Dialogue..!!

Dear Wetlanders..!!
"The credit for the recent discovery of a new species of flying dinosaur- Lacusovagus- goes to a wetland! This is because the remains of this largest-ever discovered flying reptile (wingspan = 16.5 ft) were buried and stored in the large wetland of Brazil (to be specific- in the 'crato' formation of the Araripe Basin in northeast Brazil). To acknowledge the contribution of a wetland ecosystem toward this new discovery, its discoverer Mark Witton, a researcher at UK-based University(i.e.,University of Portsmouth) has named it as Lacusovagus-meaning "Lake Wanderer"! It is believed that this pterosaur might have flown in the skies above Brazil 115 million years ago. The Lacusovagus had an unusually wide skull, which has implications for its feeding habits. It is likely that the reptile like large prey. Some of the previous examples in this family in China were just 2 ft l0ng, and that is as big as only the skull of the Lacusovagus (Source: Times of India-AM, 5-12-2008).

Well, this new issue of the “Wetlands Forever” is being launched when wetlands in Gujarat (as also in many parts of India) are alive with migratory/resident-migratory coots, ducks, geese, pelicans, grebes, cranes, storks and shorebirds (waders)! Their waters are being splashed by thousands of ducks that plunge into waters after flying long distances and by innumerable coots that hurriedly paddle in the waters to become air-borne to avoid some threat in the form of a raptor or a disturbance in the form of a canoe with tourists. The underwater treasure of the wetlands-the submerged vegetation, fish and macro-invertebrates-is being harnessed by innumerable beaks that are activated by tremendous urge to store fat! And the ambiance around wetlands is being filled with trumpeting calls of the millions of migratory cranes and gaggle of thousands of migratory geese!

So, it is the time for a birder to enjoy waterbird-watching at our beloved wetlands! I guess, the mid-winter waterbird (“Waterfowl” !?) census will start soon. Wetlanders and waterbirders should not miss the opportunity of participating in it as it helps strengthening birding skills at personal level and simultaneously it helps building waterbird database during winter.

To be in tune with the time (i.e., to be in tune with migratory ‘season’), this issue is endowed with an article on a well-known wetland of Gujarat. Moreover, there is also an article on waterbirds and their wetland habitats. However, it does not mean that Wetlands Forever has diverted from its promise of not becoming a “bird centered” newsletter. As, you will find a unique and valuable article on a unique and rare amphibian of Gujarat (and also India)-an Ichthyophis!

This issue is honoured to get contributions from very well-known and senior biologists, viz. Dr. Raju Vyas (a well-known herpetologist from Gujarat), Dr. Abdul Jamil Urfi [a well known ornithologist, former director of Sundervan (a CEE undertaking) and currently a professor of Environmental Biology at Delhi University) and Mr Jugal Kishore Tiwari (Director, CEDO and former scientist of BNHS)]. On behalf of all the readers and admirers of Wetlands Forever, I sincerely thank them as they are among those who do not find it easy to get time out of their busy schedule to do such voluntary work for the sake of other nature enthusiasts.

“Wetlands Forever”, that would be a bi-monthly from now onwards, appeals all nature-lovers in Gujarat to regularly send their observations on wetland-related aspects. They can send their matter either in English or Gujarati. Please do not hesitate to write in Gujarati as it will be appropriately translated into English. And above all; let’s make a habit of reading “Wetlands Forever” for having wetlands forever…!

Article

The Story of a Caecilian Species-Bombay Ichthyophis

(Ichthyophis bombayensis)
Dr. Raju Vyas

(Ichthyophis bombayensis; Photo: Dr Raju Vyas)

The caecilians, specifically known as legless amphibians, constitute a lesser known group of amphibians. They are distributed in many parts of the world. As per the amphibian database as on October 8, 2008, the class amphibians contain 6,398 species, out of which, there are 176 species of Gymnophiona (caecilians). Twenty nine species of caecilians are found in India.

In the evening on 18th July, 1998, a young wildlife researcher, equipped with a pair of binoculars and field guides, was walking slowly and cautiously in search of mammalian and avian wildlife along his transect parallel to a river flowing through a forest in South Gujarat. Though he was tired due to his day-long field survey in the jungle, he still had a single-minded interest; i.e., to catch a glimpse of crepuscular wildlife. Suddenly, near Sadad-devi village, he saw an unusual, 10-15 cm long snakelike creature on the wet forest floor that was adjacent to the river (a lotic wetland in the forest). It was a badly injured animal as its head was pressed or stapled. Hence, the animal was struggling on the way to its death. As the researcher, Dr. Ketan Tatu, was not a herpetologist, he collected the creature for proper identification with the help of other senior herpetologists in the team, i.e., Dr. B. H. Patel and I.

Dr. B. H. Patel identified it as a caecilian specimen. The caecilians are the legless amphibia belonging to Apoda order. It was further identified as Ichthyophis bombayensis species. Most probably this was the first authentic specimen of the I. bombayensis from the type locality area after the description the species.

The history of I. bombayensis species shows that Mr. F. Gleadow had obtained a 390 mm long caecilian from the then Waghai, Surat district (today’s Dangs district of Gujarat State), Bombay Province in 1888. The specimen was deposited in the then British Museum (Natural History) [today’s ‘The Natural History Museum, London’, BMNH No. 1888.6.11.1]. Further the specimen was carefully examined by E. H. Taylor (1960) and was described as a new species of a caecilian as Ichthyophis bombayensis.

