Thursday, November 15, 2012

Echoes of Young Ornithologist

Mr. Rigdhen graduated with Forestry Science from College of Natural Resources under Royal University of Bhutan in 2004. He is an enthusiastic bird lover that likes nothing better than sharing his passion with others. He is proficient in plant identification, but his passion for learning about birds and wildlife keeps him busy most of the time. 

He believes that smallest amount of time spent in right way can lead to feelings of oneness with the earth, and peaceful feelings and that nature will surprise you, if you allow it to show you itself the way it wants you to see it. He considers himself blessed to be born in Bhutan, a fantastic place that really stimulates him with one of the highest bird density on this planet. 

Photo: www.facebook.com/tashi.dandup
Birding involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye said Mr. Rigdhen. Most birdwatchers pursue this activity mainly for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using more formal scientific methods.  

Mr. Rigdhen always anticipate to sight new birds species in the country and that gives strong determination to remain as birder. However, his unfailing hopes made him to discover Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius) in central Bhutan recently, which is classified with barn owls with heart-shaped face.

As per the fact file hosted in www.arkive.org, Oriental Bay Owl is nocturnal owl measuring about 10 inches in length with a wingspan of about 15 inches. This owl has distinctive angular facial disks and dark colored eyes. It has light chestnut brown in color underneath with darker brown upperparts. This bird can be found scattered throughout Southeast Asia, from India to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula. The breeding season of the Oriental bay owl varies with region. It nests in hollow trees and tree stumps, laying between three and five eggs. Prey is located using extremely sensitive hearing and consists of small mammals, small birds, reptiles, frogs and insects. 

The Oriental bay owl has several calls, including whistles, hoots, wails and screams. The owl is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List 2004 and is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Besides, it is thought to have low population numbers but is not currently considered to be threatened and no conservation action has been targeted to this species until now.

Mr. Rigdhen served in various capacities in the field of protection and conservation of environment until now. To have sound conservation, it is always his interest to work in the field and provide options for communities so that their dependence on the resources is greatly minimized. His skill on conservation of forests and environment significantly contributes to sustainable management so that our future generations live in harmony with nature.  

I have seen your passion for birding since your childhood. I remember your struggle in choosing your subjects for your work. Let me confess here that as a birder, I did have doubts but I must say you have proved all qualms by your greatest achievement. Achieving goals would not have been possible without the dedication you put in your work and without the patience, skills, professional virtues and your excellent commitment to the nature. 

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations for the achievements you have obtained, indeed, it is great honor for whole Bhutanese people for making this journey happened. With no doubt, your work deserves recognition and appreciation however, lucrative offers may tempt you to opt for an easier road and you will have to be very careful.

Photo: Mr. Rigdhen, Zhemgang Forest Division, Bhutan
Photo: www.johnjemi.blogspot.com 

12 comments:

  1. Dear dude Tashi,
    I would like to acknowledge you whole heartedly for sharing my views and intellectual curiosity that you share through your facebook badge. well! i m so fascinated with the way you disclosed my passion and interest that i have ever so. Among the colleague, you have really gone in depth to know my eternal feelings and the enthusiasm that i m really aspire of. So thank you very much once again dear.
    Perhaps, to other it may value nothing, but it is something special treasure of my life, career, to the nature and to boost ahead. hahaha... with my discovery of Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius)in our country (Bhutan), it really inspired me a lot to know more about the oriental Bay owl on its aesthetic and conservation value which really heightens that excitement to be a part of an Ornithologist in Bhutan.
    Thanking you
    (Tashi Dhendup) Nick: Rigdhen

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Achieving goals would not have been possible without the dedication you put in your work and without the patience, skills, professional virtues and your excellent commitment to the nature. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations for the achievements you have obtained, indeed, it is great honor for whole Bhutanese people for making this journey happened. With no doubt, your work deserves recognition and appreciation however, lucrative offers may tempt you to opt for an easier road and you will have to be very careful.

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  2. According to the Dalai Lama, the roots of goodness are in the soil of appreciation for goodness.. So keep it up and keep on blogging Tashi La..I like going through ur blog..

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Anonymous, well said and i know you are cool follower of Dalai Lama as i am. It is simple token of appreciation to one of my friend who is determined birder.

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  3. Hey dude, wonderful note! i do appreciate your sober feelings to him. That shows how much dedicated he is and how much booster you are. keep on blogging man, like the way you write, no hard feelings like other bloggers....

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  4. dear dude Tashi n Anonymous,
    i m extremely happy with what you say so... among many... i do follow only two steps of dalai lama: 1) follow 3 R (Respect others, Respect yourself and Respect the nature) 2) spend half an hour alone enjoying the past memory which will bring you a smile on your face..
    perhaps! my achievement might have encountered because of following 2 steps of what HH the Dalai Lama said so..

    dear dude.. thanks for sharing the blogs

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    Replies
    1. Hey Tashi, 3R's are at the heart of the ‘Go Green’ global movement. Therefore, the only way we can support future populations is by using our resources more efficiently through Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

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  5. Hi Mr Tashi, very interesting to see Oriental Bay Owl in Bhutan. This bird species usually occur in ASEAN countries and extreme north frontier of Myanmar. This is very rare bird species and globally significant as per IUCN. I am Ornithologists from Singapore and i have been into this subject for 21 years. However, this is my first time hearing presence of Oriental Bay Owl in Bhutan. I would say, your country is really land of happiness and surprised me to hear this good news. Please kindly proceed with further research activities and if you need any assistance i would be very much happy to help you.

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  6. dear Anonymous, so happy to know that you are an ornithologist. infact i have been hunching for an ornithologist to assist me in taking up my research activities on the oriental Bay Owl. but without any guidance on how to proceed further, i have stuck and land up at a certian stage where i couldnt proceed further.
    well! to be an authentic, i m really in need of support in taking up my course and hope you may assist me on my project.
    thanking you

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  7. Nice work, really enjoyed reading this, thanks :)

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  8. Thank you for your comments, i am very happy to know you all like his work. If any one needs Mr. Rigdhen's contact, here is his Facebook contact address: http://facebook.com/tashi.dandup, feel free to contact directly with him.

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