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Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum)
Conservation of Birds in
India:
Issues & Challenges
Dhananjai Mohan
IFS, Professor, WII
Structure
• Salient features of Indian avifauna
– History of ornithology
• Significance of birds
• Birds as a ecotourism resource
• Conservation issues
• Monitoring birds
• Birds as indicators
Indian Avifauna: Diversity
• 1303 (of 10448) species in the country (IOC,
2011)
– Includes ca.100 more added by Rasmussen and
Anderton (2005) in the subcontinent
• ~ 13% of world’s avifaunal diversity
• 27 orders (of 40) and 110 families (of 228)
• 976 breeding birds
• South-Eastern Himalayas having 570
breeding birds in 250X250 km grid
Indian Avifauna: Endemism
• In India, there are only 78 species, i.e. 6%
• Indian subcontinent also has a markedly low number of endemic genera (12), out of which only two are confined to India (viz., Heteroglaux & Ophrysia).
• Major families having significant representation in Indian Sub-continent – Tree-creepers (71%)
– Accentors (62%)
– Laughing Thrushes (55%)
– Ioras (50%)
– Barbets (37%)
– Drongos (38%)
Indian avifauna: influences
• Influenced by Palearctic, Ethiopian and
Oriental regions
• Oriental region has maximum influence
– Indo-Malayan
– South China
New and Re-Discoveries
• Nepal Wren Babbler (1991)
• Bugun Liocichla (2006)
• Large-billed Reed Warbler (2007)
• Rusty throated (Mishmi) Wren Babbler (2004)
• Forest Owlet (1997)
• Jerdon’s Courser (1986)
Why such a diversity
• Diverse habitats – Himalayan snows
to tropical oceans
– Tropical deserts to Wet evergreen forests
– Trans-Himalayan wetlands to largest mangrove systems of the world
• 10 bio-geographic zones – Rodgers and
Panwar (1988)
Diverse habitats
• Trans Himalayas
– High mountains, deep valleys, flat and arid plains
– Wetlands (often brackish): Breeding of birds like
Black-necked Crane, Great crested Grebe, Bar-
headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck
– Palearctic infuence
– Mainly in Ladakh and Lahul-spiti
Diverse habitats
• Himalayan region
– Immigration
– Very low speciation within (in situ) the Himalayas
– Speciation events attributed to vicariance
between Himalayas and China/Southeast Asia
(Orient)
Diverse habitats
• Himalayan region
• Great variation of
diversity from east to
west Himalayas:
(Half's from east to
west) – Ecological hypothesis
– Historical hypothesis
• Altitudinal gradient
and birds
5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 0
10
20
30
40
50
speciesE
speciesW
Data from "wiianalysis"
elevation (m)
Specie
s n
um
bers
y = 29.266 + 1.5860e-2x - 6.8090e-6x^2 + 2.2170e-10x^3 R^2 = 0.828
• The Indian Desert – Great Indian and Houbara Bustard
– Flamingoes
• Semi-arid Region – Dry-deciduous forests, scrub and grasslands
– Lesser Florican, Green Munia, Malabar and Sykes crested Larks
Diverse habitats
• Western Ghats – Comparatively poorer compared to similar
forests of E.Him.
– Disjunct distribution of many species • With Eastern Himalayas Satpura hypothesis
• With-in Western Ghats
– 16 endemic species
Diverse habitats
• The Deccan Peninsula
– Dry deciduous forests, scrub
– Forest Owlet, Painted Bush Quail, Painted
Partridge, Green Munia, Yellow throated Bulbul
• Eastern Ghats
– Jerdon’s Courser, Yellow throated Bulbul
– Tree Sparrow, Little Spiderhunter
– Yellow browed Bulbul, White bellied Treepie
Diverse habitats
• The Gangetic plains
– Rich in wetlands and dependent birds
– Large number of marsh dependent/tall
grassland birds
– Striated and bristled Grassbirds, Swamp
Francolin, Bengal Florican, Finn’s Weaver
• The North-east India
– EBA with 3 RR species
– Manipur Bush Quail, Greater Adjudant,
Diverse habitats
• Islands
– Andaman: 13 endemics
– Nicobar: 9 endemics
– Nicobar Megapode, Narcondam Hornbill, Edible nest Swiftlet
• Coasts
– Extensive but neglected
– Chilika, Bhitarkanika, Point Calimere
– Waders, Flamingoes
Diverse habitats
Some interesting distribution
patterns
• Entire subcontinent
• Himalayas
• Western Ghats (+ SL)
• Him + WG
• Him+ WG + Satpuras
+ EG
Vedic times - 250 Sanskrit bird names Brood-parasitism in the Koel mentioned in Rig Veda
Latitudinal migration of Oriental White Storks in Tamil Sangam
literature
Mughal naturalist traditions - paintings, hunting, falconry
and documentation Moguls paintings and memoirs esp. of Babur and Jehangir often
contained fine details on behaviour of garden birds.
