01 Oct

Critically Endangered Birds in India

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Content

• The Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
• Bugun Liocichla
• The White Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) (imperial heron) (great white-bellied heron)
• The Bengal Florican (houbaropsis bengalensis) (Bengal Bustard)
• Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus)
• The Great Indian Bustard (GODAWAN – popular name in Rajasthan)
• Vultures
• The Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia Superciliosa) or Mountain Quail
• Pink Headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
• Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)
• Spoon Billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus)
• Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) (also known as Siberian white crane or snow crane)
• Baer’s Pochard (Aythya Baeri)

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1) THE JERDON’S COURSER (RHINOPTILUS BITORQUATUS)

It is a nocturnal bird found only in the of state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a flagship species for the extremely threatened scrub jungle.

Was considered extinct till 1986 when it was rediscovered and the area of rediscovery was subsequently declared as the Sri Lankamaleshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kadappa district Andhra Pradesh.

Habitat: Undisturbed scrub jungle with open areas.

Distribution: It isa restrictedrangeendemicfoundlocallyinEastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

Threats: Clearing of scrub jungle, creation of new pastures, illegal trapping of birds, plantation of exotic trees, quarrying and construction of river canals (Telegu Ganga Canal).

2) BUGUN LIOCICHLA

It is a bird species that was first spotted in Arunachal Pradesh, India in 1995. It was described as a new specie after being discovered from in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.

3) THE WHITE BELLIED HERON (ARDEA INSIGNIS) (IMPERIAL HERON) (GREAT WHITE-BELLIED HERON)

It is a large heron species. It is mostly dark grey with a white throat and underparts.

Distribution: Foothills of eastern Himalayas in northeastern India and Bhutan to Northern Myanmar. In India, they are found in 5-6 sites of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Habitats: It inhabits undisturbed rivers and wetlands.

Other Characteristics: It is inherently rare, and population has never been known to be very high.

Threats: Habitat Degradation (lowland forests and wetlands are being exploited by humans)

4) THE BENGAL FLORICAN (HOUBAROPSIS BENGALENSIS) (BENGAL BUSTARD)

About Bengal Bustard:

• A very rare bustard specie that is very well known for its mating dance.
• Habitat: Grasslands occasionally interspersed with scrublands.
• Distribution: Native to only 3 countries in World: India, Nepal and Cambodia.
  • In India: Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Threats: Ongoing conversion of bird’s grassland habitat for various purpose including agriculture.

5) LESSER FLORICAN (SYPHEOTIDES INDICUS)

It is the smallest bustard in the world, weighing between 500 g to 700 g, and is found only in India.

• Note: The other two bustard species of India – Great Indian Bustard and Bengal Florican are also CR.

It is endemic to Indian sub-continent. According to WII, less than 300 floricans remain in India. This is a sharp drop from 3,500 twenty years ago.

• Dehradun-based WII has also launched a recovery program for the bird.

Distribution

• Historically it was found throughout the country from Gujarat to Bengal and from Rajasthan to Kerala.
• Now, the bird is observed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and some other regions during the monsoon season, when it breeds and later disappear with its chicks to unknown places.
• It is generally found in grasslands and grassland-like habitat, including certain croplands.

Various local names:

• Kharmore ( meaning grass peacock) Kakatya ( referring to the sound the bird produces while courtship displays)/ Phudakdya (referring to jump during the courtship display)

Other features:

• It is best known for male’s leaping breeding displays during the monsoons.

Current causes of decline

• Habitat loss and degradation: Destruction of grasslands due to excessive cattle grazing, plants of shrubs and trees etc.

6) THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD (GODAWAN – POPULAR NAME IN RAJASTHAN)

Physical features:

