Birds of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal

doi:10.4236/ojf.2013.34018

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Open Journal of Forestry

2013. Vol.3, No.4, 109-114

Published Online October 2013 in SciRes (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojf) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2013.34018

Birds of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal

Saroj Panthi1*, Sher Singh Thagunna2

1Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Baglung, Nepal

2Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Api-Nampa Cons ervation Area, Darchula, Nepal

Email: *[email protected]

Received June 18th, 2013; revised J uly 22nd, 2013; accepted August 7th, 2013

tive Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any me-

dium, provided the o riginal work is properly cited.

Nepal is rich in bird diversity and recorded 871 bird species. Our study aimed to update bird diversity of

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) of Nepal which is an Important Birds Area (IBA) out of 27 IBAs of

Nepal. One hundred forty nine species of birds were recorded in DHR; out of them Catreus wallichii was

globally threatened bird which has faced different anthropogenic problem. Twelve species of birds were

included in CITIES Appendices and 3 species were nationally threatened. Most of the species of order

Passeriformis were recorded. Only one species of order Upupiformes i.e. Upupa epops was recorded dur-

ing the study.

Keywords: Bird; Checklist; Threatened; Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Introduction

Birds (class Aves) are feathered, winged, bipedal, endother-

mic, egg-laying, vertebrate animals (Wikipedia, 2013). Al-

though Nepal covers just 0.1% of the global land mass, nearly

9% of the world’s bird species are found here (BCN, 2012).

With the latest record of ashy minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

and long-billed vulture (Gypus indicus) Nepal’s bird diversity

has reached 871 species (BCN, 2012; BCN and DNPWC,

2012). A total of 29 species recorded in Nepal were identified

as globally threatened by BirdLife International in 1999 (Grim-

mett et al., 2000). Zoo-geographically, Nepal falls between two

great regions: the Palaeartic in the north and Oriental to the

south so Nepal has one of the world’s richest avian fauna

(Shrestha, 1981).

A total of 27 Important Birds Areas (IBAs) had been identi-

fied in Nepal. Thirteen IBAs are within protected areas (Tha-

kuri & Thapa, 2012). Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) is one

of the IBAs (BCN and DNPWC, 2011). DHR was a habitat of

137 species of bird out of them cheer pheasant (Catreus wal-

lichii) is listed in endangered category of IUCN red data list

(Thapa, 2007). Here we updated the checklist of bird species of

DHR. DHR was good habitat of birds (Thapa, 2007) but check-

list update was lacking. Our aim was to update the checklist of

bird species in DHR and to identify their order, family, conser-

vation status and threats.

Material and Methods

Study Area

The Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) is the only one hunt-

ing reserve in Nepal located in Dhaulagiri Himal range of the

eastern part of the country (Aryal & Kreigenhofer, 2009; Panthi

et al., 2012). The reserve was established in 1983 and gazetted

in 1987. The reserve covers 1325 km2 and ranges from 2000 to

7246 m (altitude). It falls within the Rukum, Baglung and

Myadgi districts of Nepal (Figure 1). The reserve supports 14

ecosystems types represented in the mid hill to higher Himala-

yan ecosystem (Shrestha et al., 2002; Lillesø et al., 2005; Bhuju

et al., 2007).

The reserve provide prime habitat for fauna such as barking

deer (Munticus muntjak), Himalayan thar (Hemitragus jemla-

chicus), rhesus macaque (Macaca radiata) wolf (Canis lupus),

red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens), wild boar (Sus scorfa), blue

sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibet-

ans), common leopard (Panthera pardus), goral (Naemorhedus

goral), serow (Capricornis thar) and variety of avifauna in-

cluding cheer pheasant (Catrus wallichii) and danphe (Lopo-

phorus impegians) (Aryal & Kreigenhofer, 2009; Aryal et al.,

2010a; Aryal et al., 2010b; Panthi et al., 2012).

Methods: Checklist of Birds in DHR

Intensive survey was conducted throughout the reserve to

update the checklist of birds in study area. We used The books

“Birds of Nepal” prepared by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp

and Tim Inskipp (2000) and “Birds of Nepal: An Official

Checklist” (2012) prepared by Bird Conservation of Nepal

(BCN) and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Con-

servation (DNPWC) to identify the birds during the study. We

visited all seven hunting blocks of DHR viz. Barse, Dogadi,

Fagune, Ghustung, Seng, Sundaha and Surtibang blocks and

observed the birds in two season viz. winter and summer

throughout the year 2012. We observed the birds carefully by

the help of binoculars took photographs with digital camera and

compared that photo with the photos of book to identify the

birds. We also interviewed local people and DHR staffs to in-

dentify birds and their threats during the study.

