DARTER – Vol. 2 – Issue 2 (Apr-Jun 2018)

EDITOR’S NOTE

Despite many of the migrants back to their home grounds and harsh summer in our region, several birders were consistent to bird around their places and some hitting the hill station Yercaud to chill out and get some resident forest birds. A woman birder in our team has inspired many through her contribution for birds during Global Big Day. For few species High Counts were recorded. Sightings and records which are entered in eBird are only taken into account towards writing of this e-magazine. Best wishes for the remaining half of the year! —Ganeshwar SV.

ENDEMIC BIRD DAY

Endemic Bird Day is an annual event in India in May, coinciding with the Global Big Day, a worldwide effort to document as many species as possible in a single 24-hour period. This year it was on May 5, 2018 and Salem birders collectively submitted 125 checklists and recorded 81 species in the district. Periyasamy Ranjangam was the district topper by number of species (58) recorded. Many congratulations to the dedicated teacher! In terms of complete checklists submitted, Divya Subramani secured the World No.2 ranking. She is the first Indian woman birder to achieve this feat in Global Big Day. She is also the only Indian birder in Top 50 of the checklist rankings. Salem Ornithological Foundation is proud of its high-spirited member and congratulates Divya S for the remarkable achievement and wishes her to continue her contribution for birds.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

The World Environment Day on June 5 was celebrated at Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty. Headmistress Danalakshmi R presided over the function and teacher Rajangam P addressed the students about the anthropogenic impacts and the need to conserve environment. Students took a pledge that they would be eco-friendly citizens. Later, tree saplings were planted and students sang a Tamil song on environmental protection written by Jayamurugan T, the current district president of Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Salem. At Panchayat Union Middle School, Krishnampudur, an awareness program was conducted and Head Master Senthil Kumar addressed the students.

HIGH COUNTS

Between April to June, the following species were recorded in high numbers. These are the highest counts recorded in eBird thus far. Clicking the date will lead to the checklist.

S.No.	Name of the Species	Birds Counted	Observer(s)	Date – 2018
1	Little Egret	300	Senthil Kumar	April 7
2	Whiskered Tern	1000	Senthil Kumar	April 7
3	Spot-billed Pelican	94	Subramania Siva	May 8
4	Ashy Woodswallow	28	Senthil Kumar	June 24

VISITORS WHO ENJOYED SALEM

Even after the migration season is over, few individuals of migratory birds stayed back. Some of the species who enjoyed their stay in Salem even during summer are:

S.No.	Name of the Species	Observer(s)	Date – 2018
1	Barn Swallow	Senthil Kumar	May 8
2	Caspian Tern	Senthil Kumar	May 8
3	Gull-billed Tern	Subramania Siva	May 8
4	Brown-headed Gull	Senthil Kumar	May 8
5	Common Greenshank	Subramania Siva	May 8
6	Common Sandpiper	Subramania Siva	May 8

ILLUSTRATED CHECKLIST

Check out this list with beautiful photographs of some forest birds including the melodious songster Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii, by Karthik VS.

“Got this lifer today. Interesting to watch the way it moves along the edges of the lake. Stay calmly for hunting. Felt so happy about it.” —Karthik VS on his life bird Striated Heron Butorides striata. Please see the complete checklist here.