The Study Area and the Location of the Protected Area

The species was then described on the basis of a single type specimen. Its validity has been accepted by almost all the herpetologists. A scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Dr. R. S. Pillai recorded the second specimen of the species from Sringeri, Karnataka (Pillai & Ravichandran, 1999). One more specimen of the species was collected from Sringeri, Karnataka by Dr. S. V. Krishnamurthy. But both the specimens were collected from the sites that were 1000 km (approximately) from the type locality. Thus, the species had been recognized with the help of three specimens up to year 2003. The records of the species from Karnataka State require further conformation. Recently published ‘Hand-Book of Indian Amphibians’ by a Senior Scientist of Zoological Survey of India, Dr. S. K. Chanda has expressed his opinion on the species that "No information is available on the natural history of the species, which is known only from type. Status and distributional survey of the species are urgently required to know the conservation status of the species". Unfortunately, once the species was described, there was no subsequent information regarding the species and no one made any attempts to study or survey the area from where the initial (‘original’) specimen was obtained in 1888.

Therefore, a survey was necessary in the area from where the type specimen was collected 115 years ago. Today, the area of Waghai, Dangs district of Gujarat state is located in the two important Protected Areas and in some of the reserved forests.

Before the identification of the Sadad Devi specimen in Vansda, Gujarat by Dr. B.H. Patel and I, I had received a few coloured photographs of an unusual creature from Mr. Snehal Patel (President, Nature Club, Surat) for identification in 1994. This creature looked like a giant earthworm. It was found during the nature education camp at Dhuladha, Dangs.

Ichthyophis-a legless amphibian (caecilian)

The injured-dead specimen in the vicinity of a lotic wetland near Sadad Devi village, Vansda and photographs of unidentified creature of Dhuladha, Dangs gave me a special inspiration and temptation for conducting further study on the species. Most of caecilians species are known from one or two specimens and the available literature categorize them as rare amphibians. Therefore, I made a further detailed study on the species with the help of GEER Foundation, Gandhinagar and DAPTF Seeds Grants, UK.

The type locality of the species “Waghai, Dangs” area is situated in the northernmost end of the Western Ghats in Gujarat State, i.e. the area between Surat (southern part of the district from the river Tapi) and Valsad districts (between the latitude 21° 12' N - 20° 12' N). It covers an area of about 14,655 sq. km including two very important Protected Areas, namely, Vansda National Park and Purna Wildlife Sanctuary.

A survey was conducted in the northern most ends of the Western Ghats, especially in two protected areas, namely, Vansda National Park and Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat State, during the five years from 1998 to 2002.

Total 26 specimens of various age groups of the species (Ichthyophis bombayensis) could be examined, including 7 dead and 19 live specimens (range of size = 180- 542 mm; average size= 364; n= 19) [including a specimen examined on the basis of its coloured photographs].

This caecilian species prefer some special type of micro-habitat. Most of the specimens (78.94 %) were found or dug-out from its retreat. Fifteen specimens of the species were dug out from loose soils deposited on the edges of river streams, especially from river pools indicating the importance of wetland habitat in the forested areas.

The distances of the availability of specimens from the river or river stream are:- Twenty specimens (76.92 %) of the species were found close (0 to 80 m) to river stream, where as six specimens (31.57 %) were found from the distances of 250 to 500 m from a river. These distances of specimen discovery show that the species inhabits riverine habitat in the forest and those found at far distances from the river streams are sighted only during the rainy days, except two specimens which were found dead on the road during the colder season. During summer the species congregates in perennial river pool banks and in monsoon indicating significance of wetland habitat for this species.

The study result shows that the species is relatively uncommon in the area and their specific habitats are limited in riverine forests of the Purna and the Ambika river systems only. An average of one per kilometer of single potential habitat patch (about 50 m) is usually found on river stretch in both the PAs. Total 70 km of Purna and Ambika river stretches pass through the PAs and about over 150 such kind of the potential habitat patches of the caecilian species are recorded (typical river pools in summer) in and around protected areas.

Present data shows that the Bombay Caecilian (Ichthyophis bombayensis) is the largest Indian caecilian. It is very patchily distributed in riverine/riparian forest of Dangs, Navsari and Surat districts of southern Gujarat State and the area is a part of northern most ends of Western Ghats.

This study on the distribution of the Bombay Caecilian (Ichthyophis bombayensis) species had drawn a special attention for other caecilian experts from the world and guided a special direction for new thinking. Is the species endemic to Gujarat State only? Or, is it also distributed in other parts of Western Ghats (considering a few reports of the species to be found in the forests of Karnataka State)? If yes, then whether or not the two populations different and not found in the between forest areas? The data on the specimens of I. bombayensis of various age groups in that study create a doubt about the validity of the other three earlier described species of caecilians; I. malabarensis, I. peninsularis and I. subterrestris. These can be clarified only by studying DNA sequences of the species.

