Table Of ContentMISCELLANEOUS NOTES
POSSIBLE NEW RECORD OF STURNUS MALABARICUS BLYTHII
23.
IN VALSAD DISTRICT, GUJARAT
Atul Ltd. lies about 80 kin south of Surat COMPACT HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA AND
(Gujarat) and200 km north ofMumbai, in Valsad Pakistan (second edition) and birds of the Indian
district, Gujarat (South). It is a wellknown, large subcontinent, we confirmed that the species we
industrial complex for the manufacture of saw was the white-headed subspecies blythii of
chemicals of colours, dyes and pesticides. On the grey-headed starling Sturnus malabaricus.
August 1 5, 1999 between 0630 hrs and 0830 hrs, We counted atotal of75-80 birds ofSturnus
we visited Atul Limited to survey a heronry malabaricus blythii in a single flock, along with
located in the complex. We recorded 9 species of 1,000+ common myna (Acridotheres tristis'y
water birds in the heronry, and 20 or 21 other 100+ bank myna Acridotheres ginginianus 40-
( ),
species in the whole complex. 45 Brahminy myna {Sturnuspagodarum) and20-
We observed quite a large number ofbirds 25 rosy starling {Sturnus roseus).
of genus Sturnus under the roofs of the factory The occurrence of75-80 individuals is the
sheds, where steel columns were being used as largest number ofS. malabaricus blythiirecorded
their roosting sites. Flocks ofdifferent sizes were from Gujarat in recent years. Dr. Salim Ali,
leaving the complex for their foraging sites when during his survey ofthe birds ofGujarat {JBNHS
we reached the complex early in the morning. 52:374-458,735-802, 1954-1955) had collected
Our attention was drawn to the different one specimen ofS.m. blythiifromAjwa-Vadodara
species inthe flocks ofmynas. Theywere cheeping district. There are two other published references
noisily perched on the canopy of one ofthe beef on the occurrence ofthis subspecies from Gujarat.
woodtrees Casuarina equisetifoiia inthe complex. B.M. Parasharya and S.N. Varu (see page 53 1 of
We observed them for at least halfan hour, before this issue) report that this subspecies is a regular
they flew away to the west towards the estuary of visitor to Gujarat. They beiieve that one recorded
the Parriver. Theywere smaller in size and sleeker nesting by M.K. Himmatsinhji might also be S.m.
in body shape than the other mynas, and had blythii.
conspicuous whitish head and neck.
Through ourbinoculars, the body appeared May 24, 2000 PIYUSFI PATEL
overall grey on the upper parts, and on the Avi Arcade,
underparts there was rufous on the belly and Opp. Doctor House,
flanks, with a contrasting bright white head, Halar Road, Valsad 396 00J,
nape, neck and breast area. With the help ofthe Gujarat, India.
24. STURNUS MALABARICUS BLYTHII IN GUJARAT STATE
The white-headed subspecies blythii ofthe Kevdi village on the outskirts of Ratanmahal
grey-headed starling Sturnus malabaricus was Wildlife Sanctuary (BMP). One pair was
recently sighted at a few places in Gujarat State. observed regularly entering a cavity of a mahua
One bird was observed feeding on sorghum Madhuca indica tree on July 13, 1999 at
(Sorghum bicolor grains from a standing crop Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary. The pair may
)
at Anand during February 1992 (BMP). On June have been engaged in breeding activity.
10, 1996, 50+ birds were observed feeding on One ofus (SNV) had seen a single bird in
ripened fruits of neem Azadirachta indica at April 1980 in the Gir Forest. On March 28, 1999,
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002 531
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
one bird was recorded at Loriya Village ofBhuj from Gujarat (Abdulali 1978).
tehsil, Kutch. There are very few sight records of this
At least three specimens of S.m. blythii species from Gujarat during the last 55 years.
have been collected from Gujarat. During his Dharmakumarsinhji (1954) in birds of
bird survey ofGujarat, Dr. Salim Ali collected a saurashtra did not list the species. It is never
specimen on October 29, 1945 at Ajwa, seen regularly anywhere in Gujarat, indicating
Vadodara district (Ali 1954). In the BNHS seasonal movement (Ali and Ripley 1983,
museum, there are two specimens one collected Grimmett et al. 1998). Two nesting records from
from Ajwa, Vadodara district and another from Gujarat (present report and that ofHimmatsinhji)
Valsad district (Abdulali 1978). Ali and Ripley are noteworthy. It is evident that the distribution
(1983) mentioned that one specimen of this of S.m. blythii given by Ali and Ripley (1983)
subspecies was collected from Ahmedabad too, and Grimmett et al. (1998) needs revision. The
however, they did not refer to Ali (1954) or to species that occurs and also breeds in Gujarat is
Abdulali (1978). Recently, Patel et al. (1999) S.m. blythii.
observed 70-80 birds of S.m. blythii on August
15, 1999 at Atul, Valsad. (see page 531 of this June 9, 2000 B.M. PARASHARYA
issue) AINP on Agric. Ornithology
;
Earlier, Himmatsinhji (1 970) recorded four Gujarat Agricultural University,
Sturnus malabaricus near Mandvi, Kutch and a Anand 388 110, Gujarat, India.
nesting pair near Wankaner (Surendranagar
district). However, he did not specify the S.N. VARU
subspecies. His description of the female of the Junavas, Temple Street,
nesting pair indicates that it might be S.m. blythii. Madhapur, Bhuj 360 020,
Without naming the subspecies, Monga and Gujarat, India.
Naoroji (1984) reported 30 birds near Timba,
75 km north of Vadodara. They have also C.K. BORAD
AESHITA MUKHERJEE
reported a nesting pair in June near Vadodara.
Mehta et al. (2000) had observed 400-500 birds National Tree Growers ’
every April between 1980 and 1984 in the Gir Cooperative Federation,
Forest (subspecies not mentioned). None of the Anand 388 001,
specimens of S.m. malabaricus was collected Gujarat, India.
Refer NCE
S
A
Abdulali, H. (1978): catalogue of the birds in the Delhi.
collection ofthe BNHS-21. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Himmatsinhji, M.K. (1970): Greyheaded Myna Sturnus
Soc. 75(2): 373-384. malabaricus (Gmelin) in Kutch. J. Bombay nat.
Ali, S. (1954): The Birds of Gujarat, Pt. II. J. Bombay Hist. Soc. 67(2): 332-333.
nat. Hist. Soc. 52(4): 735-802. Mehta, S., T. Mehta & S. Mehta (2000): Gir na
&
Ali, S. S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook ofthe Birds of sansmarano. Vihang No. 8, pp. 19. (In Gujarati)
the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Monga, S.G.—& R. Naoroji (1984): Birds ofthe Rajpipla
Press. forest south Gujarat. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc.
Dharmakumarsinhji, K.S. (1954): The BirdsofSaurashtra. 80(3): 575-612.
Times Press, Bombay. Patel, P., M. Jat & N. Patel (1999): Northernmost
&
Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp T. Inskipp (1998): Birds ofthe extension ofSturnus malabaricus blythii. Vihang
Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, No. 7, pp. 11. (In Gujarati).
532 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002
