Birds of the Upper Nilgiris Plateau, Western Ghats, India

2008·6.8 MB·

by  Ashfaq Ahmed Zarri

Journal ofthe Bombay Natural History Society, 105 (2), May-Aug 2008 181-195
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
1
AshfaqAhmedZarri2'3Asad R. Rahmani2-4and B. Senthilmurugan2-5
'AcceptedJuly 18.2007
2BombayNatural HistorySociety,Hornbill House,S B, Singh Road.Mumbai400001,Maharashtra,India.
'Presentaddress:BabaGhulamShahBadshah University, Rajouri 185 131.Jammu& Kashmir,India. Email: [email protected]
'Email: bnhs@[email protected]
'Email: [email protected]
Although excellent bird collections have been amassed front the Nilgiris in southern India and several bird surveys
have been conducted since the late 19thcentury, they were eitherfocused on the lowerelevations, species specific or
not intensive. Bird surveysandcommunity investigationsin the higherelevationsoftheNilgiris are few, with results
generally unpublished, ordescribed only in travelogues. In the course ofthis first systematic effort to study the bird
community structure and ecology of this region, several rare and significant birds were recorded and their status
evaluated. We present here an annotated checklist of 192 bird species, ofwhich 145 were recorded by us between
December2000andApril 2004, and47 are recordsofotherworkersfrom the UpperNilgiris Plateau 1,700m above
(
msl). The species list also includes ten Threatened birds: five recorded during this study and five recorded by other
workers in the past. The checklist also includes seven NearThreatened species, including four recorded during this
study andthree byotherworkers.Areviewoftheliterature indicatesadrastic decline inthepopulationsofwintering
snipes, Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola and some raptors, and the disappearance of four vulture species.
ThreatenedspeciesandWesternGhatsendemics,suchastheBlack-chinnedLaughingthrushTrochalopteroncachinnans
andtheWhite-belliedBlue RobinMyiomelaalbiventris andthewintervisitorKashmirFlycatcherFicedulasubrubra
,
were identified to be at risk on account of habitat loss and anthropogenic pressures. We discuss the conservation
problemsforthe avifaunaofthe UpperNilgiris Plateau.
Key words: Upper Nilgiris, Western Ghats, Endemic bird species.Threatened birds, Shola, Mukurthi National Park
INTRODUCTION chinned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron cachinnans.
Thirumurthi and Balaji 1999) surveyed raptors in Nilgiris,
(
Sincethe 19thcenturymanybirdcollectionshavebeen while Vijayan et al. (2000) conducted a preliminary status
carried out on the birds of the Nilgiri Hills of the Western survey of the Black-chinned Laughingthrush. Autecology
GhatsinIndia.Mostofthesebirdsurveyswereeitherfocused works have been carried out on afew species including the
on the lower elevations or were not intensive with their Black-chinned Laughingthrush by Zarri (2005).
recordsgenerallyremainingunpublishedorbeingdescribed Thepresent study was thefirst intensive investigation
in travelogues on exploratory visits. Bird community of the composition and status of the birds of the Upper
investigations in the higher elevations of the Nilgiris are Nilgiris Plateau. This paperdescribes a total of 92 species
1
scarce.Davison(1883)gaveperhapstheearliestandthemost for the Upper Nilgiris, including the species reported by
comprehensiveaccountofthebirdsofthe Nilgiris, basedon earlierauthors.DuringthecourseofthisstudynineWestern
hispersonalobservationsandbirdcollections.Cardew(1885) Ghats endemics and several threatened species were
providedaccountsofsomespeciesunrecordedorconsidered recorded. A review of literature suggests a decline in the
doubtful by Davison (1883). Baker and Inglis (1930) populations ofseveral birds and the disappearanceofsome
includednatural historyrecordsonseveralNilgiribirdsfrom species.