Results and Discussion

We recorded one hundred forty nine species of birds in DHR

Table 1). Out of them, Catreus wallichii was globally threat- (

*Corresponding author.

S. PANTHI, S. S. THAGUNNA

Table 1.

Bird of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR), identified during the survey periods in 2012.

CITIES

S.N. Common name Scientific name Order Family Conservation

status Appendix

1 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Anseriformes Anatidae

2 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Anseriformes Anatidae

3 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Ciconiformis Accipitridae II

4 Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Ciconiformis Accipitridae II

5 Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis Ciconiformis Accipitridae II

6 Pallas’s Fish E agle Haliaeetus leucoryphus Ciconiformis Accipitridae II

7 Ibisbill Ididorhyncha struthersii Ciconiformis Charadriida e

8 Common Krestrel Falco tinnunculus Ci coniformis Falconidae II

9 Little Stint Calidris minuta Ciconiformis Scolopacidae

10 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Ciconiformis Scolopacidae

11 Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris Columbiformes Columbidae

12 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Columbiformes Columbidae

13 Rock Pigeon Columba livia Columbiformes Columbidae

14 Snow Pigeon Columba palumbus Columbiformes Columbidae

15 Speckled Wood Pigeon Columba hodgsonii Columbiform es Columbidae

16 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Columbiformes Columbidae

17 Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus Galliformis Phasianidae II

18 Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii Galliformis Phasianidae GT, NP I

19 Hill Partridge Arborophila to rqueola Galliformis Phasianidae

20 Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejan us Galliformis Phasianidae NP I

21 Kalij Pheasant Lophura l eucomelanos Galliformis Phasianidae

22 Koklas Pheasant Pucrasia macrolop ha Galliformis Phasianidae

23 Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra Galliformis Phasianidae NP III

24 Snow Patridge Lerwa lerwa Galliformis Phasianidae

25 White-Throated Tit Aegithalos nive ogu l aris Passeriformes Aegithalidae

26 Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula Passeriformes Alaudidae

27 Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Passeriformes Certhiidae

28 Brown Dipper C i nclus pallasii Passeriformes Cinc lidae

29 Hill Prinia Prinia atrogularis Pa sseriformes Cisticolidae

30 Striated Prinia Prinia criniger Passeriformes Cisticolidae

31 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola ju ncidis Passerif ormes Cisticolidae

32 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophae us Passeriformes Corvidae

33 Common Raven Corvus corax Passeriformes Corvidae

34 Common Iora Aegithina tiph ia Passeriformes Corvidae

110

S. PANTHI, S. S. THAGUNNA

Continued

35 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Passeri formes Corvidae

36 House Crow Corvus splen des Passeriformes Corvidae

37 Large-Billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Passeriformes Corvidae

38 Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta v agabunda Passeriformes Corvidae

39 Short-Billed Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Passeriformes Corvidae

40 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatacte s Passeriformes Corvidae

41 Yellow-Billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris Passeriformes Corvidae

42 Yellow-Billed Chough Pyrrhocorax gracul us Passeriformes Corvidae

43 Yellow-Billed Fantail Rh ipidura hypox antha Passeriformes Corvidae

44 White-Throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis Passerif ormes Corvidae

45 Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus pulc h errimus Passeriformes Fringillidae

46 Blanford’s Rosefinch Carpodacus ru b escens Passeriformes Fringillidae

47 Collard Grosbeak Mycerobas affinis Passeriformes Fringillidae

48 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Passeriformes Fringillidae

49 Creasted Bunting Melophus lathami Passeriformes Fringillidae

50 Dark-Rumpled Rosefinch Carpodacus edw ardsii Passeriformes Fringillidae

51 Fire-Fronted Serin Serinus pusillus Passeriformes Fringillidae

52 Little Bunting Emberiza pusil la Passeriformes Fringillidae

53 Pine Bunting Emberiza leucoce phalos Passeriformes Fringillidae

54 Pink-Browed Rosefinch Carpodacus rodochrous Passeriformes Fringillidae

55 Red-Fronted Rosefinch Carpodacus puniceus Passeriformes Fringillidae

56 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Passeriformes Fringillidae

