Koel

The Koel (Marathi: Kokila) is very common throughout the country. The male is dark shiny black with red-colored eyes. Female is dark grey, with white spots. 

The male has a pleasant call and becomes active during the spring time (March-April). It does not build its own nests, but lays eggs in the nest of the common crow.

Eating habits and Natural Food Chains

From the 28^th of this month begins Navaratri, a nine-day period which is celebrated to mark nine days of battle between the Goddess, Durga Maa (mother) and demon, Mahishashur. Finally, on Dashami (tenth day), the Goddess vanquished the demon. This day is celebrated as Dassera or Vijayadashami (victorious tenth day), a day when good triumphs over evil. During these nine days, the devout observe a fast and abstain from non-vegetarian food and alcohol.

We all have choices when it comes to our eating habits. Some prefer vegetarian, while others cannot do without non-vegetarian food. The practice of non-vegetarianism is acceptable, as long as such a practice does not disturb the natural food chain. When humans disturb the food chain (a complicated network involving food transfer), we contribute to the destruction of the creatures dependent on it.

To understand how this is can happen, one needs to know what is a food chain and its influence on the working of an ecosystem. Consider the food chain in a terrestrial (land) ecosystem; the green plants form the basis of any food chain. They are the primary producers in any ecosystem. In presence of solar radiation, the chlororphyll in green plants converts atmospheric carbon dioxide and dissolved solids (nitrates and phosphates) from the soil, into energy in the form of organic compounds. This energy is used in the growth of the plants and a resultant increase in their biomass. Green plants are consumed by herbivorous animals, which in turn form the food for carnivores. This forms one of the various food chains in the natural environment. Another example is the chain of insects, frogs, snakes and birds of prey (hawks, eagles). Yet another food chain can comprise of insects/grasshoppers and birds.  In all these food chains, green plants form the base of the chain. Each level of the chain is termed the trophic level, from where energy is transferred to the next level. A basic characteristic of the chain is that at each trophic level, there is a rapid decrease in energy, ie., energy transferred progressively decreases from the primary producers to the top carnivores.

In a natural ecosystem, each trophic level is inter-related to one another. When one of the trophic levels is disturbed, it affects the entire chain. Humans can fit into the food chain at different levels and often are the top carnivores. But, we tend to disturb the food chain by interfering with it at different levels. As cited in the earlier post on Tourism, when constituents of one of the trophic levels is hunted for food, it leads to a shortage of food for the next level dependent on it and may ultimately lead to its extinction.  

Today, the effects of human interference on the natural food chain are seen in the gradual reduction in the number of top carnivores such as leopards and tigers. When we demand and consume exotic meat, like quail/partridge or rabbits/hare, deer or wild boar, we not only infringe on the natural environment and the balance which exits in the food chain, we also breach the wildlife laws. In conclusion, whatever our eating preferences, just remember that non-vegetarianism is not the best means of conversion of energy. Vegetarian food is entirely capable of meeting all our nutritional requirements. If you prefer to continue with non-veg food, kindly ensure that it is specifically bred for human consumption (poultry, mutton, beef) and has not been hunted down.  

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Sunbirds are much smaller than the house sparrow. The Purple-rumped Sunbird is quite common in these regions. The male is more colorful, the head and upper parts of the body are of a shiny purple color, with yellow colored abdomen. Female has greenish brown body with yellow abdomen. The birds are found in pairs and flit restlessly in search of flowering plants. These photographs of the male bird, were taken when it was perched on the window grill, near the jasmine plant. 

Rufousbacked Shrike

Rufousbacked Shrike
 
The Rufousbacked Shrike is grey headed, with a black band running across its eyes, slightly larger than a bulbul. Its has a brownish-yellow back with black wings. Its strong bill is well suited for feeding on grass hoppers, insects and small lizards. 

I assume that the white-headed bird in the last photo is a Hill Myna. Please correct me if I am wrong.

In this set of photographs, the shrike can be seen feeding on a praying mantis. 

More photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/home

Pollution
Today is “Anant Chaturdashi”, the day for visarjan (immersion) of the idols of Lord Ganesh, after ten days of prayers and festivity. It is a day when one symbolically discards ego and material possessions; prays for forgiveness of past sins and strives towards a new life free from false ego and love for all. We also look forward to the next year, for the return of Lord Ganesh.
The immersion of idols in water bodies seriously affects the aquatic life in the lakes and ponds and the efforts taken by government in building artificial ponds for immersion is appreciated. The devotees can also contribute in conservation efforts by insisting on idols made of clay rather than Plaster of Paris.
 
Humans have made tremendous progress in all fields of life, but this has been achieved at a cost. In attaining our goals and progressing towards a better life, we have disturbed the natural ecosystem which existed when there was zero pollution. 

What is ‘pollution’? It is defined as an undesirable or unwanted change in the physical or chemical characteristics of the environment, which can adversely affect health and survival of humans and other living creatures.
Activities of the modern world contribute towards increasing air pollution. Air pollution in urban areas is mainly a result of petrol and diesel driven vehicles and is the chief cause for the urban population being exposed to high levels of oxides of carbon (carbon monoxide and dioxide), oxides of nitrogen  (nitrogen monoxide and dioxide) and lead (as suspended particulate matter). These are constituents of automobile exhaust and there is no practical way of reducing  levels of these pollutants. In India, the emission norms for petrol and diesel vehicles are already quite stringent (Bharat Stage IV); however, the increase in the number of vehicles results in an overall increase in the pollutants no matter what measures are taken. 

One of the ways of mitigating the effects is by the use of trees, which are a natural barrier and assist in reducing high levels of pollutants (especially lead) and also are effective in decreasing noise levels.
Plantations along both sides of the roads and highways can contribute in controlling air and noise pollution caused due to vehicular traffic. The forest department terms such plantations “Avenue Plantation”. These were carried out on a very large scale by Karnataka Forest Department in Raichur district in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I recollect such plantations of eucalyptus trees, from my childhood, in the vicinity of Hutti Gold Mines. Trees with large simple leaves, such as banyan, peepul, mango are more effective than trees having compound leaves, for eg., gulmohar. Large scale avenue plantations can contribute in increasing the tree cover, apart from providing an aesthetic and pleasant experience on the road. Road side plants also support a variety of bird species like shrikes, drongos, babblers, orioles, mynas, etc.

Crimson-headed Barbet

It has been a very busy week. The most important guest of Maharashtra (and some parts of South India) – Lord Ganesh - is here and it is raining heavily everyday. This no doubt gives our municipal officials and the contractors, ready-made reasons for not repairing pot-holes on the roads and lame excuses are trotted out about “lack of dry spell” and so on. Do not fret, for they shall pay for their misdeeds. As the Lord says, “To each, his own”.
 
Crimson-headed Barbet or Coppersmith
Barbets are thick billed birds and usually feed on the fruits and berries of flowering plants. The crimson-headed Barbet is commonly called Coppersmith, for its monotonous call, tuk, tuk, tuk.., which reminds one of a coppersmith at his work. It is most active in the months of January to May. It has dark green colored body and wings, with a distinctive, crimson colored patch on its head and chest. 
Due to its colors, it is perfectly camouflaged and is difficult to spot, even though it is heard very often. If you wish to spot a coppersmith, the best place to look for it is in the peepul or banyan tree, where it can be seen singly or in groups of 2 or more.