MIRZA, March 16 � Serious concern has been voiced in local nature conservation circles about the largescale death of greater adjutant storks in the famous breeding colony located at Dadara-Pacharia area under North Kamrup Forest Division in Kamrup district.
It may perhaps be pertinent to add here that the greater adjutant stork is an endangered species listed in the Red Data Book of the International Union of Conservation of Nature ( IUCN).
In was observed by this correspondent that over 30-40 percent chicks of greater adjutant storks die every year at the nesting colony at Dadara-Pacharia area in Kamrup district, which is a cause of serious concern. Obviously, the endangered avian species is therefore facing extinction even in these breeding colonies.
According to a month-long investigation carried out by this scribe this year, it was observed that three nests had been built over two kadam trees owned by Rupram Kalita of Pacharia village near Dadara under the Hajo Forest Range Office.
�Three chicks died after falling from the nests during the past two months and only four chicks survived till March 13 last ,� informed Rupram Kalita, the owner of the trees that were used for nesting by the greater adjutant storks since the last 2-3 years.
According to Rameswar Baishya of Pacharia Hatiatol, four nests were built in his kadam trees, where only two nestlings have survived.
�This year there was no record of chick deaths at the nests, though two nestlings died last year after falling from their nests,� said Baishya.
It was observed that a nest was built over a kadam tree owned by Brajen Kalita and two nestlings were found surviving.
Again, there are five nests over a kadam tree owned by Bapuram Das of Dadara. Altogether, six chicks were found surviving in the nests. Significantly, a machan was constructed near the tree for observation of the nests and nestlings. By the side of the machan, there is a moj tree in which another nestling has been seen surviving.
�At least 3-4 nestlings have died after falling from the six nests built over our kadam and moj trees while two other nestlings were rescued this year,� said Damayanti Das, wife of Bapuram Das of Dadara.
Jadab Das, the proud owner of a bhelkor tree at Dadara said that four nests were built by the endangered greater adjutant storks at the bhelkor tree. However, three nestlings died this year after falling from the nests into a pond under the tree.
As many as six nestlings were seen in five nests built over a kadam tree owned by Lt Mahendra Deka, but it was not known whether the birds survived. As greater adjutant storks lays two eggs in a nest, there should have been at least 10 chicks in 5 nests in the tree owned by Mahendra Deka, though four nestlings have not been recorded so far.
It may be mentioned here that the campus consists of small plots of conspicuous land owned by Jadab Das, Bapuram Das and Mahendra Deka. It is the largest sub-colony of greater adjutant storks at Dadara breeding colony this year in which as many as 16 nests have been recorded.
In a kadam tree owned by Uttam Baishya at Pacharia, a nest has been recorded with one nestling.
�One nestling died this year after falling down from the nest in a tree owned by Uttam Baishya,� informed Anju Baishya, a neighbour of the former.
Hemanta Sarma of Dadara owns two kadam trees in which there are six nests built by the greater adjutant storks. It is reported that altogether 5-6 nestlings have died this year in these trees.
Prafulla Sarma of Pachari said that eight nests were built during the last breeding season, viz 2012-2013 in his three kadam and one simul tree. But not a single nest has been built this year in all the aforementioned four trees.
�During the start of the nesting season this year, an adult greater adjutant stork died in my campus. We therefore thought that the birds must have abandoned my trees this year due to the death of the adult (parent) bird,� Sarma speculated.
According to a book titled Threatened Birds of Assam authored by Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, the population of greater adjutant storks is declining dramatically during the first half of the 20th century. Presently, only three breeding populations area known to exist. In Assam, it is estimated that there are at least 650-800 birds, while at the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia there are 75 pairs. The avians also have a presence in the Gangetic floodplains of Bihar, while there is one record from Meghalaya as well, the book stated.
It may be mentioned here that three major breeding (nesting) colonies have been recorded in Assam, which are located in Kamrup (Dadara), Nagaon and Sivasagar districts. The Dadara breeding colony with around 80-plus nests is located in an area with human habitation. Nevertheless, it is considered as one of the safest colonies of the species as the villagers of Dadara have been selflessly conserving the breeding colony.
