Spoon-billed
Sandpiper
This charismatic species are listed as Critically Endangered because it has
an extremely small population that is undergoing an extremely rapid population
reduction. This is because of a number of factors, including habitat loss in
its breeding, passage and wintering grounds, that are compounded by
disturbance, hunting and the effects of climate change. Fledging success and
juvenile recruitment are very low, leading to fears that the population is
aging rapidly; action is now urgently required to prevent the extinction of
this species.
A small sandpiper with a one-of-a-kind black spatulate bill. During the
breeding season the bird is the rich reddish brown particularly around the
head, breast and back. The breast has varying amounts of dark spotting
extending toward the belly, which is white. During the nonbreeding season
Spoon-billed Sandpipers are a mixture of white, black, and gray. The upper
parts are mostly gray with a lightly streaked cap and back of the neck. Its
underparts, throat and forehead are white often with a white streak over the
eye. Legs are black.
14-16 cm in length. Small stint with spatulate bill. Breeding adult has
red-brown head, neck and breast with dark brown streaks. Blackish upperparts
with buff and pale Rufous fringing. Non-breeding adult lacks reddish
coloration, but has pale brownish-gray upperparts with whitish fringing to
wing-coverts. White underparts. Similar spp. Red-necked Stint C. Ruficollis and
Little Stint C. minuta lack spatulate bill. Non-breeders of both species have
less white on forehead,appear smaller-headed and have narrower supercilia.
Spoon-billed Sandpipers arrive on the breeding grounds in Russia during the
final days of May or early June. The males immediately begin displaying over
favored habitat to define their territory and attract a mate. They perform
courtship flights while circling their territories and deliver a repeated trill
alternating with bursts of rapid wingbeats. Once a male and female have paired
the male stops or markedly reduces his displays. The pair selects a site to
nest and the female begins laying a clutch of four eggs in a shallow tundra
depression.
Once the eggs are laid, both adults incubate, usually on shifts lasting
half a day, and the young hatch in 19 to 23 days. After hatching the young
leave the nest within a day and immediately begin feeding themselves. The male
leads them away from the nest and attends to them until they fledge about 20
days later. The female departs soon after the young hatch and begins migrating
south. After the chicks reach fledging age the male too departs. The chicks to
migrate south on their own a few weeks later.
On the breeding grounds, Spoon-billed Sandpipers feed on a variety of
larval and adult invertebrates, especially midges, mosquitoes, flies, beetles,
and spiders. They also feed on some plant material including grass seeds and
berries. On the wintering grounds and during migration they feed on a variety
of marine invertebrates including polychaete worms and shrimp.
During the breeding season Spoon-billed Sandpipers live in coastal tundra,
most often near large coastal lagoons or bays. Within these areas they nest
among strawberry plants on sparsely vegetated gravel spits or in more heavily
vegetated lowland tundra dominated by sedges,moss and dwarf willow. They feed
along lake shores, shallow ponds, and in wet tundra meadows.
During migration and winter Spoon-billed Sandpipers occupy coastal marine
sites especially mudflats on the outer reaches of tidal estuaries.
Throughout its migrations and wintering ranges,tidal flats are being
reclaimed for industry,infrastructure and aquaculture and are becoming
increasingly polluted. The important staging area at Saemangeum and Geum
estuary, South Korea, including the Mangyeung and Tongjin estuaries, has
already been reclaimed, and remaining wetlands are under serious threat of
reclamation in the near future.
TRAGOPAN
Tragopan is one of the most beautiful birds
among the Pheasants found in India. Out of five species of Tragopan found in the Himalayan region, Tragopan blythii (Jerdon) is found only in Nagaland. Tragopan blythii is the State Bird of Nagaland. The bird is
hunted down indiscriminately and has become an endangered species- almost on
the verge of extinction as steps have been taken for its conservation Neither
by the Government or local communities so far. It belongs to the Order – Galliformes,
Family – Phasianidae & Species –Tragopan blythii.
