Sinhagad Valley

 

                               Sinhagad Valley

PUNE: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)  carried out its first bird banding session in Sinhagad valley along with a group of bird enthusiasts.
Bird banding is used around the world as a major research tool in which a small band or tag is tied to the birds' legs and helps track their movements. This enables the study of various aspects of the bird's life which, is turn, aids conservation efforts. Bird lovers got an opportunity to study not just common birds that were banded in this way but migratory birds as well. They were guided by S Balachandran, assistant director of BNHS and an authority on birds

The birds were first caught in a mist net made of very thin nylon threads. The nets were put up in places that are frequently visited by the birds. Around 17 birds were captured, among them four migratory birds, the Asian Paradise-flycatcher, the Leaf Warbler, Grey Wagtail and Red -throated Flycatcher. The main attraction among these birds was the beautiful `Asian Paradise-flycatcher.'
The birds caught in the net were weighed and measurements taken of their wings, bill, head, torso and tail. The bill's shape, size, and colour can be used to determine the age and sex in certain species.
Balachandran told TOI that any record of a ringed bird, either through recapture and subsequent release, or its final recovery as a dead bird, can tell us about its life, particularly its movement.
"Tracking back the journeys of ringed birds helps us learn about their migratory routes. At present, there is not much information on their movement. Thus, this provides crucial information for the planning of integrated systems of protected areas for the birds," he explained