10 new species of birds recorded in Melghat
| Date :02-Feb-2023 |
Amravati Bureau
Total of 210 species of birds were recorded in the first bird survey conducted by Melghat Tiger Project between January 26 and 29. In all, 10 new species were added to the list of birds found in Melghat through the survey.
Total 60 ornithologists from 10 states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir participated in the survey. The survey was launched at Shahanur in Akot Wildlife Division. From there, 30 teams with two observers each from all the participants were sent to different places in four divisions of Melghat. On the first and second day of the survey, the birds were actually studied and recorded. Later, the information was recorded on the e-bird website as well as in written form.
According to preliminary information, out of 294 bird species recorded earlier, about 213 species of birds have been recorded. This study will help to know the number of these birds and the current status of some bird species. The survey recorded for the first time 10 species of birds not included in the Melghat list earlier. With this new record, the list of birds in Melghat has reached three hundred. Among the birds recorded for the first time at Melghat are Himalayan Rubythroat, Golden Cheeked Warbler, Pink Gommet, Long-tailed Gommet, Kashmiri Kingfisher, Golden-headed Bat, Lineate Woodpecker, Black-winged Cuckoo Khatik as well as migratory waterfowl were recorded.
Along with Ranpingala, the splendor of Melghat many other birds have become an attraction for bird watchers. Ranpingala bird was found in many places during the survey. Many people saw it for the first time. The birds observed for the first time in Melghat have been found in developed grassland habitats in the rehabilitated village areas of Melghat. Bird watcher Milind Savdekar and Samish Dongle found three birds namely Pink Gomet, Long-tailed Gomet, Kashmiri Fisherman at Kund village rehabiliatted from Melghat about 20 years back.
While Rohit Sharma recorded the beautiful Himalayan Rubythroat bird at Barukheda in Van Sanctuary at this place.
Two birds namely Line-throated Carpenter and Large Rakhi Khatik were recorded in the area of resettled village Kelpani by Dr Pawan Rathod and Amod Gawariker. Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike was recorded by Chaitanya Dudhalkar. After the rehabilitation of Barukheda, Talai, Kelpani, Somthana, Dhargad, Gullarghat villages in this area, rich habitats for wild animals and birds have been created in this place. Many rare birds such as Ranpingala, Migratory Short-eared Owl, Blue-headed Muskrat were found at this place. The records showed that Melghat has rich treasure of birds. An analytical study is being done by the project from the information and photographs received from all the participants.
The campaign was carried out under the guidance of Jyothi Banerjee, Field Director of Melghat Tiger Project, and with the co-operation from Sumanta Solanke, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gugamal Wildlife Division, Melghat, Divya Bharti, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Sipna Wildlife Division and Arya, Assistant Forest Conservator of Akot Wildlife Division. Manoj Kumar Khairnar, Divisional Forest Officer, Yogesh Tapas, Forest Range Officer and Dr Jayant Wadatkar, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Prof Dr Sawan Deshmukh and representatives of various non-governmental organisations Prof Dr Nishikant Kale, Dr Gajanan Wagh, Amol Sawant, Milind Savdekar, Kiran More, Swapneel Bangde, Atul Tikhe also, Tejas Parshivnikar of E-Bird and Harshali Rithe, officer from Shahanur took special efforts for the campaign.