A group of foresters recently published a paper in Zoo Print, reporting the first record of Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) and first photographic record of White-Cheeked Patridge (Arborophila atrogularis) in Bhutan. The first record of these two birds were documented a year ago in 2021 within Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS).
According to Tashi Phuntsho, the lead author, the records were made during the water bird survey undertaken in Nichula Range. “Pema Dorji (Senior forester) and Karma Chedup (Forest Ranger I) sighted the Short tailed shearwater swimming in the Sukosh river.” He described the bird wearing a pale grey under wing coverts with shorter bill and deeper forehead. The bird with grayish feet extending in-flight beyond a short-rounded tail, darker hood and short bill is usually found in abundance in Pacific Ocean, In the Asian region, it is reported from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The nearest reported is from Kerla and West Begal in India.
However, until 2021, Short-tailed Shearwater was not recorded in Bhutan. The bird found swimming in Sunkosh river was identified by Dr. Tim Inskipp and Dr. Sherub of UWICER as Short-tailed Shearwater. “With its range extending from India to Bhutan, it is one of the significant records in Bhutan at an elevation of 205m,” stated the paper. The bird is least concern in IUCN Redlist category.
In addition, documentation by the team also included White Cheecked- partridge (Arborophila atrogularis) as the first pictorial evidences. The bird was first reported to the management of PWS by Tshering (Asst. forester) during COVID-19 duty in 2020. The bird was found entangled in a trap. After a year, it was identified as White Cheecked- partridge as its first pictorial/ photographic evidences by Dr. Sherub.
The bird is characterized by white-cheeked, distinctive head, neck pattern and wing span and reddish-orange legs. The bird was initially observed at Singye Gewog under Sarpang Dzongkhag, at an elevation of 323m. The sightings were further validated with sound record in Phibsoo at an elevation of 232 m and in Singye top at elevation of 552 m. The bird is categorized as Near threatened in IUCN Red list category.
“The species record not only provides the morphometric but also the first pictorial record from Bhutan,” stated the paper.