early20thcentury, while Betts(1931)recordedobservations
onthebehaviourandstatusofbulbuls,andotherbirdsofthe STUDY AREA
Nilgiris. The ecological problems of the Nilgiris were
discussedbyNavarro(1966),andAli ( 1977)highlightedthe UpperNilgirisPlateau
affinities ofthe Nilgiri and Himalayan fauna, including the The area covered in this paper is part of the Nilgiri
m
laughingthrushes. Hills from ,700 above msl to the summit of Dodabetta
1
Ornithological explorations in the Upper Nilgiris (2,634 m above msl) and is commonly known as the Upper
duringrecentdecadeshavefocusedoneitherasinglespecies Nilgiris Plateau and lies between 11° 10' to 10° 30' N and
or a group. For example, Khan (1979) studied the ecology 76° 25’ to 77° 00' E (Fig. 1). Kerala bounds the Nilgiri Hills
of the Black-and-Orange Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa. onthe west, Karnatakaon the north and Coimbatore district
Islam(1985)studiedtheecologyandbehaviouroftheBlack- on the south-east. Eight Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Fig. 1: Location ofthe Nilgiri hills, Western Ghats, India
beenidentifiedrecentlyfromtheNilgiris(IslamandRahmani Mukurti National Park
2004). TheMukurtiNationalPark(MNP)istheonlyprotected
The Nilgiris is apartofthe Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve area falling under our intensive study area and lies within
andoccupiesthehighestandwesternmostpartofTamilNadu 11° 10-11° 22' N and 76° 26'-76° 34' E. It forms a key
State. The Nilgiris is located in theWestern Ghats (Zone-5) protectedareaforconservationofhighaltitudegrasslandflora
MNP
asperthebiogeographicclassificationofIndia(Rodgersand and fauna. encompasses an area of78.46 sq. km, and
Panwar 1988).TheUpperNilgirisPlateaurisessharplyfrom the entire terrain is undulating grassland with patches of
the surrounding country and is divided by a range ofpeaks montaneevergreenforest(shola)confinedtothefoldsofhills
runninginageneral north-southdirection, thehighestpoint anddepressions.Theaveragealtitudeisaround2,400mabove
m
being Dodabetta (2,634 above msl), which is also the msl. There are several peaks, the highestbeing Kolari Betta
m
second highest peak in the Western Ghats after Anaimudi 2,630 abovemsl.Mukurtiwasdeclaredawildlifesanctuary
m
(2,695 abovemsl).ThewesternendofthePlateauissheer in 1980 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and a
rock, while the interior of the Plateau consists mainly of national park in 1990, mainly for the protection of the
undulating grassy hills divided by narrow valleys, each endangered NilgiriTahrHemitragushylocrius.
one containing a stream or swamp surrounded by shola
thickets. The Upper Nilgiris Plateau forms the main Vegetation types in the UpperNilgiris
watershedfortwoimportanttributaries(BhavaniandMoyar) The vegetation of the Upper Nilgiris can be broadly
ofthe Cauvery river. There are numerous streams, draining classified into Southern Montane Wet Forest (shola),
either into the Moyar, which flows eastward through grasslands and exotic plantations. Most ofthe forested area
a deep gully along the northern border of the district or intheNilgirisisunderplantation,withveryfewnaturalshola
into the Bhavani that flows on the southern border. The patches.TheSouthernMontaneWetForesttypeisclassified
area receives both the Southwest and Northeast as 11 A(TypeC1/SD2)by Championand Seth(1968)andis
monsoons, during which the western Upper Nilgiris foundabove 1,700melevationandcomprisesshorttomedium
Plateau towards Mukurti National Park (MNP) and its size evergreen trees of both tropical and temperate origin
surroundings receives up to 5,600 mm rainfall per year (ShettyandVivekananthan 1971). Suchforestpatchesoccur,
(Lengerue 1977). asaRileattheheadsofstreamsandinthefoldsofconverging
182 1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008
)
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Fig. 2: The Nilgiriswith localitiesdescribed in the text
(1)Avalanche; (2) Bangitappal; (3) Bembatti; (4) Bikkatti; (5)BisonSwamp; (6)Cairn Hill; (7) DevarBetta; (8) Dodabetta; (9) Emerald;
(10) Governor Shola; (11) Kolari Betta; (12) Ittalar; (13) Kotagiri; (14) Kodanadu; (15) Kundha; (16) Lawrence; (17) Mukurti Peak;
(18) Naduvattam; (19) Nadukani; (20) Parson’s Valley; (21) Sispara; (22) Snowdon; (23) TaisholaTea Estate; (24) Upper Bhavani;
(25) Western Catchment II; (26) Western Catchment III; (27) Solur
species. In general, montane grasslands are located in high Bembatti, Longwood Shola at Kotagiri, Kodanadu and
altitudeareasoftheWesternGhats. Oncefoundontheentire Emerald Valley (Fig. 2 andAppendix 1
UpperNilgirisPlateau,suchgrasslandsarepresentlyconfined Elevations in feet for the localities described in the
toMNPwithonlyafewgoodpatchesseeninUpperBhavani, historicalrecordswereconvertedtometresforuniformity in
Lakkedi, Bison Swamp and other places. Afterclear felling presentation. The nomenclatureforthelocalitiesfollowsthe
of natural forest and burning of grasslands plantations of Survey of India :50,000 toposheets and coordinates were
1
severalexoticspecieswereraisedtofeedthetimberandpulp recorded using a GARMIN 12XL GPS. Sites surveyed and
wood industry. Plantationsconsists ofmainlyWattleAcacia described in this paper and their geographical locations
spp.. Blue Gum Eucalyptus spp.. Pine Pinus spp.. Cypress mentioned in the paperare listed inAppendix 1.
