F N Betts (1906-1973)
An introduction to his ornithological contributions
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Shyamal, L. 2007. Opinion: taking Indian ornithology into the Information Age. Indian Birds 3(4):122-137 . Image: Wikipedia
The historical context
Image: Smithsonian Museum's website http://www.si.edu/.
The places
• Halagote Tank
• Hebbale (Ixobrychus sinensis)
• Palhalli near Seringapatam (Ranganathittu?)
• Belur Golf-course near Somwarpet
• Milkutty (Rocky crags near Somwarpet)
• Yaslur (Alexandrine parakeet)
• Brahmagiris
• Fraserpet
• Mysore
• Belur
• Kudremukh
Local knowledge
Problems with the books
Missed ?
Still unknown
Out of place
Timing
• Betts,FN (1951) The birds of Coorg. Part I.
• J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50(1):20-63.
• Wood snipe (Gallinago nemoricola)– 28-January 1938
Rarities
Further study needed
Dummy nests
JBNHS 1937-1938
Ecological notes
• 1951. The birds of Coorg. Part I. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50(1):20-63.• 1951. The birds of Coorg. Part II. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50(2):224-263.
Consolidation
Concepts - niches, allopatry
The breeding seasons of the birds in the hills of South India - Ibis 1952
Based on 7 years, 573 nests of 140 species
Maximum bird-breeding activity after the winter minimum and least during the rains
Thanks Salim Ali and R E Moreau
Looking at patterns
A lull during the rains
Seabirds on Aride
• Birds of the Seychelles with Desmond Vesey-Fitzgerald (1940)
Data collation
Large scale studies
Accumulating evidence
Seeing the difference
Keeping an eye on change
Fact or fiction?
From Garcia, CA et al. 2009 Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes: Challenges and Opportunities of Coffee Agroforests in the Western Ghats, India.
Conservation Biology
Slow changes can be missed
1977 1997
From Garcia, CA et al. 2009 Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes: Challenges and Opportunities of Coffee Agroforests in the Western Ghats, India.
Conservation Biology
An opportunity
2007