With Ecological Recommendations For Mahavihara Stupa,
The World Heritage Site Where Gautama Buddha Attained Awakening
Beneath The Bodhi Tree
by Dr. Daniel Goldenberg, Ph.D.
Bird Species were recorded in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India,
in the Mahabodhi Vihara Stupa and vicinity
from Sujata Village to Tergar Monastery,
12/2008 - 1/2009,
11/2009 - 1/2010 and
12/2010 - 1/2011.
Part I. Recorded Species 12/2008 - 1/2009
Part II. Recorded Species 11/2009 - 1/2010
A. Spp Recorded Common To Both 12/2008 - 1/2009 and 11/2009 - 1/2010
B. Additional Spp Recorded 11/2009 - 1/2010
C. All Spp Recorded 11/2009 - 1/2010
Part III. Combined Recorded Species 2008/09 and 2009/10
Part IV. Additional Species Recorded 12/2010 - 1/2011
Part V. Complete List of Recorded Species 2008 - 2011
Part VI. Environmental Threats to Mahavihara Stupa Meditation Garden and Wildlife With Ecological Recommendations
A. Observations on Avian Distribution and Prevalence
B. Threats To Stupa Ecology and Recommendations
C. Wildlife Trafficking and Recommendations
Part I. Species Recorded 12/2008 - 1/2009
Black-Rumped Flameback Woodpecker
Brown-headed Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Common Hoopoe
Indian Roller
White-throated Kingfisher
Green Bee-Eater
Common Hawk Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm Swift
House Swift
Barn Owl
Spotted Owlet
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
White-Breasted Waterhen
Common Sandpiper
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Black-Shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Little Cormorant
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Painted Stork
Asian Openbill
Brown Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Large-Billed Crow
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-Hooded Oriole
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-Bellied Drongo
Bluethroat
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black Redstart
Brown Rockchat
Brahminy Starling
Asian Pied Starling
Common Mynah
Bank Mynah
Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch
Red-Vented Bulbul
Grey-Breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Chiffchaff
Greenish Warbler
Thick-Billed Flowerpecker
Pale-Billed Flowerpecker
Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Olive-Backed Pipit
Scaly-Breasted Munia
List End
Part II: Species Recorded 11/2009 - 1/2010
Section A. Spp Recorded common to both 2008/09 and 2009/10
Brown-headed Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Common Hoopoe
Indian Roller
White-throated Kingfisher
Green Bee-Eater
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm Swift
House Swift
Spotted Owlet
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
White-Breasted Waterhen
Common Sandpiper
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Black-Shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Little Cormorant
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Painted Stork
Asian Openbill
Brown Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Large-Billed Crow
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-Hooded Oriole
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-Bellied Drongo
Bluethroat
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black Redstart
Brown Rockchat
Brahminy Starling
Asian Pied Starling
Common Mynah
Bank Mynah
Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch
Red-Vented Bulbul
Plain Prinia
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Greenish Warbler
Thick-Billed Flowerpecker
Pale-Billed Flowerpecker
Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Scaly-Breasted Munia
List End
Section B. Additional Spp Recorded 11/2009 - 1/2010, (i.e. not recorded 12/2008 - 1/2009)
Indian Peafowl
Lesser Whistling Duck
Alexandrine Parakeet
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Bronze-Winged Jacana
Shikra
Besra
Bonnelli's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Common Kestrel
Indian Cormorant
Red-Throated Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
Common Stonechat
Barn Swallow
Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Hume's Warbler
Jungle Babbler
Purple-Rumped Sunbird
Richard's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Red Avadat
Indian Silverbill
List End
Section C. Merged Lists of Sections A and B: All Species Recorded 11/2009 - 1/2010
Indian Peafowl
Lesser Whistling Duck
Brown-headed Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Common Hoopoe
Indian Roller
White-throated Kingfisher
Green Bee-Eater
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm Swift
House Swift
Spotted Owlet
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
White-Breasted Waterhen
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Bronze-Winged Jacana
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Black-Shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Shikra
Besra
Bonnelli's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Common Kestrel
Indian Cormorant
Little Cormorant
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Painted Stork
Asian Openbill
Brown Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Large-Billed Crow
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-Hooded Oriole
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-Bellied Drongo
Red-Throated Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
Bluethroat
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Brown Rockchat
Brahminy Starling
Asian Pied Starling
Common Mynah
Bank Mynah
Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch
Barn Swallow
Red-Vented Bulbul
Plain Prinia
Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Hume's Warbler
Greenish Warbler
Jungle Babbler
Thick-Billed Flowerpecker
Pale-Billed Flowerpecker
Purple-Rumped Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Richard's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Indian Silverbill
Red Avadat
Scaly-Breasted Munia
List End
Part III. Combined Recorded Species 2008/09 and 2009/10
Black-Rumped Flameback Woodpecker
Indian Peafowl