Cupressus macrocarpa Cinchona Cinchona cinchona and Species recorded more than 10 times are described as
, ,
Tea Thea sinensis. common in this paper, while those seen between 3 and
10 times are described as uncommon and those seen only
METHODS
once ortwice are termedrare forthe UpperNilgiris Plateau.
The sequence followed Inskipp et al. (1996) while the
Thispaperisbasedon the notes from our fielddiaries nomenclature was followed according to Rasmussen and
maintained during fieldwork for bird community Anderton (2005). The conservation status ofthe threatened
investigationsaswellasobservationsmadeduringextensive birds follows BirdLife International (2001). The status of
surveys by AAZ and BS in the study area above 1,700 m species as recorded during this study is recorded as ‘present
elevation between December 2000 and April 2004. MNP, status’, while species recordedby otherauthors are given in
Avalanche, Lakkedi, Devar Betta, Upper Bhavani and a separate column. We discuss briefly the key conservation
TaisholaofNilgirisSouthDivisionformedtheintensivestudy issues that are threatening the avifauna and biodiversity of
area. Other areas surveyed during this study include theUpperNilgiris.Ourchecklistincludesbreedingresidents,
Governor’sShola,CairnHillForest, Snowdon, Porthimund, wintervisitors,localsummermigrants,vagrantsandpassage
Dodabetta, Taishola, Kora Kundha, Coonoor, Bikkatti, migrants (Appendix 2).
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008 is:
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Theobservationspublishedintheformofanannotated HouseCrowCorvussplendens BesraSparrowhawkAccipiter
,
checklist by Zarri et al. (2005) in Buceros 10(1) included virgatus Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Emerald
, ,
observations by the authors and did not include synthesis of Dove Chalcophapsindica,AlpineSwiftTachymarptismelba
available literature as summarized in the current paper. The andWhite-throatedKingfisherHalcyonsmyrnensisaremore
currentformatofthepaperwouldalsobeeasytounderstand common presently than during the 19th century. However,
and userfriendly. species thathaverecordedanoticeable declinein theUpper
Nilgiris include the Pallid Harrier, White-rumped Vulture,
RESULTS Long-billedVulture,Red-headedVulture, EgyptianVulture,
Eurasian Woodcock, Wood Snipe, Pintail Snipe Gallinago
A total of 192 species was recorded from the Upper stenura, Jacobin Cuckoo, Large Hawk-cuckoo, Common
Nilgiris Plateau (till April 2004), including 47 records of Hawk-cuckoo.
earlierauthors(Appendix2).Ingeneral,thebirdcomposition
of the Upper Nilgiris appear depauperate compared to the Selectedspeciesaccounts
lower elevations. For instance. Gokula (1998) recorded
265speciesintheMudumalaiWildlifeSanctuaryinthelower Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elphinstonii
elevations ofthe Nilgiri hills. Vulnerable. This species is a common resident and is
Of the 16 Western Ghats endemic species, 9 were restrictedtothe sholahabitat; it is found in alleight IBAsof
recorded during this study, namely the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon the UpperNilgiris (Islam and Rahmani 2004).
Columbaelphinstonii,NilgiriPipitAntlmsnilghiriensis Grey-
,
headedBulbulPycnonotuspriocephalus Black-and-Orange LesserFloricanSypheotidesindicus
,
Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa Small Sunbird Leptocoma Endangered. Norecentrecordofthis speciesisknown
,
minima Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudatus, Black- fromtheNilgiris. Davison(1883)quotedHume“aspecimen
,
chinnedLaughingthrushTrochalopteroncachinnans.White- waskilledontheslopestotheNilgirissomeyearsagobetween
bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornispallipes and White-bellied Naduvattam and Pykara, going down to the Wynaad”. The
Blue Robin Myiomela albiventris. Of the remaining seven bird presumably might have been a vagrant, but the record
species,IndianRufousBabblerTurdoidessubrufusandIndian should be consideredofhistorical importance.
Broad-tailedGrass-WarblerSchoenicolaplatyurusmightbe
expectedtowardsthenorthernoreasternslopesoftheNilgiris, EurasianWoodcockScolopaxrusticola
although we foundnoevidence oftheirpresence during our Uncommon winter visitor. Once a common winter
visits. visitorandafavouritegamebird,itspopulationhasapparently
Threatened species (BirdLife International 2001) declined on the Nilgiris. A single bird was observed on
recorded from the study area during this study include the December28, 2002 in asmall moist and shadedgrass patch
Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Endangered) and Kashmir beside a wattle stand in Avalanche (an IBA). Subsequently,
Flycatcher, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni White-bellied we sighted (probably) the same bird at the earlier site on
,
Shortwing and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Vulnerable). Near December 30, 2002, December31, 2002, January 05, 2003,
Threatened species recorded during this study include the andJanuary 22, 2003.Anotherbird was sightednear Kolari
Nilgiri Pipit, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher and Nilgiri BettaclosetoawaterholealongtheroadonJanuary23,2003.
