B.S.K. Foundation
There are a lot of diversities in the colours, shapes; sizes etc. of variety of
birds so are they in their behavioral patterns. Some are cowards, some stay in
groups; some are aggressive whereas some are protective in nature.Drongo is a protective bird.Black like a crow, the Drongo can be seen when you move out of the urban area.
It is usually seen sitting on telephone cables.
I have observed/seen Drongos playing hide and seek with a crow many a times.
Once I observed two crows were after a Drongo trying to snatch the prey in its
beak, but it was a sight to behold when the Drongo would always escape itself
with a somersault! One moment it would encircle the telephone pole and a
split-second later it would be sitting on the cables! The crows did not sneered
in their assault. And in the end, the Drongo dodge, then it flew away towards
the distant trees.
Although a Drongo is as black as a crow, their spices are different. On
observing closely we find that, in fact, it's not really black in colour but a
very deep black. It can easily be recognized from a distance by its long and
bifurcated tail. Its also called King crow as well as Drongo. It gets up even
before the cockling of the domestic cock and makes a sweet sound whicky, whicky,
whicky. Because of it's sweet voice it is called Thakurji (Lord Krishna) in the
northern India. There it is also kept as a pet in cages. It soon gets
domesticated. After tying a cord to its legs many enthusiasts roam around and
taking it out into the open. Due to its very swift and entertaining nature it's
a pleasure to watch its' mischievous moves. At times, it snatches the prey from
the beaks of small bird, overshadowing them. But its greatness lies in its
protective nature, which is also why it has the apt title "Kotwal" (Police
Inspector) in Marathi. Birds like Oriales, Copper smiths, (Barbets), Bulbul have
their nests in the same trees as the Drongos nest. Due to its aggressive nature
a Drongo drives away bigger hunting Bird like crows, kites etc.
It's usual length is about six or seven inches, but due to its very long tail it
appears to be double that length.It can easily imitate the exact sounds of many
birds, which is very entertaining but, at times, misleading or confusing too.
Males and females are of the same colour and shape. It's beak and legs too are
black in colour. It has its own typical way of catching prey. It perches itself
on the back of animals like cows and buffaloes grazing in the jungle. As the
animals move ahead in the grass, the small insects thereon fly hither and
thither when the Drongo, sitting on the back of the animals catches the flying
pray, gulps it and but occupies its seat looking for more pray.
Male and female bird cooperates in building their nest, in the shape of a small
round bowl, using grass blades. The female lays there in four or five white
colored eggs during the months of April to August.
Usually in pairs the Drongo may be farmed as the protector of smaller bird.
A Drongo is called "Kotwal" in Marathi and is also called the charcoal bird due
to its black colour. Its local habitat of comprises of not only Maharashtra but
of the entire country as it is found everywhere from the Himalayas to
Kanyakumari. But as we move north its tail increases in length while in the
south it gets shorter. The Drongo in the north is at times so large in size so
as to be the big brother of its southern species. There it is named as Bhujang,
Bhrigraj or Bhimraj also. There its tail measures about a foot in length.
A Bhrigraj has two small bunches like black bees at the end of its thin wire
like tail when the bird flies it appears as it two black bees are also flying
attached to its tail end.
The Drongo is found all over Maharashtra.
During a casual visit to the collage in Parle I, by chance, had a look at a
beautifully colored bird landing on a Cyrus tree. It was a cuckoo, a great
sample of the batik art, basically green in colour with well-designed white dots
on its body.
In all parts of Mumbai city and its suburbs, wherever coconut and other well
spread trees are still retained, one can easily notice the cuckoos around the
houses perched on green trees. Due to industrialization and heavy traffic,
nature has already bid farewell to the cities. Even then the cuckoo still makes
its presence felt in that entire hubbub. This bird is a magician heralding the
arrival of spring with its melodious voice. Hearing its melody, makes one forget
himself, why does a cuckoo sings its melody only during the spring season? None
so far have been able to know the reason behind its love for the spring.
With the development of new habitations, felling of trees is on the rise. But
there has recently been a spur in the hobby for planting new plantations. Along
side with the cement-mortar compound walls we also find the planting of green
trees. We find white and musty colored flowers on bougainvillea creepers in many
compounds, pleasing our eyes.
It is now time for the spring to arrive and as usual, bulbul pairs are seen busy
building their nests. Intermittently we find Robins landing on the wires
opposite our house. Its dancing poses are a feast to observe during the dim
light at the time of sunrise or sunset. If there be a small gulmohar tree near
by, one will find a coppersmith family residing thereon. Its twang voice
resonating in the surroundings. All these birds are usually seen in cities and
they entertain you with their colours, shapes and melodious voices.
The cuckoo pairs stay in the cities and they love human habitants.
Cuckoo is seen all over the Indian sub continent. It tops all as far as the
melody in its voice is concerned. A novice cannot instantly distinguish between
a cuckoo and crow from their mere looks. A female cuckoo never sings it's a male
virtue. But even then we usually give all the credit to the female species. A
mango trees bloom in the spring and this coincides with the inauguration of the
male cuckoo's melody. It heralds the arrival of the spring season with its
koohoo koohoo melody. We move around in the thickness of the mango trees
forgetting ourselves. Kids enjoy irritating the melody, which is repeated by the
male bird again and again as a fun. No other bird can entertain us in such a
fashion. Many poets have praised at length this unequally of the cuckoo.
A cuckoo is seen all round the year in India. The male-bird sings when the
female is seen perched vastly as if engrossed in the male recital. A male cuckoo
is shiny black in colour where as the female has a decorative looks, with basic
gray colour having attractive white polka dots all over its body. Its eyes are
red in colour, the beak is somewhat yellowish-green and the legs are rather
blackish.
Usually the cuckoos are fed on various fruits, but, for a change, small insects
are welcome.
A cuckoo is primarily of the parrot-species and rarely does it come down from
the trees. Usually it sits behind dense branches and hence is not located
easily. They move in pairs all over the State of Maharashtra.
A cuckoo is rather notorious for laying and hatching its eggs in a crow's nest
instead of building its own! A female cuckoo is rather wicked in this respect.
