Just as the locals started sowing potatoes for the year, the last group of Black-necked Cranes consisting of two adults and a juvenile, left for their summer breeding grounds yesterday, i.e. 13th March 2014 at 1015 hrs. The BNCs have spent the past five months in the cold valley of Phobjikha valley in Wangduephodrang. The first group consisting of 10 adults migrated from the valley on 9th February 2014, following which, groups ranging from 2 to 50 cranes left the valley on various dates.
In a rare sighting in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, a Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) was spotted near Singye Dzong at a record altitude of 3600 m in Bhutan.
The presence of two adult White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) in Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarpang was confirmed by a team of RSPN and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary Forestry Officials on 26 February 2014.
The three-day training on Book-keeping and Silviculture Options to the Community Forest Management Group (CFMG) Members of lower Zhemgang was organized by Zhemgang Field Office in collaboration with the Block RNR Extension Forest Offices of lower Zhemgang from 15th February till 21st February, 2014.
25 January, 2014: 37 Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis) were counted at Khayber (Rinchengang), Bayling (Below the Pear Tree, Lithongshing), Trashiyangtse . Between 08.18 am to 08.27 am about 37 BNCs were seen feeding in the dry paddies feeding on the grain droppings. This area is a popular non-roosting feeding area for the BNCs in Trashiyangtse. The BNCs usually come to this area at 5 am from roosting areas in Bumdeling.
The management team of the new Community-based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) Group of Phobjikha was given a 5 days training on basic office management from 23rd to 27th January 2014 at the RSPN headquarter in Thimphu. The management team was formed as a requirement of the CBST business plan for establishment of a CBST Group secretariat/ office.