great indian bustard (credit: koshyk)
It’s a small boost but one that will be welcome for lovers of one the worlds rarest birds the Great Indian Bustard. In a recent survey at the Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra State researchers managed to count 13 birds – that an increase of 4 from the 9 counted last time. For a bird that is believed to be down to as few as 250 individuals every new individual is a step further away from extinction.
One of worlds heaviest birds – the Great Indian Bustard.
The Great Indian Bustard is one of the worlds heaviest birds and live predominately on the dry plains of the India – Pakistan borders. It’s an unmistakable ground living bird that stands close to a metre tall. It used to be common place across the arid scrubs of the region but hunting and habitat loss has seen the species driven to be critically endangered.
The census was conducted by the GIB Foundation and Pune Wildlife Division covering Rehkuri Blackbuck sanctuary, Karmala division and Nannaj division of Bustard sanctuary in Solapur. Over 50 different count locations were chosen in order to try and get the best figure of population numbers.
The annual count this year was undertaken on Sunday 18th September. This is towards the end of the breeding season for the species which lasts from March through to September.
Great Indian Bustard increase in numbers.
Although numbers have increased this year to 13 the population is still substantially less than the 220 to 30 that were counted between 2005 and 2009.
Changing habitat is one of the main causes for the reduced numbers of the Great Indian Bustard. The bird prefers dry grasslands where tall grass exist and appear to actively avoid cultivated areas. As more land is irrigated and turned over to farmland so it’s preferred habitat decreases. The bird is also shy and avoids disturbed areas. As more land is turned over to cattle ranching so the bustards moves away from the area.
For the third year running the Great Indian bustard (GIB) was not found in the Rahekuri Black Buck sanctuary or the GIB sanctuary in Karmala.
Little is known about the lives of this rare bird.
Despite being the subject of conservation programmes little is known about the species outside the breeding programme. As Patil, director GIB Foundation, remarked ”These birds are being seen here till October. But from where they come and to where they will fly back is not known.”
MK Rao chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Pune, said that three male and 10 female Great Indian Bustards were found in Nannaj. “We saw movement of birds in the 100-hectare private area inside the sanctuary that is protected by the department. It shows our protection measures are in right direction,” he added.
Despite the birds being subject to conservation protection it is known that in some regions especially Pakistan the species is still hunted as sport using birds of prey.
