I and my friends are regular visitors for many years for bird photography in Sector-47-A, Chandigarh a filthy green park just adjoining forested area and unauthorised garbage dumping ground. We spend two hours daily in the morning. It is best birding point just near our house as lots of bird lovers used to come to that place and offer feed and water to the birds. So, number of birds used to visit that place. I came across with bald Indian Myna last year and at first glance I presumed it as new species. But later when saw in laptop enlarging its image, I was surprised that It was a common myna bird a bald? Similarly, this year three days back I saw another bald myna in Terraced Garden, Sector-33 and yesterday at my own courtyard? But in all the three mynas I have came across were bald from the head, forehead, neck, chin, throat, nape and crown and other part of the body were intact? It means they are more prone to losing feathers on their head. Rose-ringed parakeets too prone to this disease but I have not witnessed yet.
The common myna or Indian myna is a member of the family Sturnidae scientifically known as Acridotheres tristis, clutch size 4-6, adult length 23 cm, male adult 110g whereas female is 120-140g and its life span is 12-25 years It has established in the urban habitat. They are farmer friendly and anti too as they eat insects that destroy crops but on the other hand they damage bananas, pawpaws, chilis and other crops.
I talked to Dr.Matinder Singh Sekhon, President, Chandigarh Bird club and send him a picture on whatsapp. He said baldness could be caused by a range of factors including moulting, fighting, genetic problem, mite infections and hormonal imbalance.
I also contacted Dr.Ashish Chug of Chhatbir Zoo who said there could be so many reasons including nutritional deficiencies, external parasites and genetic factors rest can be said on examination of the bird.
I have watched them from very close because 50 mynas lives around my house in society they are often cry loudly when they saw cat, snake, shikra and mongoose etc. While birding many a times Number of times I have seen snakes whenever they are seen crying. They are very quarrelsome and their fight is merciless. They don’t even hesitate to kill the opponents and even the chicks.
A fine morning I was witnessing their fight and the other family was attacking the chick times and again. It was little bit injured. I took it and put it under the basket providing it meal and water with the intension to leave it in the same habitat when the two fighting groups will cool down. In the morning I left the chick in the same habitat but to my surprise when I saw it in the afternoon it was dead and the same attacking family was making it sure that it was dead. It was quite healthy when I left it. So my presumptions are that this could be one reason for baldness. I have observed it in only in common myna. In other species of Mynas I have not witnessed any such case yet. And more often they are not seen in the same area for long time. The bald myna which I saw in sector-33, Chandigarh was seen consistently for two days but rest of the two only for that day alone? It means they do not stay for longer period at the same place consistently possibly to stay away from fight and losing their life.
In my childhood days my neighbour from Kashmir used to say that don’t feed salty food to the birds. To ask why, was not tradition in fifties. But today I can understand that excessive salt can upset the electrolyte and fluid balance in the bird’s tiny body which can cause dehydration/excessive thirst/kidney failure, baldness and can cause of death.
August 30, 2020
-
-
Kulbhushan Kanwar, Nature Correspondent, Babushahi Network
kulbhushankanwar@gmail.com
Phone No. : +91-9815935035
Disclaimer : The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the writer/author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media. Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.