Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Thattekad, Kerala

Yogesh Wadadekar

December 2000

This trip would not have been the success it was without the presence of Elthose whose encylopaedic knowledge of local birdlife and his unflagging and contagious enthusiasm made birding seem like a new experience to us. We thank Mr. Pramod Krishnan (IFS) for taking special efforts to make arrangements for our visit - most of all for putting us in touch with Elthose.We also wish to thank Mr. Thomas and Mr. P. K. Uttaman for their wonderful company. We thank the Assistant Wildlife Warden at the Sanctuary for helping us with food and accommodation arrangements, which allowed us to concentrate on the birdwatching.

1 Basic information

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Since then much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and mahogany plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the phenomenal bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Some basic facts about the sanctuary are listed in Table 1.

2 How to get there

The sanctuary is 13 km north-east of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutti road. The nearest railway station is Aluva at a distance of 48 km. Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km away. The new airport at Nedumbassery is probably closer.

Kothamangalam is well connected by privately operated buses to Ernakulam via Muvattupuzha or Perumpavur. There are frequent buses from Kothamangalam to Thattekad. Currently the bus needs to cross the Periyar river by ferry. Construction on a bridge across the river has started.

Figure 1: Map showing location of Thattekad Sanctuary

3 Where to stay

There is a three storied watch tower inside the Sanctuary with two beds, a toilet and a kitchen. No electricity here but there is are a few solar powered lamps. A forest department inspection bungalow called Hornbill is located near the sanctuary entrance. There is a dormitory just inside the sanctuary which is ideal for large groups. Accommodation is also available at the PWD rest house near the Bhoothathankett Dam and in lodges in Kothamangalam.

For further information about the sanctuary and for booking accommodation contact:

1. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Thiruvanthapuram Kerala 695014
2. The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Vellappara, Painavu P.O. Idukki District 685603 Phone 0486 232271
3. The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Njayapilli P.O. , Kothamangalam, Kerala Phone 0485 588302

4 The birdlist

Only species observed by us have been listed. We have no information if an exhaustive checklist is available for the Sanctuary. Nomenclature used follows Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998). The pocket edition of this book was used for field identification. Subspecies have not been mentioned unless unambiguous identification was made (eg. ruby-throated subspecies of the Black-crested Bulbul). Some interesting observations and a nesting record are at the end of this checklist.

1. Collocalia unicolor Indian Swiftlet
2. Ocyceros griseus Malabar Grey-Hornbill
3. Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle
4. Anhinga melanogaster Oriental Darter
5. Ardea cinerea Grey Heron
6. Ardeola grayii Indian Pond-Heron
7. Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret
8. Egretta garzetta Little Egret
9. Mesophoyx intermedia Intermediate Egret
10. Vanellus indicus Red-wattled Lapwing
11. Metopidius indicus Bronze-winged Jacana
12. Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tern
13. Phalacrocorax niger Little Cormorant
14. Snipe: species unidentified
15. Columba livia Rock Pigeon
16. Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher
17. Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher
18. Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird
19. Halcyon smyrnensis White-throated Kingfisher
20. Pelargopsis capensis Stork-billed Kingfisher
21. Merops leschenaulti Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
22. Centropus sinensis Greater Coucal
23. Eudynamys scolopacea Asian Koel
24. Gallus sonneratii Grey Junglefowl
25. Amaurornis phoenicurus White-breasted Waterhen
26. Aegithina tiphia Common Iora
27. Artamus fuscus Ashy Wood-swallow
28. Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow
29. Dendrocitta formosae Grey Treepie
30. Dicrurus aeneus Bronzed Drongo
31. Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo
32. Dicrurus macrocercus Black Drongo
33. Dicrurus paradiseus Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
34. Oriolus chinensis Black-naped Oriole
35. Oriolus oriolus Eurasian Golden-Oriole
36. Oriolus xanthornus Black-hooded Oriole
37. Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Small Minivet
38. Hirundo daurica Red-rumped Swallow
39. Hirundo tahitica Pacific Swallow
40. Chloropsis aurifrons Golden-fronted Leafbird
41. Irena puella Asian Fairy-bluebird
42. Copsychus malabaricus White-rumped Shama
43. Copsychus saularis Oriental Magpie-Robin
44. Cyornis pallipes White-bellied Blue-Flycatcher
45. Eumyias albicaudata Nilgiri Flycatcher
46. Luscinia brunnea Indian Blue Robin
47. Myiophonus horsfieldii Malabar Whistling-Thrush
48. Turdus merula Eurasian Blackbird
49. Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter
50. Parus rufonuchalis Dark-grey Tit
51. Lonchura kelaarti Black-throated Munia
52. Motacilla madaraspatensis White-browed Wagtail
53. Pitta brachyura Indian Pitta
54. Iole indica Yellow-browed Bulbul
55. Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul
56. Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul
57. Pycnonotus melanicterus gularis Black-crested Bulbul (ruby-throated subspecies)
58. Pycnonotus priocephalus Grey-headed Bulbul
59. Acridotheres tristis Common Myna
60. Gracula religiosa Hill Myna
61. Sturnus malabaricus blythi Chestnut-tailed Starling
62. Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed-Warbler
63. Pellorneum ruficeps Puff-throated Babbler
64. Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler
65. Rhopocichla atriceps Dark-fronted Babbler
66. Turdoides striatus Jungle Babbler
67. Megalaima haemacephala Coppersmith Barbet
68. Megalaima viridis White-cheeked Barbet
69. Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker
70. Chrysocolaptes lucidus Greater Flameback
71. Dinopium benghalense Black-rumped Flameback
72. Hemicircus canente Heart-spotted Woodpecker
73. Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape
74. Loriculus vernalis Vernal Hanging-Parrot
75. Psittacula columboides Malabar Parakeet
76. Psittacula cyanocephala Plum-headed Parakeet
77. Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth
78. Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar
79. Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl
80. Glaucidium radiatum Jungle Owlet
81. Otus bakkamoena Collared Scops-Owl
82. Harpactes fasciatus Malabar Trogon

Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter: a nest of this bird was seen beautifully stitched to the undersiode of a leaf about 1 m above the ground. A photograph of the nest is available with the author.

Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker: we saw a nest with young. The beak of the nestling was sticking out of the nest. This particular species was videographed by a BBC team at Thattekad with help from Elthose. The footage is featured in Episodes 3 and 8 of The Life of Birds by David Attenborough.

Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth is being studied at Thattekad by Elthose with funding from the Kerala Forest Department. This forest is one of the last stronglholds of this rare endemic bird. Elthose took us to one of the roosting sites and we were able to see a male frogmouth at close quarters. No photography was attempted as the flash was likely to disturb the bird.

Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar: Two birds were seen at dusk calling and circling in the air, possibly hawking insects.

Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl: The loud resonant tu-whoogh call was heard several times at dusk. We did not get a sighting of this bird.

5 Internet resources

1. Birds of Thattekad: report and checklist from two visits to the sanctuary by Radhika Vatsan.
   www.imsc.ernet.in/~radhika/birds/thattekad.html

References:

1. Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1998) Birds of the Indian subcontinent Christopher Helm, London.

Last modified on: Tue Apr 5 15:45:05 2005