Newsletter of Deccan Birders (formerly Birdwatchers’ Society of Andhra Pradesh)

New Series Volume 22 Number 1 January 2025

FIELD TRIP-1: Sunday, 19th January 2025, 6.30AM: Edulabad Lake. Meeting Points: NGRI Metro Station, 6.30AM. Trip
Coordinator(s): Gurukumar KR (Mobile: 99858-07186)

Located near Ghatkesar, Edulabad Lake houses 171 bird species including many waders by the shore. The newly built pathway gives
the near perfect elevation to birders for easy spotting. The gorgeous Red Avadavats and Tri-coloured Munias are the Guests of Honour
that are an eye feast here.

This will be a half-day trip, so carry adequate water and breakfast/snacks, and protective gear if required. Covid protocols will be
followed; please ensure you wear masks, carry a sanitiser and maintain social distancing. Non-members are most welcome; however,
they are requested to contribute Rs. 100/- per person to the Deccan Birders kitty. New Deccan Birders hats and caps will be available
for purchase; please come prepared!

OUTSTATION TRIP: Saturday & Sunday, 25th & 26th January 2025: Turkum Cheruvu, Nirmal. Meeting Point(s): Apollo
Pharmacy, Miyapur-Bolaram Road, Near Miyapur Cross Roads, 05:20AM; opposite Dindigul Air Force Station, Hyderabad-
Narsapur Road, 06:00AM. Trip Coordinator(s): Sathwik Reddy (Mobile: 99858-07186)

Organised by Deccan Birders in association with the Telangana Forest Department, this exhilarating birding expedition and overnight
stay at Turkum Cheruvu offers an exceptional opportunity to engage in the Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC), explore the vibrant birdlife
around the lakes, and immerse yourself in the area's rich natural beauty. Turkum Cheruvu is a picturesque lake in the heart of the Nirmal
district, surrounded by dense forests and diverse wetlands. The area is rich in avian life, making it a prime location for birdwatching.
The lake is a vital freshwater body, attracting a wide variety of waterfowl and migratory birds. The surrounding forests are home to
numerous species of flora and fauna, creating a perfect blend of wetland and woodland ecosystems.

Till date, over 150 bird species have been officially recorded in the region, with many more spotted by birding enthusiasts. The area
has consistently yielded sightings of species such as the Asian Openbill, Black-necked Stork, and several species of waders, making it
an excellent site for both novice and experienced birdwatchers. If time permits, we will also visit Kawal Tiger Reserve on 26th January
2025, providing an exciting opportunity to spot a tiger.

More details will be shared on email.

NATURE CAMP & BIRDING AT TURKAM CHERUVU

Report: Camp at Turkam Cheruvu, Nirmal Dist, November 23-24, 2024
Text: Vijaya & Dhiraj Kaveri; Photos: Vijaya Kaveri

Telangana Forest Department (TFD) and Hyderabad Tiger Telangana. It was nice to meet people from diverse
Conservation Society (HyTiCoS) organised a Nature Camp backgrounds.
and Birding Event at Turkam Cheruvu and Venganna Cheruvu
on November 23 and 24, 2024. These 2 lakes are considered As birders and nature lovers, our focus was obviously birds
hidden gems of Nirmal District in Telangana. The campsite and the natural ecosystem. Even before we reached the venue
area is part of Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Nirmal Division. our eyes were constantly looking for birds. One thing which
This event was an experiment to explore the possibilities of struck us was the numerous nests of the Baya Weavers built
developing the area into an eco-tourism spot. on electric wires on the road sides. During the welcome
session it was mentioned by the organisers that it is an unusual
The participants of the event were representatives of the habit or adaptation by the Baya Weavers, and is not a very
birding community, wildlife photographers, students, nature good sign.
conservation NGOs and environmentalists from across

1
 A view of Nirmal Division Forest (L) and Kawal Tiger Reserve (R)

After the official inauguration of the event by senior forest Birders instinctively know where to spot the birds, so we asked
officials, we headed for a nature safari at Kawal Tiger Reserve the safari driver to stop at a water body. While we were
nearby. The forest landscape is tropical dry deciduous and is a enjoying watching and clicking photos of a pair of
catchment area of the Godavari River and its tributary Kaddam Alexandrine Parakeets in their best mood, suddenly we
River. realized there were 2 raptors – Crested Serpent Eagle and
Changeable Hawk Eagle – on a single tree!

