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64A
Correspondence
Letter to the Editor
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus in Darjeeling Hills, Eastern Himalaya, and Broom-grass harvesting practices
Thapa et al. (2020) compiled high elevation records of the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus from the Himalayas and the Western
Ghats, highlighting the impact of climate change and human disturbance as drivers for the upward altitudinal migration of the
species. We would like to add two additional altitudinal records from the Darjeeling Hills, Eastern Himalayas, and present a
perception related to broom-grass Thysanolaena maxima harvesting practices.
On 14 April 2017, at 1630 h, Aditya Pradhan sighted two female Indian Peafowl perching on a Macaranga tree (27.04°N,
88.36°E; c.1,600 m asl), in Takdah Cantonment, Darjeeling; and on 24 March 2019, at 1102 h, Sachin Tamang sighted one male
Indian Peafowl in Bagora (26.93°N, 88.33°E; c.2,200 m asl), Darjeeling.
Our interactions with the local community, on both occasions, revealed that the local lowland habitat of the species overlaps
with the broom-grass cultivation areas. After the broom-grass is harvested in March-April, the fields are set on fire to maximize
yield for the next season. The local community members suggested that this might be one of the reasons for the temporary
upward migration of Indian Peafowl. We are grateful to them for sharing their insights and local knowledge. However, further
observations are needed to validate this perception.
Reference
Thapa, A., Singh, A., Pradhan, P. K., Joshi, B. D., Thakur, M., Sharma, L. K., & Chandra, K., 2020. Is the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus moving higher up in the mountains?
Indian BIRDS 15 (6): 177–179.
– Aditya Pradhan & Sachin Tamang
Aditya Pradhan, Ashoka Trust for Re search in Ecology and the Environment, Regional Office E astern Himalaya-Northea st India, NH 10 Tadong,
Gangtok 737101, Sikkim, India. E-m ail: adityazoo@ live.com
Sachin Tamang, M. V. Road, Sudhapa Tol, Kurseong 734203, We st Bengal, India. E-mail : tamangsachin@gmail.com
All the seven island endemics in my yard have close
relatives in southern India. The Red-backed Flameback
Dinopium psarodes is a recent split from the Black-rumped D.
benghalense. Despite the striking difference in appearance, it
sounds the same. Similarly, the Black-capped Bulbul Rubigula
melanicterus too is a recent split from the southern Indian
Flame-throated Bulbul R. gularis. Sri Lankan Swallows have
all-red underparts, unlike their closely related Red-rumped
Swallows C. daurica. Sri Lankan Grey Hornbills look so stately
compared to their counterparts, the Malabar Gray Hornbills
O. griseus of the Western Ghats that it’s a wonder they were
once lumped. The Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus
sounds and behaves exactly like the Vernal Hanging Parrot
Loriculus vernalis of India, but getting to see its red forehead
is a challenge because it always seems to be in a great hurry.
The staccato call of the Crimson-fronted Barbet Psilopogon
rubricapillus is reminiscent of a Coppersmith P. haemacephalus
on steroids. The Sri Lanka Green Pigeon Treron pompadora is
a new split from the Pompadour pigeon complex.
The death toll worldwide nears 600,000. It is hard to shake
away the blanket of sadness. During nights when I lie awake
thinking of my son in faraway Arkansas, or the prospect of
being stranded indefinitely in a foreign land, I try to think of
one of the great birding moments I have had lately, and keep
my mind on it till I fall asleep. Often this strategy works. One
night it was a magnificent White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus
leucogaster soaring over my balcony with a snake-like eel in
its talons, harassed by crows and drongos; another, it was that
beautiful White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus drifting like
a fairy over the ocean. Birding helps me get through these dark
days. This hobby-turned-profession has brought me joy for four
decades, but for the first time, I realize its truly therapeutic
value. For that, I am grateful to the birds around us.
–Ragupathy Kannan