• A large bird with horizontal body and long legs giving it an ostrich like appearance. It is the largest of the four Bustard Species found in India. The other three are MacQueen’s Bustard (VU), lesser Florican and Bengal Florican.
• Among the heaviest of flying birds. It is unmistakable with its black cap contrasting with pale head and neck.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Historic range included much of the Indian subcontinent, but it has now shrunken to just 10% of it.
• Habitats: GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitat and are considered the flagship bird species of grassland. They also act as barometer of the health of the grassland ecosystem. They are terrestrial birds and thus spend most of their time on ground with occasional flights to go from one part of their habitat to the other.
• Currently, they are found in India (150 ~ decreasing) and adjoining region of Pakistan. Often found associated in the same habitat as black buck.
• In Pakistan: Critically endangered in Pakistan, few birds found in the Cholistan desert.
• In India the distribution is as follows:
  • 128 are found in Rajasthan.
  • 10 in Kutch region of Gujarat.
  • Very few in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Today, the bustard are restricted to isolated pockets of Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, MHA, Andhra, and Karnataka.
  • Desert National Park, in Rajasthan has a good number of them.
  • In fact, Rajasthan has 95% of World’s population.
• Protection Status
  • IUCN: CR
  • WPA: Schedule 1
  • CITES: Appendix 1
  • CMS: Appendix 1
• Key threats
  • Hunting – Initially it was a major concern.
  • Loss of Habitat – wastelands are increasingly converted into agri-lands or are being used for renewable energy power projects.
  • Accidents due to high tension electricity cables: Scientists at WII consider it the biggest threat to the GIBs. WII research has concluded that 18 GIBs die every year after colliding with high tension wires.
    • Why?
      • Due to their poor frontal vision, the birds can’t spot the power lines from a distance, and are too heavy to change the course.
      • In Kutch and Thar desert a lot of transmission lines have been set up as a number of solar and wind power plants have increased a lot.
• Conservation Efforts
  • It is identified as one of the species under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat under MoEF&CC.
  • In 2015, the GoI launched the GIB Species recovery program.
    • Under the program, the WII and Rajasthan Forest department have jointly set up conservation breeding centers where GIB eggs harvested from the wild are incubated artificially and hatchlings raised in controlled environment. Till 2020, nine eggs had hatched successfully, and the plan is to create a population which can act as insurance against the threat of extinction and release the third generation of these captive-breeds in the wild.
    • In May 2017, Rajasthan government announced setting up of the Great Bustard Breeding Centre at Sorsan in Kota district.
  • Project GIB: Launched by government of Rajasthan with an aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats.
  • Firefly Diverters:

7) VULTURES

• Significance of Vultures
  • Vulture is nature’s most efficient scavenger and halts the spread of bacteria and fungus from dead animals to environment.
  • 4 Species of vultures in India are Critically Endangered.
    • White-backed Vulture / White rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender Billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), andLong -billedVulture(alsoknownasIndianvulture)(Gypsindicus)have declined by 99%.
    • Red headed vulture with a population crash of 91% has also suffered a rapid decline in recent past and is also critically endangered.

White Backed (CR)	Slender Billed (CR)	Long Billed(CR)
Red Headed Vulture (CR)	Egyptian Vulture (EN)	Cinerous Vulture (NT), Himalayan (Griffon) Vulture (NT), and Bearded Vulture (NT), Eurasian Griffon (LC)

• Habitat: Forests, villages etc.
• Distribution: Across India
• Why drastic crash in population:
  • The crash in vulture population came into light in 1990s and the reason was identified in 2004. The cause of Diclofenac – a veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as gout – in carcasses that vultures would feed on.

• • • Note1: In 2006, the veterinary use of Diclofenac was banned.
    • Note2: In 2015, after GoI placed restrictions on the size of Diclofenac vials for human consumption to just 3 ml, the prevalence of Diclofenac in cattle carcasses was reduced to less than 2% which is safe for vultures.
    • However, unlawful use of Diclofenac is still reported. Similarly, the continued use of vulture toxic drugs, including Aceclofenac, Ketoprofen, and Nimesulide in livestock treatment, could pose a major impediment to the re-introduction program.
• Accumulation of diclofenac in vultures results in gout like symptoms such as neck-dropping, ultimately leading to death.
• Just 0.4-0.7% of animals carcasses contaminated with diclofenac was sufficient to decimate 99% of vulture populations.
  • Key Steps:
    • Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2006
      • Released by MoEF&CC
      • In 2020, it was extended till 2025.
      • Ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac in 2006 by DCGI
      • The Central Zoo Authority and BNHS have also established the Vulture Conservation Breeding Program
        • It has been successful and had the three CR species (white backed, slender billed, long billed) bred in captivity for the first time.
        • As of Sep 2022, there are 800 odd vultures at eight centres located in Pinjore, Rani (Assam), Rajabhatkhawa (WB), Hyderabad (Telangana), Bhopal (MP), Junagadh (Gujarat), Ranchi (Jharkhand), and Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
      • The Vulture Safe Zone Program is being implemented in eight different places in the country where there were extant population of vultures, including two in Uttar Pradesh.
        • An area is declared Vulture Safe Zone only when no toxic drugs are found in undercover pharmacy and cattle carcass surveys for two consecutive years and the vulture population is stable and not declining.
      • Conservation program for red-headed and Egyptian vultures would also be launched with breeding programs for both.
• Other facts for Prelims
  • NSAIDS like aceclofenac, ketoprofen, nimesulide etc. were meant to be alternative to diclofenac. But, detailed studies have found that they may also harm birds and thus BNHS have requested GoI to ban the veterinary use of these drugs.
• Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC)
  • It is situated at Bir Shikargah WLS in Shivalik ranges of the Himalayan foothills in Haryana’s Pinjore.
    • As many as 378 vultures of three species are housed at the Centre, of which 131 are oriental white-backed vultures, 195 are Long billed vultures, and 52 are slender billed vultures.
    • The founder stock of birds at the Centre were collected from various states, including Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, to maintain genetic diversity.