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

We did our first bird walk next to a tiny stream, where we Crested Serpent Eagle (below) and Changeable Hawk Eagle
spotted Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, White-browed Wagtail, (above)
Grey Wagtail, Jungle Babbler, Black Drongo, Great Tit etc.
After spending some time there, we continued on our safari. This was the highlight of our safari and we literally lost track
of time taking their photos.

Alexandrine Parakeet

Crested Serpent Eagle

2
 We also saw several other birds – Black-headed Ibis, Glossy
Ibis, Little Cormorant, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian
Collared Dove – and a family of Lesser Whistling-ducks,
including some chicks.

As it was already getting dark we headed back to our campsite

for dinner, where we spent the night in our camping tents next
to a bonfire.

Changeable Hawk Eagle

The bonfire

Next morning, in the chilly weather, we started our bird walk

Glossy Ibis
around our campsite Turkam Cheruvu, which is surrounded by
dense forest. We were split into small groups and headed in
different directions. As the weather was cloudy we were
initially only hearing bird calls, which we were identifying
using Merlin Bird Sound ID, which was very useful.

We also had with us one of our Deccan Birders members,

Gokul Krishna, and his 9-year-old son Abhinav, who is an avid
young birder – this made the task of bird identification easy.
We spotted a lot of birds in this area, like the Common
Kingfisher, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Rufous Treepie,
Eurasian Hoopoe and Common Woodshrike.

Eurasian Collared Dove

Common Kingfisher

Lesser Whistling-duck with chicks

3
 Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Venganna Cheruvu

Eurasian Hoopoe

But the highlight of this bird walk was the Brown-capped

Pygmy Woodpecker which drew everyone's attention for
almost half the time. White-browed Wagtail

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

We then returned back to the campsite for breakfast and then

proceeded for our next birding spot, Venganna Cheruvu,
which is another popular birding hotspot and is considered a
paradise for bird-watchers.

Indian Pond Heron

4
All the birders spread across the length of the lake. We spotted For us the highlight of this spot was the Blue-tailed Bee-eater
a lot of water birds, like Asian Woolly-necked Stork, Asian which took a lot of our attention and time.
Openbill, Little Cormorant, Pied Kingfisher, White-browed
Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Indian Pond Heron and Grey Heron.

Red-wattled Lapwing

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

We then returned to our campsite for a quick lunch, closing

event and feedback session.

While we loved the place at the first instant and wish to come
here as many times as possible, we are equally concerned
about opening these pure and pristine forest areas for tourism.
We have already seen littering of plastic and waste in the forest
area. If this place is going to be developed as an eco-tourism
spot, we just hope and wish that it is maintained as it is now,
without disturbing the core nature of the forest and with
minimal to zero waste by tourists.
Oriental Darter

Sunrise at Turkam Cheruvu

“And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.”

Medium Egret - John Muir

Red-wattled Lapwing, Oriental Darter, Medium Egret, Indian The list of birds seen during the camp:
Spot-billed Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Ruddy Shelduck,
Lesser Whistling-duck, and a few other birds like Indian
Roller, Spotted Dove and Greater Coucal, were also seen.

