Nov 23, 2022

Melodies of Bombay Shola

Shola forest is endemic to the Western Ghats and is one of the most unique ecosystems present in our country. The name Shola was given by the Britishers which originates from the Tamil word Solai. The Bombay Shola got its name because Colonel Partridge of the then Bombay (now Mumbai) Regiment of the Indian Army had a cottage there. Bombay Shola had natural grasslands that are close to Kodaikanal. Today the grasslands are encroached by urban settlements and monoculture of Eucalyptus trees. Even though 85% of the grasslands are encroached by Pine, Eucalyptus, and Acacia trees in the upper hills, a few sholas are still thriving in some places. 




Bombay Shola is one of the most vulnerable forests surrounded by resorts, roads and markets. However, despite these disturbances, the Shola provides shelter for myriad birds’ species and a few mammal species like Indian Gaur Bos gaurus, Malabar Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica and Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis. Probably two centuries before this place would have been a better habitat for Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Indian Elephant Elephas maximus indicus etc. Due to the degradation of grasslands, the Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis lost its habitat in these areas and are now in a precarious state. But still, the dense shola is a good habitat for the endemic birds such as the Palani Chilappan (Palani Laughing Thrush) Montecincla fairbanki and White-bellied Sholakili Sholicola albiventris


I have been visiting Shola since 2010. During my initial visits, I witnessed some of the common birds seen in the sholas such as the Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis, Black-and-orange flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa, Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus, and Palani Chilappan Montecincla fairbanki etc. As a bird enthusiast, I document the bird sightings every time I visit Shola and most of the species sighted are endemic to the Ghats. Whenever I stay overnight, I look forward to waking up to the calls of the Shola Avifauna the next morning. Out of all the birds, the call of White-bellied Sholakili Sholicola albiventris is very unique and rhythmic. During the early morning hours when the shola forest is silent due to the absence of man-made noises such as loudspeakers, horns etc., the call of White-bellied Sholakili fills the air with musical notes.



The Palani Chilappan Montecincla fairbanki is a gregarious bird that can be found in the montane grasslands and sholas. I noted an interesting behavior of the birds popping out and hiding back in the bushes as if playing a game of hide-n-seek. The continuous call of “pe-kee-ke” helps to identify these birds. Palani Chilappan is purely dependent on the montane grasslands and sholas for their habitat.

Black and Orange Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa creates beautiful notes which are shorter but apparently rhythmic and metallic. The upper shola road helps to get the broader view of the canopy of Bombay shola where the Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudatus can be well sighted. Another tiny endemic bird of Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor, is common here and the repetitive “tzrik” notes help to find their presence. The Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii also endemic to Western Ghats and slightly bigger than the Rock-pigeon can seldom be seen in Bombay shola. 


The other colourful birds sighted here are Yellow-browed Bulbul Acritillas indica, Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus, and Squaretailed Bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa. The Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus and Black-lored Tit Machlolophus aplonotus can be easily found in low hanging branches and fences of the Bombay Shola. The glorifying flame on the dead trees with the high-pitched trill or drum call is sure to be a Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus



The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis forage on the branches and trunks of the old trees which are coated with lichens and moss. The reddish bill and aquamarine upperparts of these dwarf creatures get glorified when the dense sholas are lit by the sunlight.


The Shola Forest is pleasant in the morning hours rather than in the evening. One can find the sounds of the Shola to be soothing however, due to the vehicular movement in upper and lower Shola Road, there is a lot of disturbance during the daytime. High decibel horns used in heavy vehicles disrupt the ambiance of the forest as well the resorts and pilgrims around the area cause environmental pollution. To protect and preserve the Bombay shola and its species, the government should take immediate action towards noise pollution. Noise is still not recognized as pollution among many of us. We need to think about the tiny creatures and their ability to tolerate the high decibel sounds. 

I again visited the place post COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and asked the caretaker about how the sholas looked with no human activity. He took a deep breath and said, “It felt like heaven”.


Article Published in BUCEROS (BNHS) Magazine Nov 2022 [BUCEROS Vol. 27, No. 1, 2022]. ©Satheesh Muthu Gopal

29 comments:

  1. Such a fantastic article 😍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Raj.. I know it's a favorite location for our group. When I went with Guru we saw the Crested Goshawk here. Later you guys found it near to the town..!! Udhay found a White Bellied Sholakilli and shared the pictures recently.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Thank you Rangesh... You guys are really taking care of this shola. Protecting and cleaning this shola is not a easy task. Your dedication in saving the shola is really a admirable job...!!

      Delete
  3. Amazing Article 🪶🪶🦜🕊

    ReplyDelete
  4. பாம்பே சோலை பறவைகளின் சொர்க்க பூமி , என்பதை உணர்த்தும் உங்கள் படைப்பு அற்புதம்.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. நன்றி ஜோஷ்வா... சோலைக்குருவி அமைப்பின் அர்ப்பணிப்பால் இந்த சோலை இன்னும் உயிர்ப்போடு இருக்கிறது. உங்களின் சேவை போற்றத்தக்கது. 

      Delete
  5. Very nice photos! And completely agree with you about the Sholicola song! If you or any of your friends get photos of banded birds, do let me or my team know. We would like to understand how far they move from their original location, and how long they live. www.skyisland,in for more details of our work

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure Robin. On Oct 3rd, 2019, I saw one White bellied Sholakili ringed. I shared the photo with you. This year also my friends sighted with ring. We should really protect this beautiful endemic species. What a lovely bird it is. I appreciate your efforts in protecting shola habitat.

      Delete
  6. Wonderful article with amazing pictures. Nicely presented Sathish. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nicely worded Article, hope to find an opportunity to travel together.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Informative article with a thought-provoking end!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Arvind..!! You must visit once. You will love it. You may find something special. As the owls are interested in seeing you wherever you go, you may find a Brown Hawk Owl here.

      Delete
  9. Nice article satheesh, it shows your passion on birds

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice article satheesh, it shows your passion on birds

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent article !! This is one of my top favorite birding sight ever. Our own gem this place. No one else can describe it better than you 👏🏼💯

    ReplyDelete
  12. Excellent work Satheesh..! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  13. நன்று.. புகைப்படங்கள் அற்புதம்.

    ReplyDelete