1834 Adolphe Delessert ‘Souveniers d'un Voyage dans
L'Indes’
1752 J. Gideon Loten became Governor of Ceylon
1781 John Latham ‘General Synopsis of Birds’
1790 ‘India Ornithologicus’, 1821-28
Based on Sir N B Kinnear, JBNHS 51(1): 104-110
Early history of bird
study in India
The foundations
• T. C. Jerdon
• Edward Blyth
• A.O. Hume
• E. C. Stuart Baker
• Hugh Whistler
• Salim Ali
• Dillon Ripley
British Ornithology
Indian Ornithology
American Ornithology
A long tradition
The Handbook 10 Volumes
Indian ornithology in 20th century – 2nd half
• Sidney D. Ripley (1913-2001)
• Smithsonian Institution, US
• Bird systematist credited with the first
major revision of the taxonomy of the
Subcontinent’s birds since the
publication of FBI series
• Conducted extensive field-surveys esp.
in the north-eastern India
• His ‘Synopsis’ of distribution and
taxonomy of Indian birds formed the
basis for the 10-volume ‘Handbook’, co-
authored with Salim Ali
• Author of highly acclaimed monographs
on waterfowl and rails & crakes
Indian ornithology in 20th century – 2nd half
• Sálim Ali (1896-1987)
• Arguably, the most charismatic ornithologist in the
Subcontinent (‘Birdman of India’)
• Long association with BNHS
• Student of German ornithologist E. Stresemann; a
close associate of Hugh Whistler and S.D. Ripley
• Ornithological surveys of Central Provinces,
Travancore & Cochin, Mysore, Hyderabad, Jodhpur,
Saurashtra, Gangotri-Mansarovar, and Sikkim
• Authored the 10-volume ‘Handbook’ along with S.D.
Ripley; several regional field-guides
• Involved with research projects including bird
migration, economic ornithology, mitigation of birds,
bird-hits of aircraft, & ecology of endangered birds
• One of the leading figures of conservation movement
in Independent India
• Received Padma Vibhushan & J. Paul Getty Award
• Institutions
• Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai
• Centre for Wildlife & Ornithology, AMU, Aligarh
• Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON,
Coimbatore)
• Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
• Organizations
• Several regional bird clubs and organizations (Oriental Bird Club,
Bird Conservation Nepal, Ceylon Bird Club & Field Ornithology Group
of Sri Lanka, MNS, BSAP, etc.)
• Recent initiatives to form a Federation of Indian Ornithologists (to be
modelled as Indian Ornithologists Union) based in Bangalore
• Programmes
• Asian Mid-winter Waterbird Census (Jan 15-20, every year)
• IBA (Important Bird Areas) Programme
• ‘Migrant Watch’ Programme
Modern Indian ornithology – Extensions &
infrastructure
The growth of bird study in
India Period Number of publications
< 1800 9
1800-1850 186
1850-1900 1162
1900-1950 3218
1950-2000 12878
Based on data from Aasheesh Pittie (2001)
A bibliographic index to the birds of the Indian Subcontinent.
10 fold growth every 50 years
Life-history, behavioural and ecological studies are few.
Most publications are about species distribution or occurrence.
Already there is a space shortage for this kind of information.
The Internet revolution Email discussion groups
Nathistory-India ( since 1995 ) Bngbirds ( since 1999)
BirdsofBombay Keralabirder
India-nature-pixs [Digital images] Delhibirds
BengalBird Maharashtra Pakshimitra
Rajasthan Naturalists Gujarat
OrientalBirding
No entry bars
Flexible standards for reporting
Conservative estimates for most groups
> 10 posts/week and > 100 members
Evaluated
Extinct Extinct
(EX)
Extinct in the Wild
(EW)
Critical (CR)
Endangered (EN)
Vulnerable (VU)
Conservation
Dependent (CD)
Threatened
Non-
threatene
d
Low
Risk
(LR)
Near-threatened
(NT)
Of less concern
Abundant
Data Deficient
(DD)
Not evaluated (EV)
ALL SPECIES
Adequate Data
THREAT CATEGORIES: IUCN
Criteria Main numerical thresholds
Critical Endangered Vulnerable
A RAPID
DECLINE
>80% over 10
years or 3
generations
> 50% over 10
years or 3
generations
>50% over 20 years or 5 generations
B SMALL
RANGE
Fragmented,
declining or
fluctuating
Extent of
occurrence <
100 km² or
area of
occupancy <10
km²
Extent of
occurrence
<5,000 Km² or
area of
occupancy
<500km²
Extent of
occurrence
<20,000Km² or area
of occupancy
<2,000Km²
C SMALL
POPULATION
Declining
<250 mature
individuals
<2,500 mature
individuals
<10,000 mature
individuals
D1 VERY SMALL
POPULATION
<50 mature
individuals
<250 mature
individuals
<1,000 mature
individuals
D2 - - - <100 Km² or <5
locations
E UNFAVOUR-
ABLE PVA
Probability of
extinction >50
% within 5
years
Probability of
extinction >20 %
within 20 years
Probability of
extinction >10%
within 100 years.
