SOS Annual Calender -2014

Finally Sikkim Ornithological Society annual calender is arriving tomorrow(5/1/2014) from Kolkatta after 15 days of of waiting.This time we have 33 birds in one calender,some of them are very birds of sikkim.Calender will be available in some of the renowned book stores of Gangtok like KANDOIKA,OPPOSITE BANK OF BARODA,MG MARG,GANGTOK,JANCO,Metro Point,Gangtok,RACHANA Book House,HOME DEPO,Development Area,A-Z Shopping Store,SOUVENIER,MG Marg,Lal Bazaar Book Store.
----------------------------Limited copy-----------------------------
--------------------------------------------Price Rs.150/-----------

For buyers from abroad,we are coming up with the detail of price and shipping charge .You can contact http://www.rachnabooks.com/ .

Sikkim Ornithological Socity and Green Circle Organised programme on different species of Pheasent.

Members of Sikkim Ornithological society and Green circle gave a rousing reception to Mr. John Corder, vice –president of World Pheasant  Organisation, London , UK today at Chumbi Residency.

SOS and Green Circle jointly organized  a day long programme on conservation ,captive breeding and reintroduction of species of the pheasant species in  the wild here at Gangtok. I t is worthy to mention that within a short notice, conference hall was packed with around 50-60 like –minded people ranging from environmentalist , foresters, birders, educationist , from Sikkim university, Khangri university and members of birds of the same feathers(Bird club of Enchey senior sec. school).

He shared his invaluable experiences on breeding and his lifelong study on Pheasants .He talked about his experiences of working with UNO, Darjeeling , Himachal Pradesh ,China, Malaysia, UK and various parts of world. He not only enlightens the minds of people but also greatly motivated all environmentalists from Sikkim to work even more harder for the conservation of wildlife and nature. The proud members of SOS also presented a gift to Mr.John as token of appreciation for sparing his invaluable time with the audience. The SOS and Green Circle have decided to collaborate in future and organize more awareness programme starting from schools and colleges in coming days. Interested institution can contact them at 9933442275.

Highland Bird Survey II

Like last year,this year too members of SOS(Sikkim Ornithological Society) organised highland bird survey to Tsomgu lake and zuluk,East Sikkim on 9^th march 2013..It has became the tradition for SOS member to go for highland bird search every year.Last year we did survey of Gurudogmar lake area and lachen and they recorded one the species called Terek sandpiper which was recorded for the first time in sikkim.

This year Niraj sir,Karma sir and myself  voluntar  in the survey and we were able to record some total of 33 species of highland bird in their list.Among them were Blood Pheasant(male and female),Kalij Pheasant,white winged grossbed,coal tit,Rudy shelduck,upland buzzard,grey creasted tit,mallard,grey wagtail,Eurasian treepcreeper,large billed chow,tufled duck,winter wren,shikar and many more.some of birds  like Pink browed Rosefinch,ruddy shelduck,white browed,winter wren and white winged grosbeak were common in surveyed area.Himalayan monal,national bird of Nepal which is found area like zuluk was in top of the list this time but they could find it because the weather was not in the good mood this time.

 During our visit we  interacted with the locals regarding the status of birds in their area .At last it was a wonderful experience.

TRIP REPORT BY Pempa Tshering Bhutia.

Big Bird day Celebration 2013.

Big bird day is a yearly birdwatching event celebrated all over the Indian subcontinent in association with Delhi bird club.This year it was held on 24th feb 2013 , WWFsikkim and sikkim ornithological society in association with delhi bird club observed here at Bulbulay,Gangtok.It was organized for the first time in Sikkim but Delhi bird group has been doing annually since 2004.It was aimed at gathering data about birds from all over the region.Birders form small team ,watch birds in certain area and report the sighting at the end of the day so that it would be complied into a commulative list.

At the wee hour of the morning,birders around gangtok gather here at Ganesh tok for the big bird day celebration.This year they took the trail of Ganesh tok-Hanuman tok and enchey gumpa.Even though weather was unfavorable birders were able to spot 32 species of birds.Next year we are hoping to organise in a bigger scale .Among the the participant were Dr,Partho sarthi gosh,WWF Sikkim,Aishwarya maheshwari,WWF Delhi,Niraj Thapa and Pempa Tsh.Bhutia from SOS,Mr.Santosh sharma from Gurukula kangri university doing his PHD on birds of sikkim,Mr.Palden zongpo Bhutia from penlong secondary school,Jiwan dorjee,Shyam bhajgai,Sangay Passang Bhutia and Lok bhadur dorjee all four from Tokal Bermiok,south Sikkim.
List of birds were:
1.Red billed leothrix
2.Rofous sibia
3.oriental turtle dove
4.leaf warbler
5.rofous winged fulvata
6.whiskered yuhina
7.blue whistling thrush
8.green tailed sunbird
9.white capped redstart
10.sparrow hawk
11.fire tailed sunbird
12.olive backed tit
13.white throated faintail
14.grey headed canary flycather
15.long billed wren babbler
16.large billed crow
17.blue rock pigeon
18.house crow
19.great barbet
20.green backed tit
21.whiskered yuhina
22.rofous vented yuhina
23.red tailed minla
24.chestnut tailed minla
25.mrs Gould sunbird
26.grey headed canary flycather
27.white spectakle warbler
28.rofous breasted accenture
29.olive backed pipit
30.red vented bulbul
31.white browed fulvatta
32.chestnut crowned laughingthrush

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.