Flycatcher. Threatened species recorded from the Upper Two more birds were sighted in January 2003 atAvalanche,
Nilgiris Plateau by other authors and not seen during this another in December 2003 at Avalanche and one more in
study include White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis and January 2004 at Lakkedi.
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus (both the species are Critically Davison(1883)reportedtheEurasianWoodcocktobe
Endangered); Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus common from about October to the end ofFebruary in the
(Endangered)andEasternImperialEagleAquilaheliacaand Nilgiris. Home andLogan (1923) mention that aWoodcock
Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola (Vulnerable). Near was shot in April 28 near Mukurti Peak. This is an
ThreatenedspeciesrecordedbyotherauthorsincludetheRed- exceptionallylatedatefortheWoodcockattheNilgiris.Baker
headed Vulture Aegypius calvus, Pallid Harrier Circus reported shooting up to 6 birds in a day and 35 during the
macrourus Black-neckedStorkEphippiorhynchusasiaticus season. Heshot35in 1920-1921,and29in 1921-1922(Inglis
,
andFerruginous DuckAythya nyroca. 1923).WhistlerandKinnear(1936)summarizedtherecords
ComparedtotherecordsofDavison(1883),itappears ofhuntingbyvariousauthorsbysuggestingitwasacommon
thatsomespeciessuchastheBrahminyKiteHaliasturindus bird on the UpperNilgiris.
,
184 1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
The Eurasian Woodcock is believed to be a non-stop inflammatory drug Diclofenac tobethe cause ofthedecline
long distance flierin India, flying from the Himalayato the ofthisbirdandofG. indicusinPakistan. Schultzetal. (2004)
Nilgiri Hills (a distance of 2,500 km) (Sengupta 1990a). implicatedthesamedrugforthecrashintheirpopulationsin
Sengupta 990b)suggestedamigratoryrouteofthespecies India and Nepal.
(1
from Himalaya to Nilgiris via Bangladesh, West Bengal
[whereseveral specimenswerenettedinSaltLake,Calcutta Indian Vulture Gyps indicus
(now Kolkata) between 1963 and 1969] and Eastern Ghats, Critically Endangered. We did not see a single bird.
with or without a stopover. However, Rasmussen and Davison (1883)recorded it as occurring uncommonly in the
Anderton(2005)haveshowntworoutesintheirbook(plate Nilgirisanditsslopes,whilePrimrose(1904)wasnotcertain
58, volume1): one via Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan and aboutitspresence,ashecouldnotobserveit. Itdeclinedfrom
northern Western Ghats, and another via Bangladesh and theUpperNilgirismuchbeforethevulturecrisiswasobserved
Eastern Ghats, both merging in the southern Western inmostotherplaces.Referthepreviousaccountforthedetails
Ghats. ofthe causes ofthe decline ofthe Gyps vultures.
Wood SnipeGallinago nemoricola Red-headedVultureAegypiuscalvus
Vulnerable.Thiswintervisitorwasnotrecordedduring CriticallyEndangered. We did notfindanyduringthis
this study. Davison (1883) considered that it “was never study, but it was once a common vulture on the Nilgiris.
common and seems to be getting still rarer, year by year". Davison (1883) reported it to be not abundant and found
Thefactthat 13 birdswereshotinthe Nilgirisbetween 1922 mostly singly and sometimes in flocks of 6-50 vultures.
and 1935,however,suggestedthatnodeclinehadtakenplace Primrose (1904) reported it to be common and observed a
andthatasmallwinteringpopulationsurvived(Whistlerand nest near Craigmore Toll Gate, Ootacamund. In view ofthe
Kinnear 1936). Also, from his game records between 1923 earlierobservationsitappearsthattheyhaveseverelydeclined
and 1948, Phythian-Adams (1948) listedonly 8 birdsofthis duringthe20thcentury.ThirumurthiandBalaji(1999)claim
speciesshotintheNilgirisunlikethePintailandFantailsnipes to have recorded the species at Ootacamund and Kotagiri.
that figured in the thousands. Hence, we assume that this is Local birdwatchers (S. Sounderrajan and Ramneek Singh
the rarest ofall snipes wintering in the UpperNilgiris. pers. comm.,2003)deny seeingthisspeciesinthelasttwoto
threedecades.
