While on a birding trip to the Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve on February 27th, 2021, my friend, Chris Bowden, and I, witnessed a serious problem involving the killing of hundreds of birds on a nearby private property. A vineyard, owned by Krushnamruga Wineyard and Blackbuck Vineyards Pvt Ltd., was covered over with a fine synthetic net, presumably to protect the ripening grapes from bird depredation. Unfortunately, gaps at the sides of the net due to poor installation had allowed … Read More
Pelicans in Peril – Nematode Infestation Alert!
On the morning of December 20, 2020, when international birders Mike Prince and Chris Bowden visited Sonnapura Lake near Chikkaballapur Town, about 23 km from Bengaluru, they were not prepared for what they found along the water’s edge — two dead Spot-billed Pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis). Subsequent visits to the lake resulted in the matter being brought to the attention of the Karnataka Forest Department, which promptly despatched the dead birds to the Bannerghatta Zoo on the outskirts … Read More
Bird Deaths in Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan, Attributed to Avian Botulism
UPDATE 2 – 21-Nov-2019: The deaths of over 18,000 birds in Sambhar Lake have been attributed to Avian botulism. Attached is the detailed report by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly. The initial cause of the deaths was suspected to be avian flu, but that has been ruled out. Botulism has been recognised as a major cause of mortality in wild birds since the 1900s. A potential cause of the presence of the bacteria could be toxicity of … Read More
Forty-five peacocks die in Gwalior infected by contaminated water
Forty-five peacocks have died in Narvalli village in Gwalior district, allegedly after drinking contaminated water. 26 were found dead on Apr 23 and the rest on Apr 30. The post mortems suggested that the birds died of intestinal congestion. The Gwalior collector has sealed a distillery in Rairu, following complaints from locals that effluents released from the distillery had contaminated water bodies and led to the death of the peacocks.… Read More
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