5
 BIRD LIST - KAWAL WLS
Sl No Species Name Scientific Name Sl No Species Name Scientific Name
1 Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica 10 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
2 Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus 11 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
3 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 12 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
4 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 13 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
5 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 14 Cinereous Tit Parus major
6 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii 15 Jungle Babbler Argya striata
7 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 16 Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
8 Changeable Hawk Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus 17 White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis
9 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

BIRD LIST - VENGANNA CHERUVU

Sl No Species Name Scientific Name Sl No Species Name Scientific Name
1 Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica 18 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
2 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 19 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
3 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha 20 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Threskiornis
4 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 21 Black-headed Ibis
melanocephalus
5 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 22 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
6 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 23 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
7 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis 24 Great Egret Ardea alba
8 Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus 25 Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
9 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 26 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
10 Little Swift Apus affinis 27 Gray-headed Fish Eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
11 Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 28 Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
12 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 29 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
White-throated
13 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 30 Halcyon smyrnensis
Kingfisher
14 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus 31 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
15 River Tern Sterna aurantia 32 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
16 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 33 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
17 Asian Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 34 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola

BIRD LIST – NIRMAL FOREST

Sl No Species Name Scientific Name Sl No Species Name Scientific Name
1 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 11 Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
2 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis 12 Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus
3 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 13 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
4 Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 14 Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
5 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 15 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
6 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 16 Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
Brown-capped Pygmy
7 Yungipicus nanus 17 Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus
Woodpecker
8 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria 18 Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
Tickell's Blue
9 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 19 Cyornis tickelliae
Flycatcher
Chestnut-shouldered
10 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala 20 Gymnoris xanthocollis
Petronia

***

6
 SOME NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE MACHILIPATNAM AREA
(Originally written March 2004. Edited and updated, December 2024)
Text & Photos: Colin Conroy

