1. PROJECT - “EVALUATION OF HILL MYNA POPULATION IN KANGER
VALLEY NATIONAL PARK WITH RESPECT TO ITS CONSERVATION”
Project Guide & P.I. :- R.K.Dey I.F.S., APCCF, SFRTI, Raipur
Project In-charge :- Manas Manohar Ujjaini (T.A.)
Project Fellows :- Jay Prakash George (SRF)
2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
I. Evaluation of hill myna population in its native habitat.
II. Evaluate/enumerate the cause influencing its
population.
III. Provide scientific database regarding habit, habitat, and
nesting pattern of hill myna.
IV. To study the identification problem/riddle of male and
female for its due identification and conservation.
3. WORK PLAN AND METHODOLOGY
I. Evaluation of hill myna population in its native habitat.
Work Plan:
To conduct 10 days field visits in each month in native habitats of Hill Myna
between early morning (06hrs to 08 hrs) and late evening (16 hrs to 18
hrs).
Methodology:
To conduct point count method in different habitats/ grid points at particular
time. (Bird census and survey technique by Richard D. Gregory)
II. Evaluate/enumerate the cause influencing its population.
Work Plan:
To conduct 10 days field visits in each month in native habitats of Hill Myna
between morning to afternoon (09hrs to 15 hrs) .
Methodology:
To conduct PRA activity in villages of KVNP.
4. WORK PLAN AND METHODOLOGY
III. Provide scientific database regarding habit, habitat, and nesting
pattern of hill myna.
Work Plan:
To collect basic information on Bastar Hill Myna through web and available
local traditional knowledge.
Methodology:
Cross reference of those literatures and compare the data with our field
observations.
IV. To study the identification problem/riddle of male and female for its due
identification and conservation.
Work Plan:
To conduct 10 days field visits in each month in native habitats of Hill Myna
and to investigate the information of cage bird.
Methodology:
• DNA testing by plucking fresh feather (if possible).
• Make a brief detail about being male and female on the basis of their habit
and behavior as per the information available through local traditional
knowledge.
5. WORK PROGRESS
I. Evaluation of hill myna population in its native habitat:-
• Total population - 60-70 in Kotumsar and Koleng range & its respective villages
between September 2015 to June 2016 (10 months).
• Native habitat of hill Myna - villages namely Kotumsarpara, Nagalsar,
Jagdaghat, Milkulwada , Gopapadar and Pulcha of Kotumsar and Koleng
Range.
• The most number of flocks seen (45-50) in Milkulwada village of Koleng range
in November 2015.
• From January 2016 flocks reduced to 08-10
• Main reason- rare sighting found during breeding time (January to April)
(Archawanon M. Nest and nesting success of hill mynah, 2005 and as per the
information obtained by PRA activity.)
6. Hill Myna flocks recorded during the visits
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Series1
7. II. Evaluate/enumerate the causes influencing its population:-
• Biotic Pressure:
Hill Mynas are shy birds
Hill Myna don’t like noisy environment like wood logging, cattle grazing.
To produce heavy human noise results into their migration from their place.
• Avian pet trade:
Hill myna is attractive cage-bird. (Archawaranon M. 2005 )
Maintains a busy and noisy chatter and can be easily trained to mimic human
words and phrases therefore, it has a trend of pet trade in avian market
• Poaching:
Hill Myna is a mimic bird, it was reported that during 1990-2000 the young
birds of Hill Myna used to be sold in India & abroad.
WORK PROGRESS
8. III. Provide scientific database regarding habit, habitat, and nesting pattern of hill myna:-
Habit :
• Hill Myna stretches their wing before flight.
• Hill Myna do side-wise hopping.
• Hill Myna don’t quarrel with each other.
• During non-breeding season (July to December) large flocks accumulate together, but the
couples are still obvious.
• Females instigate copulation by stretching horizontally and flapping their tail up and
down rapidly.
• Hill Myna never comes on to the ground. It feeds mainly on fruits of Ficus spp.
Habitat :
• found on hills & prefers high rainfall and humidity areas.
• Inhabiting most of the evergreen and wet deciduous forests common at the edge of forest
patches. Accordingly Bastar platue of Chhattisgarh found to be ideal for their habitat.
