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Surveys of the Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India using spring call counts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Sarala Khaling
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling - 734101, West Bengal, India.
Rahul Kaul
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling - 734101, West Bengal, India.
Goutam Kumar Saha
Affiliation:
World Pheasant Association - South Asia Regional Office C/o WWF — India Secretariat, 172, B Lodhi Estate, New Delhi - 110003, India
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Call counts of Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra were conducted in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India, for three years (1995–1997). Twenty-eight groups of calling birds were recorded in 1995, 19 in 1996 and 24 in 1997 with mean density estimates (groups/km2) of 6.19/km2, 4.52/km2 and 5.46/km2 respectively. During the three years, the number of calling groups varied only on one trail. Birds called early (04h45–05h00) and the calling frequency varied from 33% to 88%. Calling peaked in April and there were significant differences in the number of groups calling in April and May in 1995 and 1996. Adverse weather conditions and wind affected calling and the audibility of calls. During spring, the Satyr Tragopan was found to be associated with both open and closed habitats. The main possible threats to this species were grazing and tree lopping. Despite some shortcomings this survey method appears to be most suitable for monitoring Satyr Tragopan.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1998

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