Egyptian VultureNeophronpercnopterus
We did not see even a single individual between LesserKestrelFaleo naumanni
December 2000 and April 2004. Davison (1883) reported Vulnerable. Vagrant or rare passage migrant. On
them as abundant at the Nilgiris, especially at Ootacamund November 16, 2001, a single female was seen perched on a
and in the vicinity ofvillages ofBadciga community and on wattletreealongtheroadnearUpperBhavani.Thebirdstayed
slopes,andbreedingonnumerouscliffsandslopes. Primrose on the perch sufficiently for us to observe its whitish claws
(1904) also noted themas very common around the Badaga and less distinct moustachial stripes.
villagesoftheNilgiris, andreportedalarge breedingcolony
at Kota community village near Kotagiri. Thirumurthi and White-bellied Blue Robin Myiomelaalbiventris
Balaji (1999) reported the species at Coonoor (1,800 m Vulnerable. Common resident. Up to eight birds
above msl). (usually single) could be seen foraging on the road passing
through a shola in a vehicular drive of 200-300 m,
White-rumped VultureGypsbengalensis immediately after sunset at Avalanche. It is recorded in all
Critically Endangered. Not a single bird was seen by the eight IBAs of the Upper Nilgiris (Islam and Rahmani
usduringthisstudy.Morethan 120yearsago,Davison(1883) 2004).
had recorded them as abundant in the Nilgiris. Primrose
(1904)described itasthemostcommon vulturebutnowhere Kashmir FlycatcherFicedulasubrubra
plentiful,atthehigherelevations.Inrecentyears,thisspecies Vulnerable. Uncommon winter visitor sparsely
hasbeenreportedtohavedeclinedgreatlyinmanyotherparts distributed intheUpperNilgiris.Threebirdssightedbetween
of India (Prakash 1999). It disappeared from the Upper March09and27, 2001 atAvalanche. 16birdswererecorded
Nilgiris much before the vulture decline was noticed during an intensive survey between October 08, 2001 and
elsewhere, the reasons being far from known. Oaks et al. April 04, 2002 in different localities, namely Avalanche,
(2004) reported the residues of the non-steroidal anti- Bembatti, Ramaya Road and Emerald Valley (see Zarri and
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.; 105 (2), May-Aug 2008 185
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Rahmani2004fordetails).AmongtheeightIBAs,ithasbeen notoccuronthePlateauoftheNilgirisandiscommonbelow
recorded only inAvalanche (Islam and Rahmani 2004). about 2,000 m (Davison 1883). Jameson (1976) records the
Apparently it shows site fidelity, as three pairs were species at Coonoor. It was thought to be restricted to the
recordedcomingexactlytothesamesmallplantationpatches evergreenforests,butinrecenttimesithasspreadtodeciduous
(winter territory) in the winters of 2001 to 2003 (Zarri and forests perhaps due to the lossofitsevergreenforesthabitat
Rahmani2004).AmalewasringedonJanuary24andafemale throughout the Western Ghats.
on January 30, 2003 at Avalanche. However, we could not
locate these birds at Avalanche during the winters of 2003 Black-chinned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron
and2004.Weneedmoreringingdatatodeterminetheextent cachinnans
ofsite fidelity inthis species. Endangered. Common resident, it is the only bird
primarily endemic to the Nilgiri hills, usually seen above
Black-and-OrangeFlycatcherFicedula nigrorufa 1,600m. ItisfoundinalltheeightIBAsoftheUpperNilgiris
NearThreatened. Common resident, all over Nilgiris (Islam and Rahmani 2004). It was locally common (Ali and
associated with the shola habitat.Ten nests with an average Ripley 1987), but has now declined (BirdLife International
clutchoftwoeggswererecordedbetweenFebruaryandMay 2001).Zarri (2005)recorded58nestsduringhis4-yearstudy
2002and2003insholahabitatatAvalanche,Longwoodshola, on the ecology ofthis bird. Most ofthe nests were found in
Taishola, Mullimunth and Snowdon (all located 2,000 m sholahabitatmostlyalongtheedges,onstuntedtreesorshrubs
abovemsl).The nestisglobularanduntidywith anentrance between one and four metre height. All nests were located
more or less at top. All the nests located during this study between 1,900 to 2,500 m above msl.
were lined with the blades ofa sedge Carex baccans. Nests
m
are generally placed on a dead stump about 1 from the Nilgiri PipitAnthusnilghiriensis
groundwithalittlecover. Pittie(1989)sightedafledglingin Near Threatened. Common resident, restricted to the
mid-June at Sim’s Park nearCoonoor. undisturbed grasslands at higher elevations areas such as
Bangitappal, Western Catchment andLakkedi. Itisfound in
Nilgiri FlycatcherEumyiasalbicaudatus goodnumbersatAvalancheandMNPandsparinglyonother
NearThreatened.Commonresident,itaffectsbothshola sites.UmaMaheswari(pers.comm.,2003)observedanesting
and plantations. Sixteen cup-shaped nests, generally placed preference for largertussock forming grasses in the valleys.
