RSPN is pleased to announce the selection result of a National Consultancy Firm for conducting Baseline Survey. As per the evaluation criteria set up by RSPN evaluation committee, M/s. Kyingkhor Consultancy Service based in Thimphu, who scored 248.5 points is hereby selected for the month long consultancy service. The evaluation was further reviewed by SDF office and was approved for the same.

Please click on the thumbnails to enlarge these evaluation sheets.

22^nd  February 2015. On 22^nd February we woke up at 0430 hours and went to the bird hide after walking for 35 minutes. It was pitch dark with clear skies. Frost have blanketed the entire vegetation. It was complete dark and silent. We kept our noise and torches low not to cause any disturbance to the birds.  At about 0552 hours the sky was becoming brighter and we could hear a single call from the roost. Few minutes later there were many such calls.

In 2014, RSPN built a small eco-friendly bird hide on a slope facing the two major Black-necked Crane (BNC) roosting ponds in Phobjikha. The semi-circle bird hide have elongated narrow window providing panoramic view of the valley. It can accommodate about 15 people and watch the birds quite well without any binoculars or spotting scopes. It is about 100 meters away from the roost. From here BNCs can be easily observed without any disturbance. During winter when temperatures are below freezing point, such shelters keep the birders quite warm from the cold, frost and frequent winds.

We watched from the spotting scope and we could faintly see cranes in Roost No. 2 who were already awake and making slight movements. We could also hear faint calls from the Roost No. 4 located about 700 meters away southwards. By. 0557 hours the cranes started making loud calls. The Ruddy shelducks and Oriental skylarks too have woken by then adding music to the calm morning.

As the dawn broke we counted 110 BNCs at Roost No. 1, 87 BNCs at Roost No. 2, 53 BNCs at Roost No. 3, and 6 BNCs at a small roost near Roost No. 3. We also counted about 13 Ruddy shelducks [The total BNC count for Phobjikha this winter was 396 BNCs counted on 18^th January 2015].

At 0641 hours the cranes started to fly away south wards for feeding. The sun has not yet shown up. We saw cranes walking slowly out of the shallow ponds which were covered with thin layer of ice which broke with the bird’s weight. The ponds seemed quite murky with mud and grasses. Many cranes were still in the post standing patiently on its one leg.  As the sun’s rays fell over the hill tops nearby the cranes started to disperse across the valley in groups ranging from 2 to 10.

Couples were seen performing the “courtship dance” while many others were feeding. A large group of BNCs were still in the roosting ponds preening their feathers. Some were still seen sleeping with their head tugged in the feathers of their body. As the sun’s rays slowly reached the valley floor, it melted away the frost that have engulfed the vegetation.  At this hour preening, feeding and couple dancing was the most seen behavior. Cranes then scattered all over the valley like tiny white mushrooms all over.

An alert call is heard from the distance and we saw three dogs approaching Roost No. 1 and No. 2, sniffing and trying to chase the cranes. The cranes quickly ran and flew off. The sun have now fully covered the valley and BNCs walk slowly in pairs, family and groups majestically. As we walked back we saw them in large groups as big as 34 at about 30 meters away without any peril.

It was a great morning to see the birds!

On 16^th February at 0400 hours, on the eve of Lunar new year, two young local boys aged between 10 to 12 came rushing to RSPN’s Black-necked Crane Visitor Center (BNCVC) in Phobjikha. They had an important message for the officials there. They reported about an adult BNC lying in the open area at the valley floor at Phobjikha. The officials immediately reached the site at 0430 hours and saw few local kids gathered around the injured BNC.

The officials then dispersed the crowd and let the BNC alone in the wetland. It could neither stand and walk away nor make any noise. It then tried to walk for 10-15 meters and again fell down. It was then carried to the local Livestock Officer who examined for any physical injury (bruise or fracture). The sick  bird was injected with an analgesic (painkiller) for quick pain relief. The bird was then kept at BNCVC in a small makeshift house at 0530 hours and fed with wheat and water (The shed built with CGI sheet is located under few pine trees providing adequate shade and with no human disturbance).* Over the next four days the bird was constantly fed and observed by the officials under the guidance of experts.  The bird was getting better each day and it would stand and walk around in the shed. It was also feeding well on the soaked wheat and plenty of water which were fed separately. A small window (1meter x 1meter) was made for the bird to escape in the event it got better.

