Threatened Birds of Central India by Girish Jathar

Threatened Birds of Central India by Girish Jathar Scientist-In-Charge ENVIS-Center Bombay Natural History Society

Why birds are threatened • Habitat Destruction • Expansion of Agriculture • Rapid Industrialization • Poaching and Trade • Global Warming and Climate Change

The Concept of Threatened Birds • Bird. Life International and IUCN have categorized the status of various species and given them the current status • The term “Red Data Book” came into existence in the early 1960 s when IUCN–The World Conservation Union, in conjunction with ICBP (the International Council for Bird Preservation, now Bird. Life International) • In 1963, International Red Data Book were conceived by the late Sir Peter Scott as “ a register of threatened wildlife that includes definition of degree of threat” • In 1980 the first bird ‘Red Data Book’ was published by the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) • In 2000 ‘Threatened Birds of the World’ was published by Bird. Life International

Categories of threatened birds - Extinct – not seen at least for 50 years Critically Endangered – likely to be extinct Endangered – high risk of extinction Vulnerable – risk of extinction Near threatened – close to vulnerable Least Concern – not qualify any of the above Data deficient – no information available

Threatened Birds Scenario Species World India Critically Endangered 181 9 Endangered 351 12 Vulnerable 674 59 Near Threatened 795 58 Total 2001 138

Indian Perspective • In India BNHS is designated partner of Bird. Life International • With the help of Bird. LIfe International and Royal Society for Protection of the Birds (RSPB), BNHS started Important Bird Area programme (IBA) in 1999 • This programme identified 465 IBA sites in India • In central India there are 60 IBA sites

Endemic Bird Area • In India there are seven Endemic Bird Areas and five Secondary Areas • Central Indian Forests (Secondary area) - dry deciduous forest - scrub forest - wetlands - grasslands

Critically Endangered • In Central India we have six species of the birds which come under this category

White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis • This species is widely distributed in India • Till late 1990 it was in abundant but declined rapidly • Cause – veterinary use of diclofenac for livestock • Conservation – BNHS initiative – -Vulture Conservation Center at Pinjore, Buxa and Nagaon - Nation wide Ban on diclofenac - Vulture advocacy programme - Comes under Schedule I of Indian Wildlife ( Protection) Act. 1972

Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus • This species is also widely distributed in India • Like White-backed Vultures their population declined rapidly after 1990 • Cause – veterinary use of diclofenac for cattle • Conservation – BNHS initiative – -Vulture Conservation Center at Pinjore, Buxa and Nagaon - Nation wide Ban on diclofenac - Vulture advocacy programme - Comes under Schedule I of Indian. Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Jerdon's Courser Rhinptilus bitorquatus • This is endemic bird found in south-eastern Andhra Pradesh. Earlier known from few places in Central India from Godavari River basin. • Habitat specialist bird found only in scrub forest • Threats – habitat destruction because of human activities • Conservation – BNHS is carrying out long term study in Sri Lankamalleshwar Sanctuary in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. - Comes under Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti • This bird is endemic to Satpuda Mountains known from only from six places in Central India. Because of the Forest Owlet, the Central Indian Forests come under Endemic Bird Area • Only found in dry deciduous forests • Threats – habitat destruction for fuel wood, illicit wood cutting, overgrazing and direct persecution by tribal • Conservation – BNHS carried out three year study in Satpuda. Several recommendations have been put forward for its protection and conservation. - Comes under Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius • It is a migratory bird visits India during winter • Inhabitant of Europe and west-central Asia • The population is decreased rapidly in this decade • Threats - increasing use of pesticide and change in land use pattern • Conservation – declared as critically endangered and protected by law in various countries. Listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaetus leucoryphus • Very recently included in Critically Endangered category • Inhabitant of large wetlands. It is a breeding migrant to India. • Threats – habitat loss and destruction, pollution on large water bodies due to pesticides and industrial effluents • Conservation - included on Appendix II of CITES. It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972

Endangered • We have only two bird species which come under this category

Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps • Historically spread all over Indian subcontinent. Now restricted to only a few places in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh • Habitat specialist birds representative of Grassland • Threats – expansion of agriculture, habitat fragmentation, overgrazing, pesticides and hunting • Conservation - listed in CITES Appendix I. It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972 - BNHS is carrying out conservation and awareness Campaign in many states.

Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica • This bird is endemic to India and Nepal. Historically spread all over peninsular India • Habitat specialist birdrepresentative of Grassland • Threats - habitat loss, hunting and failure of monsoon rains • Conservation - this species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Vulnerable • We have nine species which come under this category

Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis • The species found all over India in large wetlands • The population is declining very fast • Threats – destruction of nesting habitat, drainage and pollution of wetlands and dearth of food • Conservation - this species is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus • This species is resident species in central and northeastern India • Threats - loss of nesting sites is a major threat along with pesticides poisoning and direct persecution • Conservation - this species is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga • Found all over palearctic region; winter migrant to India • Population is declining very fast • Generally found near water bodies and open areas • Threats - habitat loss and degradation, exploitation, human disturbance, pollution, and shortage of prey • Conservation – comes under CITES Appendix II. Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca • Found all over palearctic and in India. Some population is winter migrant to India • Mainly found near water bodies • Threats - changing land use practices, pesticides, persecution and declining prey • Conservation - this species is listed in Appendix I of CITES, Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni • The Lesser Kestrel is an extremely widespread falcon species. It is a rare winter visitor and passage migrant in India • Occasionally seen in large flocks • Threats - Intensification of agriculture and increased use of pesticides • Conservation - this species is listed on Appendix II of CITES and Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Sarus Crane Grus antigone • Historically widespread all over south Asia and Australia. Now declining all over its range • Threats - primarily threatened by a combination of habitat loss and modification (owing primarily to agricultural expansion), pollution and persecution • Conservation - this species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis • It was once very common on all large river systems in central and northern India • A decline in numbers has occurred, paralleled by a fragmentation of its range, and it now only breeds at scattered localities • Threats - increased human usage of wetlands, many feeding areas have been over-exploited, polluted, flooded or drained and destruction of nesting colonies • Conservation – protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. The National Chambal Sanctuary (5, 400 sq. km ) contains one of the healthiest skimmer populations in Asia

Stoliczka‘s Bushchat Saxicola macrorhyncha • Found in a circumscribed area of semi-arid country in north-western India and eastern Pakistan. Known for its erratic movements in winter • Mainly prefers open grassland habitat and scrublands • Threats - the main threat is agricultural intensification and encroachment and overgrazing by livestock • Conservation - good population is found in Desert National Park. Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Green Munia Amandava formosa • It is endemic to India where it is distributed locally from southern Rajasthan, central Uttar Pradesh and southern Bihar to northern Andhra Pradesh • Population is declining very rapidly • Threats – most famous as cage bird and highly priced in wildlife trade. Along with this pesticides and habitat loss influencing the population • Conservation – the species appears on CITES Appendix II and Protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. Some populations are safe in protected areas of Central India

Near Threatened • We have seven species which fall under this category

Darter Anhinga melanogaster • Widespread resident in South Asia. The species is generally uncommon and declining throughout Asia. • It’s a water bird found in large wetlands • Threats - it is primarily threatened by habitat loss, disturbance (at feeding grounds and colonies), hunting and pollution • Conservation – protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. Found in may protected areas of Central India

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala • Widespread and locally common resident in South east Asia • It frequents freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs, flooded fields, paddy fields, freshwater swamp forests, riverbanks, intertidal mudflats and saltpans • Population is declining slowly • Threats - habitat loss, disturbance, • pollution and hunting of adults and collection of eggs and nestlings from colonies is cause for concern • Conservation – protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. Many nesting colonies are in protected areas

Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor • Found only in Asia and African Continent • Every year 10% population decline is observed in Africa. It breeds in Little Run of Katch in Gujarat • After breeding, disperse over Indian Subcontinent • Threats – water pollution, disturbance to nesting sites and habitat destruction • Conservation – this species is protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. BNHS taken initiative to protect flamingo habitat in Mumbai

Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus • Mainly occur in South and South East Asia • It inhabits freshwater marshes, lakes, rivers, flooded grasslands, paddy fields, tidal creeks, mudflats, salt marshes and coastal lagoons • Threats – mainly drainage of wetlands, disturbance, pollution, agricultural conversion, hunting and collection of eggs and nestlings from colonies • Conservation - this species is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Lesser Grey Headed Fish eagle Ichthyophaga humilis • Found mainly in South Asia. • Population is declining all over its range • It frequents large forested rivers and wetlands • Threats - loss of forest habitat along rivers, siltation, overfishing and increasing human disturbance • Conservation –this species is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972

Pallid Harrier Circus macrorus • It breeds primarily in the steppes of Palearctic region and Winters in India • Mainly prefers Scrub, savanna and wetlands • Threats –destruction and degradation of steppe grasslands, intensive grazing of wet pastures and the clearance of shrubs and tall weeds and rapid expansion of agriculture and direct persecution • Conservation - this species is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. Some protected areas like Velavadar National Park, Gujarat holds good population. Similarly in Sailana Wildlife Sanctuary.

Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthrococeros coronatus • It is restricted to central and southern India • Mainly found in undisturbed moist broadleaved deciduous and evergreen forests • Threats – rapid degradation and fragmentation of habitat, shifting cultivation, forest fire, and logging • Conservation - This species is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. Found in various protected areas. In Madhya Pradesh it is found in Pench and Bandhavgarh National Parks.

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