in earthen banks and holes in trees, with a clutch oftwo or However, during this study three nests were recorded in
MNP
three pinkish-white eggs, were recorded during this study at shorttussocks withlittlecover,onridgesin at2,000to
Bangitappal,Avalanche,WesternCatchment-III, Longwood 2,100m.
shola, Mullimunth, Taishola, Bikkatti, Bembatti, Dodabetta
and Parson’s Valley. We observed them feeding on fruits on Bird conservation issues
severaloccasions. Dewar(1904)alsorecordedthemfeeding Habitat loss has been implicated as one of the major
on fruits. Nilgiri Flycatcheris found in all the eight IBAs of causes for the decline of many bird species (BirdLife
the UpperNilgiris (Islam and Rahmani 2004). International 2001). In the Nilgiris, habitat conversion and
loss occurred rampantly during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Grey-headed BulbulPycnonotuspriocephalus However, the process has been slowed down since the
Vagrantorrare resident in the UpperNilgiris Plateau, enactment of the Forest Conservation Act in 1980. Except
onlyone birdsighted atTaisholaonApril 25, 2002. Davison for the MNP, the entire study area is unprotected, and thus
m
(1883) found one specimen near Coonoor (1,800 above faces problems of habitat degradation, plant invasions and
msl).Jameson(1976)alsorecordeditatCoonoor.Apparently, burgeoning anthropogenic pressures due to infrastructure
it is more common at lower elevations and on the slopes of development. Key conservation issues are asfollows.
theNilgiris.Therefore,thesightingofthisspeciesintheUpper Speciesdeclineordisappearance:Acomparisonofour
m
Nilgiris (above 2,100 above msl) is ofinterest. bird records with the published literature from the last two
centuries reveals a catastrophic decline ordisappearance of
Yellow-browed Bulbul lole indica some vultures, many raptors and snipes. Among these, the
Vagrant or rare resident, perhaps subject to vertical Gypsvulturedisappearancefromthe studyareahasbeenthe
movements. One bird was seen in Taishola (2,100 m) on moststrikingone. However, thedeclineofthe vulturesfrom
April 25, 2002. Itisreportedfromplaces suchas Kodanadu, the Nilgiris started long before the catastrophic decline of
KotagiriandNaduvattamatlowerelevations.Thisbirddoes the Gyps species in north and north-west India in the mid
186 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008
,:
BIRDS OF THE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
1990s (Prakash 1999) due to the non-steroidal anti- suspect that the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and
inflammatorydrugDiclofenac,whichhasbeen implicatedas pesticides all over the Nilgiris affects many bird species,
thereasonforthesteepdeclineofthe Gypsvulturesin South including common birds. Inorganic pesticides have been
Asia (Oaks etal. 2004; Shultz etal. 2004). implicated for breeding failures in many species; and we
The Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola and suspect that many species might be getting affectedby their
variousspeciesofsnipes(WoodSnipeGallinagonemoricola excessive use in the Nilgiris also.
PintailSnipeG. stenura CommonSnipeGallinagogallinago Plantinvasionsandhabitatloss: Avifauna specificto
,
and Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus), the popular game the grassland habitat in the study area faced major threats
birds,abundantduringtheearly20thcentury(Davison 1883; duetoconversionofgrasslandstoplantationsandintroduction
Phythian-Adams 1927)havedeclined in the UpperNilgiris. ofalien invasive species. Most ofthese were introduced in
Apparently,huntingpressureandhabitatlossduringthepost- theNilgirisduringtheBritishperiod.Lorinstance,onesenior
independence period may have resulted in such grave official,aScot,isinfactreputedtohavegonetotheextentof
declines. fillinghispocketswiththeseedsoftheGorse Ulexeuropaeus
Habitatlossandconversions:Thenativebiodiversity and scattering them about freely during his walks (Davidar
of the Nilgiris has borne the brunt of years of unscientific 1986). Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius and Gorse have
forestryoperations. SeriouslossestotheNilgirisbiodiversity invadednativehabitatsinmanycountries,andintheNilgiris
occurred as the montane evergreen forests (shola) and therehasbeenconsiderablelossofgrasslandhabitat,affecting
high altitude grasslands were converted into monoculture birds such as the Nilgiri Pipit and other biodiversity (Zarri
plantations.Theopeningupofthehillsforsettlingimmigrant etal. 2007).