The male bird dives away the crows from the nest, and the female cuckoo, in the
mean time enters the nest, pushes out a number of eggs already laid there by the
female crow, lays its own eggs in their place after which flies away. This
parasite pregnancy and delivery of cuckoo goes on peacefully during the period
of June to August, without bothering to build its own nest.
The eggs are greenish-blue in colour with blackish dots all over.
A female cuckoo has white lines on its belly and wings along with the dots. It
flies from one branch of a tree to the other making a rather shrill quick sound
all along. It is also a signal of arrival the summer. The cuckoos make no sound
at all during winter and rainy season.
In Hindi the bids is call Koyal where as in English it is known as Koel.
With its melodious koohoo koohoo voice in the thickly populated cities. The
cuckoo attracts our attention while moving very swiftly from one tree to the
other.
RUFFS-BACKED SHRIKE (BUTCHER)
For a change, I went to the Elephanta caves at Gharapuri accompanied by a friend
of mine from Bandra.
It was the fog-end of winter, heralding arrival of spring through the melodies
of the cuckoo. There was life in the nature with tender green leaves on the
so-far deserted trees. It is about a 10 minutes walk from the dea-shore to the
hills, which are completely covered by the forests. You can find birds like
Nightingales, Skylarks, Robina, and Hornbills etc in large numbers on your way.
They are in large crowds over dense tree branches I saw the Ruffs backed strike
or a Butcherbird right here.
Even in the over crowded city like Mumbai you can still find a large variety of
coloured birds in large numbers. You can find Strike or Butcher even in suburbs
like Mahim, Goregaon, and Borivali etc. It's a feast for the eyes to watch him.
While moving through the caves I saw the Striker cleaning its wings with its
beak. I could show it to my friend from a very close distance.
A Striker or Butcher is a cruel, hunter bird as its name implies. All the hunter
birds are swift, alert and sort by nature. They move around there pray very
swiftly. Nature has also provided them with all the necessary annoy like a sharp
beak, pointed nails on their toes etc.
These hunter birds try their best to maintain a balance in nature. Many times we
find that birds in captivity have prolonged lives. It is a rare thing in nature,
where the survival of the fittest' is the rule.
A butcherbird may be cruel in nature but it not so in its look. A little bigger
that a house sparrow, 17 to 20 cms in length, the butcher does not live in
flocks. It has attractive black, white and a rosy colour over its body One which
is ash-gray in colour has white strips at the end of its wings. It is light rosy
in colour below its neck and on its back. It has black circles around its eyes
similar in looks to a dacoit in disguise. Its eyes are easily common flagged in
those black circles.
Grey strike is silver in colour and has black strips on the border of its wings.
A Butcherbird is colourful and attractive in looks and it not giant in size.
Only its beak displays its nature of a hunter. The beak is small in size but it
has a bend at its end like a hook. It tears off its pray caught in the paws and
gulps it down. It kills a number of birds and other animals and hangs them on
the branches of thorny trees like babul. It looks as it is a butcher's shop,
hence its make a pray once caught in its beak can never escape. If the pray is
bigger in size, it is caught in its claws. It hunts grasshoppers, insects,
frogs, sparrows and at times even birds of its own size. A butcher is an idol of
boldness and cruelty. It traps a live frog in its thorns and tears it off with
its claws and beak. A careful look at a strike sitting on a thorny border will
reveal that it moves only its head all around keeping the rest of its body
still.
It is mostly seen babul, cotton or other similar thorny trees. On the outskirts
it is seen sitting on the telephone cables, keeping a distance from other birds.
I have many times seen a Ruffs backed strike sitting still on the cables near
the small bridge on the eastern suburb after crossing the Bandra highway. It is
definitely seen in the Nandadeep Garden.
Building a nest on a babul tree, it lays down grass, cotton and cloth pieces to
form a coy bed. During the period from March to June, the female lays eggs,
which are three to six in numbers. The eggs are white in colour with blue and
red spots thereon.
It is called Lahatora in Hindi and Strike in English. The shrill sound in its
name is also reflected in its voice veet veet veet vee vee! SWith a long tail,
strong leg, claws and sharp nails, the Strike has at least twenty-five species
spread all over the world. In our part we usually see four species- gray
strikes, Bay-backed strike, Rough backed strike and Common wood strike. The male
and female birds look alike. A bird, which eats it's pray after hanging it
thorns or barbed fence, protects its own off spring from any attack etc like all
other animals. It loves them in the same way too. Its habit of hanging its pray,
I think, is a part of its whimsical nature. It may be either a convenience to
eat or as part of its habit to store eatables for the winter season. It is
because I have seen its kills lying around hanging for days together.Like a King
crow or a Drongo, a strike also imitates the sound of various birds
Some of the species are migratory and they come to India from mid-Asia and
northern China.
Rats are the most favored prey. Of a Strike.While building its nest, it sings in a melodious voice. It is rarely seen on
land.A Strike is seen all over Mumbai and Maharashtra.A Mumbai man, if he can find some spare moments during his hasty daily routine,
can enjoy it the most if he spent it in bird watching.
KINGFISHER S
I have moved a lot in Mumbai's suburbs from Mahim to Borivali. The surrounding
of Borivali is beautiful and reaches in nature. I also found the eastern part of
Goregaon equally attractive. One finds the nature in abundance and beautiful in
that area.
There was a jumbo ratta of scout boys in the Aarey dairy colony surroundings. I
had visited the picnic-spots in Aarey colony many a times. But I could not
resist the temptation of visiting the beauty spots around the boys' composite. I
visited the colony once every day, using one pretax or the other and would enjoy
the sweet songs of the birds around it. Nightingales, Robins were there in large
numbers. I could also have the rare sight of weaseling the blue Nightingale from
Kashmir.
There were high hills surrounding the open planes, which accommodated the tents.
There were tents even on the slopes of the hills at different levels. I picked a
residential tent perched on top of a small part of the hills. I could see a
Kingfisher sitting on a tree top branch near by. It was concentrating on a brook
flowing down below. It could then see nothing else. It was similar to the
concentration Arjuna had on the eye of the rotating fish on the ceiling in order
to win the hand of Draupadi.
