In an environment-friendly gesture, quarrying has been stopped for about a month at a stone quarry in Vikarabad district in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/telangana-cracks-down-on-buses-after-kulnoor-accident-23600247" rel="nofollow">Telangana </a>to let a rock eagle owl, a rare bird, hatch its eggs.
The Telangana forest department quickly swung into action after being alerted by wildlife photographers and conservationists about the presence of the bird and the eggs.
Vikarabad District Forest Officer Gnaneswar told PTI on Thursday that wildlife photographer Manoj Kumar Vittapu, who visited the grassland at Yenkathala in Vikarabad about six days ago, informed the Telangana's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) C Suvarna about the presence of the rock eagle owl and its five eggs.
The PCCF asked the Vikarabad district forest officials to quickly take safety measures.
The forest department personnel who reached the site informed the stone crushing unit owner Laxma Reddy about the presence of rare <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/migrant-flocks-vanishing-wetlands-blamed-as-bird-strikes-at-mumbai-airport-double-since-2020-23579533" rel="nofollow">bird </a>species and the eggs, he said.
The unit owner agreed not to disturb the bird till the hatchlings fly.
The forest department personnel have been keeping a close watch on the bird since then on a daily basis, Gnaneswar said.
The rock eagle <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-rare-pallid-scops-owl-rescued-in-andheri-east-23603316" rel="nofollow">owl</a>, which preys on insects, rats and others, is mainly found in South East Asia. Compared to other owls, it inhabits rocky areas, he said.
"It's a rare species though it is not endangered. Its sighting is rare," the official said.
Though it is not known when the bird laid the eggs at the Yenkathala grassland, it is expected that hatching would happen in another 15 days. The hatchlings would fly away if protective care is taken for 20-25 days, he said.
The rock eagle owl incubates the eggs and ensures that they remain warm, he added.
Vittapu, who is also joint secretary of Telangana Photographic Society, told PTI that he visited the Yenkathala grasslands as part of a birding visit on November 30.
He said he noticed the eggs which were located between the quarry cliff and the ground. The earthmover driver at the quarry stopped the mining (stone crushing) after being alerted.
The driver and other personnel were aware of the presence of the bird.
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A rare rock eagle owl nesting with five eggs prompted Telangana’s forest department and quarry owners to pause operations, allowing the bird to hatch safely

Telangana quarry halts work to protect rare rock eagle owl nest in Telangana

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Home / Lifestyle / Nature & Wildlife / Article / Telangana quarry halts work to protect rare rock eagle owl nest in Telangana

Telangana quarry halts work to protect rare rock eagle owl nest in Telangana

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