september

EDITOR’S NOTE 

“This year’s third quarterly activities saw a little dip than previous two years but the significance of sightings, impact of activities is second to none. The first few migratory birds have started to arrive and it is time catch some nice birds and we wish birders to have a good season. Don’t miss to check out the beautiful narration by a veterinary professor who visited Yercaud. There was also an interesting movement of a endemic bird from Western Ghats. Outreach activities are going strong as usual. Sightings and records which are entered in eBird are only taken into account towards writing of this e-magazine.” —Ganeshwar SV.

VISITING BIRDER EXPERIENCE

Dr C Sreekumar, Professor & Head (Wildlife Science), Madras Veterinary College at Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, visited Yercaud and had some fantastic birding experience. He also shared a brilliant article with our team, titled “The Whistling Schoolboy & his friends from Yercaud” which is sure to take us through his birding trails and give us insights about the diversity of birdlife.

WEEKEND BIRDING

On July 12, 2019, several students of the Indian Roller Birding Club belonging to the Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty participated in the regular weekend bird watching trip near their school surroundings along with their teacher P Rajangam.

OUTREACH

On July 27, 2019, Kalaiselvan V gave a presentation on birds and environment at the NCSC training program for guide teachers organized by the Tamil Nadu Science Forum.

EXPLORING HABITATS

On July 27, 2019, The team comprising Angeline Mano, Divya Subramani, Ganeshwar SV, Kalaiselvan V, Dr Ravi M and Tamil Selvan A set out to explore the Puzhuthikuttai Dam or Anaimaduvu Reservoir and its surroundings for two days. This location is a unique habitat combination of wetland, open country, scrub jungle hillock. The team spotted more than 50 bird species including the endemic Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi.

FEATHERY DISPLAY  

On August 2, 2019, a beautiful display of Feather Collection Exhibition was conducted at the Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty. These feathers were all collected during different time periods and were found on the ground. No bird was harmed because of this activity. The event was coordinated by the school teacher and birder, P Rajangam.

SCIENTIFIC TEMPER DAY   

On August 20, 2019, National Scientific Temper Day was celebrated at Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty. As it turns out, this is something the Constitution of India requires every Indian to do. Says Article 51A(h), “It shall be the duty of every citizen … to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.” P Rajangam explained the several misconceptions about birds which is prevalent even today and insisted that students should develop scientific temper and not be misled by pseudoscience.

SECOND RECORD 

On September 15, 2019, Senthil Kumar S recorded NILGIRI WOOD-PIGEON Columba elphinstonii for the second time in Salem. Please see the complete checklist here. It is one of the endemic and threatened species classified as ‘Vulnerable‘ by the IUCN. It is interesting to note that the first record of the same species by The Nature Trust also happened in September, three years ago. To see the complete checklist, click here. It is widely regarded as one of the Western Ghats endemic birds and hence these sightings from the Eastern Ghats of Salem hold much significance to understand the distribution and seasonal movements of the bird better. Please also see the eBird distribution map of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon.

FIRST PHOTO RECORD

On September 27, 2019, Senthil Kumar S recorded RAIN QUAIL Coturnix coramandelica for the second time in Salem (based on eBird) and it was the first photographic record. Please see the complete checklist here. To read the story of this amazing sighting in Tamil, please click here.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE

“Our birders are always on the move and get something even if it is off season to look for special birds. Nothing slows them down. An iconic bird sighted after nearly nine decades, field trip, outreach, a rescue and more student activities have all made this third quarterly issue a fantastic one. Don’t miss the quiz which is waiting for you in the end! The migrants have already started to arrive and let’s all go catch some cool birds from foreign countries. Happy birding; have a great season ahead!”-Ganeshwar SV.

NEW RECORD (1) 

On July 1, 2018, Senthil Kumar and Subramania Siva S recorded INDIAN GREY HORNBILL Ocyceros birostris in Salem after 89 years. This is the first known photographic evidence of the bird from the district. The previous published record was during the Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats in 1929. Please see the complete checklist here.

DREAM SHOT

Though the ASIAN PALM SWIFT Cypsiurus balasiensis is one of the common birds, it is the dream of every birder to capture it when perched. Our birder and teacher Kalai Selvan V has done just that in one of his birding sessions!

FESTIVAL OF TREES

Students of Indian Roller Birding Club belonging to Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty, celebrated ‘Van Mahotsav’ (festival of trees) to create awareness in the minds of people about conservation of forests and planting of new trees. The students were ably supported and encouraged by their teacher and birder, Rajangam P.

FIELD TRIP

On August 18, 2018, Kalai Selvan V and his students from Green Bee-eater Birding Club visited Godumalai, a hillock around Neermullikuttai and learnt to identify several common birds in their region.

WILDLIFE IN NATIVE LANGUAGE 

On August 25, 2018, Kalai Selvan V introduced several books and magazines on Wildlife in Tamil to promote the habit of reading and better understanding of Nature among the students of Panchayat Union Primary School, Neermullikuttai.

SOWING SEEDS OF LIFE

On August 20, 2018, students of Panchayat Union Primary School, Neermullkuttai prepared the nursery bags with seeds of several trees with the help of their teacher Kalai Selvan V. The students repeated the process twice in August.

NEW RECORD (2)

On September 2, 2018, Senthil Kumar and Subramania Siva S recorded LESSER FISH EAGLE Haliaaetus humilis which is the first record with a photograph. Please see the complete checklist here.

NEW RECORD (3)

On September 21, 2018, Senthilkumar S photographed WHITE-TAILED IORA Aegithina nigrolutea for the first time in Salem. Please see the complete checklist here. The previous record (call record) is by Patrick David J in his “Preliminary assessment of avian diversity and abundance in Shevroy hill range, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu,” which was published in the Newsletter for Birdwatchers (Vol.52: No.5; Sep-Oct 2012).

RESCUE

“Few days ago, a BARRED BUTTONQUAIL Turnix suscitator was mobbed by Crows. Seeking shelter somewhere, it entered our home. ‘God has sent you to the right place,’ I thought to myself. After an hour of allowing it to rest, I took it to a nearby forest area and it was released by my son Tharun. This is the third species to be saved by his hands. Every time when we rescue a bird, since he is a child, he used to say, ‘Appa, let us keep and take care of it.’ I had explained to him several times in a simple way, why it is bad for the bird to be kept at home. He seemed to have understood and these days he tells me that rescued birds are to be released for their good.”

– Kalai Selvan V about his rescue on September 24, 2018.

OUTREACH

On September 27, 2018, Kalai Selvan V gave an interesting introductory talk on Birding at Pachayat Union Middle School, Kurichi and took the students for a Bird Walk around the school campus.

STUDENTS’ CORNER 

Inspired by Kalai Selvan V, a fifth class student named Kasinathan V has started birding regularly and sketching birds has become his favorite pastime. Salem Ornithological Foundation appreciates the continuous efforts taken by the teacher and congratulates the student for his beautiful sketches.

Can you identify and name all the birds in the sketch? Do post your answers in the comments.