I have never seen any other bird on which nature has showered such beautiful
colours in abundance, amongst all the hunting birds, whether around the water
holes or else where.
One could watch a bee-eater catching insects in a zip, or on seeing a chamelion
or a frog on land, how a Roller bird or Blue jay dove down to catch them. But a
dive by a Kingfisher is even make marvelous, especially so in running water. It
is really praiseworthy.
Slightly smaller in shape than a dove, white-breasted Kingfishers or gray
Kingfishers are hunters in water and I like them very much. Both are royal in
their appearance, as their name implies and are swift and mischievous in
behavior.
In Marathi it is also known as Dheewar where as in Hindi it is called Kilkila.
A Kingfisher has blue edged wings, a radish head and on its belly it appears to
be wearing a dark dinner suit with a white shirt inside. It tail is dark blue in
colour. The rest of the body is chocolate red in colour. Its beak is scarlet in
colour and appears wet as it having just been painted by nature and is very
pleasant to look at. One is tempted to touch it.
It is a real sight to observe a Kingfisher in its flight. It can be seen one
moment and is not there the next.
Kingfishers are seen all over India. Although seen along the seashores, it does
not need a huge water source for its prey. It is also seen near small lakes,
brooks or water ponds formed during the rainy season.
At times it is seen away from water sources and is usually seen resting on
telephone cables or poles.
In Mumbai, one can also see a type of Kingfisher, which has a black cap like
head. It has a white collar and light yellowish wings.
Its choices of prey are fish and insects, but it also occasionally beats on
chamelion, frogs, rats and even small birds.
A male and a female Kingfisher look alike.
There are two more species known as Common Kingfisher and Brown headed
Kingfisher. The latter type has a chocolate colour head, is yellowish from the
neck up to its belly and has blue wings. Its beak is very wet and dark red in
colour.
Usually all Kingfishers build their nests and lay eggs from the month of March
till the end of July. Their nests are in the peepholes on the borders of brooks.
The female lays 4 to 7 eggs at a time, which are white in colour. The pair takes
due care of the off springs and the chicks fly away before the nests are
submerged due to the floods in the rainy season.
A Kingfisher dives instantly in water the moment it sees the silver belly of a
fish flashed over the water's surface. It keeps an eye on the fish without
blinking. And the very next moment the silvery fish trapped in its beak. There
are probably no other birds that are so shiny and colourful, with red and blue
strips like the Kingfisher. The Kingfisher is an expert diver and a melodious
singer. Its melody fills the whole atmosphere around it.
LAPWING
I have always found the sunrise during the month of April very encouraging.
During that time Robins dash across the ground only swinging her tails. The
cuckoo fills the atmosphere with its melodious song. A voice would never
understand from where the coppersmith (Barbat) its twang twang. The birds cover
the atmosphere in a variety of melodies. They entertain the city commuters.
I feel visiting Bandra on one such morning. I alight from the local train at
Bandra early in the morning, catch a bus for Kalonagari and further on to the
Government servant's colony. I reach my friend's room that I had sent a message
the previous day. On opening the back door of the room I take a look at the vast
greenery spread all over the backwaters. It is completely covered by around of
migratory cranes making it look like white flowers spread all over.
In the noise of crook, crook of the cranes, I hear the sharp note of Lapwing-
Titulu Tituri Titulu Tituri.
Lapwings start building their nests at the start of the spring season. They do
not need to put in too much efforts, because for a nests a female Lapwing digs a
small hole on the shores, put 4-5 pebbles therein and lays eggs there itself.
The pebbles and eggs are so similar in look that it is not easy to differentiate
between them that are to say fell them apart.
There is May misunderstanding, superstitions about the behavior of Lapwings. An
old lady in our neighbor hood used to say, if a Lapwing makes three rounds of a
house in the night making crying sounds, then there will certainly be a death in
the house. That is a foolish idea in itself. A Lapwing makes those rounds simply
you protect its eggs and chicks. It has nothing to do with anybody's death. I
have confirmed it many times.
There is another misunderstanding about Lapwings. They say that a Lapwing picks
up a pebble and scrubs it on the shores of a river or sea. As the pebble reduces
in size so also the affected person loses his health and nears his death. This
is another foolish belief. In facts, a Lapwibg is choosy about the pebbles so
that they are similar to looks in its own eggs. It is for protecting the eggs
again, the poor birds have nothing to do with anybody's life or death. After
knowing that a Lapwing picks up pebbles, someone has based this superstitious
belief on sheer imagination. For some reason when I hear the high-pitch sound of
a Lapwing, I recall in my mind the Pandavas in exile in a deep forest. They must
have been very pleased to hear a Lapwing's notes, testifying that there must be
a water hole near by to queers their thirst.
In the pyramids of Egypt there are live-drawings of Lapwings. They are seen even
in the caves which used to be occupied by our urinates.
A Lapwing is seen all over the year along shores. It is rarely alone, they are
usually in pairs and the male and the female are similar in appearance. These
pairs are easily seen along the seashores of Mumbai.
About a foot in length, a Lapwing almost runs on its long yellow legs as we go
near it and then the next moment it flies away. But in a short while it lands
again at a short distance in front of us. The Lapwing's neck, chest and head are
black in colour. A portion of its belly is white. It's wings and back is gray in
shade. A slight shade of red-green colour is also present. Borders of that wings
are black, with a white strip in the center. A part of the tail end is white
with black strips at its end. It's beak and eyes are red and its legs are
yellow. All around its eyes the red shade is rather prominent.
Lapwing is the English name with Titahari as its Hindi parallel and Titvi in
Marathi.
A white strip starting from the eyes moves on along the neck up to it's belly.
Its memorable sight is a totally white belly. A mixture of this black and white
colour is very pleasant to look at during its flight.
It lays 4-5 eggs during the period of April to June. They being identical in
colour with that of the earth makes it easy to protect them. Even then, both the
male and the female protect the eggs with all the might. They choose a small
ditch near the road with less traffic. Any movement nearby is instantly
responded to with their sharp shrieks, it is continuous and enough to drive away
any intruder.
