A rare species of owl, sighted occasionally by ornithologists in the Middle East and West Central Asia, was spotted in the kole wetlands at Enamavu, near Chettuva, in Thrissur district in the second week of December by a birdwatcher.
The
spotting has received the validation of leading experts in the field.
The Pallid scops owl was spotted by birdwatcher Shah Jahan at 9.30 p.m.
on December 14. Ornithologists confirm that it is the first spotting of
the bird in south India. “It had been spotted earlier only in Gujarat,
Rajasthan, and Maharashtra on rare occasions,” say ornithologists.
Praveen J., who authored
Birds of Kerala - Status and Distribution,
says it is the latest among 500 species of birds found in Kerala. “I am
sure it is Pallid scops owl. We have a few records of their seasonal
migration to Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Perhaps, the cold
spell in north India may have pushed the birds further down,” says
ornithologist H.S. Sangha
“The Pallid scops owl is a
small owl that eats insects, lizards, spiders, and small mammals. These
birds hunt at night. On rare occasions, it has been observed to be
hunting during day time. The owl normally breeds between April and June
and is a migratory bird. They lay 4 to 6 eggs in tree holes,’’ Shah
Jahan told
The Hindu
. “The recorded photographs and videos have been sent to the authorities
concerned for validation of the identification of the owl. The
verifiers’ list includes famous bird watcher Nick Moran of Great
Britain, Indian ornithologist Harkirat Sangha, and Rajah Jayapal,
Principal Scientist at the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural
History. They have endorsed the identification,’’ he said.
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