Winter Bird Monitoring Program (2013-14)

HIGHLIGHTS

Till 2012 Dec, 337 bird species have been documented from Chamarajanagar, Mandya, & Mysore Districts. These are enlisted since the days of Major E.G.Phythium Adams and Salim Alis’ Mysore Bird survey (1939). Under the guidance of K.B.Sadananda, a Mid-winter Bird Monitoring Program was conducted to verify the present status of so far recorded. This program was conducted during the two months period [Dec 2013 - Jan 2014]. Sixty Bird watchers participated in the program, traveled in different sectors and recorded 228 species. Highlight of the program is –

• • Recorded three Bar-headed Goose with green neck collar marked with Y29, Y 24 & K 14 numbers by Arun Simha, MK Vishwanath, Vijayalaxmi Rao & M. Sahana. These Gooses were tagged at Mongolia, app 5000 Km away from Mysore. Scientists from the Field station informed that all the three are Females, weighed app. 2500 gms at the time of tagging. These were tagged in Central & west-central of Mongolia in summer of 2011 -2013.

  • Recorded long migrants Golden Plovers at two different locations by BR Sheshgiri, Vijayalaxmi Rao and Shamakumari.

  • Lonely migrant from Indian western coast -Western Reef Egret is also recorded

  • Two species from Western Ghat -Orange-headed Thrush & Malabar Whistling Thrush recorded at Chamundi hills, Melkote and Lingambudhi by Tanuja DH, Shanmugam.R, Abhisek MB.

  • 73 different locations like tank, lakes, reservoirs, rivers were visited during the monitoring and recorded 81 water bird species ( in 1994, 59 water-bird species were recorded)

  • Recorded 67 out of 87 regular migratory species (those arrive every year).

  • For the first time observed successful breeding of Wooly-necked Storks and Malabar Crested Lark in our study limits.

  • Recorded maximum number of birds from of KRS (Mysore & Mandya Dt) , Kabini & Birwal reservoirs (Chamarajanagar Dt); Kunthur-Kallur, Agara-Mamballi (Chamarajanagar Dt) & Dadadalli (Mysore city outskirts) tanks.

  • An experimental survey on a single day with 11 teams recorded 134 species, almost 10% of the species found in whole India ( Indian birds -1301 species).

Participants: Tanuja DH, Shivakumar, Murali DC, Guruprasad P, Dinesh Kumar K, Dr.Manohara MC, Shrikanth, Skanda, Parikshitha G, Inchara H & Amoghavarsha M, Anagha S, Dinesh KS, Dinesh KV, Madhura, Nimisha, Lakshmi, Anupama, Varun, Tushar, Bharath, Sahana M, Swetha B, Vijayalaxmi Rao, Raghavendra Hinde, Kalpalatha Rajan., Somashekar B, Sindhu N, Karthik K, Sanjay, Radha Vijayaraghavan, M.R. Vijayaraghavan, Soundaryavalli & HR Shivaram, Girija T, Shanmugam R, Vishak, Navya, Sandhya , Shivaprakash A, Chetan R, Prashanth G, Pradeep M, Abhishek MB, Kaleemulla Shriff, Guruprasa HK, Snathosh MN, Naveen BR, Arun Simha & team

INVITATION

Wintering and local water-fowls have been observed and recorded in few locations, spread over Mysore during 2^nd week of January every year for almost 25 years. We shall be grateful to those initiated the program way back in 1987 in Mysore. Valuable data generated is made use for conservation by different agencies, meanwhile we birders understood BIRDING LIFE better in the region. Now we know, we have around 340+ bird species in our region.

Mysore Area has many water-bodies in the form of various sized Tanks (1757 nos), Anicuts, Reservoirs and rivers spread unevenly throughout the area. In addition to water-bodies, important IBAs like Melkote, Arabithittu, Kokkarebellur, Adichunchanagiri are also included.

There is a change in the present monitoring program. In addition to waterfowl, we will be documenting all the bird species we come across.

Few productive and reachable birding locations for waterfowl census are listed here. These are selected from various sized 1757 water-bodies and are time tested. Choose any of the routes familiar with you. Route details will be provided.

Find attached the bird checklist sheet. Download it or take a xerox copy from us. Record the birds sighted in the birding spot. Back from day long birding trip enter the data in “e-bird” website in your name. Give us link or the data filled form for cross-verification.

What is expected from fellow birders? Try to learn identify the birds in the field accurately, at least 90% recorded in Mysore area. Share your interest with your friends, especially students from life science and introduce them to field study. Get ready for waterfowl census to be held on January 12^th, 2014.

Hoping that, we will have many teams (minimum 25 with a companion) on January 12^th, 2014 covering 220 water-bodies spread over Mysore, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar Districts.