Another species of the Lapwing is one having a yellow shade all around its eyes.
It's seen all over Maharashtra. In English it is called yellow Vat Lad Lapwing.
Zirdi is the Hindi name.
Both the species have similar life styles. The yellow shade starting at the base
of it's beak spreads like a ring around its neck. It creates an illusion of the
head having been separately attached to its neck.
A Lapwing moves on quite boldly. It does not move until we are very near it. Its
colour Como fledges it with the earth and many times we do not notice its
presence. It does not move at all until it smells any danger nearby. It runs on
its long yellow legs with its head bent down while searching for it prey. Small
insects resting inside a conch are its main food. Crabs, snails also form its
prey, Grasshoppers in the desert are also part of it.
They prefer to stay near human habitats. They lay their eggs, at times, on our
house roofs. On one such roof we found more than six hundred chips and pebbles,
which left to our imagination how, many times the roof had been used for
resting. Every bird has its own rules for building and decorating its nest.
Lapwings are found landing off the back of cattle grazing along water shores. A
large number of red vat Lapwings are even seen during winter season. They fly at
a low height. Move fast on the ground till we reach very near to them. Than they
act as if they have a broken wing and fly at a very low height. It's their
praiseworthy skill to lead away any follower.
It is rather thrilling to hear the shrill notes on Lapwings in the serene
atmosphere of seashore with the sound of waves in the background. There is a
shade of fear too in this shrill note. It is definitely with the intention of
protecting the off springs.
COPPERSMITH
(Crimson Breasted Barbet)
A Coppersmith or a Crimson Breasted Barbet is rarely visible but its sound is
heard quite often. Small in shape like a house sparrow, a Barbet with short
tail, moves swiftly from one tree to another, all day making a twang twang
sound. You cannot watch it leisurely.
It is definitely seen in the morning. I have watched it for many years now, but
due to its invisible nature, I have remained away from it. One morning I
suddenly noticed a Barbet on a small tree opposite Churchgate Station and even
before I could surprisingly exclaim, oh, a Barbet! It flew away.
Though small in size, a Barbet or Coppersmith is beautiful in its appearance its
wings are greenish yellow and its breast and head are dark red in colour. There
is a dark yellow shade around its eyes. A Barbet is decorated in yellow and red
colour by nature itself. A black ring around its eyes makes it look like it is
wearing sunglasses, and bow ties around its neck like a magician. The singing of
a Barbet is heard at the end of the winter season. It herald of the arrival of
the spring. Its breast palpitates when it is singing that the red spot on its
breast moves up and down like a bellow.
I saw it on a barren Gulmohar tree in Gauranagar. There were no leaves on its
branches. I saw the Barbet sitting on a small branch singing the song. They're
being no leaves to hide behind; I could watch its recital at my leisure and
pleasure.
Why does a Barbet sing continuously?
Or, rather, why do bird sing at all? Even after they next their mates, they go
on singing and dancing. Including a Barbet, all the birds are in tune and are
fully absorbed in nature. Every change in nature automatically affects them. At
the arrival of the rain clouds, the peacocks start dancing. No sooner is the
spring there, those Barbets, Cuckoos, Robins start singing in hesitancy. They
almost merge with nature.
In northern India, a Barbet is called a 'Chhota Basta'. It is so as it sounds
like the small diesel engine of flourmills in villages.
Many a times, a Barbet is seen alone. The male and the female have similar
looks.
All singing birds have a type of pallet and a round of cells inside their
throats. When air passes through it, melodious notes are produced. There are
about 4000 species of such singing birds and in most of them only the males
sing.
A Barbet, which is seen all over the year in India on Banyan or Pipal trees
mostly, usually sings hiding behind leaves. Being very small in size, it's not
easily located and is not noticed even when it flies away.
It likes all fruits but those on banyan and pipal trees are its favorites. It
tries, at times, to catch and eat small insects.
A Barbet sound like a hammering strokes on a copper vessel, that's why it is
also called a Tambat which means a coppersmith in Marathi and in Hindi it is
called a Thathera or Chhata Basta. The English name is Crimson Breasted Barbet
or Coppersmith.
I saw a Barbet on a Gulmohar tree both times. It was possibly because it mostly
builds its nests on its starting branches by drilling a hold in such a way that
rain water may not enter in it.
The female lays three white eggs at a time during the period of February to May.
The male and female cooperate in building the nests and feeding their off-
springs thereafter.
A Barbet is the most beautiful bird seen in urban areas
in winter, I usually visit the back waters Mahim (Mumbai) to watch arrival of
migratory birds. This time, accompanied by the foreigner friends, we alighted at
Bandra railway station to move towards backwaters. A round about Nandadeep
garden and we could watch a large number of migratory birds. In spite of so much
human encroachment, these birds still pay regular visits.
This time we could see a large number of little stink birds. It is a beautiful
sight to watch them flying in the early sunrays. Similar in appearance to a
heron, it is hardly three quarters of an inch in height, a pigmy heron we may
call it when they flock together in marshy lands, and it looks like a spread
over of little conch shells. While flying they turn a little on their bellies.
They fly in flocks in rhythm and speed and when the flock suddenly takes turns
its' a beautiful sight to observe for a long time. When they fly at low,
parallel to the waters surface, their black reflections are also beautiful to
looks at.
In the Mahim back waters one can also watch red legged herons, white and yellow
washer man birds, butcher birds, rain babbler, blue throats as well as gulls and
turns. Playful gulls are a beautiful sight, while flapping their wings in low
rhythm. They touch the water surface off and on while hunting for their prey.
Swallows are also seen there.
And Sandpiper, migratory bird that arrives in India from the countries of
Europe, Russia, and North Asia to avoid the extreme cold climate, now joins
them. There they are seen in the whole of Maharashtra all during the winter
season. The chicks stay at one place till they grow up but the others return to
their northland after winter.
A Sandpiper prefers sandy area that the muddy marsh lands. It makes in that area
only, quite simply, waving its tail portion and making sound like tutur tutur.
