

Harriers’ arrival at (Black-Buck National Park) BNP, Velavadar, Gujarat, India sets off Diwali sparkle

The Birds Have Started Coming Early This Season

Harriers, a rare and endangered species, have started arriving in large numbers at Black- Buck National Park (BNP), Velavadar, from Siberia. This news is sure to add an extra sparkle to Diwali celebrations by bird watchers, who are preparing to set out to watch the wildlife this winter season. Forest department officials said compared to previous years, Harriers arrived early this season at BNP Velavadar in Bhavnagar, their largest communal roosting site in the world.
“Harriers started arriving at the park from September 15. They generally arrive by September end. The numbers of birds are also significantly high,” said a forest official, estimating it at around 1,500. Of the 16 Harrier species, at least four - Montagu, Pallid, Eurasian Marsh and Hen - arrive at BNP every year.
“Harriers have arrived in good numbers. November will be the peak period,” Assistant Conservator of Forests, BNP, Velavadar, J S Solanki said.
The forest department would conduct a population estimation exercise of Harriers at BNP by November end. It expects arrival of around 2500 Harriers in the park.
Harriers, the slender, long barelegged, long-winged and long-toiled hawks with an owl-like facial ruff, are farmers’ friends, experts say. Their diet includes large insects, especially locust, fish, snakes, lizards, skinks, birds (both of land and water) and small mammals (rodents).
Harriers are vital indicators of the health of the ecosystem. Harriers adapt to a lifestyle in open landscapes having habitats like wetlands, grasslands, crop fields, salt marshes and dry barren lands. Harriers often roost communally at night, both on passage and in winter quarters,” another forest official said. The Harriers are the only diurnal ‘raptor group or birds of prey’ that nest and roost on the ground.
“Harriers generally start congregating at the site about half-an- hour or so prior to sunset. They spend time pre-roosting in open ground close to their roost she, 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 grasslands – their roost site – is carried out and within half an hour they settle down to roost. Early morning, around sunrise, they leave the roost and head towards their respective foraging grounds,” Solanki said.

Courtesy:- Times Of India.

Gir Lion Sanctuary roars with tourists, other Sanctuaries await visitors

3 National Parks, 22 Sanctuaries Neglected

Gir Forest National Park saw a record number of tourists’ roaring in after Famous Bollywood Actor Amitabh Bachhan exhorted people to visit the only abode of the Asiatic lion. However, a section of the Gujarat State Forest Department is not willing to join the euphoria triggered by Big B’s advertisement blitzkrieg.
The reason: They feel that the state’s three other national parks and 22 sanctuaries are still yearning for visitors. These include Marine National Park, home to breathtaking Corals, Kutch’s Wild Ass Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Ahmadabad.
With Asiatic Lions grabbing the major chunk of attention, officials feel that other deserved wildlife abodes have been got a raw deal, in terms of budget and publicity. “Gujarat not only has Lions, but Leopards, Black Bucks, Wild Ass, Sloth Bears among others. However, when it comes to planning projects, the major focus is always the lions,” a top forest official told Times of India.
Marine National Park came into some limelight recently when an International Bird Watchers meet was held there. Officials note with dejection that Sanctuaries and National Parks other than Gir don’t get any importance while promoting tourism, leave alone budgetary allocation.
“The budgetary provision for lion conservation is itself so paltry, leave alone that for Sloth Bear, Black Buck arid Wild Ass,” they said. In the 2011-12 budgets, the state allocated Rs 12 crore for vigil and protection of the lions. Apart from that there was no provision for any other sanctuaries. An allocation of Rs. 60 lakh was for protection of wildlife in sanctuaries and national parks in scientific manner.

Courtesy:- Times of India, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India

Tarnetar Fair, Gujarat, India

Courtesy:- Times of India.

Population of rare birds- Indian Bustards, set to rise

There is some hope for the Great India Bustard, which is believed to be on the verge of extinction. The bird population, which was around 48, is likely to cross 50 mark and record an increase of around 15-20%.


In 1998, only 29 bustards were found in Gujarat and after that there was no sighting. Finally, nearly after eight years, the bird was again sighted in 2005-06 in Abdasa, Gujarat, India. It was then that a study was taken up by the Gujarat Ecological Education Research, and the findings were heartening. The bird population was spread across Abdasa Taluka. The study reveals that a total of 35 Indian Bustards were counted in the winter population survey. The umber in the post-monsoon period hit 48, of which 21 were females.

Forest officials said an internal survey by department afforded some encouragement. The official’s said that they spotted chicks, which was a sign of healthy breeding in the area. The majestic bird is locally known as Ghorad. The population is likely to be around 55.

Officials said that the sanctuary is just 202 hectares in size, which was not enough. They said hat during the internal survey, more birds were spotted outside in open areas rather than in the sanctuary. The shy bird, resembling the ostrich, is a good flier but prefers to walk in open spaces. The bird even roosts and breeds tin the open.

The official’s census will be conducted in Abdasa and Naila Taluka where the birds have been spotted. “The census will be taken up in the last week of September or first week of October,” said the conservator of Forest D.K. Sharma.

Courtesy:- Times of India.

Snake Festival in Bishnupur (Kolkata), West Bengal, India

Lesser Floricans arrive at Velvadar Park for breeding

Forest department to conduct a census of the rare birds

Lesser Floricans, one of the 50 rarest birds in the world, arrived at the Blackbuck National Park (BNP), Velavadar 40 kms away from Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The large birds, which belong to the bustard family, fly from Peninsular India to this national park for breeding during the monsoon. As of now, there are about lesser Florincans at the park, but the exact number will be known after a census this weekend.

“It’s a rare sight to watch the spectacular courtship of this bird, in which the male can jump over a meter high to impress the female and attract her, sometimes up to 500 times a day,” assistant Conservator of Forests, BNP, J.S. Solanki said. The males leap suddenly from the grass with a peculiar croaking or knocking call, flutter their wings and fall back with slightly open wings. At the apogee of the leap, the neck is arched backwards and the legs as if in a sitting posture.

The Lesser Floricans is regarded as endangered because its population is declining, primarily as a result of poaching and loss and degradation of dry grassland. The grassland in Velavadar park provides an ideal and safe place for breeding to this bird. These birds start laying eggs in August to September period. After breeding, these omnivorous birds move into peninsular India.

The male in breeding plumage has the head, neck and lower parts black. The throat is however white. About three long ribbon like feathers, about 4 inches long, arise from behind the ear-coverts on each side of the head and extend backwards curving up and ending in a speculate tip. The neck and scapulars are mottled in white with V-shaped marks. The wing coverts are white. After the breeding season, the male tends to have some white in the wing. The female is slightly larger than the male. The females and males in non breeding plumage are buff with black steaks with darker markings on the head and neck. The back is mottled and barred in black. The neck and upper breast are buff with the streaks decreasing towards the belly. The breeding areas of the Lesser Floricans are today restricted mainly to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, some areas in southern Nepal and parts of Andre Pradesh.

Courtesy:- Times of India.