The landscape of Kanger Valley can potentially host species found in the Himalayas, the Northeast, the Eastern and Western Ghats, the survey showed
A spot-bellied eagle-owl. Photo: Subhadra Devi
Bird watchers and forest department officials counted 200 types of birds in Chhattisgarh’s first-ever inter-state bird survey conducted in the Kanger Valley National Park from November 25-27, 2022.
Nine species of owls (including the spot-bellied eagle-owl), 10 birds of prey, 11 species of woodpeckers (including white-bellied woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in peninsular India), and many other species were documented during the survey, according to a press statement.
The survey was organised by the forest department of and birders from Chhattisgarh, in collaboration with non-profits Birds & Wildlife of Chhattisgarh and Bird Count India.
More than 70 birdwatchers participated in the survey. These included volunteer birders from the Gidhwa in Durg district, resident birdwatchers from the rest of the state, birders from other states as well as forest guards from Gidhwa.
More than 50 trails were covered by the participants, who split up into different groups to cover varied habitats such as woodland, wetland, riparian forest and scrubland.
For rare and uncommon birds, participants took photographs and also recorded sounds.
The survey revealed that the landscape of Kanger Valley can potentially host species found in the Himalayas, the Northeast, the Eastern and Western Ghats.
For instance, the Malabar trogon and white-bellied woodpecker are thought to be birds of the Western Ghats. Many species of flycatchers and warblers from temperate Eurasia visit the region during the winter.
“In fact, after the survey was completed, visiting birders moved to Raipur and even found a pied wheatear. And around the same time, two resident birders from Raipur spotted a northern lapwing,” the statement noted.
Both of these birds — pied wheatear and northern lapwing — are new birds for Chhattisgarh, with the pied wheatear having never before been observed in Central India.
“…these fantastic finds highlight the importance of bringing experienced birdwatchers together for a common cause,” the statement said.
The Kanger Valley National Park is also home to a population of Chhattisgarh’s state bird, the hill myna.
An Indian wolf. Photo: Juee Khopkar
During the bird survey, participants also saw mammals like Malabar giant squirrel, chital, rhesus macaques, grey langurs, scat of sloth bears and pugmarks of leopards. The Indian wolf, an endangered species, was also seen.
“Periodic bird surveys can help monitor the health of the national park’s bird populations for conservation and showcase to the world the unique diversity of the region,” the statement said.
All observations have been uploaded to eBird — an online platform to record bird observations — through the eBird Mobile App.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.