Meghalaya Birds

A Pocket Guide to the Birds of Meghalaya

Anwaruddin Choudhury

Gibbon Pocket Guides

The Rhino Foundation for Nature in North East India

2014

Book

Each of the species enlisted is accompanied by an alphabet indicating its status (eg: u = uncommon). Sketches, local names and images are present for some species. Select species also bear notes - like the Tawny-breasted Wren Babbler and the Grey Sibia. There are few lines on each of the bird families. The book also brings in old i.e. British era data which increases the richness; specimens collected from across Meghalaya. Basic information is present on Protected Areas, Important Bird Areas and even places one could stay at. Bibliography could be of interest to people interested in the state.

Few people know the region like the author and with his vast experience he is able to bring our pointers like – Some Key Birding Sights. As one reads one gets an idea of his abnormally high level of familiarity with the region and its ecology. Interested in birds in the state? Get the book.

Birds

615 species enlisted – confirmed records

115 species enlisted – likely to occur in view of records from adjacent areas

Garo Hills

Given the time I have put in Garo Hills I was keen to look up on the landscape and came across some interesting snippets which underscore the points above

Talking about Baghmara Reserve Forest the author writes "The area is known for its forest birds, largely similar to that of Balpakram NP and Siju WLS. Being close to the plains of Bangladesh and located NW of Tanguar Hoar, a large number of waterfowl including bird of prey which depends upon wetlands that otherwise do not occur in the reserve can be seen in flight."

There is also reference to the habitat "Although no significant lowland grassland occurs in Meghalaya, large part of the tableland is covered with short to medium high grass. There were reedbeds and tracts of tall grass along the rivers all over with some sizeable areas in Garo Hills. However, most such areas have come under farming."

Questions

I had a couple of questions on reading the book though:

Wonder why neither changing land-use nor mining are mentioned as conservation problems?

Can a book of this nature also contain select pieces on natural history of birds on the state it talks of? Can it present a better picture of the state?

Many thanks to Anwaruddin Choudhury for the copy.