Coastal disturbances often drive pelagic
birds inland, and many are driven hundreds of miles off course by strong
cyclonic winds. Many such birds perish unnoticed or unreported. Of late,
with the increase in knowledge and easier communication some of these
pelagic vagrants are collected and reported. The most important source of
such information is the Forest Department's Wildlife Wing. Their role in
protecting wildlife in West Bengal is well known to the general public and
their awareness campaigns provide the necessary contact information to
anyone seeking their help.
Over the last three years two rare pelagic
vagrants have been collected by the West Bengal Forest Departments Wildlife
Department from Kolkata city and its neighbourhood. Cyclone 'Aila' which
crossed over Kolkata city on 26/5/09 deposited a Sooty Tern (Sterna
fuscata) which was recovered live but perished a day after. In the same
month, three years ago, a Frigatebird was collected 50 kms due east of the
city. Experts opine that the bird is likely a globally threatened Christmas
Island Frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi),
though some suggest that it is a Great Friagtebird (Fregata minor).
Needless to add that both the pelagic vagrants are hundreds of miles away
from their known range and are very rare inland records for India.
Sighting Records
Name: Christmas Island Frigatebird
Scientific name: Fregata andrewsi
Image: V. K. Yadav, IFS
Date: 31st May 2006
Place: Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.
Lat/Lon: 22038'N; 88052'E
Reported by: V K Yadav, IFS
Collection record: This fatigued immature was found 70-80 kms
inland north of the Sunderbans (which is on the Bay of Bengal). The specimen is
now kept at the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.
Previous skins collected from the subcontinent, and attributed to this species
have proved to be of the Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel). This specimen was
apparently identified to species after careful measurements at the ZSI, but
details have not yet been published and in the meantime this identification
should be regarded as provisional. [Update dated 18/7/2011 : David James has
commented as follows: "That does indeed look like a CI frigatebird" ]
Name: Sooty Tern
Scientific name: Sterna fuscata
Image: Rathin Banerjee, IFS
Date: 26th May 2009
Place: Kolkata city, West Bengal, India.
Lat/Lon: 22035'20"N; 88021'17"E
Collected by: Mr. Rathin Banerjee, IFS & Rescue Team of Wildlife Wing
Collection record: "While cyclonic storm 'AILA' was raging through
Kolkata on 26.05.2009, information was received by the undersigned that an
injured bird was lying helpless on the pavement of a street in North Kolkata
(Kolkata - 700 006). The rescue team of the Wildlife Wing immediately reached
the spot and transported the injured bird to the Temporary Transit Facility of
the Forest Department at Salt Lake, where it was photographed by Shri Rathin
Banerjee, IFS. Veterinary care was administered instantly by senior veterinary
surgeon attached to the rescue facility. The bird survived the night by was
dead by 04:00 p.m. next day i.e. 27.05.2009. Preliminary identification was
obtained from Shri Kushal Mookherjee stating that the species was Sterna
fuscata" - Mr. Rathin Banerjee, IFS
Sumit K Sen
Kolkata, India
7/11/08