The Indian herpetologists and taxonomists from various institutions met under the leadership of Dr. David J. Gower to know definite distribution range of I. bombayensis and to know whether or not the other three morphological similar species of unstriped ichthyophis are valid. The herpetologists of the various regions and DNA molecular collected sample tissues of these four species of caecilians inhabiting Dangs and from Surat to the tip of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

The results of DNA sequences indicated that the Bombay Caecilian (Ichthyophis bombayensis) is widely distributed in the Western Ghats, from dry deciduous forests of Surat, Dangs to the rain forests of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The species is under anthropogenic pressures and facing threats like habitat degradation, alteration and pollution. Some conservation measures are required.

Article

Wetlands – A Bird’s Eye-view
Dr. A. J. Urfi

(Photo: Dr. Ketan Tatu)

Conservationists sometimes feel that wetlands are difficult to define. This difficulty probably arises because experts from several disciplines, namely, botany, hydrogeology, ecology, economics and zoology, have tried to define ‘wetland’ from their experience and (it seems), have not reached any agreement on a definition which captures the essentials. But, we all recognize a wetland when we see one; whether it be a jheel, marsh, mangrove or the intertidal zone of the coast. So for all practical purposes a definition such as, “ areas which have sufficient water long enough to support the growth of hydrophytic vegetation” should suffice. The current, conservationally (and politically) correct thinking recognizes three interfacial and transitional wetland ecosystems as fragile and threatened. The role of wetlands as basic life support systems and repositories of unique biodiversity are also acknowledged.

Bird issues have been in the forefront of the world movement to conserve wetlands. This is perhaps not very surprising considering that birds have interesting habits and life histories and are a conspicuous element of a wetland biodiversity. A wetland presents an interesting spectacle of feathers, colours and sounds. Typical wetland birds are migratory waterfowl and their sizes range from small teals to considerably larger ducks and geese. Many beautiful members of this group are to be encountered, such as: Pintail, Shoveller, Common Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Cotton Teal, Nukta Duck, Bar-headed Goose etc. The Brahminy Duck-a large , orange brown bird, generally seen in pairs, is a common sight at north Indian wetlands in winter.

‘Waders’ are another important group of wetland birds. As their name would suggest, these are shoreline birds, with long stilt like legs. They obtain food by wading in the shallow water or probing in the mud. The smaller waders are generally members of the bird order “Charadriiformes” and include such forms as the godwits, redshanks, Greenshank, Greenshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Whimbrel, stints and sandpipers. Among the larger waders are the cranes (Gruiiformes) and storks, ibis, spoonbill, herons and egrets (Ciconiiformes). Besides these birds several others are also encountered at wetlands, such as: Rails (Coot, moorhens, jacanas), kingfishers, flamingo, cormorant, pelican etc. At the top of the trophic level in the food chains of a wetland are generally the raptors. At Indian wetlands, Osprey, Fishing Eagle, Sea Eagle and Marsh Harriers are commonly seen. Flocks of migratory waders or waterfowl suddenly taking wing at the approach of a raptor is a breathtaking sight.

Since migratory birds are an important element of a wetland’s birdscape, ornithologists are concerned about their welfare. An ecological consideration of the life habits of these birds would also justify this concern. The migratory waterfowl and waders which winter in the Indian Subcontinent have their breeding grounds in the North, in sites in Central Asia, Russian Siberia, Eastern Europe and even Ladakh and Kashmir. To reach their Indian wintering grounds the migrants undertake a journey of a several thousand miles and generally stop at several wetlands en route for rest and refueling. Thus, for migratory waterbirds, wetlands along their routes function as a link-chain of stopover sites. Ecological (such as food availability, abundance of raptors, etc.) and human conditions vary these sites (also called ‘staging sites’) and it is not difficult to imagine that each site in the chain can act as a bottleneck.

Painted Stork (Photo: Dr. Ketan Tatu)

A good example of the conservation problems associated with long distance migrants is the story of the Siberian Crane. This handsome bird breeds in Siberia while a western race, till some years ago, used to winter in the wetlands of Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur. However, in the last few years this bird has stopped coming to Bharatpur and it is widely believed that poaching and poor habitat quality at the staging sites in Afghanistan and Pakistan have resulted in the extinction of its populations. The habitat quality at the ‘overwintering’ site, that is, Bharatpur has also deteriorated and this could have worsened the situation.

Ecologists emphasize that migratory waterbirds (as perhaps all migratory birds) are in a state of metabolic and ecological flux. In winter the birds have to forage constantly in order to achieve enough fat reserves to take them to their ultimate or intermediate wintering site. On their return journey to the breeding grounds up north, the birds need to accumulate sufficient reserves too. In addition, they also need to accumulate fat reserves to meet emergency situations such as non-availability of food at either the staging or overwintering sites. The open nature of the terrain at most coastal wetlands makes the birds vulnerable to inclement weather and chilling winds and this adds to the problems of maintaining body temperatures. Thus, with these demanding requirements, wintering birds are already under considerable stress. Additionally, increased disturbances from human activities result in the loss of precious feeding time. Conservation efforts should therefore be aimed not only at minimizing human disturbance, but also maintaining the quality wetlands and, if possible, halting their destruction. Also, since migratory waterbirds use wetlands on a global scale, conservation efforts are required on large geographical areas, spanning political boundaries of different nations.