(Kailash Chandra, 2015)
Nesting Pattern :
• Secondary cavity nester; used cavities earlier produced by woodpeckers/termites /fungal
decay.
• In our study five cavity nests of hill myna are found in dead trees of Sal and Semal in
Kotumsar range.
WORK PROGRESS
9. IV. To study the identification problem/riddle of male and female for its due
identification and conservation:-
Male/Female identification:
• It is very difficult to identify male and female of Hill Myna.
• Only method available; by DNA testing of freshly plucked feathers.
Brooding of Eggs /Incubation:
• In case of egg broody, literature reveals that egg broody is performed by both
parents.
• During incubation one of the pair is always outside the cavity while the other
remains inside. They never entered into the cavity together. But PRA reveal that
egg broody is done by female.
• PRA also reveals that there is black spot on back portion of neck of male hill
myna and size is also larger than female.
Size:
• The male and female are of same size.
WORK PROGRESS
10. FUTURE PROPOSED WORK
I. Evaluation of Hill Myna population in its native habitat:-
• Some villages namely Netanar, Keshkal of Kolneg and Kotumsar and some
part of Orissa and Telangana are yet to be visited.
• Evaluation of Hill Myna in all three seasons are to be repeated & documented.
II. Evaluate & enumerate the causes influencing its population:-
a) Appoint local Volunteers for the population counting and .
b) Nest protection and observation of each nest till fledging.
c) Create more awareness among villagers about conservation of Bastar Hill
Myna
11. III. Provide scientific database regarding habit, habitat, and
nesting pattern of hill myna.
FUTURE PROPOSED WORK
• Although the collected data seems to be satisfactory but more scientific data
regarding habit, habitat and nesting pattern needs to be updated.
• Studies can be continued for obtaining more information.
IV. To study the identification problem/riddle of male and female
for its due identification and conservation.
• Work on this area is very much required .
• It is very difficult to identify the male and female on the basis of behavior but
as per the information provided by villagers during PRA we can identify by the
black spot (on male) behind the neck.
• Super cilium of eyes in male are connected while female hasn’t . Therefore,
this needs to be studied in further studies.
•More information about being male and female can be obtained during breeding
season.
12. FUTURE PROPOSED WORK FOR THE YEAR 2016-17
S.
N. Work to be done
Months
Apr
16
May
16
Jun
16
Jul
16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Oct
16
Nov
16
Dec
16
Jan
17
Feb
17
Mar
17
1
To conduct PRA,
camping and field visit
in KVNP and collect
data and information
-do- -do- -do- * * -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- -do-
2
Hill myna sighting and
population study data
collection by sampling
methods
-do- -do- -do- * * -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- -do-
3
To collect detail
information and data
of hill myna nesting
* * * * * * * * * -do- -do- -do-
4
To collect the data on
tree girdling (species
wise)
-do- -do- * * * -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- *
5
Layout sample plot for
vegetation study (size
10 × 10 m) of hill
myna’s native place
* * -do- * * * -do- -do- -do- -do- -do- *
6
To conduct a 3 days
workshop at
Jagdalpur on
conservation strategies
of Hill Myna
* * * *
Workshop
planning
(last week)
3 days
Workshop
(1st week) * * * * * *
7
Data compilation,
documentation and
report writing
including previous
tour reports (mid term
report/interim report)
* * * -do- -do- * * * * * * -do-
13. BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE
• Funding agency:- PCCF (Wild life management and biodiversity
conservation).
• Sanctioned amount and date:- 20.00 lakhs / 05.03.2015 (Two Year)
• Released amount for first year :-5.41 Lakhs (Whole amount surrendered
in the financial year 2015)
• Released amount for Second year:- 14.59 Lakhs
Particulars Expenditure (Rs.)
Fellowship of SRF’S @ RS 18500/- P.M. 1,06,226
Fellowship of JRF’S @ RS 16500/- P.M. 1,32,415
Tour expenses 71,117
Procurement of survey equipments like GPS and
camera
1,01,395
Total expenditure 4,11,153
Total Balance Amount 10,47,047
Expenditure of amount for first year is as follows:- (01 -06- 2015 to 31 -03-2016, 10 months)