Threatened Species Density
• Where threatened
birds occur
throughout the
world (Cr, En, Vu)
• (152) Brazil
• (124) Peru
• (122) Indonesia
• (112)Columbia
• (93) Equador
• (87) China
• (87) India. – 16CR, 17EN, 54VU
– In addition 68 NT
And 3 Data deficient
Critical Species Status )Br/ Non-
Br)
1 Himalayan Quail ?
2 Pink-headed Duck B
3 Baer's Pochard N
4 White-bellied Heron B
5 Christmas Frigatebird N
6 White-rumped Vulture B
7 Indian Vulture B
8 Slender-billed Vulture B
9 Red-headed Vulture B
10 Bengal Florican B
11 Great Indian Bustard B
12 Siberian Crane N
13 Sociable Lapwing N
14 Spoon-billed Sandpiper N
15 Jerdon's Courser B
16 Forest Owlet B
Endangered Species Status )Br/
Non-Br)
1 Green Peafowl B
2 Red-breasted Goose N
3 White-winged Duck B
4 White-headed Duck N
5 Barau's Petrel N
6 Oriental Stork N
7 Greater Adjutant B
8 Saker Falcon N
9 Egyptian Vulture B
10 Lesser Florican B
11 Masked Finfoot B
12 Spotted Greenshank N
13 Black-bellied Tern B
14 Narcondam Hornbill B
15 Black-chinned Laughingthrush B
16 White-bellied Blue Robin B
17 Nilgiri Blue Robin B
Threatened birds of India
|Their conservation requirements
By Asad R Rahmani
2012
860 page book.
Describes 15 CR, 15 Endangered,
52 Vulnerable, 66 Near threatened
and 2 data deficient birds of India
based on IUCN redlist 2011
Endemic Bird Area Analysis
Birdlife International 1997
• A Restricted- range bird species is a
land-bird which is judged to have
had a breeding range of less than
50,000 km² throughout historical
times ( since 1800). Extinct birds
which qualify on the range size are
included.
Endemic Bird Area
• An Endemic Bird Area ( EBA) is
defined as an area which
encompasses the overlapping
breeding ranges of restricted range
bird species, such that the complete
ranges of two or more restricted-range
species are entirely included within the
boundary of the EBA.
• - 27% (2623) birds are RR Sp.
Indonesia highest no.
India 14th ranked.
•
• - 218 EBA's identified
• Indonesia highest no with 24
• India 13th ranked with 6
Indian EBA’s
• .Western Ghats
• 16 RR Sp.: 12 near threatened & 4 least
concern
• .Andaman Islands
• 13 RR Sp. : 3 Vulnerable & 10 near
threatened
• .Nicobar Island
• 9 RR Sp: 2 Vulnerable & 7 near threatened
Indian EBA’s (contd.)
• .Western Himalayas
• 11 RR Sp.: 1 critical, 3 Vulnerable, 3 near threatened & 4 least concern
• .Eastern Himalayas
• 22 RR Sp.: 11 Vu, 1DD, 5 nt, 5 l.c.
• .Assam Plains
• 3 RR Sp.: 3 Vu
Important Bird Areas (IBA)
• Identify, document, and advocate the
protection and management of a
network of sites that are important for
the long term viability of naturally
occurring bird populations
Indian Bird Conservation
Network (IBCN)
• To promote conservation of birds and
their habitats thru’ dev. Of national n/w
of individuals, organisations and the
govt.
