New family & species to Bhutan

Submitted by: Chris G Bradshaw and Peter Lobo

During late March and early April we enjoyed a birding tour of Bhutan in the company of three other birders. On the evening of 9^th April 2008 we camped in a small orange grove with patches of forest nearby, a few kilometres up the road from Deothang, at an elevation of 1250m. After dinner we all retired for the night. At around 2100hrs, Chris G Bradshaw heard the distinctive call what appeared to be a Hodgson’s Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni), a species he had previously heard in Vietnam. Noise from traffic on the road drowned out any further calls and he wondered whether he had been dreaming. About 20 minutes later he again heard the call and got up to investigate.

Septembt 16, 2008 - Every year, September 16 is celebrated to mark the international day for the preservation of ozone layer. With this year's theme, "Montreal Protocol - Global partnership for global benefits", there will be several events organized throughout the globe marking this important day.