Lesser Whistling Duck
Brown-headed Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Common Hoopoe
Indian Roller
White-throated Kingfisher
Green Bee-Eater
Common Hawk Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm Swift
House Swift
Spotted Owlet
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
White-Breasted Waterhen
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Bronze-Winged Jacana
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Black-Shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Shikra
Besra
Bonnelli's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Common Kestrel
Little Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Painted Stork
Asian Openbill
Brown Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Large-Billed Crow
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-Hooded Oriole
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-Bellied Drongo
Red-Throated Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
Bluethroat
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Brown Rockchat
Brahminy Starling
Asian Pied Starling
Common Mynah
Bank Mynah
Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch
Barn Swallow
Red-Vented Bulbul
Grey-Breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Hume's Warbler
Greenish Warbler
Jungle Babbler
Thick-Billed Flowerpecker
Pale-Billed Flowerpecker
Purple-Rumped Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Olive-Backed Pipit
Richard's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Indian Silverbill
Red Avadat
Scaly-Breasted Munia
List End
Part IV. Additional Species for 2010/11 recorded 12/2010
Black-winged Stilt
Streak-throated Swallow
Scaley Thrush
Baya Weaver
List End
Part V. Complete List of Recorded Species 2008 - 2011:
12/2008 - 1/2009 + 11/2009 - 1/2010 + 12/2010 - 1/2011
Black-Rumped Flameback Woodpecker
Indian Peafowl
Lesser Whistling Duck
Brown-headed Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Common Hoopoe
Indian Roller
White-throated Kingfisher
Green Bee-Eater
Common Hawk Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm Swift
House Swift
Spotted Owlet
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
White-Breasted Waterhen
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
black-winged stilt
Bronze-Winged Jacana
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Black-Shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Shikra
Besra
Bonnelli's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Common Kestrel
Little Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Painted Stork
Asian Openbill
Brown Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crow
Large-Billed Crow
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-Hooded Oriole
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
White-Bellied Drongo
Scaley Thrush
Red-Throated Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
Bluethroat
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Brown Rockchat
Brahminy Starling
Asian Pied Starling
Common Mynah
Bank Mynah
Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch
Barn Swallow
Streak-throated Swallow
Red-Vented Bulbul
Grey-Breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Hume's Warbler
Greenish Warbler
Jungle Babbler
Thick-Billed Flowerpecker
Pale-Billed Flowerpecker
Purple-Rumped Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Olive-Backed Pipit
Richard's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Red Avadat
Indian Silverbill
Baya Weaver
Scaly-Breasted Munia
List End
Total Recorded Bird Species for Bodh Gaya 2008 - 2011 = 98.
Part VI. Ecological Threats to Mahavihara Stupa Meditation Garden and Wildlife And Recommendations
A. Observations on Avian Species Distribution and Prevalence
Most of the species in the above lists were recorded only in the Mahabodhivihara Stupa Meditation Garden proper and were not observed in the surrounding area. Moreover, the observed individuals of each specie were few in number. Thus, the meditation garden of the Stupa, as expected and natural, acts as an avian oasis and refuge for the entire Bodh Gaya area's dwindling avian population.
It follows that ecological degradation of the meditation garden will have significant repercussions on the diversity and numbers of the avian populations in the Bodh Gaya area and vicinity. Deterioration of natural conditions within the garden will result in disappearance of many bird species in the garden and in the surrounding Bodh Gaya region. In fact, paucity of bird observations in the 2010/2011 season, only the second season of increased traffic in the meditation garden, confirm this analysis.
Avian natural conditions are fragile and cannot withstand the negative ecological impact of increased numbers of people. Birds are not only frightened away by people but they also require freshness of the environment, freshness that crowds of people rapidly obliterate.
Last season the entry tariff to the meditation park was reduced and the litter and wear-and-tear in the park noticeably increased. If this policy of relaxed admission to the park continues, in my opinion it is certain that the prevalence and diversity of bird species within the park will drastically diminish and the Stupa will cease to be a refuge for avian wildlife. To repeat, real scarcity of birds in the 2010/2011 season, only the second season of increased traffic in the meditation garden, strongly suggest the correctness of this analysis.
The fact that the meditation garden staff in 2009/2010 have been systematically stripping the garden's guava trees of fruit only makes things much worse, as many species observed in the garden require these fruits for food in the midst of an environmentally impoverished region that offers them little else.
In the time of the Buddha there were no doubt many birds in the Bodhi tree under whose boughs he attained wisdom. Can we not muster the modicum of awareness and generosity necessary to leave a few trees in the privileged space of the Stupa meditation garden so that wild things may also eat and live?
