A Large Congregation of Black shouldered Kite Elanus Caeruleus At Ranthambore National Park

2 Pages·2002·1.2 MB·

by  V Srinivas

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
According to Khacher (op. cit.), there is lack of species is not established in Gujarat state.
quality data collection. Besides this, I feel that
the confusion is mainly due to the common November 29, 1999 B. M. PARASHARYA
English name grey pelican used byAli and Ripley AINP on Agricultural Ornithology,
(1983) for P. philippensis and by Gujarat Agricultural University,
Dharmakumarsinhji (1954) for P. crispus. Thus, Anand 388 110, Gujarat,
can be concluded that the occurrence of this India.
it
References
Ali, S. (1945): The Birds of Kutch. Oxford University Lumpur, Malaysia.
Press, Bombay. Palin, H. & Lester, C.D. (1904): The Birds of Cutch.
Ali, S. (1954): The Birds ofGujarat.J. Bombaynat. Hist. Times Press, Bombay.
Soc. 52(2 & 3): 374-458. Perennou, C., T. Mundkur, D.A. Scott, A. Follestad &
Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook ofthe Birds of L. Kvenild(1994): TheAsianWaterfowl Census 1987-
AWB
IndiaandPakistan. Compactedition. Oxford University 91 Distribution and StatusofAsian Waterfowl.
:
Press, NewDelhi. Publication No. 86. IWRB PublicationNo. 24. AWB,
Dharmakumarsinhji, R.S. (1954): Birds of Saurashtra, KualaLumpur, Malaysiaand IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.
India. Times ofIndia Press, Bombay. Roberts, T.J. (1991): The Birds of Pakistan, Oxford
Khacher, Lavkumar (1996). The Birds of Gujarat: A University Press, Karachi.
Centenary Overview. J. BombaynatHist. Soc. 93(3): Vijayan, V.S. (1991): Keoladeo National Park Ecology
331-373. Study. Final Report 1980-1990. Bombay Natural
Lopez, A. & T. Mundkur (1997): The Asian Waterfowl History Society, Bombay.
Census 1994-1996. Results of the Coordinated Vyas, R. (1992): Checklistofthe birds ofKota district in
Waterbird Census and an Overview of the Status of southeast Rajasthan. Newsletterfor Birdwatchers 32
Wetlands in Asia. Wetlands International, Kuala (11 & 72): 8-10.
A LARGE CONGREGATION OF BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
9.
ELANUS CAERULEUS AT RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
Naoroji (1987) has reported a large What is interesting is the striking similarity
communal gathering ofover 15 black-shouldered in both these observations that are 15 years apart
kites from Ranthambore National Park, and from the same area. During another research
Rajasthan, India, on an afternoon in May 1984. investigation, had stayed for five continuous
I
A larger gathering of more than 50 kites was weeks, making trips (each of three hours
observed in the same Park, in the last week of duration) both in the morning and evening,
May 1999, at about 1600 hrs near the Raj Bagh everyday, but had not noticed such a gathering
Lake (26° OF 49” N, 76° 28' 03” E). Although on any other occasion.
the black-shouldered kite is distributed The species is known for its nomadic
throughout India, such a phenomenon has not movements throughout its distributional range
been reported from within the country. In Africa, (del Hoyo et al. 1994) and in Africa is known to
it is known to roost communally, sometimes in appear in areas with temporary rodent abundance
very large congregations (Brown et al. 1982). and above average rainfall (Brown et al. 1982,
Even at Ranthambore, though they are known Cramp and Simmons 1980). In India, especially
to roost communally, such a large number has at Ranthambore, it would be interesting to see if
not been recorded so early in the day before such gatherings occur every year and if local
roosting time (Naoroji 1987). rainfall patterns or abundance ofprey influences
JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 99(2), AUG. 2002 297
,
\ .
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
it. Could such a gathering have significance in thank Dr. M.B. Krishna for suggesting that I
migration, seasonal or nomadic population write this note and for his help with the drafts.
movements?
January 8, 2000 V. SRIN1VAS
Acknowledgements ‘Padmashree ’ No. 1 70/B,
Jayanagar 1st Block East,
thank Dr. Asad R. Rahmani for his Bangalore 560 Oil,
I
valuable suggestions and for the references. 1 Karnataka, India.
ReferENCF.S
Brown, H Leslie, K. Emil Urban & Kenneth Newman Pp. 23-27.
&
(1982): The BirdsofAfrica. Vol. 1 . Academic Press. del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott J. Sargatal (1994): Handbook
Pp. 302-304. ofthe Birdsofthe World. Vol. 2, New World Vultures
Cramp, S. & K.E.L. Simmons (Eds) (1980): Handbook of to Gunieafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Pp. 115.
the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Naoroji, Rishad (1987): Communal gathering ofblack-
Africa: Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 2 winged kites Elanus caeruleus vociferus).
(
Hawks to Bustards. Oxford University Press. J. Bombaynat. Hist. Soc. 83 (supplement): 200-201
ATTEMPTED FEEDING BY A SH1KRA ACCIPITER BADIUS
10.
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAEjON BUFFSTRIPED KEELBACK
AMPHIESMA STOLATA,FAMILY COLUBRIDAE
According to Ali and Ripley (1987), the near the tree and found it was holding a small
food of the shikra Accipiter badius includes all snake, 30-40 cm in length. I identified the snake
live animals of manageable size, like mammals, as a buffstriped keelback Amphiesmastofata, the
birds, reptiles, amphibians and various insects. commonest snake in this area. The shikra had,
Its reptilian food includes various kinds oflizards, perhaps, captured it in the nearby marsh as it came
e.g. Calotes versicolor, Mabuya carinata, from that direction when I first saw it. The snake
Hemidactylus sp., and Lygosoma sp. However, was still alive, and in tryingto free itself, had coiled
Naoroji (1985) recorded Calotes versicolor as around the leg of the shikra, which looked
A
its main food. uncomfortable. few minutes later it flew offwith
On January 7, 1999 while walking on the its prey and I could not see the fate ofthe snake.
roadside along Chander More a wetland in
,
Murshidabad district, West Bengal at around November 9, 1999 SAMIRAN JHA
1400 hrs, saw a shikra Accipiter badius cross Green Peoples India,
I
the road in front ofme and fly overhead, carrying Pranta Pally,
a rope-like object in its feet. As it settled on an PO. and Dist. Malda 732 101,
m
eucalyptus tree, some 70 away, I moved quickly West Bengal, India.
References
&
Ali, S. S.D. Ripley (1987): Compact Handbook ofthe Naoroji, R. (1985): Notes on some common breeding
Birds of India and Pakistan. Oxlord University Raptorsofthe Rajpipla Forest.J. Bombaynat. Hist.
New
Press, Delhi. Soc. 82(2): 278-308.
298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(2), AUG. 2002