Birds for BeginnersData analysis of Sightings

December 2016-February 2017By

Subbu Ramanathan

Study Area• Turahalli Forest (132 observations)• Agara Lake (80 observations)• Wasteland area (51 observations)

Turahalli forest – Data Analysis

Green Bee eaterPurple Sunbird

Red whiskered bulbulGolden OrioleIndian Robin

Oriental white-eyeBlack Drongo

Black KiteBlack rumped Flameback

Laughing DoveRed vented bulbul

Rufous TreepieCoppersmith Barbet

Greater CoucalJungle Babbler

White throated KingfisherPeacock

Small MinivetWhite cheeked Barbet White spotted Fantail

Black hooded OrioleBlack-Hooded Oriole

Ashy DrongoBarn swallowBrahminy Kite

Great Tit Hoopoe

Loten's SunbirdOriental Magpie-Robin

Spotted DoveCommon crow

Blue capped rock thrushBrown shrike

Cattle EgretChestnut-tailed Starling

Jungle Fowl Paddyfield Pipit

Purple rumped Sunbird Rose ringed Parakeet

Shikra

0 2 4 6 8 10 123

21

12

1

12

1222

1

11

1

1

1

1

1

64

44

45

24

34

33

21

22

1

11

11

21

21

211

1111

1

1

251

12

11111

11

23

12

11

11

11

11

Sightings at Turahalli Forest : Monthwise distribution

December January February

Number of sightings

Com

mon

Nam

e

Turahalli forest – Data Analysis

Nectariniidae

pycnonotidae

Meropidae

Muscicapidae

oriolidae

Accipitridae

Columbidae

dicruridae

megalaimidae

corvidae

zosteropidae

picidae

Alcedinidae

Cuculidae

leiothrichidae

Phasianidae

Campephagidae

Rhipiduridae

Hirundinidae

Paridae

Upupidae

Ardeidae

Laniidae

Motacillidae

Psittaculidae

Sturnidae

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Sightings at Turahalli forest by Family

Number of sightings

Fam

ily

Agara Lake – Data Analysis

Common SandpiperOpen billed Stork

Pied KingfisherRiver Tern

Western Reef EgretLittle Cormorant

Red-Wattled LapwingCattle Egret

Common MynaGreen Bee-Eater

Grey HeronIntermediate egretLittle Ringed Plover

Pond HeronWhite throated Kingfisher

Woolly-Necked StorkBlack Kite

Green sandpiper Painted Stork

Barn SwallowBrahminy Kite

Little GrebeOriental Magpie-Robin

Oriental SkylarkOriental White-eye

Paddyfield PipitPin-tailed SnipeRichard’s Pipit

Rose ringed ParakeetRosy Starling

White-Browed WagtailYellow wattled Lapwing

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 72

111

11

21

12

11

1

1

1

1

23

22

11

11

1

11

11

1

1

2222

33

21

222

31

21

2

1

111

111

11

Sightings at Agara Lake : Monthwise distribution

December January February

Number of sightings

Com

mon

nam

e

Agara Lake – Data Analysis

Ardeidae

Ciconiidae

Scolopacidae

Alcedinidae

Charadriidae

Sternidae

Phalacrocoracidae

Sturnidae

Accipitridae

Meropidae

Motacillidae

Alaudidae

Hirundinidae

Muscicapidae

Podicipedidae

psittaculidae

Zosteropidae

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Sightings at wetland by family

Number of Sightings

Fam

ily

Wasteland – Data Analysis

Common MynaGreater Coucal

Rose ringed ParakeetCommon crow

Black DrongoIndian Grey Hornbill

Indian Robin Pied Bushchat Spotted Owlet

Ashy crowned Sparrow LarkBarn swallow

Black winged Kite Blue faced Malkoha

Common Quail Eurasian collared dove

Green Bee Eater Grey Wagtail

Jungle Babbler Laughing Dove

Long-Tailed ShrikePeacock

Purple Sunbird Red vented Bulbul

Red whiskered Bulbul Rock Pigeon

ShikraSirkeer Malkoha

Streak throated swallowWhite throated KingfisherYellow wattled Lapwing

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103

22

11

2

111

1

11

1111

1

1

4

12

11

2

11

1

1

1

22

1

12

1

11

1

Sightings at wasteland - monthwise distribution

December January February

Number of Sightings

Com

mon

Nam

e

Wasteland – Data Analysis

sturnidae

cuculidae

Muscicapidae

Psittaculidae

Columbidae

Corvidae

accipitridae

Bucerotidae

Hirundinidae

leiothrichidae

phasianidae

pycnonotidae

strigidae

Alaudidae

Alcedinidae

charadriidae

dicruridae

Laniidae

meropidae

Motacillidae

nectariniidae

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sightings at wasteland by family

Number of sightings

Fam

ily

Observations and Trends : Turahalli Forest

• Most common birds observed in forest were sunbirds, bulbuls and bee-eaters. Drongos and Robins were also common.

• More diversity observed in forest. • Different birds observed in different areas of the forest.

• Bee-eaters were observed mostly in clearings. • Sunbirds on many flowering trees and shrubs• White-cheeked barbets and orioles were often to be found near fig or banyan

trees• Drongos were observed everywhere.

• Increase in sightings and diversity during palash bloom in January (Early bloom due to drought)

Observations and Trends : Agara Lake

• Most common birds observed at Agara lake were egrets and waders. • Storks observed at Agara lake starting December end. More species of

storks and waders observed during January.• Fewer storks and larger migratory birds observed towards end of

February, perhaps due to sharp rise in temperature.• The lake is not artificially bunded and hence has a good number of

waders foraging in the shallows. Fish also seems to be abundant in spite of poor monsoon and less water.

• Sightings drastically reduced on days with human fishing activity. More kites, kingfishers and egrets observed on such days.

Observations and Trends : Wasteland

• Most common birds observed in wasteland area were Myna, Coucal and Rose-ringed Parakeet.

• The area is mostly suburban scrub area, with houses, grain godowns, bushes, grass and occasionally large fig and banyan trees. This seems to suits the foraging behavior of these birds.

• A couple of large banyan trees are present at the edge of the city and Indian grey hornbills were sighted here a couple of times.

• A rare sighting was Blue-faced Malkoha and Sirkeer Malkoha on the same day and never again.

Questions?