It is easily recognized due to its continuously moving body. A Sandpiper is not
shy in nature. Usually all aqueduct animals are swift and whimsical like the
Twitter itself. They care too much for their own security. They do not stay at
one place for a long time.
Sandpaper is smaller in size than a dove and is also termed as a Tuthar. In
Hindi it's named as Paneva.
It's legs and tail is short in length. A Washer man bird moves its tail up and
down as we do in beating the washings. Where as a Sandpiper waves its tailpiece
continuously. While standing, the tailpiece moves like a doll's head resting on
a spring, which instantly attracts our attention. While flying it utters a sound
tee tee tee tiwi tiwi tue like that of a piper. Hence the name Sandpiper.
The upper portion of its body is brownish muddy. The area just below the neck is
light black in shade. Further down the belly it is totally white. While flying
it appears to be ash gray in colour, but a little portion of its tail appears
shiny white.
There are many species of the Sandpaper. In our land, we usually find the common
Sandpiper and spotted Sandpiper. Apart from it, we also find specious of red
legged and green-legged ones. A little Stint, which usually is found sitting on
the plane muddy areas on the shores of a river or the backwaters is also similar
it appearance outwardly to a Sandpiper.
Because of its habit of flying in a tilted position we often get the illusion of
two birds- white and gray- flying simultaneously. It is entertaining to observe
the Sandpipers flying at a low level, parallel to the land, following and trying
to catch each other. Their white tailpieces then appear to be blooming flowers.
On landing, they pierce heir pointed beaks in the marshy land to pick up insects
as their food. They eat all the insects found in muddy land.
A spotted Sandpiper has black spots on its breast.A Sandpiper is a migratory
bird. The common Sandpiper is seen in our areas from August to May i.e. about
ten months every year. All the migratory birds have their hatching period
associated with their stay in cold regions.A Sandpiper has its hatching period
during the months of June July. We do not find their nests in our land as they
have them in foreign countries only. The pair-male and female - build it out of
grass on water shores. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which are graying in colour.
They stay in our country from August to April every year.
Those Sandpipers, which are, not yet of matured age i.e. ready for mating do not
migrate. Hence they stay over in their winter habitat usually, but their
proportion is very low.
ROBIN
Accompanied by some bird watcher friends I left Churchgate (Mumbai) station
quite early in the morning in order to reach Boriwali protected forest. We were
drenched in the rain showers of July August. Then there was bright sun light.
Lust green forests and melodious singing of nightingales and Orioles welcomed
us.
A Robin's song is so melodious that you do not get bored at all. It sound
'Tee-tee-vi-tee-tee in a long note in all the three octave scales. Not only I
liked the melodious song but I was fascinated to watch its walk too. It would
move swiftly, suddenly take a round, then move on in a straight line, ride on a
rock or a hillock in a moment. It was a sight to get delighted.
I was engrossed in reading, relaxed in a chair in the gallery of my friend's
house at Grant Road. Suddenly, the sky was cloudy dark with a lonely white cloud
shining before my eyes. In the light of that white shining cloud only I saw a
male Robins dancing around his mate on a distant terrace. It is difficult to
express in word its dance recital. It was raising its tail of and on, bulging
the breast to please the mate. It's slow forward footsteps, its well-spread tail
in black and white moving up and down, appeared as if the male was going to
present a bouquet to its mate shortly. I felt that I was observing an
out-of-the-world rare beautiful scene.
A Robin is not a shy or cowardly bird. It will sit before you accompanied by its
playmates will indulge in a mock fight with them. Males fight coat other rather
fiercely to decide their area of habitat. Once the boundaries are finalized no
male dares to intrude and the law abided quite surprisingly.
In its appearance a Robin is like an advocate in its black robes with the
white-collar band around the neck. I felt its presence in the High court
compound the other day; quite appropriate.Robins build their nests in the
hollows of the trees or in the crevices of house walls, using grassroots. Its
pet prey is insects, grasshoppers, honey and fruits.
A Magpay Robin is about eight inches in length, with two tail pieces whereon as
Indian Robin is smaller than a house sparrow. Both are seen usually in our area.
The Indian Robin is seen in large number in all the gardens in Mumbai and all
over Maharashtra. A white irregular spot on its shiny black coat appears as if
somebody has sprinkled some card on it. It prefers to stay in small or medium
sized gardens rather than a dense forest and also in urban areas in order to
welcome you by singing a melody.
In Hindi it is called Danghal, Dama or Kalchiri. In rural Maharashtra it is
called a black sparrow.
There are four species of Robin with only a few differences between them. The
female lays 3 to 5 eggs during the period of April to August. I recently met my
friend David from America. He informed me that the Robin is the national bird of
their state of Kantucky. He also told me that it is almost a ritual to print a
Robin's sketch on the greeting cards sent on various festivals.
HORNBILL
When I saw a bird with a beak on top of a beak, I fell like it was an imaginary
thing in the picture I was looking at. Even than I was on the look out. At long
last I was able to trace its nest. When you look at a Hornbill the most
prominent feature one remembers to its double beak. It is not understood why a
Hornbill has been blessed with a double beak, one on top of the other.
Researchers explain the phenomenon. Thus they say that it's not a double beak at
all. It has only one beak, which is heavier in proportion to its body. To reduce
its specific gravity, a hollow part is provided over it by nature so that when
air passes through it, the gravity is reduced. This makes it easier for the bird
to balance the weight of its beak. May be it is also there to indicate or
distinguish between the species amongst bird.
Even otherwise, every bird has its own specifies possibly weird, colour, shape,
voice etc. To remember a specific type of bird, you have to take a note of its
neck, back, breast, tail and beak. Then one can only memorize the species.
I have seen a double beaked Hornbill and its chicks flying many times in the
month of December to watch them flying fast in a row with their broad wings
spread is a attractive sight.
A Hornbill has the look of a philosopher.
In our Indian culture, their specific signs recognize certain birds. The
Hornbill is one of them and is said to be lucky for financial gain. That the
sight of a Hornbill is a sure sign of definite financial gain. A horrible
superstitious belief is its beak which is believed to be more valuable than gold
and is worn as a locket on a necklace! It has become a fashion! Certain wild
races kill and eat Hornbills as a part of their medicinal treatment. As a
result, Hornbills are being killed in large numbers.
