Sikkim Ornithological society has launched 2nd edition calendar.

 

After the runaway success of the classic calendar”Rare Birds of Sikkim in 2012,Sikkim Ornithological Society(SOS)has launched its second edition called Feathery friends of Sikkim 2013 in simple function in presence of its chief patron ,retired IFS officer shri KC Pradhan  at his residence at Tadong 6th mile.The album consist of twelve extremely beautiful birds of Sikkim and with this SOS hopes to promote and arouse interest in birds among younger generation of sikkim.

 SOS has discovered a new species called 'terek sandpiper' at gurudongmar lake,north sikkim which was recorded for the first time in this region, the picture of this rare bird also highlights in this edition,

this international standard  calendar cost a mere rs 150/  per piece and can be available from the 6 th of jan at various leading outlets of gangtok

for advance bookings and information you can contact the following members

Mr Pempa Tshering  9547558545

Mr Niraj Thapa  9434867082

Mr Karma Tempo 9933442275

Mr Chewang Bonpo 9735900165

Annual calendar 'feathery friends'

The S.O.S will be coming out with its annual calendar 'feathery friends' from Sikkim 2013 very soon....bird lovers/ photographers can send their entries to the following members for review
Win a chance to get your pic and name printed on the calendar...please hurry last date of submission 25 th of Nov2012...
Mr Chewang Bonpo
Mr Niraj Thapa
Mr R.P Gurung

Mr Pempa
Mr Karma Tempo

The photos will be selected by a panel of experts consisting of experienced birders and photographers

Looking forward for a positive response
Karma Tempo
G.Sec
Sikkim Ornithological Society

It is interesting that there are three kinds of Sparrows in Gangtok itself: House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans and Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus. However there is increasing menace of predatory stray and feral cats which are good at climbing trees and other places. This is something not easily noticed by lay people initially, but sparrow population in Forest Colony, Balwakhani has obviously and drastically declined due to them.  One can see House Sparrows roosting in the evenings in the lone Ficus tree on M. G. Marg, Gangtok.

5 day long training on Bird Watching Guiding held

Sikkim: 5 day long training on Bird Watching Guiding held

Gangtok, 31 May, 2012:

Realizing the high demand of bird watching guides in the tourism sector, the Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project (SBFP) assisted by JICA organized a five day residential training programme on bird watching guiding at Okherey, West Sikkim from 22 May to 27 May.

The training had a total of 30 participants (unemployed youth) belonging to village clusters of Hee Gaon, Dzongu, Kitam, Pakyong, Fambongla Ribdi, Sombaria and Okherey . The training was delivered as a part of the capacity building of the villages chosen under the SBFP- JICA assisted project. The resource persons were invited from WWF- India, Wild life Institute of India,  Sikkim Ornithological Society and the National Eco Tourism Consultant of the SBFP project. It was coordinated by the Eco Tourism Marketing Cell of the project.

An elaborate practical class on the field guides was provided to all the participants along with theory classes held at Sherpa Bhavan Okherey. The training ended with a two day trek to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in which participants had a garbage collection competition.

It was ended formally on the 27th of April with the distribution of bird books and training certificate by the DFO ( Eco Tourism ) Dr. S Anbalagan .

This is the first set of trainings which will also be imparted throughout Sikkim to build the capacity of local stakeholders in guiding, home stays, trekking, bird watching etc.
SOURCE:http://isikkim.com/

Sikkim tourism’s new destination: Bird Watching

Sikkim Mail

Devika Gurung

GANGTOK: January 11, 2012

Sikkim being rich in flora and fauna including birdlife with 550species of birds (which is regarded well in terms of variety) has proved to be one of the major hotspots for ornithology. Lately the group ‘Sikkim Birds’ on a social networking site has been gathering much attention from bird lovers and avid bird watchers. The group with 638 members (both locals and non-locals) has become a learning platform for those interested in birds, bird watching and bird photography.

The not much talked ‘Sikkim Ornithological Society’ (SOS) is also slowly gaining public interest through this social group. Founded by K.C Pradhan, the Chief Patron of SOS, the society was registered in the year 2006. The basic objectives of the society was to provide a whole new platform for people interested in ornithology along with ecological conservation and also to introduce a whole new product for eco-tourism.

During a brief interaction with Sikkim Mail, SOS President, Karma P. Takapa states, “bird watching is like an art, it’s an inborn talent. One can only love to do so if they are born with it”. It’s good not only for the bird lovers, but even for those interested in being birding guides. “The before catapult hunters have now become conservationists as they have a good knowledge of birds”, he added.

SOS has also made helpful brochures on ‘Common Birds in Sikkim.’ It has organized programmes in schools in West Sikkim region, regarding Sikkim birds and has recently organized bird walks at Tashi Viewpoint and Raj Bhawan Area (an initiative of Lukendra Rasaily, a member of SOS), Takapa acquainted. During bird walks one can not only watch a variety of birds but also learn and share their knowledge about the subject with each other.

As per Takapa, Chewang Bonpo is the best birding guide in the state right now who has been leading birding groups independently in and outside the state. Further he informed that one can make bird guide as their main source of livelihood if he/ she is interested and has sufficient knowledge about birds as they are better paid than the tourist guides.

SOS is not much known in the state, therefore it intends to reach to more people in the coming years and also make small but prominent impacts in the society/ environment as a whole. Presently, SOS aims to make the society available to the younger generations. Speaking about the future prospects of the society Takapa informs that instead of choosing schools to participate, SOS plans to write to the schools in the state inviting them to the orientation programme and also to organize bird walks for the interested schools. If this becomes successful then the society also plans to set up Bird Clubs in the respective schools, he concluded.

Source: http://isikkim.com/2012-01-sikkim-tourisms-new-destination-bird-watching-12-02/

PREVIEW OF SOS CALENDAR 2012

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl or Forest Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis

Interesting record of a large owl Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis found dead in campus of Mr. K. C. Pradhan at 6th Mile, Gangtok on 21 Jan'12. Could be case of poisoning; the bird might have eaten a poisoned rat or something.  Specimen with Forest staff for post-mortem. Do confirm if this is what is locally called KOIRALO in Nepali, and what the other local names are. You can hear it around Himalayan Zoological Park and Raj Bhavan, but this is the first close view of an uncommon bird. Good record by Pradhan Sir. Same individual front and back views. Local people say “Koiralo ley Biralo khaancha”, but we have yet to get proof. Salim Ali calls this 'Huhu' in Nepali; Any Lepcha names?

Chewang Rinchen Bonpo comments that this is a rare owl he saw only once in Kaziranga National Park, Assam and that its Sikkimese/Bhutia name is LA-KUME.