Birds of Buxa Tiger Reserve

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birds of buxa tiger Created in the year 1866, as a timber harvesting reserve, the Buxa Forest Division became Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) with an area of 760.87 sq. km in 1992 after merging lock stock barrel with the portion of Buxa Tiger Reserve, The 15 Tiger Reserve of the Country curved out of Buxa Division in 1983. It was also declared as part of Eastern Dooars elephant Reserve in the year 2002.

Situated in the north eastern corner of the state of West Bengal in Alipurduar District between 26.49 N-26.85" N latitudes and 89.38° E-89.89° E longitudes, Buxa share the entire Northern boundary with the international boundary of Bhutan and the Eastern boundary with the interstate boundary of Assam and in South with Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. On the West lines the Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar District.

The forests were reserved during 1868-69 and notified under Indian Forest Act (1878 and 1927) between 1879 and 1940 and thereafter as Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary 1386.07 sq. km) and Buxa National Park 1117.10 sq. km) under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Although managed primarily as a timber harvesting forest for arround 125 years, Buxa had, from the very begining, maintained its unique biodiversity through representation of 8 different Forest Types as per the classification of Champion and Seth besides the huge area covered under plantations of indigenous and introduced species raised after clear feeling along with its flora and fauna as the westernmost distribution of North East Biodiversity Hotspot of the county. Buxa is situated in the confluence of three biogeographical zones, viz. Central Himalayas (2C), Lower Gangetic Plains 178) and brahmaputra Valley (BA) and has 352 trees, 133 shrubs, 189 herbs, 108 climbers, 144 orchids, 46 grasses, 16 sedges, 6 canes and 4 bamboo species identified till the date as its floral diversity. In terms of fauna, there are 68 mammals, 514 birds, 41 reptiles, 4 amphibians, 106 fishes, 418 butterflies and innumerable insects belonging to different groups and lesser and microfauna identified till date.

BTR also has a lot of anthropogenic pressure in the form of 37 Forest Villages, 46 revenue villages and 34 Tea Garden around it. There is wide ethnic variation with people belonging to Rava, Mech, Oraon, Santhal, Rajbanshi, Madeshi, Dukpa and Nepali communities and each comunity rearing huge number of cattle, which basically graze in the forest.

Eco tourism is also promoted in BTR with historically important and pilgrimage places like Buxa Fort, Mahakalgumpha, Pokhri hills etc. Thousands of people visit BTR every year providing a source of income for the villagers through services like homestay, eco tourism guides, trekking porters, safari vehicles, cultural performances. canteens, restaurants, provision shops etc.

The Buxa Tiger Conservation Foundation (BTCFT), created in 2009 as per the mandate of Wildlife (Protection)Act, 2006 amandment, Section 38 X, strives for helping in management of the tiger reserve through various activities including research and promotional events. As part of these, a unique concept of holding Buxa Bird Festival (BBF) was mooted in the year 2017 to highlight the bird diversity of BTR. During the past 4 festivals researchers, naturalists, ornithologists, birders, students, senior citizens, photographers and interested public were given an opportunity to participate in the event and record their findings. In this short span of existence, BBF has already curved out an exalted position in the calender of the birders of the country.

The research carried out over the years by the Forest Department, Government of West Bengal, The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), The Himalayan Nature Adventure Foundation IHNAF), Nature Environment Wildlife Society (NEWS), Prakiti Sansad, Kolkata, Naturemates Nature Club, Kolkata, Alipurduar Nature Club etc. have identified 514 species of birds from BTR. Among them, 225 species are residents, 22 long distances migrants and 32 local migrants besides the visitors.

During the 3 and 4" BBF held in 2019 and 2020, a checklist of the birds was published with updated records. However, the need was felt to bring all records within a single publication along with the photographs and details of the avifauna of BTR. The suggestion came from Sri Ravi Kant Sinha, the then PCCF, Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden and Member-Secretary, Governing Body of BTCFT and was supported whole heartedly by Sri Rajib Banerjee, Hon'ble Minister in charge, Forests and Chairman, BTCFT. Sri Hirdesh Mohan, Principal Secretary, Forests Department also provided his enthusiastic support and guidance in this matter and was duly approved by the other members of the Governing Body of BTCFT in the 13 GB meeting held during June, 2020.

Accordingly, the project of documentation of Birds of Buxa was initiated. The non official members of Editorial Board, Sri Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, Sri Animesh Bose and Sri Apurba Chakraborty, all eminent Ornithologist and two of them, members of State Wildlife Advisory Board, have put on sincerest efforts in compiling the data and drafting the book supported by Sri Mayukh Ghosh, Assistatnt Field Biologist, BTCFT. The concept and suggestions extended by Late Kushal Mookerjee, the eminent Ornithologist and naturalist can also never be forgotten. Special mention is required of Sri Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, who has painstakingly collected and selected the photographs and made the alignment of the book.

It would also not been possible to publish the book unless the participants of different BBFs and researchers shared their photographs of birds generously. The name of Sri Ujjal Ghosh, Chief Conservator of Forests and an avid birder, Dr. R. P. Saini, Ex PCCF, Sri Sundeep Sundriyal, Addl. PCCF-all Ex Field Directors of Buxa Tiger Reserve deserve special mention in supporting the project and carrying it forward.

This book, "Birds of Buxa Tiger Reserve" is the second in the series of research publication under BTCFT after "Butterflies of Buxa Tiger Reserve" and is expected to provide valuable material to the ornithologists, naturalists, seasoned as well as amateur birders, researchers and public in general as reference book and in recording more avifauna from the region. The sale value of the book would also be recycled through the BTCFT for the management of BTR and also shared with the 65 JFMCs for their betterment as usual.

With thanks and gratitude to all involved in publication of the book and making the project successful.

This book contains photographs 425 species of birds of Buxa Tiger Reserve that have been documented during the surveys conducted by Bombay Natural History Society, India Eco-development Project, Buxa Bird Festivals and different photographers from time to time. Some of these birds have been sighted once or twice but most of the species are found in Buxa Tiger Reserve almost regularly. The photographs of the book have been contributed by photographers of different surveys, participants of Buxa Bird Festivals, Forest Department officials as well as, photographers who have visited the forest as professionals and tourists. This book will make bird watchers, forest personnel, researchers and tourists aware about the rich diversity of avi-fauna of Buxa and thus help towards their conservation and eco-tourism.