With the help of their broad wings, Hornbills take off on a flight just after a
couple of flaps and then they simply float in the air which gives you the
picture of a boat moving slowly on the surface of sea.
About a couple of feet in length, this bird can be seen all over Maharashtra
throughout the year. The wings of a Hornbill are blackish in colour. Not dark
black but with an ash shade. The beak is black and pointed, a little bent in the
front and has the shape of a horn. That's why it has the name Hornbill. A cap on
its beak is its specialty. The tail is rather long with a white spot at its end
and a border of a narrow black strip.
A Hornbill is the biggest in size amongst birds whose staple food is fruits
only.
From their attitude, Hornbills appear to be rather touchy, sentimental and
family loving by nature.
Their way of hatching their legs is totally different from all other birds.
After laying its eggs in the hole of a tree the female traps herself inside. It
seals off the opening with cow dung or its own excreta covering it into a cement
like strong mixture, leaving a small hole enough only to peep out its beak. For
about six weeks there after, till the eggs are fully hatched and the chicks are
out, the male partner honestly keeps on feeding the mother bird. The eggs are
two to five in number and rather muddy in colour. Till the chicks are ready to
fly off, the mother bird keeps herself in the captivity. During that period it
sheds its wings completely and becomes fully crippled. After the chicks are out
of the eggs, the female breaks the seal of the nest and again seals it off
leaving a small opening. The chicks are fed through it till they grow strong and
old enough to fly off.
I have seen Hornbills on a tree only. Many times it is mistaken due to a
similarity between its voice that of a Kite. But the moment it spread its broad
wings to shift to another tree, you can instantly recognize it.
Normally Hornbills do not come on land. They are always in a family group
together. It is seen in deep wood and gardens. Its staple food is flowers and
fruits. It also relishes insects, chamelion, small rats etc.
No other bird is usually seen that cares so much for enhancing its species and
looking after their chicks that is why pregnant backward class woman kill
Hornbills and eat their meat. The superstition is that it case out their own
pregnancy and delivery. That's why its beak, bones, meat etc. are presumed to be
of medicinal value. This superstition has resulted in the sanction of the
population of Hornbills.
There are in all forty species of Hornbills One more type is seen in India
called the Malabar Pied Hornbill. In Hindi it is called Dhanehuri or Sulemani
Murgee. It is seen in Maharashtra also. It has a long tail with the outer
portion being white in colour and a yellow beak, which appears proportionately
bigger in size, and with a bend at the end. A third type Large Pied Hornbill is
usually seen in the Himalayas. Its neck is white and its size is bigger than the
former two species.
Hornbills protect their chicks in a novel way from serpents, monkeys and
hunters. They do not prefer stating in deep forests and are usually seen in
plantations near the villages. Its pet resting places are banyan and pipal
trees. They prefer to rest on trees near human habitants.
Observing them flying in row makes you feel their happy family life.
WAGTAIL
The climate in Mumbai is at its best, during the period of November to January.
It's encouraging and cozy and is never like that another time during the year.
On such a Sunday, I went for a walk at Nariman Point and was on look for my
foreigner migratory friends. They are usually here in this season only, could
see their waiving tail in a small bush and were highly delighted.
There was my foreigner migratory guest, the Wagtail. The whole of Nariman Point
Sea was bathed in the crimson-orange colour of the sunrise. On the west side,
the skyscrapers on Napean Sea Road were full of fiery red colour.
An early morning eastern sky is a fireball. The migratory bird start from
faraway Siberia in search of this life giving light and traveling thousand of
kilometers, flying with their little wings they arrive in India. No doubt it is
surprising, but even more surprising is their abiding the timetable every year.
I meet this Wagtail bird every year specifically at a particular place and time.
Not only in Mumbai, but these Wagtails are seen all over Maharashtra from
October to March annually.
Its waving tail is a little longer that its body, which is about the size of a
sparrow, helps us to recognize it immediately. A Wagtail waves its tail up and
down in the way a washer man moves his washings to beat them on a stone. That is
why it is called a Dhobi or Washer man in Marathi. It is usually seen near water
sources. But it is even seen on the terrace garden in high-rise buildings
probably, being mostly near a water source, it imitates a waterman's habit.
A very smart and swift type of bird, the Wagtail comes to our land from cold
northern countries and retuning after the cold season ceases. Though not very
attractive to look at a Wagtail's flight of thousands of kilometer and its
waving tail are its qualities to be amazed at.
A white Wagtail is seen in large numbers. From head to tail it's light blackish
in shade but white on the belly. On its breast there is a black spot of
half-moon shape. The wings are blackish with white lines thereon. Its tail is
also black with a white border. The female has a similar look. Their eyes are
gray and legs are black. In cold seasons the Wagtails spread their wings like
peacocks and their colours changes with new feathers on their head and near the
tail. The Wagtails change the colour of their feathers at this time only.
There are four main species of Wagtails. White Wagtail, Large Pied Wagtail,
known as Khanjain in Hindi, which is similar in looks to a Robin, when seen from
a distance. There is some variation in the waiver of its tail. Robin moves its
tail upward whereas a Wagtail moves its tail downward. A white strip near its
eyes is also a distinction. This Wagtail has a melodious voice.
A yellow-headed Wagtail- called Pan Pilak in Hindi- and a gray Wagtail are the
two other species. The yellow-headed species has its head and belly of yellow
colour, beak of gray shade and reddish legs, its wings and tail are blackish
with white lines thereon. A gray Wagtail has a yellowish belly but the rest of
its body is similar to the other species.
We had been on the Western Express Highway of Mumbai, which is supposed to be a
kind sanctuary to watch a Wagtail. Nandadeep Garden area hereby provides shelter
to a large number of migratory birds. We could not see much due to the sunrays
from the eastern sky. We stayed on the Highway itself and could see a Wagtail. A
large number of black and white and gray Wagtails were there.On the shores of
water sources and in the bushes there around, the Wagtails find their staple
food i.e. insects in large number.