57 Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi Passeriformes Fringillidae

58 Streaked Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicill oi des Passeriformes Fringillidae

59 Twite Carduelis flavirostri s Passeriformes Fringillidae

60 Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus Passeriformes Fringillidae

61 White-Winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes Passeriformes Fringillidae

62 Yellow-Breasted Greenfinch Carduelis spinoides Passeriformes Fringillidae

63 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Passeriformes Hirundinidae

64 Black-Backed Forktail Enicurus immaculatus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

65 Black Redstrat Phoenicurus ochruros Passeriformes Muscicapidae

66 Blue-Capped Redstrat Phoenicurus coeruleocephalus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

67 Blue-Fronted Redstrat Phoenicurus frontalis Passeriformes Muscicapidae

68 Common Stonechat Saxicola torqu ata Passeriformes Muscicapidae

69 Dark-Sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica Passeriforme s Muscicapidae

70 Dark-Thorated Thrush Turdus ruficollis Passeriformes Muscicapidae

71 Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni Passeriformes Muscicapidae

S. PANTHI, S. S. THAGUNNA

Continued

72 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Passeriformes Muscicapidae

73 Golden Bush Robin Tarsiger chrysenus Passeriforme s Muscicapidae

74 Grandala Grandala coe l icolor Passeriformes Muscicapidae

75 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferra Passeriformes Muscicapidae

76 Grey-Winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul Passerif ormes Muscicapidae

77 Hodgson’s Redstrat Phoenicurus hodgosni Passeriforme s Muscicapidae

78 Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brun ne a Passe rif orm e s Muscicapidae

79 Kessler’s Thrush Turdus kessleri Passeriformes Muscicapidae

80 Mistle Thrush Tu rdus viscivorus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

81 Orange-Flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

82 Orental Magpie Robin Copsychus saula ris Passeriformes Muscicapidae

83 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata Passeriformes Muscicapidae

84 Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginos us Passeriformes Muscicapidae

85 Purple Cochoa Cochoa p urpurea Passeriformes Muscicapidae

86 Red-Thorated Flycatcher Ficedula parva Passeriformes Muscicapidae

87 Rufous-Brested Bush Robin Tarsiger hyperythrus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

88 Rufous-Gorgeted Flycatcher Fic edula strophiata Passeriformes Muscicapidae

89 Rusty-Tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda Passeriformes Muscicapidae

90 White-Browed Bush Robin Tarsiger indicus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

91 White-Bellied Redstrat Hodgsonius ph aenicuroides Passeriformes Muscicapidae

92 White-Ca pp ed Water Redstart Chaimarronis leucoce phalu s Passerif orm es Muscicapidae

93 White-Collard Blackbird Turdus albocinctus Passeriformes Muscicapidae

94 White-Gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula monileger Passeriformes Muscicapidae

95 White-Tailed Robin Myiomela leucura Passeriformes Muscicapidae

96 White-Throated Redstrat Phoenicurus schisticeps Passeriformes Muscicapidae

97 Black-Lored Tit Parus xanthogenys Passeriformes Paridae

98 Coal Tit Parus ater Passeriformes Paridae

99 Fire-Capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps Passeriformes Paridae

100 Green-Backed Tit Parus montic olus Passeriformes Paridae

101 Rufous-Napped Tit Parus rufonuchalis Passeriformes Paridae

102 Rufous-Vented Tit Parus rubidiventris Passeriformes Paridae

103 Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Passeriformes Passeridae

104 Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana Passeriformes Passeridae

105 Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens Passeriformes Passeridae

106 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreol a Passeriformes Passeridae

107 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Passeriformes Passeridae

108 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Passeriforme s Passeridae

112

S. PANTHI, S. S. THAGUNNA

Continued

109 Olive-Backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni P asseriformes Passeridae

110 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Passe riformes Passeridae

111 Red-Thorated Pipit Anthus cervinus Passeriformes Passeridae

112 Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides Passeriformes Passeridae

113 Rosy Pipit Anthus rosestus Passeriformes Passeridae

114 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Passeriformes Passeridae

