Notes on the status and ecology of the Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth) from the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu

2 Pages·1995·1.4 MB·

by  R Kannan

454 JOURNAL,BOMBAYNATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol.91 (1994)
Pulicat Lake. As there is no specimen at the bnhs, the tarsus. For example wing, bill, and tail measurements
measurements ofthespeciesis notgiven in the handbook. exceeded themaximum ranges by31 mm, 10 mm and 28
mm
However, the biometrics of three individuals ringed by respectively. Thefork (thedifference betweenT1 (63)
Natarajan and Balasubramanian is the only available and T6 (107) is 44 mm, which is also too much for this
measurements forthis species from Indiawhich fall within species, as this species has almost a squarish tail with the
therangeofthemeasurements givenbyCramp(1985)with maximum fork length of 16 mm. From the measurements
slight variation in tarsus length (Table 1). The thespeciesmentionedin thenote(JBNHS Vol. 89(1): 120)
measurements obtained from the remaining individuals is not the black tern but probably a common tern Sterna
tallies with the measurements of Cramp (loc. cit.) with hirundo.
slightvariations. These slight variations maybe due to the January 6, 1993 S. BALACHANDRAN
differences in the measurements ofthe museum and live BombayNaturalHistorySociety,
specimens. But the measurements given by Vivek Menon HombillHouse,Dr.SalimAliChowk,
is no way in the close ranges ofthis species, except the ShaheedBhagatSinghRoad, Bombay400023.
References
Abdulali,H. &V.C.Ambedkar (1983): Occurrenceoftheblack IV. OxfordUniversityPress,London.
ternChlidoniasniger(Linn.)inIndia.J. Bombaynat.Hist. Natarajan,V.&P.Balasubramanian (1990):Additionalnoteson
Soc. 80:640. theoccurrenceofblackternChlidoniasniger(Linn.)inIndia.
Cramp,S. (ed.). (1985): Thebirds oftheWesternPalearctic. Vol. J.Bombaynat. Hist.Soc. 87:451-452.
—
16. FORESTEAGLE OWL(BUBONIPALENSISHODGSON) A PREDATOR OF THE INDIAN GIANT
SQUIRREL (RATUFA INDICA
)
On 29 October 1992, at about 9.30 a.m., I was The Forest Eagle Owl is an efficient predator
conducting a routine bird census along the trail across against a variety of forest dwelling small to medium
the evergreen Forests of Karian Shola National Park sized animals, a list of which is given by Ali and
(10°28'N; 76°50'E) near TopSlip, TamilNadu. Hearing Ripley (1987). Since the Giant Squirrel does not
a commotion ahead, I saw a Forest Eagle Owl flying feature in this list, and considering the endangered
across the trail a little distance from me, and alighting status ofthese squirrels, I decided that this rarely seen
on a small tree. Dangling from its talons was the incident was worthyofrecording. Incidentally, Borges
partially eaten carcass of an Indian Giant Squirrel. For (1986) reports a predation attempt on this squirrel by
nearly five minutes the owl remained perched there the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis a raptor
)
ignoring the ceaseless agitations by the many bulbuls which is seen regularly at the Karian Shola National
and drongos around. Eventually the owl saw me and Park.
flew away deeper into the Forest, leaving the prey January 10, 1993 R. KANNAN
hanging on thelimb. Acouple ofdays later, the carcass HombillProject, IndiraGandhiWildlifeSanctuary,
was still there. TopSlip642 141, SouthIndia.
References
Ali, Salim & S.D. Ripley (1987): CompactHandbookofthe Borges, Renee(1986):PredationattemptbyBladeEagle(Ictinaetus
birdsofIndiaandPakistan. Secondedition, p.248.Oxford malayensisperniger)onIndianGiantSquirrel(Ratufaindica
UniversityPress,Delhi. elephinstonii).J.Bombaynat.Hist.Soc. 83 (Suppl.): 203.
17. NOTES ON THE STATUS AND ECOLOGY OFTHE CEYLON FROGMOUTH
(BATRACHOSTOMUSMON1LIGER BLYTH) FROM THE ANAIMALAI HILLS OF TAMILNADU
The status ofthe CeylonFromouth Batrachostomus Tamil Nadu from where no published information on the
moniliger was little known and was a cause for concern bird exists. This note throws light on its occurrence in
until the publication of Sugathan’s (1981, JBNHS 78: TamilNaduand itsstatus intheAnaimalaihills.Anecdotal
309-316) in which he revealed that the bird exists in informationonthebirds’ habits and habitatarealso given.
reasonable numbers in the state of Kerala. His surveys During 22monthsofintensivefield-workin theforests
didnot,however,covertheadjacenthillforestsofWestern ofTopslip(10°28'N;76°51'E),sevenbirdswereencountered
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 455