Recognizing the international distinction of habitat usage by migratory waterbirds and the overall importance of wetlands for other forms of biodiversity as well as basic life support systems for human communities, several steps have been taken for their conservation at an international level. The most well known is the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance” , also known as the Ramsar Convention from its place of adoption in Iran, which was held in 1971. This treaty provides a framework for international cooperation for the conservation of wetlands, especially as a habitat for waterbirds. It takes an extremely broad approach in determining ‘wetlands’ which come under its aegis and covers a variety of habitat types including rivers, coastal areas and even coral reefs.

(Source: This artcle will be continued in the next issue)

Article

Chhari-Dhand Conservation Reserve
Jugal Kishore Tiwari*

Black-tailed Godwit at Chhari Dhandh (Photo: Ashwin Pomal)

Chhari-Dhand is a seasonal wetland in the grasslands of Banni (Kachchh region). Chhari (meaning; salt affected) and Dhand (meaning; shallow wetland) is situated near the village Fulay. Dhand is a Sindhi word for a shallow saucer shaped depression. There are four terms for wetlands in Banni and across the border. They are; Kar (smallest), Chhachh (bigger than Kar), Thathh (bigger than Chhach) and Dhand- the biggest wetland. The area of each of these seasonal freshwater wetlands during any one year depends upon the amount of rainfall received during that particular year. These wetlands are located on the migration pathway of palaerctic migrants. They play very important role as foraging, roosting, resting and staging grounds for millions of waders, waterfowl, cranes and other feathered migrants that visit the area from August and spend time till March every year.

The area of Banni grasslands is 3,847 sq km. There are several wetlands in/adjacent to it. All of them are ephemeral or seasonal in nature. Some examples are: Vekario-Dhand, Kheerjog, Vinzar varo Thathh, Hodko Thathh, Servo-Dhand, Bhagadio Thathh, Kar near Kirro, Kunjevari Thathh, Hanjtal, and Chhari-Dhand - he biggest in size among all of them.

Chhari-Dhand is 80 km south-west of Bhuj and 30 km from Nakhtrana town. The wetland is unique in its floral and faunal composition. Eleocharis redds (4-6 ft tall plant) grow on the edges of this shallow wetland. The maximum depth of Chhari-Dhand is 5-6 ft in the centre and in the water channels. The main source of water for Chhari-Dhand is river Chhari (Dhurud), Layari river, Gajansar river, and the large catchment areas of Kiro, Palkhiari and Vazira hills. The south-west monsoon brings water to the parched landscape of Banni. The alluvial soils of Banni become inundated with the rain-water. Sedges like Dhamor Cyperus rotundus, Kalur and Lana (Suaeda fruticosa), Ooeynd (Cress cretica) grow here profusely. The area is inaccessible for people for almost 2-3 months. This is the time when Chhari-Dhand supports the nesting of resident waterbirds. The first week of October is the time when one can see Chhari-Dhand from all angles. But the failure of monsoon (once in three year generally) gives time to nature to take its own course. In the drought years, Chhari-Dhand is bone dry billiard table flat landscape, The lesser Bandicoots Bandicoota bengalensis is the main prey base for all mammalian, avian and reptilian predators. The flooding of Banni and Chhari-Dhand is a nature’s own way of controlling the population of these rodents which in some year can multiply in millions and cover the entire Banni landscape, causing loss of crops on the fringes of Banni. If unchecked by flooding, they can also enter human-dwelling to feed on everything they can feed and nibble by their gnawing incissors.

Lesser Flamingos at Chhari Dhandh (Photo: Ashwin Pomal)

There are 315 species of birds reported from Kachchh district. Chhari-Dhand and the surrounding terrestrial habitat support over 200 species of birds. The threatened species like Black-necked Stork, Dalmatian Pelican, Oriental Darters, Marbled Teals have been reported.
Chhari-Dhand supports over 40,000 Common Cranes in good winters, the Dhand area is good for great White or Rosy Pelicans 1,500 Rosy Pelicans can be seen in winters at the Dhand.
The Common Crane population that utilizes Chhari-Dhand is seen feeding on the tubers of Dhamor or Cyperus sedge. The important ecological role they play is like that of nature’s own farmers’ who dig the soil to make it fertile and aerated. The upturned soil with exposed tubers of the sedges are fed upon by the birds like doves, larks and sandgrouses that can not dig soil by there beak.

Chhari-Dhand was selected as a field station by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) on 3 rd January 1990. I came with the team of BNHS scientists and bird-trappers for bird banding and migration studies. Mr. S.A. Hussain was the Principal Scientist of BNHS Bird Migration project. We conducted bird ringing till 1992 and trapped over 5,000 birds. Our ringed birds were recovered in Russia and we found the MOSKWA rings on Little Stints. One Great White Pelican (Rosy pelican) ringed at Ily Delta Lake Balkash, Kahakhstan was found dead near Mithdi (Abda Jheel). Dr. Asad Rahmani selected Banni grassland as one of the BNHS grassland ecology field stations. Same field station of Fulay was continued. I worked again in the same area. This time I had been looking into all other ecological parameters of Banni and Chhari-Dhand. While working at Fulay, we had found a lot of significant information on the ecology of Banni and Dhands.

The Jheel villages of Banni support good bird populations in monsoon and form some important heronries site. Luna Heronry; 17 km from Chhari-Dhand is one of the top 10 heronries of India with over 10,000 nests of 8 species birds; Glossy Ibis being one of them.

