Malabar Trogon bird spotted

KERI: The brightly-coloured Malabar Trogon bird has been recently spotted in the forested areas of the Western Ghats, which form a part of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
Volunteers of Vivekanand environment awareness brigade, Keri-Sattari, were lucky to catch a glimpse of the bird in the border areas of Ponsule and Gulle villages, which are submerged under the water reservoir of Anjunem dam.
Narayan Gawas from Halidwada, Keri said, "We were delighted to see this beautiful bird on the tree. It is endemic to the forests of Sri Lanka and India, mainly in the Western Ghats."
Ornithologist Carl D'Silva has included the bird in his list of 'Birds of Goa' which he has compiled for the book 'Fish Curry and Rice'. "When the bird sits still, it appears hunched. The species is becoming rarer in many parts of India and it is said to be sensitive to forest fragmentation," says Narayan Parodkar, a bird watcher from Ghoteli No1.
As the bird is an expert in stealing nests of bees and termites it is known as 'harpactes'. Malabar Trogons feed exclusively on insects and fruits. "It is a mesmerizing bird of the moist evergreen biotope of peninsular India. It has been the most prized bird of Western Ghats for birdwatchers, photographers and enthusiasts," says Prasanna Parab, a wildlife photographer from Margao.