A checklist of avian fauna at Jeypore Reserve Forest, eastern Assam, India with special reference to globally threatened and endemic species in the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot

Avifaunal survey of an Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot area - Jeypore Reserve Forest was carried out from July 2007 to July 2009. Altogether 270 species of avian fauna belonging to 56 families were identified during the survey, of which 58 species were frugivorous, 34 omnivorous, 15 carnivorous, 22 picivorous, five grainivorous and 136 were insectivorous in nature. Of all the bird species recorded, 14 were globally threatened species, five were endemic to this region, 153 were resident common species, 87 resident rare species, 16 migratory common species and 14 were migratory rare species. The endemic species recorded in the study area were Anorrhinus tickelli, Sphenocichla humei, Pellorneum palustre, Yuhina bakeri and Heterophasia pulchella. The globally threatened species include two Critically Endangered, Gyps indicus and Gyps bengalensis, one Endangered, Cairina scutulata, four Vulnerable, Leptoptilos javanicus, Francolinus gularis, Columba punicea, Turdoides longitostris, and seven Near Threatened, Anhinga melanogaster, Arborophila atrogularis, Anorrhinus tickelli, Buceros bicornis, Sphenocichla humei, Pellorneum palustre and Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus

Notes on the nesting behaviour of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon <i>Treron phoenicoptera</i> (Columbidae) at Jeypore Reserve Forest, Assam, India

We surveyed five nesting colonies of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon at Jeypore Reserve forest to study their nesting behaviour during two breeding seasons in 2008 and 2009. We observed the birds in five closely-watched nests and studied their behaviour starting from pair formation till hatching of squabs. Pair formation generally starts from the month of April followed by nest building and incubation, with ultimately, hatching of squabs during May, which continues up to the month of June. Both sexes share the duty of nest building and incubation. Breeding pairs took four shifting intervals during incubation period at a time interval of about 2-5 hrs in each shift. Incubation period ranges between 20-23 days

A checklist of traditional edible bio-resources from Ima markets of Imphal Valley, Manipur, India

A study was conducted at seven important markets of Imphal Valley, Manipur in northeastern India, which are run exclusively by women and are popularly known as “the Ima markets”. The two year study was to find out the important edible bio-resources which are consumed daily by the local people of Manipur. Regular surveys were conducted at the selected markets at least three times a month. A total of 45 wild edible plants and 26 wild fruits were identified during the survey. Also, 25 edible animal resources were recorded. It is suggested that the high diversity of wild edible bio-resources needs to be conserved for livelihood sustenance of the local communities