Introduction
The area covered by this paper is situated on the coast of [Dec 2024 Update - the work of CCDP, and all its
Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, around the town of programmes including the mangrove restoration work
Machilipatnam and stretching for about 15km up the coast and officially closed in December 2015. Visits since then by a
45km down the coast. The paper is mainly based on former CCDP staff member (Eliah Gowri pers. comm.), plus
observations made by the author between January and June examination of the series of satellite photos available on
2001, with additional observations made by J. Harjula (JH) Google Earth) appear to indicate that most, if not all of the
during two brief visits in 1999, and by Dave Bookless (DB) in planted mangrove trees have survived and are growing well.
May 2000. Since the original writing of this article, some The natural mangrove habitat near Polatithippa and
further observations were made by the author during a return Gilakaladindi also appears to be still flourishing.]
visit to Machilipatnam in November 2005. The most
interesting records from this visit are included in the species As stated by Taher & Pittie (1989), the soil here is very sandy
list that accompanies this article and, where appropriate, are and this can be seen in the area which stretches north-east from
referred to in the text. Machilipatnam, where there are large tracts of short, sandy
grassland, heavily grazed by cattle, with scattered palm trees
It by no means represents a comprehensive study of the birds and Casuarina plantations.
of this area, as many places within the area were not visited
and others were only covered cursorily. Even in these areas, However, notwithstanding these dry areas, the predominant
however, some interesting observations were made, which are theme in the whole area, and arguably the most important
worthy of mention here. Also, for various reasons, most factor from an ornithological point of view, is water. There are
observations were made from roads or from tracks navigable many reed-fringed ponds hidden amongst the paddy-fields,
by bicycle. and a large number of man-made channels cross the area.
Many roads are lined on both sides by large beds of reedmace
Bird Habitats (Typha spp.). This is particularly true of the road going south
The area falls entirely within the "Eastern coastal plains" of from Machilipatnam, through the village of Chinnapuram,
Andhra Pradesh, as described by Taher and Pittie (1989). The along which large numbers of Weavers and Munias can be
topography here is extremely flat and much of the land lies at, found nesting, and three species of Bittern are seen regularly.
or below, sea level. A large proportion of the land area is taken
up by agriculture, mainly rice paddy with a smaller area given Finally, the coastline itself offers habitat for birds in the form
over to groundnuts and other crops. of sandy beaches and muddy creeks. Migrating and wintering
waders make good use of these, as well as of the numerous
Immediately adjacent to the coast, much of the land formerly ponds, drains and flooded areas.
covered by either mangroves or paddy-fields, has been
converted for fish and prawn aquaculture. Besides this, many Species
former mangrove areas are now barren, mainly due to cutting As you travel around this area, the most visible groups of birds,
for firewood, with only a small amount of salt-tolerant aside from the ever-present Rollers, Bulbuls and Drongos, are
vegetation, and only covered by the highest tides (about once those associated with water, particularly the Heron family, the
every three months). Reasonably healthy mangrove forest, Kingfishers and the waders (aka shorebirds). Of the
with a good diversity of tree and shrub species, still exists passerines, the most noticeable and numerous are also those
along the creeks near the villages of Polatithippa and which are found around water, such as the Weavers and
Gilakaladindi, at the mouth of the Gunderu Drain. However, Munias. Three species of Weavers and three Munias are
due to cutting and grazing pressure in the past, there are few common throughout most of the area.
very tall trees, with most being well below the maximum
height for their species. This area currently has no protection Of the Heron family, 11 species are regularly recorded and two
and continues to be under threat from cutting for firewood and more are seen occasionally. Although breeding hasn’t been
building materials, pressure to convert it to aquaculture, and proved for most of these species, from the presence of good
the development of a new port complex at Gilakaladindi. numbers all year round it seems likely that several of them,
Besides this area, mangroves are also found going down the including all three Bitterns (Cinnamon, Yellow and Black) and
coast as far as the northern part of the Krishna River, near the Purple Heron, do actually breed here.
villages of Malakayalanka and Palakayathippa. However, the
mangroves here are mostly very stunted and species poor, with So far, with a relatively small amount of coverage, 28 species
many large barren areas. of waders [Dec 2024 Update - the observation of 2 flocks of
Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) by the author in Nov
Both these areas have been the targets, since 1998, of a project 2005 increases this number to 29] have been seen and
aiming at the restoration and conservation of mangrove conversations with local people suggest that several more
habitat, involving the local community. This work is species occur here regularly. With more observation, at the
facilitated by the Coastal Community Development right time of year, particularly on the coast, the wader list for
Programme (CCDP), based in Machilipatnam. this area could probably be increased to 33 or 35 species.
7
Four species of Kingfisher can regularly be seen in the area. there are other sites along the coast where these birds occur. If
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is the so, this would constitute a significant range extension.
commonest of these, and the least tied to water. Pied
Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is frequent around flooded areas and [Dec 2024 update - publicly available records on E-bird
aquaculture ponds. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo attthis) can reveal that there have been several records made of this
be found in mangroves and wet channels just back from the species in Krishna District and neighbouring districts of
coats. The rarest species here is Black-capped Kingfisher (H. Andhra Pradesh since 2001, all between the months of
pileata) which appears to be tied to the larger channels in the December and April, and at least some involving small groups
intact mangrove areas near Polatithippa. of birds. This would seem to imply that Grey-headed Lapwing
is indeed a regular winter visitor in the region.]
The Crakes and Rails are also well represented, with six
species recorded, plus the similar-looking but unrelated Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus). All of these are A single individual of this species was watched for three hours
likely to be resident, although all except White-breasted in April 2001. Very good views were had, photographs taken
Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) and Bronze-winged (albeit poor quality) (see photos below) and a detailed
Jacana are probably represented by fairly low numbers description written down. Although the Helm Identification
wherever there is suitable habitat. Guide, Shorebirds (Hayman et al. 1986), shows the wintering
range of Long-toed Stint as covering the whole eastern side of
If one looked at the species list alone, the other groups of India including some of Andhra Pradesh, it seems that there
waterbirds, such as wildfowl, Cormorants, Ibises, and other has been only one other documented record from Andhra
long-legged waterbirds, would appear to be fairly well Pradesh, at Pulicat Lake in the extreme south of the state
represented. However, many of these birds are not common (Grimmett et al. 1998, Taher & Pittie 1989, Bombay Natural
here, and only one or two records have so far been made. It History Society pers comm.).
seems likely that the majority of these records are of birds on
passage, while other species might be more numerous just This species breeds in a broad band across Siberia and winters
outside the area covered by this paper, notably in the river in south-east Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines and parts of
deltas to the north and south and along the channel of the Australia. It may well be fairly regular along the coastal strip
Krishna going inland towards Vijayawada. of Andhra Pradesh, although lack of observers and the
similarity of the bird to Temminck’s and Little Stints may have
In the large areas of dry scrubby habitat and sandy grassland, resulted in it being over-looked hitherto.
the avifauna is less diverse, with three Larks, two Cuckoos,
one Pipit and a smattering of birds from other groups, being
recorded regularly.

