Rare Bird: Green Cochoa at Namdapha

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This is one bird high on the list of birders exploring the Oriental region. On our trip to Namdapha in Jan 2015, in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, we got this rare bird near Ranijheel camp on the 4th day of our trek.

These birds inhabit subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Though very widely distributed in the Eastern Himalayas and parts of SE Asia, this species is described as rare or rarely seen. As … Read More

Rare Bird — Gold-crested Myna

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Of all the Indian mynas, the Gold-crested Myna (Ampeliceps coronatus) is probably the most mysterious. Very rarely has this bird been sighted within Indian limits. Very little is known to the general public of its whereabouts, though it is regularly found in other countries like Thailand and Myanmar.

The definitive encyclopedia on Indian birds, Ali and Ripley’s Handbook, records two sightings from South Assam Hills (Cachar) and Manipur, and describes the bird to be “uncommon” and “little … Read More

First record of the Chinese Thrush from the Indian Subcontinent

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Extract from the article in Indian BIRDS 9 (5&6): 155–157

During a visit to Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India, on 17 November 2013, a bird was seen and photographed while walking along a trail at c. 500 m in tropical evergreen forest between Haldibari and Hornbill camp. The photographs show that the bird was a thrush Turdus/Zoothera, with a greyish-brown crown, back and tail. The face is fairly pale with two dark vertical stripes, the first extending down from … Read More

Illegal Tree-felling in Primary Lowland Rainforest at Miao RF, Namdapha Tiger Reserve

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In May, 2011, while birding, Bikram Grewal, Bano Haralu and I noticed Illegal tree-felling in primary lowland rainforest at Miao reserve forest (RF) near Namdapha Tiger Reserve. There is serious loss of lowland evergreen forest in Miao RF and other neighbouring RFs as well as inside Namdapha tiger reserve due to encroachments. A private elephant was dragging giant logs down the steep hillside and and deposited logs at a make-shift timber mill.… Read More

Brahmaputra-Salween Landscape Including Namdapha In Trans-border Plan

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Feasibility assessment for an ambitious trans-border protected area management plan covering three national parks straddling China, Myanmar and India will be done next year. A three day conclave was held in Myanmar with representatives from the three countries, to develop a strategic programme for climate change adaptation and management of the biologically rich Himalayan ecosystem. The Brahmaputra-Salween landscape comprises several remote but key protected areas in the Eastern Himalayas, including Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve in China, Namdapha Tiger Reserve in … Read More