labourers of the tea, timber and pulp wood industries and Intentionalgrasslandfires: Lrequent and intentional
otherdevelopmentprojectsledtoclearfellingofsholas and burning ofthe grassland habitat poses another major threat
grasslands.Landownersstartedraisingtreesonacommercial totheendemicfloraandfaunaoftheregion. Livemajorfires
scale to the extent that at one time wood was cheaper wererecordedbetweenJanuary-June 2003 in MNP, burning
than the cost of cutting it (Davidar 1986). Several fast around20-25%ofthegrasslandarea.Grasslandisburntevery
growing species, such as Australian Blackwood Acacia yearby people from Kerala to lure Sambar Cerxnis unicolor
melanoxylon. Wattle A. mearnsii. Blue Gum Eucalyptus withfreshgrass forpoaching. Theburningcorrespondswith
globulus. Pine Pinus spp., Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa the breeding seasons ofgrassland dependent birds, such as
and Tea Thea sinensis were introduced. Wattle regenerates the Nilgiri Pipit. Much tothedelightofpoachers,thisisalso
through seeds and thus slowly spreads into the native the time when fires spread very fast due to the bulk
grasslands. accumulation oflitter in the grasslands.
Infrastructuredevelopmentandhuman settlements
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Davidar (1986) described the Nilgiris as an encroacher’s
paradise and its ecology as “grievously fractured”. High
precipitation in the Nilgiris invitedother majorthreats from This studyformedapartofour“EcologyofSholaand
hydroelectric projects such as Pykara in 1932 and the giant Alpine Grasslands Project”. We thank the U.S. Fish and
KundhaprojectsetupwithCanadianaidinthe 1960s.These WildlifeService(USFWS)forfundingtheproject. Mr. David
projects and many others still continue despite opposition Ferguson, USFWS and Prof. Mark J. Behan, Technical
from the local NGOs. Afterthe completion ofhydroelectric Advisorofourprojectwereextremely helpful.Wethankthe
projects, all the labourers settled in these hills. Several new TamilNaduForestDepartmentforfieldworkpermissionand
roads were built underthese projects that furtheropened up the Wildlife Warden, Mukurti National Park and District
remote and inaccessible forests and made them more Forest Officers ofthe North and South Forest Divisions for
vulnerable to exploitation. The ecology ofthis hill complex helpduringthefieldwork. Messrs. Sounderrajan, Mohanraj,
wasfurtherdamaged,particularlynearCoonorandKotagiri, Gannapathy, Vasu, Francis andothermembersofthe Nilgiri
with the settling ofthe repatriates from Sri Lankaunder the WildlifeandEnvironmentAssociation(NWLEA)helpedthis
Sastri-Srimavu Pact. project in several ways. The paper benefited from the
Agricultural intensification: Huge areas of natural comments ofour friend Mr. Thejaswi. The paper benefited
habitat in the Nilgiris have been converted to agriculture, frominsightfulandconstructivecommentsoftheanonymous
notably for vegetables. Excessive reliance on inorganic reviewers. The help and service of our field assistant
pesticides and fertilisers in the currentagriculturalpractices Mr. Velumani and drivers Mr. Noor Mohamed and
in the Nilgiris lead to effects that are usually neglected. We Mr. Veluswami are greatly acknowledged.
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008 187
.
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
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188 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008
,
BIRDS OFTHE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Appendix
1
Checklistofbirds recorded inthe UpperNilgiris Plateau, Western Ghats between December2000 andApril 2004
(Includeshistorical records)
Name Present Historical Threat Notes
Status records Category
Painted Bush Quail Perdiculaerythrorhyncha R, C
RedSpurfowl Galloperdixspadicea R, C
GreyJunglefowl Gallussonneratii R, C
Indian Peafowl Pavocristatus M, R Oneadult male sighted atAvalanche on
March 10, 2001
CommonTeal Anascrecca W Small partiesseen atOotacamund
Davison(1883)
Ferruginous DuckAythyanyroca W, V/R NT A.C. Sounderrajan (pers. comm.) sighted a
bird atOotacamund Lake in 1995
RufousWoodpeckerMicropterusbrachyurus V One specimen obtained nearOotacamund
(Davison 1883)
White-belliedWoodpecker Dryocopusjavensis V/R
Streak-throatedWoodpecker Picusxanthopygaeus R, C
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopiumbenghatense R, C
GreaterFlameback Chrysocolapteslucidus R, C
White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis R, C
Ceylon Small BarbetMegalaimarubricapillus R, R
Common Floopoe Upupaepops R, C Davison (1883) shotgreat numbers inthe
Nilgiris; reported uncommon in
