Team spotting three of the critically endangered species in Sirguppa taluk provides evidence of bird breeding in the vast grasslands.

The banks of the Tungabhadra in Sirguppa taluk has provided a glimpse of hope for the revival of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

On Sunday, a group of nature enthusiasts and avid birdwatchers sighted three GIBs — two adults and a chick — in interior Sirguppa taluk. The presence of the chick is evidence that the vast grasslands there are a breeding ground for the species that is on the verge of extinction.

The team comprising Santosh Martin, president of Sloth Bear Foundation; Abdul Samad Kottur, president of Society for Wildlife and Nature Conservation (SwAN); and Sonia Martin and Anand Kundargi, were incidentally among the first to spot the species here in 2006. In the years preceding that, it was assumed that GIB had been wiped out from the State.

Since then, more birds have been sighted, and recently, an egg was also found. “We will start a survey of the entire area to find out whether there are other groups of GIBs and document the findings,” said Mr. Kottur.

The semi-arid and arid grasslands in the interiors of Sirguppa taluk could potentially be a perfect habitat for the Bustard. However, the expanse of irrigation networks has seen the habitat shrinking through the years. “Though sighting a group of GIBs repeatedly in this area has made us very happy, we are concerned that nothing is being done for its conservation or the habitat,” said Mr. Martin.

Takat Singh Ranawat, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ballari, said: “We will initiate steps to protect the birds from poachers by appointing locals as ‘watchers’, besides strengthening the information network. We need to ascertain whether the GIBs spotted were residents or migratory.” The Forest Department also plans to identify government and private lands that could serve as a habitat for the species, he said.