115 Upland Pipit Anthus sylvanus Passeriformes Passe ridae

116 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Passeriformes Passeri dae

117 Long-Tailed Shrike Lan ius schach Passeriformes Pittidae

118 Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus Passeriformes Pycnonotidae

119 Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys Passeriformes Pycnonotidae

120 Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus melanic t erus Passeriformes Pycnonotidae

121 Goldcrest Regulus re gulus Passeriformes Regulidae

122 Black-Faced Laughinthrush Garru la x affinis Passeriformes Sylviida e

123 Black-Throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis niplensis Passeriformes Sylviidae

124 Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler Cet t i a f o rtipes Passeriformes Sylviidae

125 Chesnut-Crowned Bush Warbler Cettia major Passeriformes Sylviidae

126 Great Parrotbill Conostoma oemodi um Passeriformes Sylviidae

127 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Passeriformes Sylviidae

128 Grey-Hooded Warbler Seicercus xanth oschistos Passe riformes Sylviidae

129 Hoary-Thorated Barwing Actinod ura nipalensis Passeriformes Sylviidae

130 Hume’s Warbler P hyll osco pus hum ei P asse rif orm es Sylviidae

131 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus Passeriformes Sylviidae

132 Large-Billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris Passeriformes Sylviidae

133 Rufus-Vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis Passeriformes Sylviidae

134 Slender-Billed Scimita r Babbler Xiphirhynchus Superciliaris Passeriformes Sylviidae

135 Straited Laughinthrush Garrulax striatus Passeriformes Sylviidae

136 Streaked Laughinthrush Garrulax lin eatus Passeriformes Sylvi id ae

137 Variegated Laughinthrush Garrualx variegates Passeriformes Sylviidae

138 Whistler’s Warbler Seicercus whistleri Passerif orm es Sylviidae

139 White-Browed Tit Warbler Leptopoecile sophiae Passeriformes Sylviidae

140 White-Creasted Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger Passeri formes Sylviidae

141 White-Throated Laughingthrush Ga rrulax albogularis Passeriformes Sylviidae

142 Yellow-Bellied Warbler Abrosc opus supercilliaris Passeriformes Sylviidae

143 Crimson-Brested Woodpecker Dendrocopos cathpharius Piciformes Indicato ridae

144 Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus Piciformes Indicatoridae

145 Rufous-Bellied Woodpecker Dendroco pos hyperythrus Piciform es Indicatoridae

S. PANTHI, S. S. THAGUNNA

114

Continued

146 Little Owl Athene noctua Strigiformes Strigidae II

147 Spotted Owlet Athene brama Strigiformes Strigidae II

148 Tawny Owl Strix aluco Strigiformes Strigidae II

149 Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Upupiformes Upupidae

Note: GT: Globally Threatened, NP: Nationally Protected.

Figure 1.

Dhorpatan hunting reserve, Nepal.

ened bird which has faced different anthropogenic problem.

C. wallichii Lophophorus impejanus Tragopan satyra are na-

tionally protected birds found in the reserve. C. wallichii and L.

impejanus are included in CITIES appendix I (BCN and

DNPWC 2012).

We recorded 9 species which are included in CITIES appen-

dix II and on e sp e cies w hich is in clude d in CIT I ES app end ix I II .

Most of the species of order Passeriformis were recorded. Only

one species of order Upupiformes i.e. Upupa epop s was recorded

during the study.

This study showed that snares were main threats of birds.

Local people used snares to capture large sized birds such as

Arborophila torqueola, Catreus wallich ii, Ithaginis cruentus Lo-

phophorus impejanus, Lophura leucomelanos, Pucrasia macro-

lopha and Tragopan satyra for fulfillment of meat.

We recorded snares in two places viz. Karichaur in Fagune

block and Rukhacahur in Barse block. Small children killed

small sized forest birds due to lack of awareness. The present

study provided basic information on birds of DHR. However

further species wise information is needed. Distribution and

detail threats identificat io n o f globally threatened and nationally

protected species are further recommended study in DHR.

Acknowledgements

The study was possible after the financial and logistic sup-

port from the DHR office and Department of National Parks

and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). We thanked to all staffs

of DHR and DNPWC who helped for field survey. We also

thank to Dr. Achyut Aryal (Institute of Natural and Mathemati-

cal Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand) for his guid-

ance to complete this study.

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