A BIRD species previously unrecorded in Southeast Asia, the grey-bellied cuckoo, was sighted last month during the first wet season trip organised by the Myanmar Bird and Nature Society to the Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State.

The society’s secretary, U Thet Zaw Naing, said the survey had also resulted in the first sighting in the sanctuary of the black bittern.

The six-day survey, which ended on June 21 and would be followed by more during the wet season, coincided with the breeding season at the sanctuary, he said.

The survey had enabled the society to compile information for the first time about the species that breed at the sanctuary, said U Thet Zaw Naing.
He said the survey had also found that a species called the darter, which was not previously known to breed in Myanmar, was nesting at the sanctuary, he said.

Nests of the cattle egret and little egret were also sighted on the trip, which provided confirmation that they were also breeding in Myanmar.

U Thet Zaw Naing said that of the 124 species recorded during the trip, seven are regarded internationally as being endangered. They included the spot-billed pelican, the Sarus crane, the white-ramped vulture and the lesser adjutant bird, he said.

The Sarus crane was previously thought to breed only in lower Myanmar, said U Thet Zaw Naing.

He said the results of the survey will be provided to government departments and national and international institutions to support conservation planning at the sanctuary.

U Thet Zaw Naing said although the trip provided some satisfying results on bird species, society members had also seen the negative effects of human activities at the sanctuary.

He said fishermen were active on Indawgyi Lake in contravention of a ban during the fish breeding season, from April to August. The Department of Fisheries had erected signs around the lake advising of the ban, but they had been ignored.

“It really is a concern for the sustainability of the fish, which are an important source of food for local residents and birds,” said U Thet Zaw Naing.

He also expressed concern about husks being dumped in the lake from rice mills operating on its shore. The husks could affect water quality in the lake, which would have implications for its fish population.

Action needed to be taken to protect the sanctuary for the long term, U Thet Zaw Naing said.