MIRZA, March 16 � Serious concern has been voiced in local nature conservation circles about the largescale death of greater adjutant storks in the famous breeding colony located at Dadara-Pacharia area under North Kamrup Forest Division in Kamrup district.
It may perhaps be pertinent to add here that the greater adjutant stork is an endangered species listed in the Red Data Book of the International Union of Conservation of Nature ( IUCN).
In was observed by this correspondent that over 30-40 percent chicks of greater adjutant storks die every year at the nesting colony at Dadara-Pacharia area in Kamrup district, which is a cause of serious concern. Obviously, the endangered avian species is therefore facing extinction even in these breeding colonies.
According to a month-long investigation carried out by this scribe this year, it was observed that three nests had been built over two kadam trees owned by Rupram Kalita of Pacharia village near Dadara under the Hajo Forest Range Office.
�Three chicks died after falling from the nests during the past two months and only four chicks survived till March 13 last ,� informed Rupram Kalita, the owner of the trees that were used for nesting by the greater adjutant storks since the last 2-3 years.
According to Rameswar Baishya of Pacharia Hatiatol, four nests were built in his kadam trees, where only two nestlings have survived.
�This year there was no record of chick deaths at the nests, though two nestlings died last year after falling from their nests,� said Baishya.
It was observed that a nest was built over a kadam tree owned by Brajen Kalita and two nestlings were found surviving.
Again, there are five nests over a kadam tree owned by Bapuram Das of Dadara. Altogether, six chicks were found surviving in the nests. Significantly, a machan was constructed near the tree for observation of the nests and nestlings. By the side of the machan, there is a moj tree in which another nestling has been seen surviving.
�At least 3-4 nestlings have died after falling from the six nests built over our kadam and moj trees while two other nestlings were rescued this year,� said Damayanti Das, wife of Bapuram Das of Dadara.
Jadab Das, the proud owner of a bhelkor tree at Dadara said that four nests were built by the endangered greater adjutant storks at the bhelkor tree. However, three nestlings died this year after falling from the nests into a pond under the tree.
As many as six nestlings were seen in five nests built over a kadam tree owned by Lt Mahendra Deka, but it was not known whether the birds survived. As greater adjutant storks lays two eggs in a nest, there should have been at least 10 chicks in 5 nests in the tree owned by Mahendra Deka, though four nestlings have not been recorded so far.
It may be mentioned here that the campus consists of small plots of conspicuous land owned by Jadab Das, Bapuram Das and Mahendra Deka. It is the largest sub-colony of greater adjutant storks at Dadara breeding colony this year in which as many as 16 nests have been recorded.
In a kadam tree owned by Uttam Baishya at Pacharia, a nest has been recorded with one nestling.
�One nestling died this year after falling down from the nest in a tree owned by Uttam Baishya,� informed Anju Baishya, a neighbour of the former.
Hemanta Sarma of Dadara owns two kadam trees in which there are six nests built by the greater adjutant storks. It is reported that altogether 5-6 nestlings have died this year in these trees.
Prafulla Sarma of Pachari said that eight nests were built during the last breeding season, viz 2012-2013 in his three kadam and one simul tree. But not a single nest has been built this year in all the aforementioned four trees.
�During the start of the nesting season this year, an adult greater adjutant stork died in my campus. We therefore thought that the birds must have abandoned my trees this year due to the death of the adult (parent) bird,� Sarma speculated.
According to a book titled Threatened Birds of Assam authored by Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, the population of greater adjutant storks is declining dramatically during the first half of the 20th century. Presently, only three breeding populations area known to exist. In Assam, it is estimated that there are at least 650-800 birds, while at the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia there are 75 pairs. The avians also have a presence in the Gangetic floodplains of Bihar, while there is one record from Meghalaya as well, the book stated.
It may be mentioned here that three major breeding (nesting) colonies have been recorded in Assam, which are located in Kamrup (Dadara), Nagaon and Sivasagar districts. The Dadara breeding colony with around 80-plus nests is located in an area with human habitation. Nevertheless, it is considered as one of the safest colonies of the species as the villagers of Dadara have been selflessly conserving the breeding colony.