• Constituents
– Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
– Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) UK
– BirdLife International
Inventories of internationally
recognized sites vital for the
conservation of birds
• Four standard global criteria
• Globally threatened species
• Restricted Range Species
• Biome restricted species (8 biomes)
• Congregation
IBA Results
• Various state and regional consultations held since 1999
• 466 IBAs identified
• Final report released on 5th Nov.2004 in the form of a very detailed account of each IBA
– 1200 page document
– c. 1000 contributors
Why conserve birds:
Ecosystem Services
- Ecosystem services: Important place in the food chain: Ecological balance
- Direct role: Leaf Warblers in 1 ha. of tropical Forests consume 12000 insects in a day; in all 40 insectivorous birds in 1 ha. consuming 55000 insects a day. (KMTR, TN)
- Removing them>Foliage tattered> endangered Langurs devoid of food>fewer flowers and fruits> nectarivores and frugivores get less food>regeneration goes down>ground dries faster ……
- Similar role in agricultural insect pest control
• Ability to fly
• Colourful and attractive
• Interesting behavior
– Migration
– Breeding
• Varied and sweet
vocalisations
• Omnipresence
• Religio-cultural-social
linkages
Birdwatching: A peep into the
Beautiful world of birds
Scarlet Minivet
Common Kingfisher
Birdwatching: Present status
– Birdwatching: fastest growing
outdoor recreational activity in
the US; 20% population
participated (2006)
– In UK 6 million birdwatchers
(2009)
– In India too a hobby growing at
a fast pace: local e-groups and
associations
- Estimated 45000 birders
- May go up to 117m by 2025
(20% of middle class)
- Sumit Sen, 2011
Hobby of birdwatching
• Developed in 20th century – First in England followed by US and other
developed countries
– Now picking up in developing countries
• Development as a scientific sport aided by – Increased availability of optical aids
– Publication of high quality field identification guides, journals and magazines
– Growing of bird clubs
– Final impetus by internet and digital cameras
Who does birdwatching
• Usually attracts the educated, affluent and middle-aged who are interested in wildlife and are keen to travel and spend time outdoors
• In 2006 in America, 63% of all birders were over 45 years, 60% earned over USD 50,000 annually and 63% had at least some college education
• 54% of the surveyed birders were females
• Now a lot of youth getting attracted towards it
Birdwatching: Economics
– In US $82 billion industry (in 2006): Rs 400,000 Crores
• Trips and equipment US $ 36b
• created 671,000 jobs and generated employment income of over US $ 27b
• Govt. tax collection from birding was USD 10b
• Number of serious birdwatchers in US has surpassed hunters
– IN UK
• Birdwatchers spend about US$ 0.5b
• RSPB has 1m members
• Runs the Rutland water birding fair (16th yr)
• $5.4 m in 3 days
– Tiny country like Rwanda earned USD7b from bird related tourism in 2008
– In India estimated turnover US$25m
– Swarovski: sale of optical instruments for bird-watching is going up
Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
Bharatpur: Biodiv. values
• Most well known bird protected area of the country
• 350 species of birds
• Very easy viewing of otherwise shy water-birds
• Migratory waterfowl and breeding heronries
• 35 species of raptors and Siberian Cranes
Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
Bharatpur: tourism
• Part of the golden triangle of Indian
tourism
• Also part of golden triangle of Indian
birdwatching
• High number of visitors particularly in
winters.
• Large number of foreign tourists who
often spend 3-5 days
Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
Bharatpur: tourism
• Rickshaw pullers
• Naturalists/Guides
• Hoteliers
• Travel agents
Corbett landscape
• 550 species of birds in altitude ranging from 400 to 2000 metres
• Corbett Tiger Reserve, Nainital and Ramnagar Forest Division make a comprehensive & diverse landscape
• One of the richest bird areas in mainland India with easy access and good facilities
• Nearly 80 resorts outside the legal boundary of CTR – A sizeable share primarily cater to bird tourists
Corbett landscape
• Guided services started in 1993
• Large number of very good bird guides
available
• Proximity to Delhi
• Much bird tourism takes place in
territorial division
Eagle nest sanctuary
• One of the best altitudinal gradient in
eastern Himalayas 300m to 3000m
• 400 species (almost all forest birds)
• Now decent facilities for bird tourists
• Very good birding circuit along with
Kaziranga , Nameri and Sela and
Mandala Pass
Eagle nest biodiversity
project • The immediate and long-term goals
proposed were: – Inventory the birds, butterflies and
herpetofauna of Eaglenest
– Develop a photo-library useful to scientists, wildlife managers and tourists
– Increase the local and outside awareness of the ecological wealth of EWS
– Encourage the participation of the local Bugun tribe in research and tourism activities, thereby engendering in the community a stake in the long-term survival of Eaglenest
Eagle nest biodiversity
project • 2003-06: documentation of birds and other
taxa through volunteers with a view to help potential bird tourists – motivating factors included conservation as well
as the chance to investigate an unexplored wilderness
– Six field visits of approx 1 month each
• A team of locals managed the field camps and in the process developed the skills needed to manage tourist groups – Major focus of this hands-on training was on
hygiene, punctuality and cooking skills to cater to foreign palates
Eagle nest sanctuary
• Discovery of Bugun Liochicla a big bonus – Became the mascot of ENS
birding
• ENS properly and aggressively marketed through egroups, OBC Birding Asia, Bird tour organisers, birding fairs
• Tourism started in 2006 initially as low volume high quality
Eagle nest sanctuary
• Number of tourists: 300-500 annually,
about 50% foreigners
• Revenue from ecotourism: about Rs. 5
million
• Community fee: about Rs. 1.5 lakhs
• Number of employees: about 25
persons for an average of about 6
months
Eagle nest sanctuary
• A old road with labour sheds at 1200,
2000, 2200 and 2600m
• Camping sites developed at these sites
with assistance from ford foundation
• Bird guiding still an issue
To sum up
• Vast potential in the country to develop bird based tourism
• Territorial divisions better suited owing to fewer threats and restrictions
• Clean accommodation and other related facilities a must
• Good documentation of birds – Checklists
– Where to look for prized species
• Bird guides
• Marketing – Easy through e-groups
Important conservation
issues
• Vulture decline
• Sparrow decline
• Climate change
• Non-existent monitoring
– No count, density or relative density
estimates for most birds
Vulture decline
• 99% decline through the 1990’s
• 2003: Diclofenac identified as main
contributor to the decline
• 2005: Drug controller of India bans veterinary
use of diclofenac and promotes meloxicam
• Captive breeding centres at Pinjore, Buxa
and Guwahati
• Vulture restaurants
• Human diclofenac still leaking into veterinary
use
Sparrow decline
• Sparrows originated in Mediterranean but expanded to Europe and Asia with civilisation
• Man took it to Americas and Africa
• Today on steep decline in Europe and many other parts of developed world but rising in US
• Decline in India in large cities, intensive, modern and mechanized agriculture belts
Sparrow decline: reasons?