So far only six species of raptors have been recorded here, and
only two, Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and Indian Shikra
(Accipiter badius), are at all common.

Being on the coast, this area is important for migration,

particularly of waders, but also of passerines such as Wagtails
and Warblers. Consequently, particularly during the peak
migration times, almost anything can turn up.

Interesting / unusual bird records during Jan-Jun 2001

During the main study period several observations were made
which were interesting or unusual for one reason or another.

Grey-Headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

The small wintering flock of Grey-headed Lapwings which
was present from at least the 6th of February 2001 until 3rd
May, when the last bird was seen, constituted the first record
of this species for the state of Andhra Pradesh (Conroy 2003).
According to Grimmett et al. (1998), the nearest place where
Grey-headed Lapwings regularly occur is 1000km away in
West Bengal, where they winter. Outside West Bengal and
North-East India, they are rare elsewhere in the country and so
a group of 12 on the coast of Andhra Pradesh is a very
interesting record. The question that now has to be asked is
“was this just a freak occurrence or is this a regular wintering Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
site?” This can only be answered by careful searching of the (Machilipatnam, April 20, 2021)
area in future years. As coastal Andhra Pradesh receives © Colin Conroy, 2001
relatively little coverage by birdwatchers, it is possible that
8
[Dec 2024 update - the publicly available records for this districts of Andhra Pradesh since 2019, often including
species seem to show that the above prediction was accurate. multiple birds, with most records being in the months between
There have been several records of this species in coastal September and March]

