A Great Indian Hornbill, a rare bird species, was documented probably for the first time within Coonoor town in the Nilgiris by birdwatchers on Wednesday.
The bird, which is known to populate the lower slopes of the Nilgiris up to an elevation of around 1,200 meters above mean sea level, came as a surprise to birdwatchers and conservationists, as the Hornbill is an elusive species which tends to steer clear of major towns and human habitations.
The bird was photographed by wildlife enthusiasts Samantha Iyanna and P. J. Vasanthan, both Coonoor residents.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Vasanthan said that the Great Hornbill, which is the largest of four Hornbill species seen in the Nilgiris, had not been documented in or around Coonoor town limits. “Perusal of birding and spotting records right from 1839 reveal that Hornbills have never been recorded within or near the town,” he said, adding that this “rare occurrence,” needs to be analysed further.
Mr. Vasanthan speculated that better protection, leading to an increase in the population, or even climate change, could possibly be contributing factors to the birds venturing to higher altitudes. “Coonoor has a peculiar mix of tropical and temperate vegetation. Rising temperatures in recent times have led to tropical trees such as ficus, which once fruited sparsely to now do so profusely, perhaps attracting the birds,” he said.
Other reasons could be due to the increasing population of the birds leading to a scarcity of food in their preferred habitats, forcing them to venture into new areas in search of food, he added.
Other active birdwatchers in the Nilgiris said that Hornbills are regularly spotted near to Kattery Park, which is around a few hundred meters in vertical elevation further down the slope where the Hornbill was spotted.
Prominent Nilgiris-based conservationist N. Mohanraj said that the relative proximity to the bird’s known habitat and range means that it would have had no problem making its way to Coonoor. “It could just be a stray individual in search of food,” said Mr. Mohanraj, who said that the birds’ presence near to human settlements indicates how they are adapting to living in ever-shrinking habitats. “Previously, they would have been hunted for their bright plumage and their beaks, but now, they face no persecution due to better protection, which could be encouraging them to live closer to humans,” he said.