• Use of unleaded petrol: drastic decline in
insects owing to methyl nitrite in exhaust
– Insects major diet for young sparrows
• Lack of nesting sites in modern housing
• Increased use of pesticides in agriculture
• Disappearing kitchen gardens and traditional
practices of washing and cleaning of grains
• Mobile towers?: Advisory by MoEF, Aug 2012
• Predation by Crows and Cats
• 6 lakh Sparrows in UP alone (2008-09)
• GBP5000 reward unclaimed
Climate change and birds
• Shifting of timings – Many birds arriving early in their breeding ranges
in spring: out of step with habitats
• Shifting and shrinking ranges – 60% of 305 winter species in North America are
shifting their ranges northwards by 35 miles on an average
– More than half of arctic zone may submerge by 2080; Important breeding area for waterfowl and waders
• New risks of tropical diseases in temperate areas – Malaria: Mosquitoes peaking earlier
Monitoring Birds
•Monitoring birds
•Census techniques
•Monitoring protocols
•World and India
•Implications on forest ecosystems
•Bird habitat relationships
•Indicator birds
MONITORING
• Surveillance : repeated survey using
standardised methods.
• Monitoring consists of surveillance
plus
– Assessment of any changes against some
standard* or target
– Gathering of data in such a way that the
reasons for the departure may be
illuminated
* Standard: some norm or natural level;
study of control areas.
• Area limited species: Mammalian carnivores
• Dispersal limited species: Flightless insects, interior birds
• Resource limited species: nectarivorous, frugivorous, cavity nesting birds/ mammals
• Process limited species: Plants sensitive to process change
• Keystone species: Cavity excavating birds
• Narrow endemic species: Restricted range species (birds, mammals)
• Special cases: Flagship species – * Reed F Noss (1999)
Faunal Bio-indicators*
Birds as monitor: advantages
• Easy to identify, relatively easy to study
• Classification & systematics are well established; No
of species manageable
• High on food chain; occupy a very broad range of
ecosystems
• Sensitive to many kinds of environmental
disturbance and can be used to monitor potentially
harmful changes in the environment
• Relatively long life spans
• Public interest
• Amateur contributions
Bird census techniques
• Elementary – Species lists with abundance categories (e.g.
common, rare, scarce etc.) • Checklists
• Atlas studies
• Index counts (relative densities) – Encounter rates, Point counts, Occupancy based
• Absolute counts – Point transects
– Line transects
– Territory/spot mapping
Long-term surveillance/monitoring
programmes
• Annual Christmas counts: Since 1900
• Common bird census in Britain: Since 1962
• Breeding bird census: Standardised in 1945
• Breeding bird survey: Since 1965
• Line transect census of birds in Finland
• Standardised trapping of migrant
passerines by bird observatories
Annual Christmas Count
• Successor to Christmas ‘side hunt’
• Frank Chapman from Audobon society
• Primary objective: to monitor the status and distribution of bird population across western hemisphere (Americas)
• Longest running database in ornithology
• Information generated vital for conservation – Local trends in bird populations can indicate
habitat fragmentation or signal an immediate environmental threat, such as ground water contamination or poisoning from improper use of pesticide
•First CBC
–27 participants
–25 counts
–90 species
–18,500 individual birds
•Year 2000
–52471 participants
–1823 counts
CBC:
Participation and
coverage
Common Bird Census:
Britain • Used to monitor populations of breeding
birds in UK since 1962
– tracked the declines in species such as the Song Thrush and the Skylark, and the general decline in farmland birds following changes in agriculture over the last 30 years
– It has also helped to show that for species such as the Sparrowhawk, previously in decline in the 1950s and 60s following extensive use of organochloride pesticides, environmental change has brought recovery and expansion of populations.