Streaked and Black-Breasted Weaver (Ploceus manyar & which was new for the district (and only the second for the
P. benghalensis) state). There is a large amount of suitable habitat for waders
The distribution information in Grimmett et al. (1998) and on passage and in winter, although much of this is difficult to
Taher & Pittie (1989) would seem to indicate that these species access. Species which seem likely to occur, either regularly or
do not occur at all in the whole coastal zone of Andhra occasionally, include Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura),
Pradesh. Observations in 2001, and also previous years, show Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), Black-tailed Godwit,
that this is incorrect. Both species were present in abundance Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Spotted Redshank
during 2001 in suitable habitat, and nest-building of both (Tringa erythropus), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Dunlin (C.
species was observed. Moreover, a trip to Kolleru Lake, in the alpina), Broad-billed Sandpiper (C. falcinellus), Ruff (C.
neighbouring West Godavari district, on the 1st of May 2001, pugnax), Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus), Great Thick-
revealed that Streaked Weaver at least, was abundant here knee (Esacus recurvirostris), Eurasian Oystercatcher
also. (Haematopus ostralegus), Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra
avosetta), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Common
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) present in Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) and Greater Sand Plover
summer and apparently breeding (Anarhynchus leschenaultii).
The Blue-tailed Bee-eater is generally considered to occur in
winter in peninsular India, and then migrate to other regions to Another group which may well be better represented than
breed (Grimmett et al. 1998, Fry et al. 1992). However, the existing records would appear to show is the migratory
situation around Machilipatnam in the first six months of 2001 Warblers. These birds are often both inconspicuous and hard
appears to tell a different story. There were no records at all of to identify and so diligence and experience are needed to
this species made until 25th of March, after which point they complete this part of the picture of the birds of Machilipatnam.
started to be seen with increasing regularity, both in the Species which might be expected include Paddyfield Warbler
mangroves and in other areas near the coast. On the 30th of (Acrocephalus agricola), Thick-billed Warbler (Arundinax
May at least 25 were seen at the same place that the Grey- aedon), Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata), and Greenish
headed Lapwings had frequented, and then on the 6th of June, Warbler (Ph. trochiloides).
searching of the sandy grassland just back from the coastline
revealed an area of shallow pits containing at least 4 nest holes, Outlook for conservation of birds and other wildlife in
one of which was seen with a bird going into it. At least Machilipatnam area
fourteen birds were seen in this area, and there were many The most important habitat, from a conservation point of view,
small pits suitable for Bee-eater nest-sites, and so it seems in this area, is of course, mangrove forest. This habitat has
likely that several pairs bred here in 2001. Moreover, this area been so heavily impacted in the past that there is very little left.
fits very closely to the description of Blue-tailed Bee-eater The only area of reasonably healthy and diverse forest in the
nesting habitat given in the Helm Identification Guide, study area is the forest around Polatithippa and Gilakaladindi,
Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers (Fry et al. 1992) - “dry and currently this is not protected in any way by the law. It
loamy or sandy soils in open flat areas such as coastal dunes”. continues to be exploited for firewood and building materials,
and may well be affected by the new port development in
About 30 birds were seen later in the month near the village of Gilakaladindi, which is currently under construction. Also, in
Malakayalanka, further down the coast. Also, at least 6 were common with mangroves all over the world, it has hanging
seen at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, East Godavari District, over it the ever present threat of conversion to aquaculture.
on the 15th of June 2001, and so it seems as if this is another Despite these threats, the outlook is rosier than it might
case of insufficient coverage leading to a misleading picture of otherwise be, as a result of the work of CCDP in the area. This
a species’ occurrence. project aims both to protect existing mangroves through
education and by helping people find alternative sources of
Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) income, and to increase the area of mangrove forest by
There were two records of this species, both from the banks of planting nursery grown seedlings in former mangrove areas.
the Krishna estuary, one of which was of a pair behaving in a
way that indicated that they might have been breeding. This is Most of the other bird habitats in the area are almost entirely
a range extension for this species which has hitherto not been artificial, being the result of agricultural practices. Most of the
thought to occur in the coastal strip on the east side of India paddyfields immediately adjacent to the coast have already
(Grimmett et al.1998, Taher & Pittie 1989). been lost, when they were converted to aquaculture in the
1990s. This must have had a negative impact on bird
Predictions for future additions to species list populations as it would have led to the loss of all the habitat
It is almost inevitable that regular, ongoing observations by which is found around and in between paddyfields in this area,
competent birders will continue to add new birds to the list for particularly the reed-fringed pools and ditches which provide
this area for some time to come. However, the group which is homes for birds such as Crakes and Rails, and also Weavers
most likely to be the source of these additions is the waders. and Munias.
In a relatively short period of time, with only very incomplete
coverage, 28 species have been recorded here, including one
9
It would also have meant a change from a freshwater habitat References
to a brackish-water one. This would certainly affect
invertebrates and amphibians and so presumably would have 1. Conroy, C., 2003. Grey-headed Lapwings Vanellus
an effect on birds too. Any similar rapid change in agriculture cinereus seen around Machilipatnam, Krishna District,
in the future will probably have similar effects on birdlife. Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society 100 (1): 122–123
Conclusion
The coastal area of Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh has 2. Fry CH, Fry K & Harris A. (1992). Kingfishers, Bee-
been little visited by birdwatchers in the past, perhaps because eaters and Rollers. Helm: London
it is a largely agricultural zone with little in the way of pristine
natural habitat. It is also a little off the beaten track and away 3. Grimmett R, Inskipp C & Inskipp T. (1998). Birds of the
from areas normally visited by tourists. However, as this Indian Subcontinent. Helm: London
article shows, it is far from being a bird-free zone and offers
opportunities to increase the body of knowledge about the 4. Hayman P, Marchant J & Prater T. (1986). Shorebirds.
distribution and behaviour of many species. Of particular Helm: London
interest are the waders, as is made evident by the fact that one
new species, and one second record for Andhra Pradesh were 5. Taher SA & Pittie A. (1989). A Checklist of Birds of
recorded in a short period at the beginning of 2001. Further Andhra Pradesh. Rana Graphics: Hyderabad
visits would almost certainly result in more additions to the
district or state bird-lists.