8) THE HIMALAYAN QUAIL (OPHRYSIA SUPERCILIOSA) OR MOUNTAIN QUAIL

Medium size quail belonging to pheasant family.

Feared Extinct: Last reported in 1876 and is feared extinct. Possible siting of this specie was reported in Nainital in 2003.

Habitat: Tall grass and scrub on the steep hill side.

Distribution: Was known from 2 locations in western Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

Reasons for Extinction: Indiscriminate hunting during colonial period and habitat modification

9) PINK HEADED DUCK (RHODONESSA CARYOPHYLLACEA)

Feared Extinct: Not been conclusively reported since 1949.

Males have a deep pink head and neck from which it derives its name.

Habitat: Overgrown still-water pools, marshes and swamps in lowland forests and tall grasslands

Distribution: Once found in parts of Gangetic plains of India/Bangladesh and in the riverine swamps of Myanmar.

Reason for Extinction/Disappearance : Wetland degradation and loss of habitat.

10) SOCIABLE LAPWING (VANELLUS GREGARIOUS)

It’s a winter migrant to India. it breeds in Kazakhstan and winters in West Asia, Indian Subcontinent, and Sudan.

Habitat: Fallow fields and scrub lands

In India: Habitat distribution is restricted to the north and north west of the country.

Threats: Conversion of habitat to arable land, illegal hunting and proximity to human settlements.

Decline: The species has witnessed a sudden and rapid population decline due to which it has been listed as critically endangered.

11) SPOON BILLED SANDPIPER (EURYNORHYNCHUS PYGMEUS)

Its breeds on the coast of the Berring Sea and winters in South-East Asia.

Habitat: It has a very specialized breeding habitat, using only lagoon spits with crow-berry lichen vegetation or dwarf birch and willow sedges, together with adjacent estuary or mud flat habitats that are used as feeding sites by adults during nesting. This becomes a constrain and has always kept its population scarce.

Distribution: Russia, South-East Asia, Indian, Sri Lanka.

In India: Distribution has been recorded in WB, Orissa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Protected area in its breeding, staging and wintering areas include Point Calimere and Chilka Lake

Threats : Habitat degradationandlandreclamation. Humandisturbancealsoleads to high incidence of nest desertion.

12) SIBERIAN CRANE (GRUS LEUCOGERANUS) (ALSO KNOWN AS SIBERIAN WHITE CRANE OR SNOW CRANE)

Distribution: Two breeding population in Arctic Tundra of western and Eastern Russia.

Migration: The eastern population migrate during winter to China while the western population winters in Iran and formerly India and Nepal.

Habitat: Wetland areas.

In India: They are known to winter at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. However, the last documented sighting of the bird was in 2002.

Threats: Pesticide pollution, wetland drainage, development of prime habitat into agricultural fields, and to some extent, hunting

13) BAER’S POCHARD (AYTHYA BAERI)

Details

• It is a medium sized diving duck found in Eastern Asia.
• It breeds in Southeastern Russia and north-east China. But in winters, it migrates to Southern China, Vietnam, Japan, and India.
• Habitats: These pochards inhabit water with rich aquatic vegetation. They occur in freshwater bodies, rivers, freshwater lakes, reservoirs and coastal habitats surrounded by rich vegetation.
• In India, there peak population could be seen in Tinsukia district of Assam. They are also found from Gir-Himachal-West Bengal.

Why critically endangered?

• It is undergoing an extreme rapid population decline, as measured by numbers on both breeding and wintering grounds.
• Habitat destruction and overharvesting of both birds and eggs have become the key reason for this decline.