It is a rare and endangered pheasant found
only in Nagaland. Though no evidence of migration from the Himalayas is
recorded, it's presumed to be so. It is available particularly in higher
elevation ranging from 1800 to 2500 meters above M.S.L. The bird is found in
areas such as Japfu range, a Dzuku valley in Kohima District, Pfutsero, Meluri
in Peak District, foothills of Saramati, Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Noklak in
Tuensang District and Satoi range in Zunheboto District.
Male
size: 64 cm, Female size: 58 cm, Male weight: 1,362 - 1,447 g,Female weight:
907 – 1,021 g
They prefer high hills where the climate is
cold and temperate where extremely cold during winter and the occasional
occurrence of frost is there in higher altitude. Temperature variation 5 to 25
Degrees centigrade and average rainfall varying from 200 to 250 Cm is most
suitable for their habitat. In natural surrounding they usually live in a dense
evergreen forest with moderate undergrowth. Affects thick undergrowth in heavy
evergreen forests. Their common places of occurrence are along nallahs and
streams where freshly succulent vegetative growth of shoots and ferns is
luxuriant and plentiful.
During the month of March every year, they
select a breeding place usually on a rocky hideout where the nest with dried
leaves and twigs are made. Having secured breeding territory and their
partner, the male display of courtship in many ways. Usually the female takes
initiative and excites the male for mating. When the male gets excited its two
fleshy horns above the eyes become erected and seen distinctively. Fanning and
erecting the tail and dancing in front of the female is observed. . The mating season starts from the month of March
and takes about a month or so. The mating language produce by male is “MAO,
MAO, MAO” with a deep base sound and the sound produced by the female is a
sharp quacking sound forming into musical tune. In a natural environment, they
lay 2 to 6 eggs per clutch but watch out only 75 % of the eggs laid. The
incubation of eggs by female takes 28 to 31 days. While incubating the female turns all the eggs in a regular
interval in order to maintain uniform temperature. When a
female comes out for food the male use to guard the nest with excitement. While
hatching, the female does not roost in a tree but remains with the chicks/eggs.
They are omnivorous in habit. They eat mostly
ferns, fleshy and succulent/tender vegetative shoots, white ants, insects,
snails, worms, beetles, pebbles, feed on grains, seeds and fruits found in
their natural habitats.
The Tragopan is being hunted for its flesh and beautiful
plumage/ feathers. There is a lobby for the sale of male Tragopan for its plumage resulting in an
abrupt reduction in the male population. A pair of Tragopan is priced at Rs
15,000 to 20,000 in the black market . Some villagers who are expert in
capturing are being engaged for this venture. Due to human pressure, the habitats of these beautiful birds have been shrinking rapidly and in some
pockets even fragmented.Really Needs For Proper Conservation!
Once the egg hatches, the female returns and the male heads out to the ocean to feed.
As a result of a projected rapid population decline, in 2012 the emperor penguin was uplisted to Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Sadly,climate change models predict a colossal reduction in the extent of the Antarctic sea-ice, which would result in the loss of large areas of emperor penguin breeding habitat. Based on climate change models, recent research indicates this species could decline by as much as 95 percent by 2100.Another study also suggests that increasing eco-tourism and consequent disturbance could also be having a negative effect on the emperor penguin.
In the face of climate change, the emperor penguin will likely have to adapt, migrate, or change the timing of its breeding season in order to survive. Unfortunately, such a long-lived species are unlikely to be able to adapt fast enough.
The Kakapo is native to the forests of New Zealand and the Kakapo is not found in the wild anywhere else in the world. The flightless Kakapo is thought to have once thrived in it's New Zealand habitat due to the fact that there were no mammals that would hunt the Kakapo, and this is thought to be another reason as to why the Kakapo has evolved to be a ground dwelling bird.
Long-tailed Ground Roller
This species is classified as Vulnerable because there is an
ongoing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat, the rate of which is
increasing annually, implying that its population is likely
Ground rollers are a group of birds found only in Madagascar.