Chhari-Dhand is a wetland which qualifies the status of a Ramsar Site (as mentioned in Potential and existing Ramsar sites of India by M.Zafar-ul-Islam and Asad R Rahmani). This wetland is declared as a Conservation Reserve in May 2008. This status will protect Chhari-Dhand from commercial fishing which really disturbs the birdlife. Status of human activities will remain the same. Grazing, fuel wood collection and honey and gum collection will be allowed as it was done before.

There were some people with wasted interest who wanted Chhari-Dhand not to become conservation reserve. They have tried exploring the rocky habitat near Kiro, Palkhiari for gravel and stone mining. Incidentally, these areas constitute safe haven for wildlife which takes shelter here during the time of flooding in monsoon. All the mining leases were cancelled by District administration and Mining Department.

Migratory Ducks at Chhari Dhandh (Photo: Ashwin Pomal)

The Chhari-Dhand Conservation reserve will open the avenues for eco-tourism and Cultural tourism in Kachchh. Efforts are on way to get the Chhari-Dhand area as a responsible eco-tourism site (Author is a member of District ecotourism committee). An Interpretation Centre is planned at Fulay. Some eco-huts are planned, boat-ride in Chhari-Dhand, traditional food of Banni for the guest is all the good plans taking shape.

Thanks to the efforts of District and State Forest officers that the Chhari-Dhand is now enjoying the status of Conservation reserve. Worth mentioning the names are Mr. R.L. Meena (CF), Mr. L.N. Jadeja (DFO), Mr. Gujjar (Sub-DFO), Mr. Roy Choudhary (Forest Secretary) and Dr. Nanda (present Forest Secretary).

The advocacy role of IBCN Gujarat was significant in this work. The press played a positive role, Indian Express and ‘Kachchh-mitra’ are worth mentioning. The continued interest of Late M.K. Himmatsinhji will always be remembered. In fact, it is suggested to name this wetland as “Chhari-Dhand - Himmat Conservation Reserve”. The Pelican Nature Club members, namely, S.N. Varu and N.N. Bapat always did the best to see that Chhari-Dhand is protected.

Ever since I started “Centre for Desert and Ocean” (CEDO) (for ecotourism and nature education /aforestation work) 24 km away from Chhari-Dhand and settled at Moti Virani, birders from at least 20 countries have visited the place and admired the beauty of the place. Four BNHS nature education camps had been organized so far at Chhari-Dhand in past two years. I have organized some 20 one day nature camps for school students of 10 villages. Chhai-Dhand is now not a new name. However, its new status as the Conservation Reserve will certainly help to conserve this pristine wetland habitat and its birds. We will see that in future, it will be declared as a ‘Ramsar Site’.

* (The author is IBCN-Gujarat (State Coordinator) and Director, *Centre for Desert and Ocean village Moti-Virani, Taluka-Nakhtrana, Kutch, Gujarat 370665, cedoindia@yahoo.com).

Observation Diary

Unidentified Grebe- Is This Red-necked Grebe?
Swapnadeepsinh Jadeja

(Photo: Swapnadeepsinh Jadeja)

On December 5, 2008, I saw two unfamiliar grebes along with a Little Grebe (Dabchick) at Lakhota talaav in Jamnagar (Saurashtra region of Gujarat state). I had noticed that the Little Grebe was chasing away these two ‘unfamiliar’ grebes. Careful observations and photography with my Canon 400D digital SLR (with Sigma 170-500 DG lens) had revealed some characteristics that have been tempting me to believe that the two grebes were not the Little Grebes, but some other species. In my opinion, the most distinguishable feature was the beaks of these two grebes (See picture). Unlike the beak of the Little Grebe, the beaks of the photographed birds were longer and sharper. In my humble opinion, the two photographed grebes were Red-necked Grebes. However, I believe that it needs the opinions of several bird experts. So, I invite all bird experts/enthusiasts to see the picture and decide the species. I contacted Dr. Maulik Varu (a keen birder in Jamnagar) and he was of the opinion that the grebes were certainly not Little Grebes as beak was quite different from that of the Little Grebe and the shape of the head also appeared different from that of the Dabchick. He opined that the unidentified grebes could not be the Black-necked Grebes either as the eye colour was not red. He opined that the grebes might be Red-necked Grebes, but he had not confirmed the species as the tip of the beak is not black. Dr Ketan Tatu (Ahmedabad) had suggested to be more careful and patient in deciding the species. He had pointed out that though the possibility of Red-necked Grebes in winter/ juvenile plumage may not be ignored, the beak colour did not appear to be clearly yellow, at least in the picture. Rather, it was closer to orangish-pink and it is well-known that Great Crested Grebes have pinkish coloured beak and Red-necked Grebes have yellow beak with blackish tip. However, some times the colours in photographs vary from the reality, so yellow colour in the beaks has to be confirmed.

I once again request all the experienced birders of Gujarat and elsewhere to examine the accompanying photograph and help me in identification.

Bar-headed Goose at Thol Lake
Kartik Shastri

(Photo: Dr. Ketan Tatu)

On December 14, 2008 I visited Thol lake. The most impressive feature of the waterbird life of Thol lake was the abundance of Grey-lag Geese. In my opinion, the number of Geese was certainly in 4 figures. However, apart from plentiful Grey-lag Geese, I counted about 36 Bar-headed Geese towards the “back-side” (towards Jethlaj/camp site side?) of Thol lake.