B. Threats To Stupa Ecology and Recommendations
The following is an extract of a recommendation I sent to the BTMG (Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee):
“Environmental Threat to the Mahabodhi Stupa Meditation Garden
I have been observing birds in the garden for many hours and unfortunately have also observed the following:
1. People are not keeping to walkways.
2. They are crossing over hedges and in the process are breaking the hedges.
3. A few people are urinating where they will and not at all discreetly.
4. The barbed wire at the bottom of the garden has fallen down and people are climbing the wall at that point and depositing feces inside the garden.
5. Visitors and garden staff are picking fruit from the guava trees, fruit which provides needed sustenance for many bird species.
6. Children are swinging from branches of fragile shrubs.
7. People are spending hours sleeping on the grass or in the bowers, day after day.
8. Around the Vietnamese Shrine, immediately adjacent to the meditation garden, literally hundreds of orange-robed persons use the area as a toilet during Monlam, making the area was a nasty mess and yet nothing whatsoever is done to divert them to the nearby toilet facilities.
I have recorded a total of 98 different species of birds in and around the Stupa Meditation Garden. While the national bird of India is the peacock, the meditation garden is also home to other representative species of India such as the Indian Hornbill, Spotted Owlet, Shikra , Indian Robin and the Purple Sunbird. Many very interesting passage migrants, particularly various uncommon and exotic warblers also feed and rest in this garden during their long migratory journeys.
On the basis of many years of experience in the field of ecology and conservation, I believe that if the Stupa Garden remains accessible under the present policy of relaxed admission there will be too many people in the garden, resulting in significant environmental degradation with a drastic decrease in avian diversity and prevalence. The stupa area adjacent to the garden must also be protected to ensure the integrity of the meditation garden.
Support for this view resides in the fact in front of the Stupa the extensive garden facility open to the public at no cost is virtually devoid of birdlife. It is therefore reasonable to infer that if the present policy of relaxed admission to the Stupa Meditation Garden continues, then by virtue of the increased human traffic, it is highly probable the Stupa Garden will also soon lose most of its birds. I therefore recommend that the Stupa Meditation Garden be maintained in suitable condition by reinstating the Rs100 entry fee.
All Buddhas love birds but since our winged cousins cannot speak but only sing for themselves, I make this plea on their behalf:
" Please preserve the necessary ecological conditions in the avian oasis of the Stupa Meditation Garden to maintain the lives of our beautiful winged brethren."
C. Wildlife Trafficking and Recommendations
Is it not shameful that the institution entrusted to administer the sacred site of the Buddha's Enlightenment does nothing to discourage or prevent the sale and destruction of living beings on its own property? For does not the Buddha's teaching state and does not every Buddhist monk make the solemn vow not to harm any living being? How is it then that those who administer the Mahabodhi Vihara Temple (BTMG) have seen fit to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the thousands of birds that die each season? At the hands of unscrupulous bird-vendors who intentionally maintain their captives in miserable condition to hasten their sale through threat of death these birds are in such sorry condition that they die whether they are purchased and released or remain imprisoned. One can only wonder why nothing whatsoever has been done to seriously prevent this crime against wildlife in spite of the ease and inexpensiveness of doing so.
The following is a copy of a letter I sent last Monlam season to the BGTMC (Bodh Temple Management Committee) concerning this matter.
“BIRD-SELLERS ON STUPA PROPERTY
Recommendation:
Since it is in theory prohibited under existing Stupa policy to traffic in living beings on Stupa property, yet many bird-sellers ply their unethical trade there unimpededly, I recommend the following:
1. Inform Stupa Visitors not to buy Birds by clearly posting signs in all necessary languages stating:
Bird-selling prohibited. Do Not Buy Birds.
2. Institute Enforcement of the extant Policy Prohibiting Trafficking in Living Beings on Stupa Property by instructing the guards and security personnel that selling birds is strictly prohibited, by training them in procedures for dealing with persons caught selling birds on the Temple mall and if necessary by providing other incentives for them to take action.
Such procedures would include:
i. release of birds,
ii. confiscation and destruction of bird cages
iii. detention of offenders by Bodh Gaya police
iv. fining and banning from Temple area of sellers so caught ...”
We can only hope the such pleas for the protection of this World Heritage Site's Ecology will not forever fall on deaf ears.
References
Birds of India, Grimmett and Inskipp, Princeton University Press.
Taxonomy and nomenclature is consistent with this text.
Notes
i. The location of the field for this study may be viewed in google maps by searching for "Mahabodhi Vihara Temple, Bodh Gaya, India".
The satellite view will enable you to see the meditation garden, where most of the birds were seen, in the lower right segment of the map.
ii. Bird photos were borrowed from http://www.treknature.com/gallery/ and the reader is referred to this website for pictures of the birds
in the above lists.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the BTMG for kind permission to enter the Stupa meditation garden unpaid for the purpose of conducting this study.
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