Some experts place them in their own family, Brachypteraciidae, although other
experts place them as a subfamily of the rollers (family Coraciidae).There are
five known species of ground roller in three genera.The long-tailed ground roller is the only species
belonging to the genusUratelornis.It is a
spectacular bird, and unique in appearance, looking like a combination of a
roadrunner,a pitta and a roller,a characteristic that earns this bird the
specific name chimaera,which refers to
the Chimaera of Greek mythology, which was a composite of a lion, a goat and a
snake.
As the common name suggests, this species has a magnificent
long tail, which is brown with dark barring and blue edges. The upperparts are grayish
in color, but streaked with brown, and the wings have a blue streak towards the
outermost edge. The breast is white and features a dark breast-band that joins
a brown ‘mustache’ stripe.
This species spends most of its time on the ground, although
it may occasionally sing from a tree branch. It
forages on the ground for invertebrates, and often lifts and lowers its tail as
it goes. They are monogamous birds and pairs nest in three-foot deep holes that they
excavate themselves, usually in a slope or embankment. Pairs are territorial and during the
breeding season they will defend the area around their nest hole.
Endemic to Madagascar, where it is found in a narrow strip of
land that was originally 30 - 60 km wide and 200 km long, in the south-west of
the island.
This terrestrial species inhabits semi-arid deciduous forest
(Seddon and Tobias 2007, undated) on a sandy substrate and of
a low stature (4-6 m), and sparse coastal scrub, from sea-level to 80 m. The
species shows a preference for slightly and even heavily degraded habitats
(Seddon and Tobias 2007, undated). It is tolerant of disturbance by livestock, having been
observed in extremely degraded forest close to villages (N. Seddon and J.
Tobias in light.
1999, 2000). Although it is
largely terrestrial, this insectivorous species roosts in trees and shrubs, and
vocalizes from low perches (Seddon and Tobias undated). It appears to be socially monogamous and defends
small territories around the nest-holes during the breeding season.
The spiny forests of the southwest of Madagascar have been identified as
the top priority region for the establishment of reserves, and recently,
conservation measures have been devised with the involvement of local people.
It has been suggested that a network of community conservation initiatives
should be established along with a main protected area.
Emperor penguin
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species. They are nearly 4
feet tall and weigh up to 90 pounds. Those are BIG penguins!
Emperor penguins are easily identifiable by their size and the orange
"glow" on their cheeks.
Emperor penguins live, year round, in the Antarctic. Temperatures
can fall as low as -140 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius).
Most penguin species lay two eggs at a time, but due to the difficulty of
raising chicks in such a harsh climate, the Emperor penguin only lays one egg.
Most penguin species take turns warming the egg, but it's up to the
Emperor penguin dads to do all the work once the egg is laid. The male
stands with the egg on his feet under a brood pouch (for warmth). He does
this for up to 9 weeks, without food, waiting for the chick to hatch.
During this time, the male may lose up to half its body weight.
Once the egg hatches, the female returns and the male heads out to the ocean to feed.
Scientific genus and species: Aptenodytes forsteri.
Emperor penguin chicks are mostly silvery gray, with a blackish
head and a conspicuous white mask around the eyes, cheek and throat. Length:
100 - 130 cm. Weight up to 40 kg.
The
breeding colonies of the emperor penguin are mainly found on level areas of
stable sea-ice. These may be close to the coast or up to 18 kilometers
offshore, and are often sheltered sites in the lee of the ice-cliffs, hills or
bergs.
As a result of a projected rapid population decline, in 2012 the emperor penguin was uplisted to Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Sadly,climate change models predict a colossal reduction in the extent of the Antarctic sea-ice, which would result in the loss of large areas of emperor penguin breeding habitat. Based on climate change models, recent research indicates this species could decline by as much as 95 percent by 2100.Another study also suggests that increasing eco-tourism and consequent disturbance could also be having a negative effect on the emperor penguin.
In the face of climate change, the emperor penguin will likely have to adapt, migrate, or change the timing of its breeding season in order to survive. Unfortunately, such a long-lived species are unlikely to be able to adapt fast enough.