Colin Conroy is a birder, botanist and restoration ecologist from the UK, where he currently works as a Senior Botanist for
a national infrastructure project. He has birded in many parts of the world, including four years in Lebanon and over a year
in Canada. In 2001, just after finishing his Masters in Restoration Ecology, he spent nearly six months in India, volunteering
for the Coastal Community Development Project in Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, on their mangrove
restoration programme. During that time he joined what was then the Birdwatchers’ Society of Andhra Pradesh on some of
our field trips, and he says he was made very welcome by the members. Colin can be reached at [email protected]

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Bird Humour
Umesh Mani

(From Facebook, March 15, 2024)

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10
 Bird of the Month
Text and Photos: Umesh Mani

Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus)

Malabar Pied Hornbill adult female (L) and male (R) Malabar Pied Hornbill immature
Dandeli, Karnataka, October 30, 2024

Order: Bucerotiformes fruits or berries, although it does also eat lizards, small
Family: Bucerotidae mammals, rodents like mice, reptiles, insects and baby birds.
Genus: Anthracoceros It is arboreal, and moves around with heavy hopping
Species: A. coronatus movements inside large fruiting trees. It prefers evergreen or
Size: 65 cm moist deciduous forests, mostly near human habitation. As
with most Hornbills, flight is heavy and ponderous, with a
Description & distribution: The Malabar Pied Hornbill, also strong flap-and-glide pattern, with wingtips upturned. It emits
known as the Lesser Pied Hornbill, is a monotypic species. It a variety of nasal squeals, loud cackling and screams – Salim
is a large bird, predominantly black in colour, but with a white Ali likens the calls to “the protestations of a dak bungalow
belly, throat patch, tail sides and trailing edge to its wings. The murghi, seized by the cook, and also the yelps of a smacked
heavy bill is waxy lemon yellow, with a prominent, mainly puppy!”
black casque. The casque is axe-shaped (as opposed to
cylindrical in the Oriental Pied Hornbill, with which this bird Nesting: The Malabar Pied Hornbill breeds mainly between
may sometimes be confused) and has a pronounced tip, and a March and June. It is a secondary cavity nester, being
large black patch along the sharp upper ridge. In juvenile birds incapable of digging its own nest, and hence nests in large
the casque may be missing or not very noticeable. The two cavities in trees. Like other hornbills, the female locks herself
sexes are similar, except that the male birds have blue-black within the cavity, blocking off the entrance with a mixture of
orbital skin as against pinkish in the female birds; female birds mud, droppings and fruit pulp, and leaving only a narrow
also have a smaller casque. Outer tail feathers are all-white (as opening through which the female disposes of excreta, and
compared to white-tipped black feathers in Oriental Pied receives food from the male. Once the chicks have grown too
Hornbill). large, the female breaks out, then rebuilds the wall around the
opening, after which both parents feed the chicks. The usual
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is endemic to the Western Ghats clutch consists of 2-4 white eggs with wood-brown stains.
(western Maharashtra south through Goa, western Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu, and Kerala), some parts of Central and Local name: The Malabar Pied Hornbill is known as ‘Dhan
Eastern India (western West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, chiri’ in Hindi, ‘Suleimani murghi’ in Deccani, ‘Irattai chondu
Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, northern and eastern Madhya kuruvi’ in Tamil, ‘Vezhambal’ in Malayalam, ‘Batta
Pradesh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and north-eastern tip of chupanati’ in Telugu, ‘Kanari’ in Konkani, ‘Kuchla kha’ in
Telangana), and Sri Lanka. In Odiya, ‘Bagma dhanesh’ in Bengali, and ‘Poruwa kandetta’
in Sinhala.
Habitat & behaviour: The Malabar Pied Hornbill is a sociable,
noisy bird, usually seen in pairs or small groups, feeding on

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For Private Circulation Only

Editors: Shanti Mani, Umesh Mani Email: [email protected]
11
For information, write to: Deccan Birders, PO Box 45, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034. Website: www.deccanbirders.in. E-group:
http://groups.google.co.in/group/deccanbirders. Society membership (in Rs.): Annual: 500 per annum; Student: 200 per annum; Corporate:
2000 per annum; Life: 3000. (Add Rs 75 for outstation cheques.)