.
During the period of May to July a female lays 4 to 6 eggs in her nest prepared
on the ground only, in between the stones with some grass etc. The eggs are
yellowish gray or greenish in colour.
When a group of three-four Wagtails gathers on a treetop, they make a lot of
chirping noise, which is a sign of expressing satisfaction over a full belly.
HERON
A look at the evening sky gives you a view of a totally different word. You
observe a riot of different colours till the end of spring season. You then see
the flocks of birds returning to their nests after having spent the day
satisfying their hunger in the wood. Green parrots fly fast speedily making
chirping noises A banish coloured group of wild doves flap their wings speedily
and fly fast. A lovely small bat glides on in the air circulating off and on.
The crows, however, fly in a haphazard manner around the house only, as if
somebody is waving black cloth pieces.
And when you see the herons flying in a row like some disciplined platoon
against the vast blue canvas of the evening sky, the pleasure has no bounds. It
is as if kids are watching the white flowers of sparks spouting out of their
Diwali fireworks, you feel a, if you are observing something supernatural. The
sunset adds further colours to their wings. Little blackish white and rosy
wings, while moving in a rhythm, give you the pleasure of rays of colourful
lights focused on a daneer. The shapes of the Heron's row take varied shapes -
pyramid, semicircles, straight lines - but all in discipline. It gives the
feeling of navy soldiers performing a march past.
And then you see some cranes, at time gliding and then quickly flapping their
wings, on their way back to their nests with full bellies.Among the birds
usually seen near water sources. The most often slighted are these Herons. In
the suburbs of Mumbai, when you arise near the Mahim backwaters or any other
marshy areas, you can easily observe the Herons either in couples or in a large
number.
You might have seen these white Herons riding on the backs of grazing cattle. As
the cattle moves on in the grass or bushes, the insects there in fly over when
these Herons catch them to be their prey.
On a Banyan tree near our house, these Herons flock together to resting during
night. At times they are so large in number that the green leaves are almost
invisible. We can see only white Herons spread all over the tree.
Actually, while flying back in the evening these birds are in search of a
resting place for the night. They slight at any place of their choice. They need
the nests only to lay their eggs during the breeding season, not otherwise. For
the rest of the period they are always on the move. They move in the woods, feed
themselves and have their night-stay on any tree of their choice.
Once there was a funny incident. While resting on a tree during the night, two
Heron chicks lost their balance and they fell down. They could not get up easily
and were noticed by some pedestrians, as they knew me to be a bird watchers, the
couple of birds were passed on to me. I made one o them stand on the dining
table so that everybody could observe it closely. I tried to feed it some water
but in vain. It was so still as if it was an artificial bird made out of cotton
etc.
Rising pollution is the main reason for the reduction in number of Herons
Reduction in marshy areas is another reason.There are a large number of species
of Herons. Amongst the small ones, those staying near water have black beaks
whereas those riding on cattle-back have yellow beaks. Amongst both the species,
the male and female look alike.
The yellow-beak cattle riding Heron is called 'Surkhiya' in Hindi and 'Cattle
lgret' in English. Those living near water, with black beak are called 'Karchiya'
in Hindi and 'Little lgret' in English. You can observe a full white or ash
coloured small Heron on the seashore that is called the Indian Reef Heron. One
which is known as the 'Paddy Bird' or 'Pond Heron' also called 'Andha Bagola' in
Hindi and 'Andhala Dhok' in Marathi is seen every where. When riding with closed
wings it may be brick red in colour, but when it is flying the wings are fully
white.
There are six main species of Heron. Three are totally white and the other three
are of different colours.
The biggest one is the 'Common Heron' or 'Grey Heron'. In Hindi it is called
'Tar' or'Anjan Bagula.' Its head and neck are white in colour, it has a broad
beak, and the neck is rather serpentine in shape with a small head on it. There
are black spots on its chest, the wings have blackish borders, but are ash
coloured. Its legs, beak and head are yellowish. There is a small black tuft on
its head.One of the species is purple in shade.You may found red and greenish
small Herons in northern India.
There is a species known as the 'Night Heron', which moves in night. It has a
black head, which appears to be entangled in its neck. It has white chest dark
black wings with light blackish borders, a joker in looks.
Cattle larets and little larets are seen all over India. Their staple diet
consists of cotter pillars, busts, blue flies and fish.
Their nests prepared with small sticks of grass or chips, haphazard in shape,
are seen on the treetops usually of big, heavily leaved trees like the Bunyan or
Pipal trees. It may even be in heavily populated urban areas.The Herons usually
lays 4 to 5 eggs of light blue or greenish colour. The couple looks after the
chicks.All the species of Herons usually lead the same way of life.
Most of the Herons have their origin in Europe. One is called 'Malang Bagula' in
Hindi is called 'Large Lgret in English. The only difference it has with the
little lgret is that the yellow beak of the large lgret turns black while laying
eggs. The beaks of little lgret and Cattle Lgret are black and yellow
respectively for even while they lay eggs the white tufts on their head are
prominent. There are soft feathers on their head and necks. There backs take off
white, reddish shades.
The males and females are about twenty inches in length, but they have the
appearance of old, impressive elders. With their long beak, neck and legs it is
easier for them to catch fish while standing on the shores. They make crook,
crook, crock, and crock sound in deep throat.As there are hunter bird so there
are human hunters who find Herons as easy prey thus resulting in the rapid
reduction in their numbers.
BULBUL
By the end of January every year, a pair of Bulbuls arrived on the western
boundary wall of our house. The sparrows then make a hue and cry over these
intruders in their domain. Oh hearing their lengthy melodies tunes, the news of
their arrival spreads all over our house. Somebody saw them on the cables,
someone of some drumsticks tree in the courtyard, whereas somebody saw the pair
on the terrace nearby.
Early sunrays encourage their tunes, which they repeat a few times and then fly
away in the wood in search of prey. There punctuality in arrival at this time
only for years together is amazing.
A little smaller in shape than the sparrows, a Bulbul attracts your attention
due to its colourful looks. Its eyes and neck are shining black while the rest
of the body is dark gray. Its tail end is white with a red patch below the tail.
