Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad, Kerala

Yogesh Wadadekar 

Dec 26-28, 2000

This is a report of a short trip that I undertook with S. Sridhar and
Sharadini Rath in December 2000. We visited Thattekad from 26-28 December. 

This trip would not have been the success it was without the presence of
Elthose whose encylopaedic knowledge of local birdlife and his unflagging
and contagious enthusiasm made birding seem like a new experience to us.
We thank Mr. Pramod Krishnan (IFS) for taking special efforts to make
arrangements for our visit - most of all for putting us in touch with
Elthose.We also wish to thank Mr. Thomas and Mr.  P. K. Uttaman for their
wonderful company. We thank the Assistant Wildlife Warden at the Sanctuary
for helping us with food and accommodation arrangements, which allowed us
to concentrate on the birdwatching. 

1 Basic information

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad
Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on
the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983
based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali
described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in
peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas.  Since then
much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and mahogany
plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the phenomenal bird
diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Some basic
facts about the sanctuary are listed in Table 1.

Table 1:

Latitude       76 deg 40' - 76 deg 45' N
Longitude      10 deg 7' - 11 deg E
Altitude       35- 523 m (Njayapilli peak)
Area           25.16 sq. km
Rainfall       2500 mm annually
Forest type    Tropical semi-evergreen and tropical deciduous
Mammals        Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Porcupine
Bird species   > 250


2 How to get there

The sanctuary is 13 km north-east of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutti
road. The nearest railway station is Aluva at a distance of 48 km.  Kochi,
the nearest airport is 71 km away. The new airport at Nedumbassery is
probably closer.

Kothamangalam is well connected by privately operated buses to Ernakulam
via Muvattupuzha or Perumpavur. There are frequent buses from
Kothamangalam to Thattekad. Currently the bus needs to cross the Periyar
river by ferry. Construction on a bridge across the river has started. 

3 Where to stay

There is a three storied watch tower inside the Sanctuary with two beds, a
toilet and a kitchen. No electricity here but there is are a few solar
powered lamps. A forest department inspection bungalow called Hornbill is
located near the sanctuary entrance. There is a dormitory just inside the
sanctuary which is ideal for large groups.  Accommodation is also
available at the PWD rest house near the Bhoothathankett Dam and in lodges
in Kothamangalam. 

For further information about the sanctuary and for booking accommodation
contact:

1. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Thiruvanthapuram Kerala
  695014

2. The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Vellappara, Painavu
  P.O. Idukki District 685603 Phone 0486 232271

3. The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Njayapilli
  P.O. , Kothamangalam, Kerala Phone 0485 588302

4 The birdlist

Only species observed by us have been listed. We have no information if an
exhaustive checklist is available for the Sanctuary. Nomenclature used
follows Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998). The pocket edition of
this book was used for field identification. Subspecies have not been
mentioned unless unambiguous identification was made (eg. ruby-throated
subspecies of the Black-crested Bulbul). Some interesting observations and
a nesting record are at the end of this checklist.