White-fronted Geese at Thol Lake
Ketan Tatu and Kandarp Kathju

On 9 December 2008, one of us (K.T.) visited Thol lake as a part of wetland survey project that is being conducted by GEER Foundation under the direction of Director, GEER Foundation. He saw a very large number of Greylag Geese at the lake. He observed the geese with a pair of 8 X 40 binoculars from the ‘Camp-site end’ of the lake (towards Jethlaj) in the morning hours. Some of them were foraging, some others were simply swimming/floating and many others were resting by standing on the land. He was aware about the possibility of occurrence of some other species of geese, especially the Bar-headed Geese and therefore very careful in detecting geese other than the Greylags. During his careful observation of Greylag Geese (for conducting their count), his attention was drawn towards three geese having conspicuous white above the base of the upper mandible. The geese were swimming near shore. K. T. was aware about the White-fronted Geese and after patient examination through the pair of binoculars for limited time, he decided that these three geese were not the Greylags, but were indeed Greater White-fronted Geese. He immediately called Mr Kandarp Kathju (K. K.) from Thol to know his view about the possibility of occurrence of the White-fronted Goose at Thol as he believed that K.K. is one the few keen birders who regularly visits Thol lake and has outstanding local knowledge about Thol and its birdlife. K. K. informed that he had never seen White-fronted Geese at Thol, but also said that when he would visit Thol, he would keep watch to check their presence. K. K. visited Thol on 20-12-2008 and saw three geese with the conspicuous white on the forehead (near the base of the upper mandible). As he was fortunate to come across the resting (standing) geese, he also noted two other field-marks, including orange legs (unlike pink in Greylags) and strong dark colored stripe-like markings on the belly. So, he had no doubt about the presence of the Greater White-fronted Geese at Thol.

Though there is no doubt about the existence of this species at Thol, there is need of taking good pictures.

The authors of this note are sincerely thankful to Mr. C. N. Pandey, IFS, Director, GEER Foundation for giving opportunity to conduct wetland surveys in Gujarat.

Ramsar Rendezvous

(1)
China Designates Six New Ramsar Sites

The paperwork has been completed for the People's Republic of China's newest additions to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, designated with effective date of last World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2008. China has now designated 36 Ramsar sites, totaling 3,168,210 hectares, and globally the Convention now has 1,828 Ramsar sites covering a surface area of 168,985,680 hectares. Ramsar's Pragati Tuladhar has drawn up these brief site descriptions for the Annotated Ramsar List, based on the information contained in the Ramsar Information Sheets that accompanied the designations.

Fujian Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve. Fujian; 2,358 ha; 23°55′N 117°25′E). National Nature Reserve. Dominated by mangrove forest in the estuary area and including intertidal mudflats and salt marshes, located in the estuary of Zhangjian River. Provides habitat for more than 154 birds species, including IUCN Red-listed. There are 240 other aquatic animal species and 224 vascular plants too. It is also a spawning and breeding place for important fish species

Guangdong Haifeng Wetlands. Guangdong; 11,591 ha; 22°59′N 115°19′E. Nature Reserve. A complex of intertidal mudflats, permanent shallow marine water, sand beaches, permanent rivers, reservoirs, aquaculture ponds and mangrove marshes located on the South China coast, located along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway. The site harbors 163 bird species, among which 25 species are on the National Protected Species list, including endangered and vulnerable IUCN Red List species

Hubei Honghu Wetlands. Hubei; 43,450 ha; 29°50´N 113°19´E. Nature Reserve.The seventh largest freshwater lake of China, located on the northern bank of middle Yangtze river along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway. IUCN Red Listed species of birds are found here. The aquatic, polar and willow vegetation provides habitat for 139 bird species, 62 fish species,6 amphibian species, 12 reptile species,13 mammal species, 379 zooplanktons, 472 vascular plants species and 280 phytoplankton species.

Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon. Shanghai; 3,760 ha; 31°31’N 122°05’E. Nature Reserve. A estuarine salt-fresh water wetlands in the estuarine area of the Yangtze river, the third largest in the world. The wetland provides habitat for IUCN Red Listed species like Baixun or Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), Baiqitun (Lipotes vexillifer), and Moxiangjing (Physeter macrocephalus), and it provides critical refuge for Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) as well as breeding place for important economic fish species. 332 fish species are found.

Sichuan Ruoergai Wetland National Nature Reserve. 02/02/08; Sichuan; 166,570 ha; 33°43’N 102°44’E. Nature Reserve. Said to be the largest alpine peat marsh in the world as well as tundra wetland located in the upstream area of the Yellow River and the northeast of Qinghai -Tibet Plateau at 3,422m-3,704m altitude. A marsh meadow vegetation provides habitat for 137 bird species including IUCN Red-List species as well as 38 animal species, 3 amphibian species,15 fish species, 3 amphibian species and 362 wild plant species.

