EDITOR’S NOTE
“Our birders are always on the move and get something even if it is off season to look for special birds. Nothing slows them down. An iconic bird sighted after nearly nine decades, field trip, outreach, a rescue and more student activities have all made this third quarterly issue a fantastic one. Don’t miss the quiz which is waiting for you in the end! The migrants have already started to arrive and let’s all go catch some cool birds from foreign countries. Happy birding; have a great season ahead!”-Ganeshwar SV.
NEW RECORD (1)
On July 1, 2018, Senthil Kumar and Subramania Siva S recorded INDIAN GREY HORNBILL Ocyceros birostris in Salem after 89 years. This is the first known photographic evidence of the bird from the district. The previous published record was during the Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats in 1929. Please see the complete checklist here.
DREAM SHOT
Though the ASIAN PALM SWIFT Cypsiurus balasiensis is one of the common birds, it is the dream of every birder to capture it when perched. Our birder and teacher Kalai Selvan V has done just that in one of his birding sessions!
FESTIVAL OF TREES
Students of Indian Roller Birding Club belonging to Panchayat Union Middle School, Thalavaipatty, celebrated ‘Van Mahotsav’ (festival of trees) to create awareness in the minds of people about conservation of forests and planting of new trees. The students were ably supported and encouraged by their teacher and birder, Rajangam P.
FIELD TRIP
On August 18, 2018, Kalai Selvan V and his students from Green Bee-eater Birding Club visited Godumalai, a hillock around Neermullikuttai and learnt to identify several common birds in their region.
WILDLIFE IN NATIVE LANGUAGE
On August 25, 2018, Kalai Selvan V introduced several books and magazines on Wildlife in Tamil to promote the habit of reading and better understanding of Nature among the students of Panchayat Union Primary School, Neermullikuttai.
SOWING SEEDS OF LIFE
On August 20, 2018, students of Panchayat Union Primary School, Neermullkuttai prepared the nursery bags with seeds of several trees with the help of their teacher Kalai Selvan V. The students repeated the process twice in August.
NEW RECORD (2)
On September 2, 2018, Senthil Kumar and Subramania Siva S recorded LESSER FISH EAGLE Haliaaetus humilis which is the first record with a photograph. Please see the complete checklist here.
NEW RECORD (3)
On September 21, 2018, Senthilkumar S photographed WHITE-TAILED IORA Aegithina nigrolutea for the first time in Salem. Please see the complete checklist here. The previous record (call record) is by Patrick David J in his “Preliminary assessment of avian diversity and abundance in Shevroy hill range, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu,” which was published in the Newsletter for Birdwatchers (Vol.52: No.5; Sep-Oct 2012).
RESCUE
“Few days ago, a BARRED BUTTONQUAIL Turnix suscitator was mobbed by Crows. Seeking shelter somewhere, it entered our home. ‘God has sent you to the right place,’ I thought to myself. After an hour of allowing it to rest, I took it to a nearby forest area and it was released by my son Tharun. This is the third species to be saved by his hands. Every time when we rescue a bird, since he is a child, he used to say, ‘Appa, let us keep and take care of it.’ I had explained to him several times in a simple way, why it is bad for the bird to be kept at home. He seemed to have understood and these days he tells me that rescued birds are to be released for their good.”
– Kalai Selvan V about his rescue on September 24, 2018.
OUTREACH
On September 27, 2018, Kalai Selvan V gave an interesting introductory talk on Birding at Pachayat Union Middle School, Kurichi and took the students for a Bird Walk around the school campus.
STUDENTS’ CORNER
Inspired by Kalai Selvan V, a fifth class student named Kasinathan V has started birding regularly and sketching birds has become his favorite pastime. Salem Ornithological Foundation appreciates the continuous efforts taken by the teacher and congratulates the student for his beautiful sketches.
Can you identify and name all the birds in the sketch? Do post your answers in the comments.
