Buttonquail

Buttonquail or hemipodes are members of a small family of birds, Turnicidae, which resemble, but are unrelated to, the quails of Phasianidae. They inhabit warm grasslands in Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Crows, Jays, Magpies and Treepies

The Corvidae - Crows and Their Relatives

The family Corvidae comprises a medium sized group of passerine (perching) birds. It is a reasonably well known family, however in Sibley and Monroe's new phylogeny, many other traditional families have been incorporated into the family Corvidae giving it a huge and unwieldy 649 species. Here however I have stayed with the traditional Howard and Moore classification of the family and will treat the other families independently as well. The Corvidae in this scheme is made up of about 119 species in 26 genera.

Hawks

The term hawk can be used in several ways:

* In strict usage in Europe and Asia, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, the Sharp-shinned Hawk and others. These are mainly woodland birds with long tails and high visual acuity, hunting by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. See Eagle.
* More generally (especially in North America) to mean falcons or small to medium-sized members of the Accipitridae – the family which includes the "true hawks" (Accipiters) as well as eagles, kites, harriers and buzzards.
* Loosely, to mean almost any bird of prey outside of the order Strigiformes (owls).

Immature Northern Goshawk with fresh kill
Hawk sighted in Toronto in front of the Fields Institute.

The common names of birds in various parts of the world often use hawk in the second sense. For example, the Osprey or "fish hawk"; or, in North America, the various Buteo species (e.g., the Red-tailed Hawk, B. jamaicensis).

In February 2005, the Canadian ornithologist Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian "IQ" in terms of their innovation in feeding habits.[1] Hawks were named among the most intelligent birds based on his scale.

Hawks are widely reputed to have visual acuity several times that of a normal human being. This is due to the many photoreceptors in the retina (up to 1,000,000 per square mm for Buteo, against 200,000 for humans), an exceptional number of nerves connecting these receptors to the brain, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central portion of the visual field.

Pheasants

The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), is a bird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae). It is native to Russia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe (where it is naturalized), it is simply known as the "pheasant". "Ring-necked Pheasant" is a collective name for a number of subspecies and their crossbreeds. It has the smallest known[when?] genome of all living amniotes, only 0.97 pg (970 million base pairs) [1].

It is a well-known gamebird, among those of more than regional importance perhaps the most widespread and ancient one in the whole world. The Common Pheasant is one of the world's most hunted birds[2]; it has been introduced for that purpose to many regions, and is also common on game farms where it is commercially bred. Ring-necked Pheasants in particular are commonly bred and were introduced to many parts of the world; the game farm stock, though no distinct breeds have been developed yet, can be considered semi-domesticated. The Ring-necked Pheasant is the state bird of South Dakota, one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States.

The Green Pheasant (P. versicolor) of Japan is sometimes placed as subspecies within the Common Pheasant. Though the species produce fertile hybrids wherever they coexist, this is simply a typical feature among Galloanseres, in which postzygotic isolating mechanisms are slight compared to most other birds. The species apparently have somewhat different ecological requirements and at least in its typical habitat the Green outcompetes the Common Pheasant; its introduction to Japan has therefore largely failed.

Hornbills

History

The Hornbill Research Foundation was set up following a project initiating research into the ecology of hornbills by the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University in 1980. The study was begun in Khao Yai National Park and later expended to include forests in western and sounthern regions. Apart form the biology and ecology of hornbills, research was also made into their range and status throughout the country. As a result, an increasing number of research workers were needed to cope with the expansion of project and the maintenance of uninterrupted record-keeping.

This led to the creation of a foundation which H.R.H. Princess Mahachakri Sirinthorn was graciously pleased to name, and “The Hornbill Research Foundation” was set up on July 1993.


[Hornbill] The Importance of Hornbills

Hornbills are both fruit and fresh eaters. They are far-ranging in their search for food and drop the seeds of the fruits they eat as they go, dispersing them over a wide area.They are thus important seed dispersers for the forest, acting as agents of forest regeneration, at the same time as controlling insects and other small animal populations. As such, they can be regarded as indicators of high moist forests, ensuring the continuance of forest health and species richness.

Aims

1. To continuce and expand further research intiatives into hornbills and related topics.
2. To disseminate information on forest and the wildlife within them to the public.
3. Develop interest in and encourage the study of natural ecosystems among scientists, researchers, students and schoolchildren.
4. Set up a centre for the exchange of information and training in research into hornbills at both national and international levels.
5. To work for the good of the public or co-operate with other nonprofit-making institutions for public benefit.
6. Not to be involved with any political activity.


