Abstract:

The bird diversity in and around the paddy fields and surrounds of Aranthode, in Kasaragod district, Kerala was recorded between August 2015 and December 2017 and a total of 111 species were documented over the study period. The present work gains importance as literature on the bird fauna of Kasaragod district is limited and scarce.

Introduction

Paddy fields are the foraging and breeding habitat for many species of wetland-associated birds. A number of these birds are predatory in habit, preying on a wide array of invertebrates and small vertebrates that abound in the fields. (Sridhara et al. 1983). Aranthode (12.550° N, 75.026° E) is located in Madhur Grama Panchayath of Kasaragod district, Kerala. In this paper, the bird diversity of the paddy fields and surrounding habitats (coconut and arecanut plantations, shrubbery, etc.) of Aranthode has been documented. Literature on avian diversity of Kasaragod district being limited (Jyothi and Nameer 2015, Rodrigues, 2017), works such as the present one are significant and add to the knowledge of bird fauna of the district.

Observations were made from August 2015 to December 2017 with regular visits to the study site each month. Birds and their activities were recorded during long walks undertaken during the morning and evening hours across the study area and the surrounding habitats. Nikon (20×50) binoculars, Canon SX420 IS camera and a field guide (Grimmett et al. 2011) aided this work.

Results & Discussion

A total of 111 species of birds were documented that encompassed 14 orders and 45 families (Praveen 2015) including Passeriformes (61 spp.), Accipitriformes (9 spp.), Pelecaniformes (8 spp), Cuculiformes (7 spp.), Piciformes and Coraciiformes (6 spp. each) (Table 1). Of the total, 107 species fall in the Least Concern category of the IUCN RedList and two are categorized as Near Threatened viz., Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster and Grey–headed Bulbul Brachypodius priocephalus. 11 species are included in Schedule 1 (Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica and Accipitrids), 94 species in Schedule 4 and House Crow Corvus splendens in Schedule 5 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Among the waterfowl, only Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica was observed in the months of south-west monsoon. The lack of deep water pools is possibly the reason for the absence of related species such as the Oriental Darter, which was sighted only once flying several meters high presumably looking for suitable water bodies.  Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis were rare, and observed in October 2016 and 2017. Nine species of raptors were documented indicating good raptor diversity in the Aranthode region.  Among the raptors Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus was the most common bird.  Crested-Hawk Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus and White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa were rarely observed. Interestingly Shikra Accipiter badius was observed only during months of Jan-May and not recorded in later months.  Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus was uncommon in the primary study area but was commonly seen in near by other habitats where mating,  juveniles and fledging have been observed. Lack of wet foraging grounds and little to no availability of preferred prey may be the reasons for low wader diversity and the absence of stork species. Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris was an interesting sighting in January 2017, so far unrecorded in Kasaragod district. Three species of Kingfishers were observed, of which Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis was rare and the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, uncommon.  A total of 6 species of bulbuls were seen, of which Grey-headed Bulbul was a special sighting, it being a Western Ghats Endemic species. Among Sturnidae, Southern Hill Myna was an interesting forest species recorded for a short period at the study site. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, a long distance migratory bird (Sashikumar et al. 2011) was another interesting sighting, observed from Dec 2016 to April 2017 and again in November 2017. It is a first record from Kasaragod district.

Although the study area presented suitable nesting habitats for the Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus, this species was rarely observed and no nesting was recorded.  Four species of Munias were spotted among which Tricoloured Munia Lonchura malacca was rare while Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti, a forest species was observed very frequently. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata and White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata were found to breed in the bushes around paddy fields and their juveniles also were seen. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis and Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus were observed to be common, especially when prey such as dragonflies were abundant.

The major migratory species recorded include Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa, Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura, Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica, Rosy Starling Pastor roseus, White Wagtail Motacilla alba, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, Green Warbler Seicercus nitidus, Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus, Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo, Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus and Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea.

Rosy starling Pastor roseus, Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica, Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris, Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis and Plain Prinia Prinia inornata were rarely observed here.

A handful of other birds species were spotted from the village  that surrounds  the primary study area that have not been included in this checklist viz., Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger, Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena. Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica, Jerdon’s Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides, Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente, Pompadour (Grey-fronted) Green Pigeon Treron (pompadora) affinis, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis, Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii, Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii, Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus, and Greater Golden-backed Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes lucidus.

The threats encountered by the birds in the region seem minimal; however, the use of pesticides on crops and rapid land-use changes, resulting in destruction and degradation of habitats for foraging and breeding are causes for concern.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my special thanks to C. Sashikumar for the great help and inspiration. Sincere thanks to Prashantha Krishna MC for his help in writing the article and to Praveen J, Roshnath Ramesh and Arjun CP for their support. My sincere thanks to Sreehari K. Mohan for the wonderful study map