The quest had long been in the making but it was being postponed for quite some time because I knew whenever we started out we will surely complete it. Umm… will cut out the dramatics – “Dongar Duda” is the local Korkus name for the critically endangered Forest Owlet, Heteroglaux blewitti. Thought to be extinct for almost 113 years was rediscovered in 1997 by Pamela Rasmussen. The owlet still remains in the critically endangered list with the current population estimates of anywhere between 60 to 240 birds concentrated in the Melghat area of Satpuda range.
Three of us, Myself, Tarun Balpande and Raju Kasambe set out early morning on Saturday 20th, Feb 2010. The destination was Malura village where Nandram lives. Nandram is a Korku, a tribe native to Melghat and surrounding region. Nandram has assisted Raju in his studies and searches for the Forest Owlet. Over the period of time Nanadram, the first adult to learn reading and writing in a village of 160 voters has a become an expert tracker and knows the local population of birds almost as if on a first name basis.
However when we reached Malura, Nandram was out in the field where he works as a daily wage laborer. Raju knew a few spots and Tarun also had been there a month earlier, so we tried to locate the bird but could not… Nandram came back late evening and assured us that though the birds had moved a bit we will definitely see one in the morning. To spend the night we went to the Chuarakund guest house about 15 km away. At the guest house “Faltu”, yes that’s the name of the care taker, cooked dinner for us using the supplies we had picked up earlier at Paratwada. We were then joined by Yogesh and Latish, fellow birders from Amravati.
Next morning we were at Malura at 6:45 and bingo! Raju spotted the first Owlet almost immediately and I had my first photograph at 6:56 🙂
Soon there after we spotted another individual and by 8:30 I was satisfied with the photographs taken and not wanting to disturb the bird much said goodbye with a promise to visit again.
A few things that I need to remember for the next visit.
- There is no mobile network except BSNL from Paratwada onwards
- Take some clothes for the children of Malura village – they have asked for it
- If just an overnight trip taking a tent may be a better idea
- Taking cooking supplies from Nagpur would be better
- Don’t forget to feast on Rabadi and Dahi at Semadoh!