The belly is white. On its head there is a black hairy tuft like a cap.
Amongst them, the tuft of the Soldier Bulbul is a little more elevated. On both
the cheeks it has red strips below the eyes, which give it the look of an erect
soldier, hence the name.
There are two main species of Bulbul. One is called the Red Vented Bulbul, which
is called 'Guldam Bulbul' in Hindi. The other one is Red Whisked Bulbul. This
one is called 'Soldier Bulbul' in Marathi and Hindi. A species found in Kashmir
is called Kangda Bulbul. It is not seen in Maharashtra. The earlier mentioned
two species are seen at the same time. They're trumpeting melodious sound and
ferocious quarrels on all over the trees around. By nature, the Bulbuls are
quarrelsome. Hence in Uttar Pradesh they are maintained as pets to arrange their
fights.
On the trees out of city boundaries, one can see flocks of Bulbuls singing in
high pitches. At the same time, they fly hither and thither diving and summer
sailing. The appearance of a Bulbul is beautiful its voice is melodious. The
movements of its head, with quick turn, its hiding behind the tree and its
living in pairs are things one remembers. If you have any tree full of flowers
and leaves, you will surely find the Bulbul there. It is not a timid bird.
Once just after I returned home, I heard some shrieking noises, I found a pair
of Bulbuls on the cables, shrieking in high pitch. A cat was moving on the
parapet of the terrace. The distance in between was so much that there was no
chance of any trouble. But the Bulbuls being quarrelsome in nature made a hue
and cry and are silenced only after the cat was driven away.
Urdu and Farsi poet have written many poems about the melodious singing of the
Bulbuls. But that Bulbul is not seen in and around India. A Parsian Bulbul is a
different species.We have lot of sub species of Bulbul.
Usually, a female lays its eggs during the period of February to May.
On a lower branch of the tree, at a moderate height, the Bulbuls build their
nest with grass sticks in the shape of a glass bowl.The eggs are 3 or 4 at a
time in number. Being at a very low height, many times the eggs fall prey to
hunter bird. However, the female lays eggs twice in a season, hence there is no
risk to the rise in their number. The eggs are light rosy with yellow black
spots over them. The male and female look alike and keep their nests clean and
tidy.
They are fond of nectar and pollen grains from the flowers. They eat fruits from
Banyan and Pipal trees and at times small insects as well.We can see the Bulbul.
Their pairs are seen all over Maharashtra.
WHIITE PIED KINGFISH
Whenever I go from Aurangabad to Ajanta, I always remember particular instance.
I moved through the caves of Ajanta. That Padma pari (lotus headed) Buddha, Sick
princess, Court of Raja Pulkeshi, various statues of Budha, depicting various
moods in different sizes! Those mysterious, serious, immortal pictures affected
the mind. Those elephants and the various freehand drawings of leaves and
creepers carved in to the stones were so awe-inspiring that one can not absorb
them in his sight so easily. Leaves, flowers entangled in different designs,
birds, lotus and people in various attires- all decorated the borders of the
ceilings. All of them were simply amazing. Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras in
multiple attires and mood encouraged the mind with tires legs and eyes. I came
out of the cave. On one side were the mountains with the caves, the river
Waghori in a serpentine form down below and on equally High Mountain on the
opposite side standing like a great wall!
We were a group of men and women. One of the men said, "have a look, and there
are giant elephants and Budha's idols carved on the mountain there too." All of
us looked at that site. It was amazing and surprising to observe the
unfatharnable depth of the human brains & for a few moments I was describing
things, which were not there at all. A little later, we realized that it was
only an illusion. There was nothing else except giant crevices in the mountain
opposite us.
The similar illusion occurred with my friend when he saw the two types of
Kingfisher. He saw only blue red dark shades during the entire day, but during
the night too, in his dreams, he saw a number of birds in various dark shades
flying all around.
The two types of Kingfishers are hunter bird. They are seen in and around Mumbai
and also elsewhere too. Where there is water storage may be it a river or a
lake. Any bird watcher will be automatically engrossed on seeing the White Pied
Kingfisher with black spots all over its body, resting on its tail very
steadily. This marvelous creation of nature is engraved on your mind forever
after you have had a look at it. There are black and white strips on its white
coat, art are beautiful appearance like an old wall carving with busty eyebrows,
and the dark dotted lines around the eyes of this bird are a beautiful sight.
These two types of Kingfishers are a rare creation of nature with dark colours
in abundance. Every nature lover must see at least for once these Kingfishers.
Their attractive colourful looks makes one surprised as to how these hunter
birds are so beautiful in appearance! Before hunting it stay still on the water
surface for some time. The next moment it points its head toward the water and
plunges in like a rocket. It is out immediately with the fish in its beak and
joyfully makes a chirking sound simultaneously.
This Kingfisher is seen in Maharashtra all the year round. Its beak is long and
pointed. Its legs are shorter to make it convenient for continuous flying. About
a feet in length, this attractive Kingfisher has black strips over its white
coat was once seen by me alight very steadily over the water surface and I lost
myself in its beauty
Two black strips on is head, it has a black strip along its neck resembling
ribbon. Below it there is another black ring on the chest. The rest of its body
is spotlessly whitey except for some black spots in between on its neck, each a
black strip on the belly and the tail. Its eyes are radish and have a black beak
and legs. A beautiful combination of black and white colors that is so
attractive that it becomes difficult to shift your eyesight.
Its main food is fish although frogs, chamelion, insects too are consumed.
The female lays 5 to 6 eggs during the period of March to July. The eggs are
smoky white in colour. There are no nests. They dig a hole on the shores of
brooks and breeding is carried out there itself.
There is another specie of Kingfisher seen in the Himalayas. It's rather larger
in size. The male and the female have similar appearances. The only difference
is that there is a broken black ring around the neck of the female.
In the month of July, I went out when it was raining. I heard the melodious
voice of a Drango chick sitting in a bush. On the cables out side I saw a little
Robin chick too, singing its morning melody. And then I saw a Kingfisher too
voicing its shriek on a treetop and a similar one from another tree nearby.
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