• Census during the breeding season (summer)
• Field work by volunteer birdwatchers
• Visit farmlands or woodlands typical of their area, eight or more times in the season
• Map all the birds by noting all contacts
• Year to year comparisons possible
• Detailed info. about the density of birds their habitat preferences is also available for ecological studies
Common Bird Census: Britain
Impact of monitoring programme
in Britain
• Monitoring has shown collapse in
farmland bird populations in 1980s
• This aroused public concern about the
health of the countryside
• This raised Government’s awareness of
the problem
From monitoring to Government
action
• The Wild Bird Indicator is among 15
Indicators that the UK Government uses to
measure sustainability
• The Government ministry responsible for
farming and the environment has pledged to
reverse the decline in farmland birds by 2020
• The Government has already started to
introduce schemes to help farmland birds
UK Government’s ‘Quality
of Life’ indicators • GDP
• Investment in hospitals, schools etc.
• People in work
• Life expectancy
• Qualifications at 19
• Unfit housing
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Air pollution
• Road traffic
• River quality
• Wild bird populations
• New homes on previously developed and
• Waste and its disposal
Indian bird monitoring
programmes • Asian waterbird
census (AWC)
– Initiated in 1987
– Conducted in 2nd or 3rd week of Jan.
– In India 341(2002), 549(2003) and 407(2004) sites covered
No of sites covered under AWC
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
Year
No
of
sit
es
No of sites
Asian Waterbird count:
India • 1987-2007
– 3296 sites covered at
least once
– 100 sites with 20,000+
birds
– 13 sites with 1,00,000
birds
• Trends for most
species using TRIM
software (Trends and
indices for monitoring
data)
Other monitoring
programmes
• Vembanad bird count, Kerala
– Offshoot of AWC
• Salim Ali bird count
– 12th Nov., initiated in 1992, discontinued
• Yamuna valley bird count, Uttarakhand
Yamuna valley bird count
• Winter bird count Nov. 2004
• Summer bird count May 2005
• Winter bird count Nov. 2005
• Summer bird count May 2006
Diversity of Birds in Uttarakhand
• 625 species known to occur from the
region
• Nearly 50% of all the species recorded
from India with good representation
from most families reported from India
• Healthy bird populations
Scientific information
• Bird distribution fairly well documented
• Deficient quantitative information
• Limited knowledge about bird ecology
• Very few species lists at local level
– Necessitates bird surveys, particularly in
less-frequented areas
Why Yamuna Valley?
• Wide altitudinal range as bird habitats
(400 – 4000 m)
• Diversity of habitats
• Poorly surveyed area
• Easy accessibility
Objectives
• Assess status of birds
• Orient field staff
• Involve local people in conservation
• Popularise the area with birdwatchers
Survey Locations
• 8 locations covering diverse habitats
and altitudes; One more added in Nov
2005 count
• 2 trails at each location
– Length 7 to 10 km per trail
– Existing trails selected
Trek Altitudes
Location Altitudinal Range (m)
Hanumanchatti-Yamunotri 2400 3200
Chiwan-Balcha-Jutadi 1900 2700
Kalsi-Sahiya, Rampur Mandi 400 1100
Taluka-Gangad-Sankri 1950 2800
Purola-Nauri-Jarmola 1400 2150
Mussoorie-Kempty-Bhatta 1350 2100
Deoban-Mundali-Kanasar 2150 2850
Dhanolti-Surkanda-S’dhara 650 3000
Malhan-Timli-Asan 400 650
Participation
• Each location surveyed by one group
• Groups consisting of:
– Experienced birdwatchers
– Field staff
– Local school/college students
– Still and movie photographers
• Interaction with local people
Methodology
• Groups walk two trails at each location on
two consecutive survey days
• Recorded:
– All birds observed and their numbers
– Habitat characteristics
– Altitude and weather conditions
– Other observations regarding activity/behaviour
• Waterfowl census at Asan Barrage
Expected results
• Number of birds of different species
• Encounter rates:
– No of birds of diff. Sp./km
Encounter rate survey method is very
useful, especially in the hills, when the aim
is to get an index of abundance. (Field
methods for bird surveys by S. Javed and
R. Kaul, 2002)
YAMUNA VALLEY BIRD COUNT, MAY 2005
DATA SHEET
(Use separate sheets for different habitats); each and every bird to be recorded
TREK NAME & NO.: TRAIL NAME: DATE:
HABITAT(from list): TIME START: TIME END:
WEATHER(sky): (0=<10%clouds,1=partly cloudy,2=mostly cloudy,3=overcast,4=raining)
AVG. VISIBILITY(in m): ASPECT(N,S,E,W,): SLOPE(in %):
START: Altitude*: Longitude*: Latitude*:
END: Altitude*: Longitude*: Latitude*:
TRAIL LENGTH* (for the habitat): *GPS based entries
Observers’ names:
Count Nov 2004 May 2005 Nov 2005 May 2006
No. of
Species
177 203 174 220
No. of sp.