Until then no BNCs have been spotted in similar condition. Such cases of BNC injury is quite rare in Phobjikha. A crane with injured leg was seen in the valley few years ago.

*NOTE: BNCVC currently doesn’t have any rehabilitation facilities at Phobjikha and our officials are not trained to handle any such cases.

RSPN would like to thank the following crane lovers for their support:

1. The two young brave boys in Phobjikha for their prompt report
2. Mr. Sherub, Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment, Bumthang for his advice and inspection
3. Mr. Singye, Livestock Officer, RNR, Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang for his inspection and treatment
4. Mr. Santa Lal Gajmer, Mr. Gen Kato and Mr. Tashi Phuntsho, RSPN staff at BNCVC, Phobjikha for their patience, vigilance and care
5. Mr. Tshering Phuntsho, Ms Rinchen Wangmo and Ms. Rebecca Pradhan, RSPN, Thimphu for the coordination.

RSPN is pleased to announce the selection result of a Project Officer for a wetland project in Buli, Zhemgang. As per overall performance in the selection interview, Mr. Narayan Ghallay, who scored 69.3% is hereby selected for the post.

We want to thank all the applicants for their participation.

Please refer following scoresheet for more details:

OVERALL RESULT:

WRITTEN EXAMINATION SCORE SHEET:

Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) announces the availability of fund for small scale action grant project through Bhutan Water Partnership (BhWP) for community based water source protection and invites proposal from local communities and institutions.

Last date for the submission of the proposal is on 15 March 2015.

For information, please contact concerned officials of RSPN at telephone number 322056 (Extension: 310,301) during office hours

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN)  would like to invite licensed Bhutanese consultants to submit bidding documents for the conduct of Final Evaluation Survey of a project implemented by RSPN  in Zhemgang.

Detailed ToR can be obtained from the Adm/HR Unit od  RSPN during office hours upon payment of Nu.200/- (non-refundable). The last date of submission of bidding documents is on or before 12 noon 2^nd March 2015.

BNCVC, Phobjikha.

RSPN is pleased to inform the general public, tour operators and tourist guides that Black-necked Center Visitor Center (BNCVC) in Phobjikha have been renovated recently with additional facilities. The center is now functional and open to tourist and guests. Some of the important facilities include theatre room with mural narration and crane documentaries, photography spot with large dummy black-necked crane, observatory with spotting scope and information of Black-necked cranes, two managers to provide information about the center and the cranes etc.

For the purpose of sustainability of the center and to provide quality and reliable services, the center will introduce Entrance Fees starting 1^st March 2015. The entrance fees will be charged as listed below:

*Age to be verified by passport/identification card

In this regard, RSPN would like to inform that the entrance fees will be effective from 1^st March 2015 and money receipts will be duly issued to guest/guide/individuals.

Picture courtesy: Tshering Phuntsho, RSPN

The RSPN Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the short listing exercise in the selection of candidates for the post of Executive Director of RSPN. The following candidates have been shortlisted:

1. Sonam Wangchuk
2. Dr. Kinley Tenzin
3. Karma Tshering

The above short listed candidates are required to appear for an interview at 2:00pm on Wednesday, 18 February 2015. The candidates are required to report to RSPN at 1:45pm.

The Board of Directors would like to thank all applicants for their participation.

Chairman, RSPN

The review team is pleased to announce the selection result for 2014-2015 Jigme Khesar Environmental Research Fund (JKERF) Grant. The following recipients are requested to immediately contact Mr. Dago Tshering, Researcher (dtshering@rspn.local / 77607642) for further guidance.

The review team would also like to thank the other applicants for their excellent research proposals and we wish you all the success in mobilizing the fund from other sources.