1. Collocalia unicolor Indian Swiftlet

2. Ocyceros griseus Malabar Grey-Hornbill

3. Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle

4. Anhinga melanogaster Oriental Darter

5. Ardea cinerea Grey Heron

6. Ardeola grayii Indian Pond-Heron

7. Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret

8. Egretta garzetta Little Egret

9. Mesophoyx intermedia Intermediate Egret

10. Vanellus indicus Red-wattled Lapwing

11. Metopidius indicus Bronze-winged Jacana

12. Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tern

13. Phalacrocorax niger Little Cormorant

14. Snipe: species unidentified

15. Columba livia Rock Pigeon

16. Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher

17. Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher

18. Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird

19. Halcyon smyrnensis White-throated Kingfisher

20. Pelargopsis capensis Stork-billed Kingfisher

21. Merops leschenaulti Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

22. Centropus sinensis Greater Coucal

23. Eudynamys scolopacea Asian Koel

24. Gallus sonneratii Grey Junglefowl

25. Amaurornis phoenicurus White-breasted Waterhen

26. Aegithina tiphia Common Iora

27. Artamus fuscus Ashy Wood-swallow

28. Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow

29. Dendrocitta formosae Grey Treepie

30. Dicrurus aeneus Bronzed Drongo

31. Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo

32. Dicrurus macrocercus Black Drongo

33. Dicrurus paradiseus Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

34. Oriolus chinensis Black-naped Oriole

35. Oriolus oriolus Eurasian Golden-Oriole

36. Oriolus xanthornus Black-hooded Oriole

37. Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Small Minivet

38. Hirundo daurica Red-rumped Swallow

39. Hirundo tahitica Pacific Swallow

40. Chloropsis aurifrons Golden-fronted Leafbird

41. Irena puella Asian Fairy-bluebird

42. Copsychus malabaricus White-rumped Shama

43. Copsychus saularis Oriental Magpie-Robin

44. Cyornis pallipes White-bellied Blue-Flycatcher

45. Eumyias albicaudata Nilgiri Flycatcher

46. Luscinia brunnea Indian Blue Robin

47. Myiophonus horsfieldii Malabar Whistling-Thrush

48. Turdus merula Eurasian Blackbird

49. Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter

50. Parus rufonuchalis Dark-grey Tit

51. Lonchura kelaarti Black-throated Munia

52. Motacilla madaraspatensis White-browed Wagtail

53. Pitta brachyura Indian Pitta

54. Iole indica Yellow-browed Bulbul

55. Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul

56. Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul

57. Pycnonotus melanicterus gularis Black-crested Bulbul (ruby-throated
  subspecies)

58. Pycnonotus priocephalus Grey-headed Bulbul

59. Acridotheres tristis Common Myna

60. Gracula religiosa Hill Myna

61. Sturnus malabaricus blythi Chestnut-tailed Starling

62. Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed-Warbler

63. Pellorneum ruficeps Puff-throated Babbler

64. Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler

65. Rhopocichla atriceps Dark-fronted Babbler

66. Turdoides striatus Jungle Babbler

67. Megalaima haemacephala Coppersmith Barbet

68. Megalaima viridis White-cheeked Barbet

69. Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker

70. Chrysocolaptes lucidus Greater Flameback

71. Dinopium benghalense Black-rumped Flameback

72. Hemicircus canente Heart-spotted Woodpecker

73. Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape

74. Loriculus vernalis Vernal Hanging-Parrot

75. Psittacula columboides Malabar Parakeet

76. Psittacula cyanocephala Plum-headed Parakeet

77. Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth

78. Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar

79. Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl

80. Glaucidium radiatum Jungle Owlet

81. Otus bakkamoena Collared Scops-Owl

82. Harpactes fasciatus Malabar Trogon

Snipe: the bird could not be identified because of poor light conditions.
The overall appearance, habitat and behavior were of a typical snipe. 

Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter: a nest of this bird was seen
beautifully stitched to the undersiode of a leaf about 1 m above the
ground. A photograph of the nest is available with the author.

Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker: we saw a nest with young. The beak of
the nestling was sticking out of the nest. This particular species was
videographed by a BBC team at Thattekad with help from Elthose. The
footage is featured in Episodes 3 and 8 of The Life of Birds by David
Attenborough.

Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth is being studied at Thattekad by
Elthose with funding from the Kerala Forest Department. This forest is one
of the last stronglholds of this rare endemic bird. Elthose took us to one
of the roosting sites and we were able to see a male frogmouth at close
quarters. No photography was attempted as the flash was likely to disturb
the bird. 

Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar: Two birds were seen at dusk
calling and circling in the air, possibly hawking insects. 

Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl: The loud resonant tu-whoogh call was heard
several times at dusk. We did not get a sighting of this bird. 

5 Internet resources

1. Birds of Thattekad: report and checklist from two visits to the sanctuary
  by Radhika Vatsan. www.imsc.ernet.in/~radhika/birds/thattekad.html



References:

1. Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1998) Birds of the Indian
  subcontinent Christopher Helm, London. 

Comments and corrections to this report will be greatly appretiated. 

Please send comments to 
Yogesh Wadadekar 
I-1 Rajat 968/20 S. Bapat Rd. 
Pune 411016 India 
Email: yogeshw@email.com