(Source: P. Dwight in Ramsar Forum)

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Restoration and Public Awareness for Lake Ludaš in Serbia

In 2001, the Ramsar Convention through its Small Grant Fund Programme was able to fund a two-phase project in Serbia intended to rehabilitate and restore wet meadows at Ludaško Lake, and to contribute to the realization of a Visitor Educational Centre. The site, located in Vojvodina province, is the oldest of nine Serbian Ramsar sites, in fact, one of the few remaining natural lakes of the Pannonia Plain. In the ‘50s most of the wet and fen meadows were converted into hayfields, pastures and arable lands, leading to severe degradation of the original ecosystems.
Through several activities of field monitoring, evaluation, and measurements with the collaboration of local communities, the conditions to pursue the rehabilitation of these wetlands are now being created. Several educational activities such bank cleaning campaigns and celebrations of environmental days with school children have been organized, increasing the awareness of the site’s values. The creation of new facilities for ecotourism, such as observation paths, has enhanced the economic values of this Ramsar site in line with the concept of wise use of wetlands.

Some of the SGF funds were also used to co-finance the construction of the Ludaš Visitor Centre as part of the Hungary–Serbia Cross Border Cooperation Programme - a bigger EU-funded project managed by EAR started in March 2006 and just recently concluded. The new centre offers facilities of various genres showcasing the outstanding natural values of this site through permanent and temporary exhibitions, posters, multimedia tools, and visitor’s routes with information in Hungarian, Serbian and English languages.
In the visitor centre are also presented different thematic areas illustrating the other three protected areas in the region, wetlands conservation strategies and challenges.

(Source: P. Dwight in Ramsar Forum)

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Victory For Waterfowl and Red-breasted Goose in Bulgaria

Recently, the Bulgarian Parliament turned down an amendment of the Hunting Act (containing proposals to extend the hunting season for waterfowl to 28 February)
On 21.10.2008 the Hunting Act amendments were published in the Bulgarian State Newspaper. The hunting season for waterfowl (ducks and geese) would be ending on 31 January (the hunting lobby wanted an extension to the end of February). The Parliament decided to shorten the hunting season for Quail and Turtle Dove with the start date of 15 August put back to 1 September.
The penalties for poaching were increased and there are now also penalties for possession of illegal game trophies.
The Parliament decided to permit private hunting estates. This issue is very controversial but many strict restrictions have been imposed. We will continue to monitor the private hunting estates and try to work with their managers in order to prevent poisoning of raptors.
This signal victory was achieved because of the personal commitment of one Bulgarian MP, the strong support of the Ministry of Environment, the extensive lobbying of Parliament by Bulgarian NGOs and wildlife tour operators, and the influential international support for petition on www.forthenature.org. The petition was supported and signed by more than 2500 EU citizens (representing all EU countries), more than 800 Russian citizens and many others from more than 50 countries worldwide.

(Source: P. Dwight in Ramsar Forum)

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Problems regarding the Awase Tidal Flat area

The Awase Landfill Project is to reclaim the expanding coastal wetland off the eastern coast in Okinawa City, covering 187ha. The red circle indicates the first phase of the landfill (96ha), and the blue circle indicates the second phase of the landfill (91ha).The Okinawa General Bureau (the central government) and the Okinawa Prefectural government have been proceeding the first phase of the landfill plan. In the fiscal year 2007, the construction work of the revetment (seawall, bank protection) was completed. From 2009 it will be started to bring dredged soil (derived from another site for a harbor and a ship water cause) from a nearby municipality (The red arrow indicates the delivering route of dredged soil). This Landfill Project has been proceeded by the central and Okinawa Prefectural governments allegedly upon a request from Okinawa City. When the construction work is completed, the Okinawa Prefectural government is to purchase the land from the central government. Then Okinawa City will purchase the half of it, covering approximately 90ha, and build marine resort facilities (e.g., hotels, marina, artificial beaches). The purpose of this project is twofold.: one is to utilize this area as a disposal area for abandoning unnecessary dredged soil coming from the nearby construction site (the main purpose of the central government), and another one is to build marine resort facilities on this landfill area (the main purpose of the Prefectural government and Okinawa City).

Problems and issues:
-The two purposes of the plan are not critically urgent and without rationality.
-The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not performed thoroughly.
-Many new and ecologically valuable species have been found after the EIA surveys and after the Landfill work was started. There are no plan to conserve these species, and these important

species are/will be buried alive. Nine new species,121 of endangered fauna species (108 Mollusks, 7 Crustacea, and 6 fish) and many endangered flora species have been recorded. As

many as 12 seagrass species have been found inhabiting this area, which makes this area of the

highest seagrass biodiversity in Japan. This is a typical example of unnecessary construction works in Japan. A world-class and biodiversity-rich wetland, which meets criteria for the listing under the Ramsar Convention, is now being lost. The plan has not been fully supported by local citizens (A majority of people opposed this plan according to various polls). There have been requests to stop the plan and concerns have been expressed nationally and internationally: e.g., Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, the Australian Minister of Environment, and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
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Fear That Incinerator Will Threaten A Wetland Based Protected Area

A MAJOR international organisation has said that Jersey faces environmental peril if a £106 million incinerator is built at La Collette. Experts at the Ramsar Secretariat are concerned that the incinerator will be next to a protected area. In 2000 the States approved 32.1 sq km of the Island’s shoreline to be designated a United Nations Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The area stretches from the seaward edge of the tanker berth at the Harbour to the tip of Gorey pier. Stephan Flink from the Switzerland-based organisation said that he was ‘saddened to hear the peril Jersey is in’.

