New distribution record of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti Hume, 1873, (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Jenis R Patel,Anirudh G Vasava,Saurabh C Rathor,Shashank B Patel,Pratik B Patel,Jaymal A Patel

doi:10.11609/jott.o4237.7940-4

Abstract

Little is known about the distribution of the endemic forest owlet Heteroglaux Blewitti in India. Its presence has been always dubious in the past in Gujarat. Earlier surveys failed to confirm its occurrence in Gujarat. We present the photographic evidence of the forest owlet from the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. Two individuals were observed in the same locality. This record presents the first record of Forest owlet from northernmost Western Ghats. A species targeted study is recommended to generate information for the conservation of this threatened species in its range in Gujarat.

Highlights

ZĂŚŵĂŶŝϮϬϭϮͿdŚĞ&ŽƌĞƐƚKǁůĞƚŚĂƐĂƐŵĂůůƐĞǀĞƌĞůLJ ĨƌĂŐŵĞŶƚĞĚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ ;ŝƌĚůŝĨĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ϮϬϭρͿ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ ĨĞǁĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϮϭκ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů /ŶĚŝĂ ;DĂĚŚLJĂ WƌĂĚĞƐŚ DĂŚĂƌĂƐŚƚƌĂͿ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝǀƵĂůƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ DĞůŐŚĂƚ dŝŐĞƌZĞƐĞƌǀĞDĂŚĂƌĂƐŚƚƌĂ;
It is suggested that the Forest Owlets are threatened primarily by the loss and degradation of its habitat by encroachments of forests for agricultural purpose (Mehta et al 2007; Jathar & Patil 2011)
We suggest that various teak dominated forest regions of Gujarat from Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in the north to the forests of Kaparadataluka of Valsad in the south, especially Vyara and Songadhtaluka of Tapi

Summary

Introduction

ZĂŚŵĂŶŝϮϬϭϮͿdŚĞ&ŽƌĞƐƚKǁůĞƚŚĂƐĂƐŵĂůůƐĞǀĞƌĞůLJ ĨƌĂŐŵĞŶƚĞĚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ ;ŝƌĚůŝĨĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ϮϬϭρͿ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ ĨĞǁĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ϭϮϭκ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů /ŶĚŝĂ ;DĂĚŚLJĂ WƌĂĚĞƐŚ DĂŚĂƌĂƐŚƚƌĂͿ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝǀƵĂůƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ DĞůŐŚĂƚ dŝŐĞƌZĞƐĞƌǀĞDĂŚĂƌĂƐŚƚƌĂ;

Results

Conclusion