bychanceinthefollowing threedifferentlocalities. Allthese The young bird would roost huddled and sandwiched
sites lie within the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. betweentheparents.Ononeoccasion,however,theyoung
L Karian Shola, 1 km from Topslip; Three birds (2 was seen roosting in a small plant some distance away.
adults, 1 young). Seen regularly at roost between The roosting birds were perched between c. 2 to 4
December 1991 and February 1993. m abovethe ground. They would flush onlywhen almost
2. Varagaliar Shola, 24 km from Topslip: A pair, stumbled upon. They appeared very tame, allowing close
seen on 19 December 1992. approach,and seemedunperturbedbycamerabulbs going
3. Seechali, c. 10 km from Topslip: Apair seen on off close by. When approached too closely, i.e. within a
8 October 1992. metre so,thebirdswouldopentheirmouthwiderevealing
These three areas arejust between 0.2 to 2 km east the extraordinarily large gape and the small grey flap ofa
of the Kerala border. The birds were seen in two very tongue. Evidently this is a threat gesture, hitherto
different habitats, i.e. evergreen forest undergrowth and unreported by other observers.
dense bamboo jungle, adding support to Sugathan’s Thefactthatsevenofthesecryptic,hard-to-findbirds
finding that their habitat choice is varied. The evergreen were recorded without actually searching for them, may
forestareaisrepresented bytree species suchas Carallia, mean that the bird may be much more common than is
Polyalthia,Mesua Myristica,AlseodaphneandGarcinia. apparent. Sugathan (1981) also came to a similar
,
The bamboo forest is almost exclusively bamboo, but for conclusion after his extensive survey in Kerala.
occasional lofty trees like Terminalia, Pterocarpus and These notes on the ceylon Frogmouths’ habits, site-
Bombax. This Catholic nature ofthe Frogmouth’s habitat fidelity and parental care, although anecdotal, represent
choice makes them less vulnerable to local extinction. someofthefirstknowninformation on thisenigmaticbird.
This leaves room for optimism that the birds are less- The Topslip area, with its convenient logistics, terrain and
specialised than once believed and may survive even in Frogmouth population, may be an ideal place to conduct a
areas where the evergreen forests have been damaged. more detailed investigation ofthis species.
The Karian Sholabirds were first seen at theirroost I thank my tribal guide Natarajan, but for whose
on 29 December 1991 as a pair. This pair roosted in the “Frogmouth-eye” this note would never have
same general area, (albeit with some brief materialised.
disappearances), andmostlyon the very sameperch, until
February of 1993, i.e. a period of 14 months. The pair April 25, 1993 R. KANNAN
appeared with a young bird in November 1992, which HombillProject,IndiraGandhiWildlifeSanctuary,
stayed with the parents for 2 months, till January 1993. TopSlip-642141, (Via)Pollachi,TamilNadu.
18. ANALBINO MYNAACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (LINNAEUS)
On 18th September, 1992, I was going from legs and cheek was pinkish instead of yellow but the
Malda to Raiganj. These two are well known towns colour of the bill was yellowish. I had no doubt that
of West Bengal. While I was in the midst of Itahar the bird was a common myna (Acridotheres tristis)
and Raiganj our car stopped near Durgapur (a village andalbinoone dueto lackofpigmentation.Its walking
ofthedistrictUttarDinajpur). Iobserved thereawhite style and call was same as common myna’s. Before I
Myna walking and feeding on the insects and food could get some more details the bird flew away with
grains near theroad sideaccompanied bythree normal its three companions. I have never heard or seen
coloured common mynas (Acridotheres tristis). The albinism in common myna.
albino was dusty white but the head was chocolate
brown. Two brown stripes on each wing and on tail February 23, 1993 SAMIRAN JHA
was clearly visible during flight. The colour of the PantaPally,P.O.Malda, West Bengal732101.
19. DISPERSED COMMUNAL ROOSTING IN COMMON MYNAS ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (LINNAEUS)
Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis roost at night night. In Singapore, this leads urban myna roosts to be
in large noisyassemblages in trees (Sengupta 1982). In regarded as troublesome on account of the noise (Hails
these roosts, song can continue late into the evening and 1985). Prior to entering the roost site, Common Mynas
disturbances can lead to renewed singing throughout the gather in pre-roost assemblies in open areas or on