correctly
identified
159 189 157 196
Total
number
3198 3948 3938* 3421
Results of the counts for
7 location (14 trails)
10 most abundant birds
Nov 2004 Nov 2005 May 2005 May 2006
Spot-winged tit 455 (8)
Snow pigeon 285 (2)
Black-throated tit 159 (7)
Black bulbul 115 (3)
Large-billed crow 110 (13)
White-throated l.t. 107 (4)
Himalayan griffon 104 (9)
Green backed tit 91 (10)
Red-bld. B Magpie 86 (9)
Streaked l.t. 77 (9)
Rock Pigeon 868 (4)
Black bulbul 192 (6)
Large-billed crow 190 (9)
Snow pigeon 122 (3)
Black throated Tit 121 (8)
Himalayan Bulbul 114 (9)
House Sparrow 114 (7)
White-throated l.t. 105 (2)
Slaty h. Parakeet 84 (4)
Himalayan griffon 75 (10)
Large-billed crow 208 (13)
House Sparrow 182 (5)
Common Myna 134 (9)
Jungle Myna 150 (7)
Snow Pigeon 148 (2)
Russet Sparrow 138 (10)
Blue W. Thrush 121 (12)
Himalayan Bulbul102 (6)
Black throated tit 105 (10)
Streaked LT. 93 (10)
Large-billed Crow 279 (14)
Slaty-headed Parakeet 144 (9)
Russet Sparrow 128 (10)
Blue Whistling Thrush 96 (11)
Streaked LT. 95 (10)
Himalayan Bulbul 90 (9)
Grey-hooded Warbler 85 (6)
Black Bulbul 81 (10)
Common Myna 70 (10)
House Sparrow 68 (6)
Significant (>50%) variation across
seasons for abundant birds
Higher in Summer Higher in
Winter
Low
variation
Ashy Drongo, Blue Whistling
Thrush, Common Myna, Grey
Bushchat, Grey-hooded
Warbler, Himalayan Bulbul
House Sparrow, House Swift,
Jungle Myna, Large-billed
Crow, Long-tailed Minivet,
Oriental Turtle Dove, Oriental
White-eye, Plumbeous Water
Redstart, Rock Pigeon,
Ultramarine Flycatcher, Verditer
Flycatcher
Snow Pigeon,
Spotted
Nutcracker,
Spot-winged Tit
Black Bulbul,
Black-throated Tit,
Green-backed Tit,
Himalayan
Griffon, Red-billed
Blue Magpie,
Slaty-headed
Parakeet
Results contd…
• Encounter rates for each species calculated for all trails
• Habitat wise presence absence of all the species: Mixed temperate richest
• Spatial distributional patterns can be plotted
• Trends to established over time
• Baseline available
Indicator birds in the Shiwalik landscape
Q: Which are the indicator birds for disturbance in the
forests?
Q: Are there species that indicate specific disturbances?
IVKJ = 100 (RAKJ x RFKJ) RAKJ = Relative abundance of species J in group K
RFKJ = Relative frequency of species J in group K
Based on indicator species analysis
(Dufrene & Legendre, 1997)
LOW DISTURBANCE HIGH DISTURBANCE
Forest Species Indicator
value (%) Species
Indicator
value(%)
Dry Common myna 39.9
Chestnut shouldered
petronia 47.2
Rufous treepie 35.3 Rose ringed parakeet 44.5
Jungle babbler 42.1
Grey breasted prinia 41.5
Spotted dove 34.9
Hill
Rose ringed parakeet 50.3 Spotted dove 43.4
Purple sunbird 43.4 Indian pitta 36.1
Chestnut shouldered
petronia 42.2 Rufous treepie 34.2
Jungle babbler 30.7
Moist
Great tit 47.1 Common myna 40.1
Rose ringed parakeet 44.6 Jungle crow 35.9
Jungle Myna 30 Jungle babbler 33
Blue throated flycatcher 30.7 Spotted dove 31.8
Objective 2 Results(Breeding season)
Indicator proportion: moist (0.21) > hill (0.20) > dry (0.14)
LOW DISTURBANCE HIGH DISTURBANCE
Forest Species Indicator
value (%) Species
Indicator
value(%)
Dry Rose-ringed parakeet 45.8 Grey bushchat 33.3
Himalayan bulbul 31.4
Hill
Hume's warbler 50 Slaty-blue flycatcher 57.9
Grey-breasted prinia 41.1
Himalayan bulbul 40.9
White-throated fantail 40
Moist
Great tit 51.6 Grey bushchat 44.4
Chestnut bellied nuthatch 40.2 Grey-breasted prinia 32.4
Grey capped pygmy
woodpecker 39.7
Indicator proportion: moist (0.29) > hill (0.13) > dry (0.11)
Objective 2 Results(Non-breeding season)
Su
mm
er
Win
ter
Indicators of Lopping
Dry Hill
Dry Hill
R² = 0.68 p=0.002
0
2
4
6
8
0 10 20 30 40
R² = 0.50 p=0.001