And Wetlands International, a member party of the Ramsar Convention, has the Island’s incinerator as ‘this month’s threatened wetland’ on its website. Jerseyman Dave Cabeldu, a member of the Ramsar Steering Group who campaigned to get Jersey’s south coast protected, has been speaking to the Ramsar Secretariat in Gland, Switzerland. Mr Cabeldu, speaking on behalf of Save Our Shoreline members, said Jersey was in breach of the international Ramsar convention because an independent impact assessment was not carried out before the incinerator was approved by the States in July.

(Source: http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/12/16/planning-deny-environment-danger-claims/)

Wetland Wisdom

Village Community Restored a Lake to Save Salamanders

Himalayan Salamanders have been the subject of passion of a school teacher-cum-village head Mr. Jagat Syangbo of Karseany town in Darjeeling district in Northern India. Himalayan Salamander is a small amphibian that faces extinction due to rapid urbanization in the hilly regions of West Bengal. It is a threatened species as per the Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972. It inhabits the wetlands and since his childhood Syangbo has been familiar with the Himalayan Salamanders inhabiting a lake (Bhanzary) that is located at the distance of 14 km from Karseany town. In fact, this lake is very essential for the continued existence of Himalayan Salamanders, especially because the salamanders begin their life-cycle in the waters of the lake in this region.

This lake is man-made and was created just before 1947. Hanagen, a manager of “Margaret’s Hope Tea Estate” had started to dig the lake after noting that the natural water existed in the area enriched by the tea wastes. However, the manager had done the digging for getting nice view and entertainment. But, unknowingly, the Himalayan Salamanders were helped by that and multiplied.

Unfortunately, in 1968 a huge landslide occurred in Darjeeling hills. So, lake was filled up by debris and in turn, the salamanders lost major portion of their lacustrine habitat. Only few salamanders continued to exist in some unfilled portion of the lake.

Fortunately, when Syangbo was elected as a Village Pradhan (i.e., village head), he and other 23 elected members of the Panchayat (a village representative committee) started digging in the whole lake in 2003. As a result, the lake once again became nice habitat for the Himalayan Salamanders. Over the last 4-5 years, their population is on rise.

(Source: Zoo’s Print)

Wounded Wetlands

Dying Lake in Pakistan - A Victim of Industrial Discharge

Nararri Lake, an important natural lake of Sindh located in district Badin is close to what is termed as ‘dried dead’. The lake is home to several dozens of fresh water fish and was a bird watchers’ heaven having flyway zone of dozens of migratory birds from Siberia, Russia and other cold countries.

Polluted with poisonous and untreated industrial effluent of surrounding industries, its fish population has drastically decreased and it has lost the identification of birdwatchers’ paradise since migratory birds no longer arrive at the spot.Another significant fact about the Nararri Lake is that it is a Ramsar site. Ramsar is an international convention for the conservation of wetlands throughout the world.

In Pakistan there are total 19 Ramsar Sites out of which nine sites located in Sindh alone. Nararri is one of these sites. That was hub of the fishing activities and was only source of income for hundreds of indigenous fishermen and also being flyway zone it was heaven for birdwatchers in the past. But increasing pollution has turned the lake dead. The lake is located in the Badin district that is supposed hub of non-government organisations (NGOs) that get funds from international donors such as World Bank, ActionAid, US Aid, UNICEF and several other agencies but no one has bothered in the past even to challenge the pouring of polluted water into this Ramsar site. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has decided to carry out a detailed survey of the lake to ascertain the causes, levels of damages and vanishing fish types.

"Five major industries have recently started pouring untreated poisonous industrial waste in this lake that has badly affected the ecosystem of this important natural lake of Sindh,” said regional director Indus for All Programme, WWF Dr Ghulam Akbar.Nararri Lake or Jubho Lagoon was receiving fresh water from River Indus but recently, the decreasing supply of fresh water in the downstream of Kotri Barrage, the most important barrage on the River Indus, has badly affected the water supply to this lake. “Due to the lack of fresh water supply from River Indus, the freshwater fish have completely vanished, after fish make their into this lake from sea during high tide, but the poisonous effluent have completely killed them,” Dr Akbar said.Talking about the importance of the lake he said that in the past the lake was a flyway zone where tens of thousands migratory birds from cold countries were making their short stay to escape the cold and also being a source of food.

“The situation of the lake has badly affected the food source and these migratory birds have stopped visiting this lake and have changed the site somewhere else for their temporarily stay,” he said, adding that reducing fish has badly affected indigenous fishermen communities. In the past several hundreds of fishermen were completely depending on this natural lake. “The importance of the Nararri Lake could be gauged from the fact that the lake had fulfilled the basic requirements of lengthy requirements of Ramsar convention and despite being signatory of the convention to conserve the wetlands, Pakistani government has not taken steps for the protection of this important site,” he said.

Beside these local NGOs, those international organisations working for better environment and nature’s conservation have also not taken any step to save this important wetland. “We have initiated a study recently to collect how this lake has suffered in fresh water scarcity and pouring of contaminated industrial effluent,” said Dr Akbar. Badin is also home of oil exploring activities where several international oil exploring companies are working and Pakistani laws bound these companies to spend some of their profits for the conservation of local natural resources, but none of these companies have also bothered to take any practical steps.

(Source: Amar Guriro in Daily News, Dec. 2008)