Kakapo
The Kakapo (Strigops
habroptila) is a Critically Endangered, giant, nocturnal parrot. It is
a classic example of evolution on an isolated island, and has a number of
characteristic features that make this species unique. The Kakapo is the only
member of the subfamily Strigopinae and is the only flightless parrot in the
world. It is also the largest parrot known and is possibly the longest-lived;
the oldest known Kakapo was elderly when found in 1975 and was still alive in
2002.
The Kakapo is one of the largest
species of parrot in
the world with the average adult Kakapo growing to around 60 cm in height. The Kakapo
is the heaviest species of parrot in the world and it is due to this
weight that the Kakapo is one of the few bird species that is unable to fly.
The Kakapo is native to the forests of New Zealand and the Kakapo is not found in the wild anywhere else in the world. The flightless Kakapo is thought to have once thrived in it's New Zealand habitat due to the fact that there were no mammals that would hunt the Kakapo, and this is thought to be another reason as to why the Kakapo has evolved to be a ground dwelling bird.
Like many other animal species found on New
Zealand's islands, the Kakapo was of great importance to the local tribes
people and the Kakapo appears in many local tales and folklore. The native
people would hunt the kakapo for it's meat and it's feathers which the local
tribesmen would use to make clothes.
Due to the fact that the defenseless Kakapo was hunted
by the natives and the introduction of predators such as cats, stoats
and rats by the European settlers, the Kakapo population has been
nearly wiped out with less than 150 Kakapo individuals thought to have been
left in the wild at the start of 2009. The Kakapo is now considered to be one
of the most critically endangered animal species on the planet.
The kakapo has short wings for it's large size and as
it cannot fly, the kakapo mainly uses it's wings to help it balance and to
support itself when hopping around in the trees. The kakapo also uses it's
wings to help break it's fall when the kakapo leaps onto the ground from the
lower branches of the trees.
As with all other species of parrot, the Kakapo
has large scaled feet with two toes facing forwards and two toes facing
backwards. This helps the Kakapo to hold onto tree branches when the Kakapo is
perching on them and along with the long, sharp claws of the Kakapo, assists
the Kakapo in climbing up trees.
The Kakapo has a primarily herbivorous diet,
eating seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and flowers. However, the Kakapo is classed
as an omnivore as the Kakapo is known to eat insects and
small reptiles from time to time. The Kakapo is particularly fond of
the fruit of the Rimu tree and Kakapo have been known to feed exclusively on
the Rimu fruit when they are in abundance.
The kakapo has large brown eyes and it is because of
it's large eyes that the kakapo is often referred to as the owl parrot.
The shape of the Kakapo's head and beak also contributes to the reason as to
why the Kakapo is known as the owl parrot.
During the mating season, male Kakapo are often found
looking for a female mate and attract one using loud calls and elaborate
displays. The Kakapo will only breed in years when there is a plentiful supply
of food, so the Kakapo reproduction process can be a slow one. Kakapo breeding
later on in life than most birds, with male Kakapo reaching sexual
maturity at around the age of 5 and female Kakapo can be nearly 10 years old
before they can breed.
Kakapo tend to live very long lives with the average Kakapo
individual getting to around 60 years old. It is not uncommon however, for Kakapo
to get to be much older and much Kakapo individuals get to be nearly 100 years
old.
Short-tailed Albatross
Named for its short, white tail with a black bar at the end,
this seabird begins life with blackish brown feathers and pale pinkish-yellow
legs. As it matures, the feathers turn white, leaving only black edges to the
wings and a hint of dull orange on the crown and nape.The feet of adults are
pale blue and the bill is large and pink, gaining a blue tip with age.
There are approximately 450 breeding pairs of short-tailed
albatrosses in the world, and 83% of them nest on Torishima. For albatrosses,
the process of incubating an egg and feeding a chick can take most of a year.
Each female short-tailed albatross will lay only one egg each year in October
or November.
Size:
Length: 89 cm,Wingspan: 220 cm,Weight: 8.5 kg.
The female and male will take turns incubating
the egg for 65 days. Eggs hatch in late December and early January. During the
next five months, the adults go on long foraging trips at sea to find food for
their chicks, which stay back on Torishima. The chicks finally take flight in
May or June and leave the colony; not to return for four or more years.