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 20 40 60 80
R² = 0.62 p=0.001
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0 10 20 30 40
R² = 0.76 p=0.001
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
0 20 40 60 80
Su
mm
er
Win
ter
Dry Moist
Moist Dry
Indicators of Firewood collection
R² = 0.51 p=0.01
1
3
5
7
9
11
0 1 2 3 4
R² = 0.33 p=0.08
0
2
4
6
8
0 5 10 15 20
R² = 0.45 p=0.03
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0 1 2 3 4
R² = 0.43 P=0.001
0
2
4
6
8
10
0 5 10 15 20
Su
mm
er
Win
ter
Indicators of Timber extraction
Dry Hill
Dry Hill
R² = 0.32 p=0.15
0
2
4
6
8
10
0 1 2 3 4
R² = 0.45 p=0.04
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
1 2 3 4
R² = 0.49 p=0.01
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 2 4 6
R² = 0.38 p=0.01
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0 2 4 6
Indicators of Grazing S
um
mer
Win
ter
Dry Hill
Hill Moist
R² = 0.33 p=0.06
0
2
4
6
8
0 20 40 60 80
R² = 0.51 p=0.02
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 20 40 60 80
R² = 0.40 p=0.05
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
0 20 40 60 80
R² = 0.39 p=0.05
0
2
4
6
8
0 20 40 60 80
Gap specialist species indicated high disturbance in all forest types.
Trunk-bark foraging guild and cavity nesters preferred less disturbed areas.
Great tit decreased with increasing lopping and firewood collection in moist forest.
Jungle Prinia decreased with all disturbance variables, especially with grazing.
Rose-ringed parakeet indicated timber extraction in dry and moist forest during breeding and non-breeding season.
Summary
Monitoring habitat degradation due to
extractive practices by locals
A robust list of indicator birds was
created
Four important criteria were selected for
identifying top indicators
Two sets of indicators representing high
and low disturbance were selected
Bird Habitat Monitoring Protocol
Disturbance
Sensitivity
Detectability
Distribution
Seasonal
availability
PARAMETERS JUSTIFICATION REFERENCES
Detectability
Ease of detection and measurement
helps in inexpensive monitoring
(Hilty and
Merenlender 2000;
Noss 1990; Pearson
and Cassola 1992)
Seasonal
availability
(1)Resident species could be monitored
throughout the year (2) changes in
attributes of migrants species could also
operate outside the target area.
(Bock and Webb
1984; Hilty and
Merenlender 2000;
Landres et al. 1988)
Occurrence
Widespread occurrence helps in
monitoring of multiple sites using single
indicator.
(Landres et al. 1988;
Noss 1990; Pearson
and Cassola 1992)
Respond to
multiple stressors
An indicator species responding to
multiple stressors has more utility to one
which responds to only one stressor.
(Noss 1990;
O'Connell et al. 2000)
Objective 3 (Methods)
SPECIES DENSITY (INDI/HA) IN TWO DISTURBANCE CATEGORIES
PROPOSED SAMPLING METHOD
Low High
White-crested laughing
thrush 0.350 0.037 Line-transect
Red-jungle fowl 0.346 0.159 Call-counts, Trail/road
transect
Red-billed blue magpie 0.348 0.054 Point/Line-transect
Great tit 2.722 1.601 Point/Line-transect
Greater-flameback
woodpecker 0.064 0.048
Line-transect/Call-
playbacks
Rose-ringed parakeet 2.235 1.525 Point/Line-transect
Objective 3 (Result: Species DECREASED with disturbance)
SPECIES DENSITY (INDI/HA) IN TWO DISTURBANCE CATEGORIES
PROPOSED SAMPLING METHOD
Low High
Olive-backed pipit 0.011 0.085 Line-transect
Common tailor-bird 0.12 0.449 Line-transect
Black-rumped
flameback 0.063 0.135
Line-transect/Call-
playbacks
Eurasian collared
dove 0.029 0.161 Encounter rate
Pied bush-chat 0.027 0.221 Line-transect
Spotted dove 0.260 0.685 Encounter rate
Objective 3 (Result: Species INCREASED with disturbance)