Bhutan’s bird diversity richer by one more bird

Barn Owl hiding within the canopy of a cypress tree.

8 June, Thimphu: Bhutan’s bird diversity is now increased to 685 species from the existing 684 bird species with the addition of a Barn Owl (Tyto alba), whose existence in the country has recently been confirmed.

The lone Barn Owl was spotted at Zomlithang plantation area in Punakha within the jurisdiction of Jigme Dorji National Park. The sighting of the Barn Owl never recorded in the Country in the past has been confirmed by Kencho Gyeltshen, Sr. Forester currently stationed at Lunana Park Range.

Kencho Gyeltshen chanced upon the bird sitting on the cypress tree on April 4 of this year when he was doing a birding guide for a group of Australian birding tourist in the area. After a bird watching trip to Tashithang, the group descended back to Zomlithang for a lunch break. But for the group of bird enthusiasts the real surprise awaited them at their lunch spot.

Kencho Gyeltshen said during the lunch time, they were alerted by a group of large billed crows in commotion on one particular tree within the plantation area. They became inquisitive and ventured out to check what it was all about. That is when they sighted a Barn Owl hiding within the canopy of a cypress tree.

“I’m an avid bird watcher myself. Almost at the first glance, I could validate that this was a discovery of new bird species in the Country,” said Kencho Gyeltshen. He added that the group including himself was very excited over such a first sighting and immediately documented it in picture.

The Barn Owl although found on all continents except Antarctica was never recorded in Bhutan. This has been confirmed by referring to the Birds of Bhutan and more importantly Central Ornithological database maintained by Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE) in Bumthang. Many other reference books were also used before finally claiming the discovery.

A pioneer bird specialist with UWICE, Sherub also established that the Barn Owl is the new record for Bhutan.

According to Kencho Gyeltshen, the owl might have been existent in the area long time since the bird is native resident. “Most of the Owl family do not migrate rather they stick to one place for long time.” He also attributed such a late discovery to the nocturnal habit of the bird saying that Owls usually do not appear in daylight.

In order to reconfirm, Kencho Gyeltshen have returned to the same place looking for the bird almost three to four times. But it was only after 10 days that he again sighted the bird in the same area.

Barn Owl is characterised with an unmarked white face, containing blank eyes, white to golden-buff underparts finely spotted with black and golden-buff. The bird carries a grey upperpart which is finely spotted with black and white.

When in flight, wings and tail appears uniform, lacking any prominent tail barring or wing patches. The Barn Owl makes a variety of eerie screeching and hissing noise. It is also known to reside near human settlements particularly in cultivation area.

Reported by: Ugyen Tshering, ICS

Photo Courtesy: Kencho Gyeltshen, JDNP.