Last Monday i went birding to wetland near the sewage pond in Thimphu together with one of my friend who is also birder. When we are just near that wetland we heard Ruddy-breasted Crake calling. we stop there, start scanning the small patch of the wetland and not very long two Ruddy-breasted came in the opening and begin to fight. we know there are two different species of Crake living there in the same territory. Last April i took my birding group there at the same spot to try for the Crakes. we saw Black-tailed Crake, didn't have much luck with Ruddy. i played tape of Ruddy that time but they were not responsive. By hearing them call this time it seems that they become active this time of year. In April i remember one of the member from the group saying that they might have migrated. Now i think it is safe to say that both the species are resident there.
Birding experience in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
About Me
- Bhutan birding
- Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan
- I am from Bhutan. Bhutan has some of the most pristine habitat and most beautiful birds in the world. I have been birding and exploring my country’s varied ecosystems now for over10 years. I have spent many days and weeks locating the best places to find the rare species including all of the difficult wren-babblers, laughing thrushes and other important species for Bhutan. I am also specializes in recording, and have a large library, including songs donated to Cornell University and xeno-canto. I have led many birding groups, and have long years experience finding and helping birders see their target species. I also have a good knowledge of our culture, and add this dimension to my tours based on the desires of my clients.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Captive-rearing of White-bellied heron hatches a chick
May 11, 2011 - The White-bellied heron is a critically endangered species as per the IUCN’s category (2007). With the current global population estimated to be less than 200 of which Bhutan has 26 numbers, it is of great conservation significance to Bhutan to embark on saving the bird.
The ongoing white-bellied heron conservation project is conducting a research on captive breeding of the bird at Phochu in Punakha. To begin with, RSPN in collaboration with Department of Livestock and Department of Forests and Park Services under Ministry of Agriculture and Forests have undertaken a captive-rearing of the bird to address the high mortality rates at its infant period due to predation and other calamities such as forest fires. Such program is first of its kind in the world for white-bellied heron.
On 7th May 2011 at around 5:50 AM, a chick was hatched successfully in its hatchery house in Phochu in Punakha. At the hatching time, it weighed 54.9 grams. The picture shown above is a chick, which is 4 days old, weighing 59.7 grams.
At the time of writing this report, it was 5 days old and it weighed 76.7 grams. The officials at the hatchery say that the chick is very active and feeding well. It is fed twice a day and consumes about 13 fishes, which are 3cm-5cm long.
With the expertise in rearing of other similar heron species and bird species, we have sought assistance from San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the USA in the form of expertise of Donald J. Sterner and Debra Keiko Marlow, who are experts in such field. San Diego Zoo Safari is well known for recovery of similar kind of endangered species.
After successful rearing of the bird, it will be released. This program is aimed in recovering the rapidly declining population of White-bellied heron in the world.
Source: RSPN (Royal Society for Protection of Nature)
May 11, 2011 - The White-bellied heron is a critically endangered species as per the IUCN’s category (2007). With the current global population estimated to be less than 200 of which Bhutan has 26 numbers, it is of great conservation significance to Bhutan to embark on saving the bird.
The ongoing white-bellied heron conservation project is conducting a research on captive breeding of the bird at Phochu in Punakha. To begin with, RSPN in collaboration with Department of Livestock and Department of Forests and Park Services under Ministry of Agriculture and Forests have undertaken a captive-rearing of the bird to address the high mortality rates at its infant period due to predation and other calamities such as forest fires. Such program is first of its kind in the world for white-bellied heron.
On 7th May 2011 at around 5:50 AM, a chick was hatched successfully in its hatchery house in Phochu in Punakha. At the hatching time, it weighed 54.9 grams. The picture shown above is a chick, which is 4 days old, weighing 59.7 grams.
At the time of writing this report, it was 5 days old and it weighed 76.7 grams. The officials at the hatchery say that the chick is very active and feeding well. It is fed twice a day and consumes about 13 fishes, which are 3cm-5cm long.
With the expertise in rearing of other similar heron species and bird species, we have sought assistance from San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the USA in the form of expertise of Donald J. Sterner and Debra Keiko Marlow, who are experts in such field. San Diego Zoo Safari is well known for recovery of similar kind of endangered species.
After successful rearing of the bird, it will be released. This program is aimed in recovering the rapidly declining population of White-bellied heron in the world.
Source: RSPN (Royal Society for Protection of Nature)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
White-bellied Heron in the Phochu River in Punakha! The White-bellied Heron is a very large heron standing about 4 feet tall. A magnificent bird! The White-bellied Heron is a bird in big trouble due to habitat loss. Bhutan is one of the few places in the world for its last refuge and there probably are less than 200 birds remaining in the world as per the International Birdlife. Sadly, this bird may be headed for extinction. We are very lucky to spot it on 17th April 2011although by this time they leave to their summer habitat. We finished our 21 days birding tour with 315 species seen and 15 heard. On the last day of our birding we headed to Chelela pass 3800m. We are gifted with the 6 Himalayan Monals. Best thing was, we all had very good views of male Monal in sun, what a bird. Like people say it is the bird with 7 different colors. Other birds of the day were Lammerger, Eurasian Woodcock, Blood Pheasant and few high altitude Finches.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
CROSS-COUNTRY BIRDING
I am almost coming to an end to my crossing country birding tour with 5 customers and Josh, foreign birding guide with whom I have worked successful for the past few years.
We have started from the Samdrup Jongkhar south east of the country on 2nd April 2011 and going to finish in Paro western parts of Bhutan on 22nd. We did very well in the past but this year is exceptionally going well. So far we have already crossed 200 species. This year we have seem most of the difficult birds. Including all the Wren Babblers. I also managed to get very good recording of Wedge-billed Wren Babbler and Long-billed Wren Babbler, which I will be posting in xeno canto soon. Other amazing bird for this year was Gould’s Shortwing. So far I am not sure how many Bhutan trip report mention about that bird. Beautiful Nuthatch one of the Bhutan specialty and hard bird to see, we saw them at three different Places.
Once I finish this tour, I will come up with more details
TASHI DELAK.
I am almost coming to an end to my crossing country birding tour with 5 customers and Josh, foreign birding guide with whom I have worked successful for the past few years.
We have started from the Samdrup Jongkhar south east of the country on 2nd April 2011 and going to finish in Paro western parts of Bhutan on 22nd. We did very well in the past but this year is exceptionally going well. So far we have already crossed 200 species. This year we have seem most of the difficult birds. Including all the Wren Babblers. I also managed to get very good recording of Wedge-billed Wren Babbler and Long-billed Wren Babbler, which I will be posting in xeno canto soon. Other amazing bird for this year was Gould’s Shortwing. So far I am not sure how many Bhutan trip report mention about that bird. Beautiful Nuthatch one of the Bhutan specialty and hard bird to see, we saw them at three different Places.
Once I finish this tour, I will come up with more details
TASHI DELAK.
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