Report by Santanu Ganguly: I am sure you are aware of the work done by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in the field of nature conservation for more than 130 years. The Society's guiding principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific research - a tradition exemplified by its former president, late Dr. Sálim Ali.
The BNHS Program Department holds nature camps to various wild places in India and a few abroad to educate nature enthusiasts regarding the wildlife and its conservation.
The BNHS has planned to hold birding camps in Chilika in Odisha and in Tal Chhapar in Rajasthan. We have given below the details of both these camps alongwith the photos are attached to this mail. We would appreciate if you could please publish about these camps in your esteemed publication.
Chilika, India’s largest brackish–water lake is home to a whole array of birds. It is also the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent. Around 216 species of birds have been listed here. Chilika is famous for the only known population in India of the Vulnerable and rare Irrawaddy Dolphin; the Bottlenose Dolphin can also be seen here. During this season one can see birds like Fulvous and Lesser Whistling Duck, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, Red-crested Pochard, Comb Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Common Snipe, Streaked Weaver, Greater Flamingo, Great White Pelican, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, and White-bellied Sea-eagle. Four species of kingfishers namely White-throated, Common, Lesser Pied, and Black-headed Kingfisher can also be spotted. Chilika offers refuge to many threatened birds species like Near Threatened Ferruginous Duck, Falcated Teal, Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Lesser Flamingo, Black-headed Ibis, Black-bellied Tern, Pallid Harrier, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew; Vulnerable Dalmatian Pelican and Pallas’s Fish-eagle, and the Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture.
Date: 25th–28th January 2014
Camp Charges: Rs. 17,000/- for members and Rs. 17,600/- for others (ex Bhubaneshwar).
Accommodation: Twin sharing basis.
Reporting: Bhubaneswar Airport at 09:30 a.m. on Day One. Participants can be picked up from Bhubaneswar railway station at 08:30 a.m. Drop at Bhubaneswar railway station on last day at 02:30 p.m.
If your idea of paradise is golden grasses with graceful antelopes leaping about and birds of many kinds living in harmony, then Tal Chhapar is the place to be. India has very few grassland habitats and grasslands are high biodiversity areas and as they are specialized habitats they feature some unique wildlife. Tal Chhapar is the perfect place to see raptors and passage migrants. Birds like Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Merlin, Laggar Falcon, Bimaculated Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Rufous-tailed Lark, Sand Lark, White-browed Bushchat, Demoiselle Cranes, and Sociable Lapwing can be seen here. Tal Chhapar is also one of the best places to see the Vulnerable and scarce Yellow-eyed Pigeon. But mammal lovers need not despair, this desert landscape is home to one of the largest populations of Blackbuck, a graceful Near Threatened antelope. You can also feast your eyes on Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Desert Gerbil, Jungle Cat, Hedgehog, and Spiny-tailed Lizard.
Grade: Easy
Date: 1st–4th February, 2014
Camp Charges: Rs. 13,000/- for members, and Rs. 13,600/- for non-members (ex Jaipur).
Accommodation: Twin sharing basis.
Reporting: Jaipur Jn. railway station at 07:40 p.m. on Day One. Drop at Jaipur Jn. railway station on last day at 02:00 p.m.
Registration*: Call at Hornbill House 22871202/22821811 or e-mail at bnhs.programmes@gmail.com
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