Albatrosses are very long-lived and most do not begin breeding until they are
six to ten years old.
The short-tailed albatross breeds on Torishima
and the Senkaku Islands, Japan. It previously also bred on several other
Japanese islands, as well as islands off the coast of Taiwan. Its marine range
covers much of the northern Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. It has been
recorded along the coasts of Japan, eastern Russia, South Korea, China, Alaska,
and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, as well as down the west coast of the
United States.
A pelagic species for most of the year, the short-tailed albatross
is found on bare ground surrounded by cliffs at the nesting grounds. It
previously nested in open areas.
Conservation efforts
to improve breeding habitat on Torishima have been very beneficial in allowing
more chicks to survive to leave the colony. Albatrosses, however, spend most of
their lives at sea. It is critical, therefore, to also determine in what regions
of the ocean these birds travel, especially when feeding. This allows
scientists to further understand how short-tailed albatross reproductive
success and survival might also be affected by conditions away from the
breeding colony.
Wallace's Standardwing
Natural scientist, co-author of the
theory of the unusual birds of paradise evolution pioneer Alfred Russell
Wallace is restricted to forests and humiliation in the North Maluku, Halmahera
Bacan.Also known as Standardwing, Standard-wing Bird-of-paradise.
Standardwing,
is a medium-sized, approximately 28 cm long, olive-brown bird of paradise. It
is the only member in monotypic genus Semioptera. The male has a gloss
violet-and-lilac colored crown and emerald green breast-shield. Its most
striking features are two pairs of long white plumes coming out from the bend
of the wing that can be raised or lowered at the bird’s will. The unadorned
olive-brown female is smaller but has a longer tail than the male.
A range of habitat, is rated at least look Standardwing in the list of
species in danger of extinction red menace. Appears in Appendix II of CITES. Standardwing
filmed for the first time in 1986 for the BBC nature film birds during the
season, when photographer placed the canopy captured images of a man bird
product. Ten years later, David Attenborough has been a mass of dozens of men
in the world of the BBC "Attenborough Aden", which led him to
speculate the reason is its wasteful hierarchy for reproductive rights and not
directly to impress females.
Little is known about the reproduction habits of Bali mynahs in the wild.Nesting
in cavities in trees,they line their nests with leaves,stems of dried plants
and feathers.In captivity,mynahs may have several clutches of eggs each year,usually
with three eggs per clutch.In the wild they most likely produce two or
occasionally three clutches during the breeding season which usually occurs
from November to April (rainy season).Up to three eggs are laid with two or
three nestlings per clutch.
The Bali Mynah
The Bali Mynah is distributed and endemic to the island of Bali, where it
is the island's only surviving endemic species.This rare bird was discovered in
1910 and is one of the world's most critically endangered birds.In fact,it has
been hovering immediately above extinction in the wild for several years.
Adult length: Body length averages 9 inches (23.9 cm) for males; 8.6 inches
(21.8 cm) for females. Adult weight: Bali mynahs found in zoos average 2.9-3.5
ounces (90-100 gr).
Contrary to widespread belief,the Bali mynah is not a closed forest
bird.Instead,it prefers open woodland and tree-savanna, particularly when interspersed
with forested valleys.Presently the Bali mynah is
restricted to forested areas of Bali Barat National Park,located in
northwestern Bali.
Male and female Bali mynahs look alike,having beautiful white feathers,black
tipped wings and tails and a bright powder blue crescent of
skin around the eyes.Their heads are topped off by a lacy white crest of
feathers.They are about the size of cardinals.
Because of restricted range and limited suitable habitat,island species are
frequently found on the endangered species list.This is true for the Bali
mynah.Over the last several decades,increased human encroachment into the Bali
mynahs preferred habitat has greatly reduced its numbers.Due to the beauty of these birds,they have been captured in the wild to sell
in the pet trade as cage birds.As their numbers declined in the wild, their
rarity increased the demand for these birds.Over the last 20 years, population
estimates vividly show the rapid decline of this species: 550 birds (1978);
125-180 birds (1984); 37 (1988); 24-31 (1989); and probably less than 14
(1997).
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