PUNE: Are the critically-endangered species - the Great Indian Bustards (GIB) - at Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary in Solapur district of Maharashtra on the decline?   Only nine birds were spotted during the GIB census conducted by Pune Wildlife Division on Sunday as against 21 birds last year.   The census this year was conducted in a very unique manner, wherein the volunteers and the forest guards were trained in documenting every aspect about the bird. Volunteers from different parts of Maharashtra participated in the census, conducted from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday, when they sighted only nine birds, including two males, six females and a chick.   Even though the census reflects a sorry situation about the birds, the wildlife division views it significant for natural habitat management of GIBs.

Moving a step ahead towards better conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) - a critically endangered species, the Pune Wildlife Division is going to conduct census in a different way this year. It would not be mere bird counting, but would be documentation of each and every aspect of the bird.   Speaking on the upcoming census of GIB to be held on August 29, conservator of forest (wildlife) M K Rao told Sakal Times that a special pictorial manual on GIBs has been prepared for the purpose. “No book is available till date on details of   the birds. The knowledge of wildlife must be transferred from experts to laymen. Even in case of our employees, the new comers have to begin from ‘zero’ knowledge level due to non-availability of compiled information. The manual has covered all the aspects that will help the forest guards and the volunteers participating in the census,” he said.

MUMBAI: If the oil slick in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts persists for a longer period, there are chances that bird life in the region would be affected, as from September migratory birds start arriving.   “It would affect the mangroves, the marine life as well as the birds, particularly the Waders,” says Sunjoy Monga, a conversationalist and photographer, who has penned a book, 'Birds of Mumbai'.   “From September, Waders will be arriving here from Central Asia and Tundra, and if the oil spill persists, it is a cause of concern for us,” says Monga, who is also a member of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Waders refers to long-legged wading birds like storks and herons.   “We have to look at the total scenario, the mangroves and tidal areas would be affected with the oil spill. Already there are some disturbing pictures about crabs trying to escape the spill.

The puffins are increasing in number. The biggest puffin colony in England is reported to have bounced back by five per cent from its earlier count in 2008, with breeding pairs located recently.     Small surveys by the wardens in the Farne Islands — the colony off the coast of Northumbria, show that the numbers of birds have increased in the past two years. The count had gone down drastically earlier. Researchers, however, are not very enthusiastic they fear, there can be a crash in the puffins’ numbers again.   The puffins have now been fitted with ‘sat-nav’ technology so that they can be tracked during the breeding period and later in the winter. According to Richard Bevan of the University of Newcastle, small GPS trackers have been temporarily glued on the back of 12 birds to study their foraging habits. It is revealed that the puffins are raising chicks in burrows on Brownsman Island, and are heading to feeding spots in the sea.

With house sparrows fast dwindling as a species, the government, in an effort to save their breed, will come out with a commemorative stamp to be released on July 9 in New Delhi.   Nature Forever Society founder Dilawar Mohammed, who has launched a mission to save the house sparrows, is overjoyed with this decision taken by the India Post. “Philatelist, bird and nature-lovers all may share a common interest in a new collectible house sparrow postal stamp. The stamp is being brought out as a commemorative postage stamp by India Post.”   The stamp will be released along with a stamp of the Rock Pigeon. For collectors, the stamp will be available with a Miniature Sheet having these two stamps and a First Day card. The look and denomination of the stamp will be known only on the day of release,” Mohammed told 'Sakal Times'.   He thanked the India Post for bringing out a stamp on house sparrow at a time when their numbers were fast declining.