Ootacamund (Stairmand 1972)
MalabarTrogon Harpactesfasciatus V/RM Apairseen atTaisholaon April 25, 2002
Indian Roller Coraciasbenghalensis R, UC Does notascendtothe Nilgiri Plateau
(Davison 1883)
Common KingfisherAlcedoatthis V/RR One seen atAvalanche onJanuary 11
2003and oneon May20, 2003; one seen
by Kumar(1996) at Pykara
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsiscapensis R, C
White-throated KingfisherHalcyonsmyrnensis R, C Recorded asa stragglerby Davison (1883)
Black-capped KingfisherHalcyonpileata V One recorded nearAvalanche Reservoiron
March 08, 2002
Little Green Bee-eater Meropsorlentalis V/RR One seen on June 29, 2002 at Mullimunth
Chestnut-Headed Bee-Eater Meropsleschenaulti R, UC Twoseen at Kundha, neverseen in MNP;
does not occuron Plateau (Davison 1883)
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamatorjacobinus RR * Common in Nilgiris (Davison 1883)
Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyxsparverioides W * Numerouson the Nilgiris (Davison 1883)
Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyxvarius * Plentiful in Nilgiris (Davison 1883)
Common Cuckoo Cuculuscanorus W, R One bird seen atAvalanche and anotherat
upperBhavani on September30, 2002
Asian Koel Eudynamysscolopacea V One bird collected atOotacamund
(Davison 1883)
GreaterCoucal Centropussinensis R, C
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittaculacyanocephala V, R One bird seen atAvalanche onAugust06,
2002
Malabar Parakeet Psittaculacolumboides R, UC Many shotclosetoOotacamund
(Davison 1883)
Himalayan Swiftlet Collocaliaunicolor R, C
Indian White-rumped SpinetailZoonavenasylvatica R, C
Alpine Swift Tachymarptismelba R, C Uncommon inthe Nilgiris (Davison 1883)
Common Barn Owl Tytoalba V/RR Adeadonefound in goodcondition at
Ootacamund inApril2004, wasskinned
and senttothe BNHS collection
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008 189
BIRDS OF THE UPPER NILGIRIS PLATEAU, WESTERN GHATS
Appendix 1 (contd.)
Checklistofbirds recorded inthe Upper Nilgiris Plateau, Western Ghats between December2000andApril 2004
(Includeshistorical records)
Name Present Historical Threat Notes
Status records Category
Collared Scops Owl Otuslettia * Recorded by Primrose (1904)
Forest EagleOwl Bubonipalensis Occurs sparinglyonthe Nilgiris
(Davison 1883)
Brown Fish Owl Ketupazeylonensis R, C
Mottled Wood Owl Strixocellata R, R One adultsighted on August5,
atAvalanche
Brown WoodOwl Strixleptogrammica R, C
JungleOwlet Glaucidiumradiatum * Recorded as uncommon by Primrose
(1904) upto 1,940 m nearTerrace
Tea Estate
Short-Eared Owl Asioflammeus R, R Twoseen atBangitappal, oneon
March 03, 2001 and anotherin June2002
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgusjotaka R, C
Indian Little Nightjar Caprimulgusasiaticus R, C
Rock Pigeon Columbalivia R, C
NilgiriWood Pigeon Columbaelphinstonii R, C VU Seetext
Laughing Dove Streptopeliasenegalensis Occurs sparinglyin the
UpperNilgiris (Davison 1883)
Spotted Dove Streptopeliachinensis R, C
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopeliadecaocto * Oneshot nearOotacamund
(Davison 1883)
Emerald Dove Chalcophapsindica M, C Seen upto2,400 m during this study;
Davison (1883) did notfind itas high as
atOotacamund (2,000 m)
Ceylon Green Pigeon Treronpompadora V One seen atAvalancheon
September 14, 2002
LesserFlorican Sypheotidesindicus V * EN Seetext
White-breastedWaterhenAmaurornisphoenicurus R, C Common around Ootacamund Lake
Common Moorhen Gallinulachloropus R, C
Eurasian Woodcock Scolopaxrusticola W, UC See text
Wood Snipe Gallinagonemoricola W * VU Seetext
Pintail Snipe Gallinagostenura W, R One recorded atAvalancheon
February20, 2004
Common Snipe Gallinagogallinago W * See (Davison 1883); Inglis (1923);
Phythian-Adams (1948) fordetails
JackSnipe Lymnocryptesminimus W * Davison (1883); Phythian-Adams(1948)
Green Sandpiper Tringaochropus W, C Recorded as rare by Davison (1883)
Wood Sandpiper Tringaglareola Seen at Botanical Garden Ootacamund
by Davison (1883)
Common SandpiperActitishypoleucos W, C
Black-winged Stilt Himantopushimantopus V A.C. Sounderrajan (pers. comm.) sighted
one bird atOotacamund Lake in 1995
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellusindicus R, C
Osprey Pandionhaliaetus W, R Oneadultseen nearUpperBhavani Dam
on December 19, 2003
Black-shouldered Kite Elanuscaeruleus R, C
Black Kite Milvusmigrans RA/V, C
Brahminy Kite Haliasturindus R, C Notnumerousonthe Nilgiris
(Davison 1883); uncommon
(Primrose 1904)
Egyptian Vulture Neophronpercnopterus * Seetext
White-rumpedVulture Gypsbengalensis * CE See text
190 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (2), May-Aug 2008