Rare bird sighted in Kerala’s Chinnar sanctuary

Rare bird sighted in Kerala’s Chinnar sanctuary

News:

1.       Sri Lankan Frogmouth which  is usually  confined to its habitation in the western side of the Western Ghats was recently noticed on the eastern side of the Western Ghats for the first time which has sparked much interest among ornithologists.

Important Facts:

2. This rare bird species was sighted in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
3. About Sri Lankan Frogmouth:

• It belongs to the Batrachostomus moniliger
• It is a relative of Nightjar, a crepuscular and nocturnal bird breeding in Europe and temperate Asia.
• Its preferred habitat is a dry and open area with some small trees or bushes. Because of its silent presence, it is hardly noticed.
• The nest is made using moss or leaves of soft plants and the bark of the trees.
• The bird, like the Nightjar, eats insects and mainly seeks prey during night time.
• The main feature is that it lays only one egg a year after the mating season in April-May.
• The male bird destroys the nest and flies away with the newborn bird. Because of its silent presence, it is hardly noticed.
• Ornithologists say that the bird has a unique habitat in Sri Lanka and is also believed to be present in the Thattekad bird sanctuary,Kerala. It is also found in Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• The species had gone extinct in the State after its presence was not noticed for a long period.
• The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is on a project to study its habitat and make a favourable environment for it.