Article submitted by – Anirudh Chaoji
Imagine being greeted in the mornings with “e-kya-re” of the Iora or the melodious “meow” calls of Peacocks. Lapwing’s calls of “did you do it? pity you did it!”, loud calls of Partridges and lusty whistles of Magpie Robins from tree-tops. If the sight of a “kookooing” Koel being chased by gang or “cawing” Crows is quite common, in all probabilities, your morning is well spent. Why just mornings, the symphony continues through-out the day, till almost the end of the day!!!
Even as the sunrays warm the earth, larger birds like Kites, Hawks and Eagles struggle to reach heights. These birds of prey have always fascinated man. Admired by likes of Alexander and Napoleon, and even finding the prestigious place of a national symbol of USA, these birds spell confidence, courage and determination. But nature knows no pride and ego. Just observe these birds pathetically struggle to get airborne in the early hours and fail. These birds use the thermals created by hot air rising up to fly where no one else dares. If you however notice these birds going up in the warm currents of the thermals in the early hours of the day, be sure to expect clouds and even rains that evening.
By now the grazers are taking their cattle out into the fields, and who could be happier than the two gentlemen – Drongos in their jet black suits and the pure white Egrets, who feast on the insects disturbed by the walking cattle. Drongos show better table manners by not running in between the legs of the cattle to grab as much as possible. Watching Drongos, the myna-sized black birds, protecting their nesting trees against larger birds like crows, hawks, kites and eagles is the most fascinating sight. Interestingly, Drongos do not molest smaller and weaker birds and even allow them to nest on the same tree, giving them their appropriate name of Kotwal!
The menu card of Drongos, Egrets and other insectivorous birds is a “who is who” of insect pests including the marauding locusts. Mankind owes its survival to the thankless service that these birds and the birds of prey have provided.
India, fortunately happens to be a favoured destination of a number of migratory birds. Numerous waterbodies provide a winter home to migratory visitors from Siberia, Europe and Himalayas. Watching these birds in V formation, probably is the climax in birdwatching. This flight pattern is the inspiration to the developments in the aerodynamic technologies.
There is no end to the exploits of the wonderland that has been brought on earth by birds. Sarus cranes, which pair for life – display most fascinating slow and rhythmic dance, gulls in flight, inspire streamline motion, an Indian roller spell-bounds observers with its blue colours and spectacular acrobatics, kites avoiding all obstructions and traffic congestions turns, twists and rolls to pick up a dead rat from a busy road. Every bird is unique and birdwatcher can never get bored.