Houbara Bustard, Provincial Bird of Balochistan

Houbara Bustard with her chicks

Houbara bustard is provincial bird of Balochistan. This is an endangered bird. There are two types of houbara bastard; indigenous and migratory.  Migratory Houbara Bastard starts arriving in Balochistan (Washuk, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Nushki, Dalbindin, Zhob, Ormara, Gwadar, Pasni, Panjgur, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Chaghai and Sibi) from the Mongolia, Siberia and Central Asian Republics at the start of the winter season (November and December) as the temperature drops below freezing point in these areas and return back in March and April. Experts have estimated that number of these migratory birds entering Balochistan is about 15,000-20,000. The bird takes only seven to ten days while covering about 5,5O0 kilometers from Siberia and Central Asian Republics to Balochistan and flies at a height of 4,000 meters. Houbara Bastard travels in groups with a leader, others follow him in a row. Once they lose their leader, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination. Houbara is a very sensitive bird and does not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey. In case the houbara loses its mate, it takes three to five years to find a new one. Its population is declining due to illegal hunting and destruction of its habitats. The rapid increase in population is also affecting the bird’s habitat and breading grounds.  Houbara gives birth to only two chicks a year, but the elder kills the younger one due to the fear of sharing food. Interestingly, this rivalry between the houbara newborns is also one of the factors of their gradual decrease.
 Nag Rakshan Valley in district Washuk in Balochistan is only place in Pakistan where residential houbara bustard is found. Rakhshan provides rich diversity of flora, fauna, insects and weeds to this endangered, modest and shy bird. A plant local called Kareech in Balochi is abundantly found here. Its flowers and leaves are favorite food & breeding habitat for houbara bustard. Due to non availability of other sources of fuel, the local community of Rakshan valley uses this plant to burn it in their kitchen so putting its existence to severe danger. The population of residential bird has been reduced drastically in the area due to hunting by Arab hunters (because they value its meat as an aphrodisiac) and due to domestic abuse (illegal netting, trapping and poaching) as well as exploitation of its habitat. Houbara Protection Organization is an NGO in district Washuk to protest hunting of Houbara and preserve this natural asset of Rakhshan valley. UAE obtained hundreds of eggs, chicks and birds to develop National Avian Research Centre in Abu Dhabi in 1980’s from here. Houbara bustard is a highly protected species both under national law and international conventions. It is protected under the Provincial Wildlife Acts/Ordinance of Balochistan. By 1975 it was declared an endangered species in Pakistan. The houbara could become extinct within 10 to 15 years from Balochistan if unchecked hunting, illegal trapping and trading of the bird continue. The natural death rate of the endangered birds is 30 percent while death due to hunting is more than 70 percent.

There is need for community awareness about this endangered bird and their involvement in preservation and protection of the houbara and a complete ban on issue of hunting permits to foreign hunters.

Characteristics of Houbara Bustard: The Houbara Bustard is a small to mid-sized bird. It measures 22–26 inches in length and spans 53–67 inches across the wings. It is brown above and white below, with a black strip down the sides of its neck. In flight, the long wings show large areas of black and brown on the flight feathers. The sexes are similar, but the female is rather smaller and greyer above. The body mass is 1.15–2.4 kg in males and 1–1.7 kg in females. The Houbara Bustard breeds in deserts and other very arid sandy areas and is largely resident within its range. Like other bustards, this species has attractive display raising the white feathers of the head and throat and withdrawing the head. Two to four eggs are laid on the ground. This species is omnivorous, taking seeds, insects and other small creatures. Its average life is 15 years.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:    Animalia

Phylum:     Chordata

Class:          Aves

Order:        Gruiformes

Family:       Otidae

Genus:        Chlamydotis

Species:      C. undulata

Binomial name: Chlamydotis undulata