Forest owlet

From Wild India

(Heteroglaux blewitti)

(Photo by Raju Kasambe)

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Identification 3 Calls 4 Threats to existence 5 Status 6 References 7 Links 8 Credits

Introduction

The Forest Owlet Heteroglaux (Athene) blewitti was considered extinct for over a century, for exactly 113 years to be precise. Pamela Rasmussen, Ben King and David Abbott rediscovered the Forest Owlet at Shahada near Taloda in the Nandurbar District of Maharastra (Toranmal Reserve Forest) in November 1997. B.N.H.S. research fellow Farah Ishtiaq followed up with field research, mostly in the Nandurbar district along the Satpuras. Then it was spotted in Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) and Mahendri Reserve Forest in the Amravati district of Maharastra. On May 19th 2004 it was also sighted at the Yawal Sanctuary, in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, in the Satpuras, this location being midway between Shahada and Melghat.

Up till now 19 individuals have been found in Toranmal, one at Mahendri, one at Khaknar in Madya Pradesh, more than a hundred in Melghat Tiger Reserve and two birds at Yawal. The population found at several other new locations in the Satpuras indicates a better future for the Forest Owlet than originally thought.

Identification

The Forest Owlet is a squarish-headed owl, similar to the smaller spotted but rather slatier-brown and more boldly patterned, with a virtually unspotted crown, straighter with supercilla meeting over bill, pale grey-brown cheeks not bordered by white at rear, complete blackish throat-band above broad grey-brown breast-patch, and broad blackish bars on the flanks, with cleaner white centre of belly, vent and feathering on heavier legs. Above it lacks a white hind-collar, and has an unspotted mantle and broad blackish-and-white bands and broad white tips on wings and tail.

Calls

Various calls have been reported - 'kwaak kk, kwaakk', 'oh-owow' 'kee.yah, ‘kee yah', 'kee k, kee k', and a shrill continuous 'shree'.

Threats to existence

In Melghat Tiger Reserve illicit woodcutting, shifting cultivation, forest fires, grazing pressure, anthropogenic pressure, and the Upper Tapti Project are the major threats. In Toranmal Reserve Forest anthropogenic pressure, illicit woodcutting, encroachments, intentional forest fires and grazing pressure are the major threats. Increasing use of pesticide and rodenticides, and superstitions among tribals are also a threat to the survival of the Forest Owlet. Community management, joint forest management and public awareness are the key factors in the long-term conservation strategy for the species.

Status

The Forest Owlet is a Red Data Book species and is considered Near Threatened. See also http://www.rdb.or.id/detailbird.php?id=203.

References

1. Davidson, J. (1881) Rough list of the birds of western Khandesh., Stray Feathers, 10: 279-327.
2. Hussain, S. A. (1976a) Melghat February 1976 Blewitt s Owl (Athene blewitti). Unpublished report, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7008.
3. Hussain, S. A. (1976b) Mandvi, Surat Gujarat. 19.4.76 to 21.4.76. Unpublished report, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7008.
4. Ishtiaq, Farah (2000): Red Data Bird: Forest Spotted Owlet: Newsletter for Birdwatchers: 40-3: May-June: 29-31
5. Jathar G. (2002) The Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti in Western Khandesh, Vol.3 No.3 (July-Sept) pp.3
6. Jathar G. (2003): Saving the mysterious Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti, Mistnet, Vol.4, No.3&4(Jul-Dec) pp.9-10
7. Kasambe. R, Pande. S, Wadatkar J, Pawashe. A, (2004): Additional Records of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, Newsletter for Ornithologists: Vol. I-II: 12-14.
8. Kasambe R., Wadatkar J., Bhusum N.S., & Kasdekar F.(2005): Forest Owlets Heteroglaux blewitti in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, Newsletter for Birdwatchers: Vol.45-III : 38-40
9. King, B. F. and P. C. Rasmussen (1998): The rediscovery of the Forest Owlet Athene {Heteroglaux} blewitti: Forktail 14: 51-53.
10. Ripley, S. D. (1952) Vanishing and extinct bird species of India., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 50: 902-906.
11. Ripley, S. D. (1961), A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan., Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay.
12. Ripley, S. D. (1976) Reconsideration of, Athene blewitti, (Hume)., J. Bombay Nat., Hist. Soc. 73: 1-4.
13. Rithe K. (2003): Saving the Forest Owlet, Sanctuary Asia XXII (Feb): 30-33.
14. Whistler, H. and Ticehurst C. B. (ms), Birds of India. Smithsonian Institution Archives

Links

• Forest Owlet pictures from OBI (http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?action=searchresult&Bird_ID=640)
• Discovery of this rare bird (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/livingbird/spring98/OwletSp98.htm)
• Another Article on Forest Owlet (http://www.si.edu/opa/insideresearch/9996/owlet.htm)

Credits

Updated by: Raju Kasambe , E-mail id: rajuakasambe@rediffmail.com