Bird Nests

Birds use their nests to lay eggs and bring up young ones. It is a common idea that they use them to sleep in—this is not correct!

There is a wide variety to be found in bird nests. Commonly, birds make cup shaped nests of grass and twigs and place them in trees. But some birds have their nests in earth banks. Tailorbirds stitch a couple of leaves together and put some soft material inside. Weaver birds and sunbirds make hanging nests by weaving straw and fibres. Swallows make mud nests in cliffs, buildings and rocks.

The nests of some birds are eaten by humans!

Birds like the Stone Curlew and the Lapwing do not make much of an effort to build a nest. They simply scrape the ground and lay their eggs there.

Tree holes are the favourite nesting place of woodpeckers and some owls.

Usefulness of Birds

Birds are big destroyers of insect pests. A House Sparrow may bring food to its nest some 250 times each day, bringing a caterpillar or insect each time.

Owls and birds of prey feed on rats and mice. If these pests are not checked, they will multiply greatly and eat up all our grain.

Vultures, crows and kites act as valuable scavengers, removing dead animals from the land.

Birds play an important role in keeping forests alive. They spread the seeds far and wide. They also pollinate flowers when they drink nectar from them.

The droppings of sea-birds and water birds are rich in nutrients required by plants. They are called guano and are of great commercial value.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is an immensely popular activity worldwide.

There are many companies devoted to taking people on birdwatching trips to distant locations on the globe.

There are people called twitchers or tickers who try to see all the birds of the world. There are some 9000 species of bird!

Even birdwatching from your garden can contribute to the science of ornithology.

What is a good place for watching birds? Trees in flower and fruiting trees are your best bet. Looking at different habitats will also reward you with many birds. Look at rivers, lakes, shores, hills, forests and gardens. They all have their own groups of birds.

Record Holders

(Source: Book of Indian Birds)

Largest Indian birds: Sarus Crane and Lammergeier. The Sarus Crane is as tall as a human. The Lammergeier is also known as the Himalayan Bearded Vulture and has a wing spread of eight feet.

Smallest Indian bird: Tickell’s Flowerpecker. This is no larger than your thumb!

How long do birds live?
Ostrich 40 years
Raven 69 years
Horned Owl 68 years
Vulture 52 years

Best Indian singers: Greywinged Blackbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Shama

Most beautiful birds: Pheasants and Sunbirds

Rarest Indian birds: Jerdon’s Courser, Himalayan Quail, Pinkheaded Duck (the last two may actually be extinct)

Commonest Indian birds: House Crow

Spotted Dove

Appearance: The Spotted Dove is somewhat larger than a myna. Look for the spots on the wings and the ‘chessboard’ marking on the back of the neck when identifying this bird. Found in (place and season): You may see Spotted Doves in trees or on the ground. Its continuous calling gives its position away even if it is concealed in the leaves. The Spotted Dove is a resident bird. Some details: The Spotted Dove is a member of the pigeon family. There are other pigeons that have black and white marks on the neck, but only the Spotted Dove has a single chessboard. The other birds have two separate markings.

Hoopoe

Appearance: The Hoopoe is a bird of striking appearance about the size of a myna. It is a fawn coloured bird with black and white zebra markings on its wings. It has a prominent crest. This crest is folded when the bird is feeding but opened fanlike at times. Found in (place and season): This bird is fond of lawns, gardens and grassy areas near towns and villages. Some details: The Hoopoe gets its name from the soft call that it makes repeatedly. It is a friend of the gardener as it eats insects and grubs found in the ground.

Dark Grey Bushchat

Appearance: This is a grey, white and black bird. It is about the size of a House Sparrow. Found in (place and season): In Binsar this bird is commonly seen throughout the year. It is found perched on bushes and trees. Also look for it on the garden seats and swings. It is mostly seen singly. Some details: Bushchats are insect eating birds. They have the habit of springing up in the air to catch winged insects. They also descend to the ground to pick up food.

Crested Serpent Eagle

Appearance: This is a large bird. It is even bigger than a Jungle Crow and has broad wings. It is dark brown in colour, with a black and white crest. Found in (place and season): The Crested Serpent Eagle is usually seen soaring above the sides of mountains. If you look carefully you may find it perched among the leaves of a large tree as it looks out for prey. Some details: The call of this eagle is a high-pitched screaming whistle. This bird feeds on snakes (hence its name), frogs, lizards and birds.