Terns are known for their long intercontinental

wintering migration. Though the

sandwich tern Sterna s. sdvicensis Latham

has been known to frequent Sind and Makran

coast (Ali and Ripley 1981) and Sri Lanka

coast (Ceylon Bird Club Newsletter 1978), it

has not so far been recovered from the mainland

of India

Lal Mohan, R S

CMFRI Digital Repository

1 [Reprint From: Journal, Bombay Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. 83, No. 3, 664 December 19861 12. RECOVERY OF A RINGED SANDWICH TERN, STERNA SANDVZCENSZS SANDVICENSZS FROM RAMESWARAM ISLAND, TAMILNADU Terns are known for their long inter- continental wintering migration. Though the sandwich tern Sterna s. sdvicensis Latham has been known to frequent Sind and Makran coast (Ali and Ripley 1981) and Sri Lanka coast (Ceylon Bird Club Newsletter 1978), it has not so far been recovered from the main- land of India. However it has been sight re- corded from Saurashtra (Dharmakumarsinhji 1958). maries black. The bird is locally known as 'Katrenji' in Tamil. It may be mentioned that two other birds of the species were also recovered from the Pillaimadam lagoon, near Mandapam on 24.6.1983 and 7.11 .83, indicating that the bird is a common visitor to these areas. They were found along with other common terns, namely Hydroprogne caspia (Caspian tern), Sterna aurantia and Gelochelidon nilotica. On 17 9.1983 a sandwich tern was recover- It is of interest that the bird is found in ed from Kundukal point of Rameswaram Rameswaram area from 24.6.1983 2I.S indicat- Island with a metal ring having Russian in- ed by its ~Zipture. It is much earlier than its scription and a number p. 702628 on it. The OCCUrrenCe in the Sri Lanka coast in Decem- salient characters of the bird are as follows: ber. It is not known how time these birds stay in their wintering areas. Crown black, a black stripe continues from This recovery, the second of the sandwich back to the crown; body ash colour tern with a ring, confims that the species is dorsally, white ventrally; bill long, slender tipp- a common migratory bird to the Southem ed with ycllow; legs, web foot and the pri- Peninsula. R. S. LAL MOWAN 141.1. SALIM & RIPLEY, S. D. (1981): Handbook DHARMAKUMARSINHJI, k. S. (1958): Sandwich of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Vol. 3, p. 70, tern Thalaseus sandvicensis d v i c e n s i s  (Latham) Oxford University Press, London. in Saurashtra. I .  Bombay nut. Hist. Soc. 55: 357. 

Recovery of a ringed sandwich tern, Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis from Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu

One specimen of the sandwich tern was recovered from Kundukal point of  Rameswaram Island with a metalic ring having a Russian Inscription.  The present capture of the sandwich tern from Rameswaram area in June is of special interest as it is much earlier than its usual arrival in Sri Lanka coast which is around December. Its wintering area now includes Southeast coast of India including Rameswaram island

^ ^ ' ' ' ' ' ' ^ , MARINE FISHERIES INFORMATION SERVICE ^ec^**tC4z/ a^ta 0ix:/S^*t<iu^Pt ^J7e4 e4'te0 CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE K COCHIN, INDIA INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH THE MARINE FISHERIES INFORMATION SERVICE: Technical and Exten-sion Series envisages the rapid dissemination of information on marine and brackish water fishery resources and allied data available with the National Marine Living Resources Data Centre (NMLRDC) and the Research Divisions of the Insti-tute, results of proven researches for transfer of technology to the fish farmers and industry and of other relevant information needed for Research and Development efforts in the marine fisheries sector. Abbreviation - Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv. T&E Ser.. No. 62: 1985 RECOVERY OF A RINGED SANDWICH TERN, STERNA SANDVICENSIS SANDVICENSIS FROM RAMESWARAM ISLAND* The sandwich tenj Sterna s. sandvicensis Latham, which is known to perform intercQjitinental wintering migration has been known to frequent Sind and Makran Coast (Ali and Ripley, Handbook ot the Birds of India and Pakistan, 3:1-70, 1981) and Sri Lanka Coast (Ceylon Bird Club Newsletter, Sept., 1978). In India the bird has been sight recorded from Saurashtra (Dhara-kumarsinghji, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 55: 357, 1958). •Prepared by R. S. Lai Mohan, Regional Centre of C.M.F.R.I., Mandapam. On 19-9-1983 one specimen of the sandwich tern was recovered from Kundukal point of Rameswaram Island (Fig. 1) with a metalic ring having a Russian inscription and a number P.702628 on it. The bird(Fig.2) which is locally known as Katrenji in Tamil had the following salient features. Crown black; a black stripe continues from the eye back to the crown; body ash coloured dorsally, white ventrally; bill long, slender, tipped with yellow; foot webbed and primaries black. 16 Table 1. Details of the sandwich tern caught in India SI. No. Bill (mm) Tarsus (mm) Locality Date Remarks 1. 52 26 Pillaimadam lagoon, Mandapam 2. 50 25 Kundukal point, Rameswaram Island 3. 45 25 Pillaimadam lagoon, Mandapam 24-6-1983 19-9-1983 7-11-1983 Without ring With ring Without ring Fig. 1. Sterna sanclvicensis samhicensis with the ring from Rameswaram Island. The ring (Fig. 2) suggests that the bird was ringed in Russia. It may be mentioned that two other 'birds of same species were also recovered from the Pillaimadam Lagoon near Mandapam which indicates that the bird is a common visitor to these areas. They were found along with other common terns namely Hyderoprogne caspia (Caspian tern), Sterna aurentia and Gelochelidon nilotica. The details of the birds recovered are given in Table 1. There has been record of recovery of the Sandwich tern from Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka on 24-12-1977 which Fig. 2. The metallic ring with Russian inscription recovered from the sandwich tern (Length of the ring 18 mm). was ringed at Astrakhan Reserve, Caspian Sea, Russia (Ceylon Bird Cluh Newsletter, 1979). The present capture of the sandwich tern from Rameswaram area in June is of special interest as it is much earlier than its usual arrival in Sri Lanka coast which is around December. The species is known to breed in British Islands, North sea Islands, Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe, Black Sea and Caspian Sea. It winters on the coasts ol Northern Africa, Western Africa to Cape of Good Hope, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Makran and Sind coast and Sri Lanka. Its wintering area now includes Southeast coast of India including Rameswaram island. Compiled and prepared by Dr. M. J. George, Dr. K. J. Mathew, Mr. G. Nandakumar & Miss Jancy Jacob Published by Dr. M.J.George, Senior Scientist on behalf of the Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin-682 018 and printed at PAICO, Cochin-31 