The population of the black partridge (kala teetar), state bird of Haryana, has been decreasing over the past few years owing to various reasons. Till a decade ago sighting the ‘kala teetar’ was easy in various parts of the state. But now the bird is not seen much.
The black partridge has always been a tourist attraction and once it was in abundance. The bird has almost disappeared because of the changing habitat and rapidly changing demographic complexion. In 1979, the Haryana government had declared the black partridge as the state bird. There are, however, no exact figures of the population of state bird ‘kala teetar’ in the state, said the senior officers.
ML Rajvanshi, Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) said that the State Wildlife and Forest department has decided to establish rescue and research centre for ‘kala teetar’, to understand the reasons behind their declining population in Haryana. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), an organisation working in the field of conservation of threatened bird species, will assist the department in this rescue and research project, he said, adding that the state government has sanctioned a budget of Rs two lakh for this project.
The motive behind establishing the centre is to understand the reasons behind the declining population of this species, which was earlier commonly spotted in urban and rural habitats in this region. “We have decided to put 10 pairs of ‘kala teetar’ at the centre. The pairs will be collected from different parts of Haryana.”
Keeping in view the biodiversity at Pinjore in the foothills of Shivalik hills, we have selected this for establishing the centre and will start working on this project soon, said Rajwanshi.
Moreover, describing the measures taken to protect these endangered birds, the officer said the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for stringent punishments for those violating the provisions of the Act.
Department officials are working on to control the illegal trade of wildlife, including endangered birds and their parts or products, he added.
VS Tanwar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana said that the monitoring of birds has a widespread potential in numerous applications in ecology, climatology, and avian. “We have prepared an action plan to set up ‘kala teetar’ rescue and research centre where we will require sufficient land for 10 pairs of kala teetar. The centre will study the reasons for ‘kala teetar’ declining and recommend methods of its prevention.”
Sources in the department said, “The major reasons for decline of ‘kala teetar’ was loss of their habitat due to tree felling, rampant use of pesticide ruining their food, radiation from mobile towers damaging their immune and nervous system among others,”
The Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) Rajvanshi said that black partridge, state bird of Haryana, is a member of the pheasant family and is, like a typical member of the Phasianidae pretty colourful with black and brown plumage with some white also. The head of the black francolin is curved with brown iris eyes color and unique pattern of brown color crown and the throat color is black.
The male black francolin is black with white patch on the cheek, a chestnut collar and white spots on the flanks. The back and wings are scalloped with shades of golden brown with sub-terminal tawny-buff bands and pale edges. Tail is black with narrow white or greyish bars. Legs are reddish-brown to red.
The female is mainly brown, but has a chestnut hind neck.
The extent of the white spotting on the flanks varies substantially across the species' range and the depth of colour of the females similarly varies.
Black francolins appear to be found in scrubby habitats with plenty of cultivated crops tall enough to offer shelter and open beneath to provide escape routes and easy travel. They prefer the areas of thick vegetation, usually near water.
They are not forest birds but will frequent brush land and wood edges associated with grass land. They appear to be more closely associated to water than chukars are, and in drier areas, he added.