Survey of Indian Skimmer and its Threats in Bangladesh

Transcription

1 Survey of Indian Skimmer and its Threats in Bangladesh Samiul Mohsanin Bangladesh bird club House, Apt. B, Road, Bonani DOHS, Dhaka-, Bangladesh

2 Report on OBC Conservation Project # P9 Samiul Mohsanin for BirdingASIA 0 Survey of Indian Skimmer and its threats in Bangladesh Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis is listed as globally vulnerable due to its rapid decline by >0% in the last 1 years (BirdLife International 001) and its global population is estimated only about,000-,000 individuals (BirdLife International 01 Species factsheet). Bangladesh holds an important role in the world for the conservation of this species as every year a large part of the population (c.1,0-,00) winters in the south coast (Li et al. 009). Last two years (0 and 01) Asian Waterbird Census results show that the distribution of Indian Skimmer in Bangladesh is shifting. Thus this study was designed to monitor the wintering population and identify the threats of the threatened Indian Skimmers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The author and his team conducted the boat based surveys in the historic range of the Indian Skimmers between November 01 and April 01. During the surveys it has been observed that the Indian Skimmers arrive Bangladesh in early January and stays till the mid May and mainly confined to the estuaries of the Domar Char (island) (⁰. N, 91⁰. E) of southern Hatia Island of Noakhali District in Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta; their wintering counts were about 00, 9, 00, 9 and 1 individuals respectively from January till May. The team had to abandon the survey in May 01 due to tropical cyclone Mahase alert in the coast. However, the team managed to collect the field data on skimmer population of 1 individuals from the local source (the boatman, who was hired during the surveys and was trained to identify the skimmer). The local source was unable to confirm any nest of the Indian Skimmer. In March, the team noticed at least 0 pairs and active nests (⁰.7 N, 91⁰. E) of River Terns Sterna aurantiai in the highest mound of sandy beach at Domar Char, indicating the Domar Char remains one of very few places where River Tern still breeds in Bangladesh. During the survey tenure a total of (Appendix 1) waterbirds were listed from the Domar Char and its adjacent chars including a globally threate ed Nord a s Gree sha k Tringa guttifer (Endangered) and highest 00 Indian Skimmers Rynchops albicollis (Vulnerable). Furthermore, six Near Threatened species i.e.,00 Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa, 10 Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata, Asian Dowitchers Limnodromus semipalmatus, 0 River Terns S. aurantiai, 1 Black-headed Ibises Threskiornis melanocephalus, and 7 Painted Storks Mycteria leucocephala were recorded from the study site. Though the habitat is very potential for Spoon-billed Sandpipers Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (Critically Endangered) but none of it were spotted during the survey. The threats identified were over fishing; disturbance in the roosting ground from increasing cattle grazing (mainly feral Water buffalo) and human disturbance by heavy seasonal day and night fishing activity covering all tidal cycles; island conversion to cultivable lands and; river pollution from industrial waste, pesticides used in the farmland, fuel debris from marine vessels; land erosion; and taking over newly formed mudflats and chars by the influenced peoples in the society. Survey results show that about 90% (c.00 to 00 individuals) decline in Skimmer population from Bangladesh only in last 1 years (000-01). Rahmani (01) also reported over 0% (c. to 0 individuals) declines between the years 199 to 0 from its core breeding area in Madhya Pradesh, India. This indicates that the species is facing rapid decline over its ranges. Urgent long term monitoring to understand its movement (identifying the breeding ground of the wintering population in Bangladesh) and conservation initiative need to be started throughout its range. Collaborative research is also needed between the range countries especially between India and Bangladesh. Moreover, considering the rate of overall population decline, the threat category (IUCN/BirdLife International) of this species needs urgent reassessment. Acknowledgement: Survey team is very grateful to OBC council for awarding the AEC-OBC conservation grant to support this study. Special thanks to Bangladesh bird club members, Enam Ul Haque, Paul Thompson, Philip D Round, Bill Jones, Kevin Thornton, Sayam U. Chowdhury, Simon Carter, Ron Hodgson and Helen Smith to help support the study. References: BirdLife International. (001). Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. BirdLife International (01) Species factsheet: Rynchops albicollis. Downloaded from on 0//01. Li, Z.W.D., Bloem, A., Delany S., Martakis G. and Quintero J. O. (009). Status of Waterbirds in Asia-Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: Wetlands International, Kualalumpur, Malaysia. Rahmani, A. R. (01). Threatened Birds of India-Their Conservation Requirements. Bombay Natural History Society. P.70

3 Appendix 1: Waterbirds recorded from Domar Char, Hatia between November 01 and April 01) Species 19-0 Nov 1 Greylag Goose Anser anser - Dec Jan 1 00 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 19 0 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 1 0 0,00 0 Common teal Anas crecca Northern Pintail Anas acuta Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT 7 1, , ,00 0, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 0 1 Nordmann s Greenshank Tringa guttifer EN 1 Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1 Dunlin Calidris alpina Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus NT Sanderling Calidris alba 170 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 9 1 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Little Stint/Red-necked Stint Calidris minuta/ruficolis 0 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Common Redshank Tringa totanus Total 7 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT 19-0 Apr 1 0 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope -1 Mar 1 0 Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus Gadwall Anas strepera 1-1 Feb Small Pratincole Glareola lactea Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva , ,9 Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii , , 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Pallas s Gull Larus ichthyaetus 90 Heuglin s Gull Larus heuglini Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus , ,170

4 Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica River Tern Sterna aurantia NT 1 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 1 Little Tern Sterna albifrons Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis VU Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger 1 1 Little Egret Egretta garzetta Great Egret Casmerodius albus , 0 Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia 00 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus NT Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala NT Unidentified Shorebirds Total , , ,0,0

5 Map: Map 1: Map showing the study area Map : satellite image of the study site

6 Photographs: (All the photographs taken by the author) Fig. 1. Indian Skimmers skimming in Meghna river estuary near Domar Char (1 March 01) Fig.. One single flock of Skimmers (n=9) at Domar Char (1 Feb 01)

7 Fig.. Largest flock of Painted Storks (n=7) ever recorded in Bangladesh from Domar Char (19 Nov 01) Fig.. Cattle grazing (feral Water Buffalo) is one of the major threats at Domar Char (1 Mar 01)

8 Fig.. Over harvesting of fish is another major threat for Indian Skimmers in Bangladesh (1 Feb 01) Fig.. Continuous fishing gears across the whole river reducing the foraging places near Domar Char (1 Feb 01)

9 Fig. 7. Indian Skimmer survey team in March 01 at Domar Char, Hatia, Bangladesh Samiul Mohsanin Bangladesh bird club House, Apt. B, Road, Bonani DOHS, Dhaka-, Bangladesh