Current Research Projects

Many important topics of research presently underway have been initiated by the project for the study of the Ecology of Hornbills, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University working in conjunction with the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University.

Survey of the range and status of hornbill populations throughout Thailand

The present distribution and status of wild hornbills is not yet know with any certainty, even
though such basic data is essential to manage the conservation of hornbills and their habitats.




Study of the biology and ecology of endangered hornbill species

Many species of Thai hornbills are at present near extinction. It is therefore vital to understand the basic needs for their survival in order to protect and conserve them. This study is currently being pursued in Huai Kha khaeng-Thung Yai wildlife Sanctuary and several protected forests in the south.

Endangered hornbill species include :

a. Wrinkled Hornbill b. Plain-pouched hornbill
c. Rufous-necked Hornbill d. Rhinoceros Hornbill
e. Helmeted Hornbill f. Black Hornbill
g. White-crowned Hounbill


Study of the biology and ecology of hornbills in khao Yai National Park

Research here has centred upon a long-term study of the breeding status of hornbills, identifying the factors necessary for successful breeding and growth of population, and the collection of data to determine the numbers of breeding pairs the study area might support, to study hornbill food plants, etc. Information collected is being used to adjust and improve abandoned nesting holes so that they may be re-occupied. Should this project prove successful, both the knowledge gained and the methods used can be applied to toher areas of conservation in the country. [Hornbill]


Youth Education Programme to inculcate interest in wildilife and the forest

The survival of Thailand’s forests ans wildlife will depend upon people’s understanding of the importance of the forests to their lives and the urgent need to help conserve them. With this in mind, the Foundation has produced booklets, held exhitions, given illustrated talks with slides, slide multivision shows and videos and organize “We love hornbills” nature Camps where children have been taken on guided treks through the forest and engaged in other nature activities. A nation-wide Hornbill Painting Competition has been organized.
Besides this varied youth programme and the opportunities offered for training in hornbill research, our target of awareness, through the publication of our research,will also be directed to the general public.

Owls and Nightjars

OWLS AND NIGHTJARS

Many species of owl contribute to the rich array of birds found in the Park. All are nocturnal predators which capture and feed on small creatures such as other birds, enormous numbers of mice, frogs, in sects and sometimes even hares. An exception is the very rare Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli) which scoops fish and crabs from the shallower waters of rivers. Several nests of these large and unusual birds have been found along the Luvuvhu River at Pafuri.

Most owls are mottled in patterns of brown, grey and black, and have a number of very useful adaptations to assist in their predatory way of life. Their senses of sight and hearing are exceptionally keen, enabling them to locate prey during twilight or in the reflected light of the moon, and among some species in total darkness, while modified wing feathers enable them to swoop silently onto their prey. As they are only active at night they are rarely seen by visitors. With luck, an occasional individual may sometimes be seen during the day, perched in slumber in the branches of some tree.

Nightjars are much smaller than owls but are also nocturnal predators. All are mottled and speckled in varying shades of brown, with blotches of white helping to increase their camouflage. They have wide mouths, with short pointed beaks used to capture their insect prey. Several species are found, most of them being fairly common but rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits. Many sit on the ground in open clearings or on roads during the early hours of night, patiently waiting for insects to fly into view

Sarothrura rufa (Red-chested flufftail)

The Red-chested Flufftail (Latin name Sarothrura rufa) is described in Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, 7th Edition. This bird has a unique Roberts number of 217 and you will find a full description of this bird on page 317 also a picture of the Red-chested Flufftail on page . The Red-chested Flufftail belongs to the family of birds classified as . According to the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology the Red-chested Flufftail is also known by these other names: Red-chested Crake, Red-chested Pygmy Crake, Red-chested Pygmy Rail.

The map of the Kruger you see on this page shows the areas (coloured orange) where this bird has been identified. The basic information was provided by the Avian Demographic Unit based at UCT and I created the maps from that information ... the green dots show the locations of the various Kruger National Park Rest Camps

The Red-chested Flufftail is neither Endemic or near Endemic to the Kruger National Park. It is however a rare resident

In terms of distribution of the Red-chested Flufftail in the Kruger National Park you may not see it in all areas. Red-chested Flufftail : see above distribution map.

Identification assistance for this avian species ...

The male and female Red-chested Flufftail have the same plumage and colours

* Head is .
* Eye is .
* Bill is .
* Throat is .
* Back is .
* Legs are .

This bird has normally proportioned leg length.