DARTER – Vol. 2 – Issue 1 (Jan-Mar 2018)

EDITOR’S NOTE

Birding activities are usually at their peak during the first quarter of the year; largely due to two important bird counts and of course the migratory species. Check out the amazing contributions by birders during GBBC and don’t miss out on the colorful treats waiting for you in the end! Sightings and records that are entered in eBird are only taken into account in the writing of this e-magazine. We wish a very Happy New Year 2018 to all and to have more memorable sightings throughout the year! —Ganeshwar SV

INDIA eBIRDER OF THE YEAR 2017

Bird Count India has announced the winners of the yearly eBirding challenges in several categories. Salem Ornithological Foundation’s Elavarasan M, a dedicated birder and a professor in Business Administration has been selected as the ‘India eBirder of the Year 2017.’ It is indeed a proud moment for the entire team and all Tamil Nadu birders to see our friend accomplish this big laurel. He receives a copy of Jim Robbin’s The Wonder of Birds: What They Tell Us About Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future. Many congratulations to him and all the winners. Please see the complete list of nominees and winners here.

4^TH PONGAL BIRD COUNT (PBC)

The overall results of the 4^th PBC are yet to be published. However, below is a summary of the contribution by birders from the Salem Ornithological Foundation. Collectively SOF birders documented 140 species and counted 13,000 individual birds from January 13 – 16, 2018.

S.No.	SOF eBirder	Hours Spent	S.No.	SOF eBirder	Checklists
1	Senthil Kumar S	17.1	1	Ganeshwar SV	39
2	Ganeshwar SV	14.8	2	Senthil Kumar S	30
3	Subramania Siva S	13.8	3	Subramania Siva S	25
4	Kalaiselvan V	9.5	4	Bharath Kumar	16
5	Bharath Kumar	7.9	5	Rajangam P	16
6	Rajangam P	5.6	6	Tamil Selvan A	16
7	Tamil Selvan A	5.6	7	Divya Subramani	15
8	Divya Subramani	4.9	8	Kalaiselvan V	13
9	Suresh G	3.9	9	Sathiyamoorthy	4
10	Sathiyamoorthy	2.6	10	Suresh G	3

1st SALEM BIRD SURVEY 

The first synchronized Salem Bird Survey was organized by the Salem Forest Department in coordination with Salem Nature and Wildlife Trust. The two-day Survey took place on the 27th and 28th of January 2018. On behalf of the Salem Ornithological Foundation, several birders took part. Many thanks to the Salem Forest Department and Salem Nature and Wildlife Trust for the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of Salem birds.

OUTREACH FOR GBBC & CBC 

On February 15, 2018, an outreach program emphasizing the importance of birds and bird conservation as a lead-up to the Great Backyard Bird Count and Campus Bird Count was conducted at Government Arts College, Salem-7. Ganeshwar SV addressed more than 50 students and staff. The program was supported by the Principal, staff from various departments, Dr. Anbarasi Sundaram, Head of the Department, English, and Elavarasan M, Professor, Business Administration. It was coordinated by students Tamil Selvan A and Raj Guhan. Early Bird pocket guides were distributed to aid the students in birding from their places of interest.

6^TH GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT—INDIA 

The contribution by Salem Ornithological Foundation, Krishnampudur School Students, and Cinchona School Students of Valparai in the sixth GBBC was exceptional and played a major role in putting Tamil Nadu in the No.1 ranking in terms of complete checklists submitted. This is the first time that a State has surpassed Kerala since the Count began in 2013. Certainly, Kerala birders are one the big inspirations. The event took place from 16-19 February 2018 and SOF birders have collectively birded for more than 210 hours. In World rankings, Ganeshwar SV, Divya Subramani, and Tamil Selvan A secured the World No.1, 3, and 4th positions respectively in terms of checklists submitted by individuals. Please see the complete results and summary of GBBC and CBC 2018 here.

I LOVE SPARROWS 

The Indian Roller Birding Club of Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty celebrated World Sparrow Day on March 20, 2018, to create awareness about sparrow conservation and other birds. The theme for the year is ‘I Love Sparrows.’ During the bird walk, the students along with their teacher Rajangam P recorded more than fifty individuals of House Sparrow Passer domesticus.

NEW RECORDS   

During the Salem Bird Survey, on January 28, 2018, the team of Dr. V Santharam, Aravind Amirtharaj, and Karthikeyan Ponnambalamoorthy recorded TAIGA FLYCATCHER Ficedula albicilla which is a first record for Salem. Please see the complete checklist here.

On February 4, 2018, Subramania Siva S and Senthil Kumar recorded and photographed WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia for the first time in Salem. This is the Stork species which was sent as a messenger by a poet to carry information to his wife in the old Sangam literature of Tamil. The poem is நாராய்! நாராய்! செங்கால் நாராய்! (Stork O! Stork! White Stork). Please see the complete checklist here.

On February 11, 2018, Subramania Siva S and Senthil Kumar recorded a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa at Mettur which is a first for Salem. Please see the complete checklist here.

On March 11, 2018, Karthik VS photographed a rare migrant, COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo at Yercaud. Please see the complete illustrated checklist here.

OTHER NOTABLE SIGHTINGS

During the first day of the Salem Bird Survey, on January 27, 2018, the team of Dr. V Santharam, Aravind Amirtharaj, and Karthikeyan Ponnambalamoorthy recorded WESTERN CROWNED WARBLER Phylloscopus occipitalis. Please see the complete checklist here.

On February 11, 2018, Elavarasan M recorded SIRKEER MALKOHA Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii. It is not a common species like its cousin, the Blue-faced Malkoha. Please see the complete checklist here.

During the sixth GBBC, Senthil Kumar recorded and photographed WHITE-NAPED TIT Machlolophus nuchalis on February 16, 2018. This is the second record for Salem. Please see the complete checklist here.

On March 20, 2018, Karthik VS recorded COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus at 60 Feet Bridge, on the way to Yercaud. Please see the complete checklist here.

TREAT FOR THE EYES

Check out colorful photographs, interesting species, and some action from these two illustrated checklists from two different habitats. Clicking the date will lead to the checklist.

S.No.	Observer(s)	Location	Date
1	Kalaiselvan V, Venkatraman	Kariya Ramar Temple Area, Yercaud	7 January 2018
2	Bharath Kumar, Divya Subramani, Ganeshwar SV	Kannankurichi (Mookaneri) Lake	4 February 2018