Prof. B.L Kaul
Bird song marks the arrival of the spring season. A little bird starts singing melodious tunes on my window sill as early as 3:30 a.m. from the month of March on a regular basis, every year. Then others join in the chorus from roof tops and boughs of the few trees now left in my neighbourhood. The Koel is an even earlier starter. Its shrieking crescendo call koo-koo-koo in groves of trees can be heard as early as February. The common House Sparrow too becomes noisy with its monotonous, cheer-cheer-cheer in March.
Jammu and Kashmir is rich in sub tropical, temperate and alpine avifauna. There are 262 species of birds reported from Kashmir valley, 225 from Ladakh and 183 from Jammu region. Unfortunately, however, recent studies have shown that there has been a decline in the population of bird species. For example there are fewer Kites flying in the sky now than before. Vultures which were a common sight in the semi-urban and rural areas of the state are hardly found now thanks to the excessive use of diclofenac by veterinarians to treat domestic animals for relief of pain. By consuming the carcasses of excessively dragged domestic animals the vultures got poisoned and killed. Even common birds like crows, house sparrows and mynas have become rare in Jammu.
Out of the 183 bird species found in the Jammu region most common ones are recognized by the people from their behaviour, colour and song. Some birds have even local dogra names. For example Purple Sunbird which is smaller than a sparrow is called Kalmooha in dogri. It makes a sharp monosyllabic wich-wich uttered as it flits about. It makes an oblong pouch – like nest of grass etc. hanging from a tree branch. Similarly the Tailor bird which is also smaller than a sparrow is an expert in stitching leaves to make its nest. They are frequent visitors to our lawns, parks and gardens. It is called darzi in hindi and dogri. It makes a loud call twit-twit-twit.
Some other common birds of Jammu include the Brown Rock Chat which makes a nest outside windows and in holes inside or outside rooms of abandoned houses. The nest is cup shaped made of grass roots. It is a songster and can imitate other bird’s songs. The songster referred by the author at the beginning is in fact this bird being slightly bigger than a sparrow. It makes a short whistling chee while bobbing the forepart of the body. Robin is another bird also about the size of chat and sprightly black with a white patch on wing. It is called Kalchuri in hindi & Dogri.
Red wattled Lapwing is called Titeeri in dogri for making loud noises. It is bigger than a Partridge and is leggy. It is bronze brown above, white below, with black breast, head and neck and crimson fleshly wattle in front of each eye. It makes the well known, Did he do it? Calls. Strangely this bird does not build a nest and lays eggs on bare ground in open waste land. The colour of eggs matches the soil to perfection and they are difficult to find.
Indian Cuckoo is called Pivoke Bhejo in dogri. It is nearly of the size of pigeon, slaty grey above, pale ash and white below, barred with black. There is a dogri legend associated with this bird. A married girl wanted to visit her mother’s house for eating yellow rasp berries but was not allowed by in-laws and died without fulfilling her wish. Same girl now wanders in the form of familiar Indian cuckoo. It makes a very distinct loud and far reaching fluty whistle. Myna called Saanch in dogri is a familiar bird. It’s size is between bulbul and pigeon. It is perky and well groomed bird with dark brown colour, a bright yellow bill, legs and bare skin round eyes. A large white patch in wing is conspicuous in flight. Golden oriole in another handsome bird about the size of myna with bright golden yellow colour and black in wings and tail, and a conspicuous black streak through the eye. Female is duller and greener. It makes a harsh Cheeah and a clear fluty whistle something like peelolo.
Red vented Bulbul is another common bird of Jammu. It is smaller than myna. It is smoke brown bird with partially crested black head. It has a conspicuous crimson patch below root of tail and white rump. It makes a cup shaped nest of roots in a bush or a tree. Rufous Turtle Dove is also seen commonly on roof tops. It is the size of pigeon and has a reddish brown colour and typical black and white on sides of neck. It forms a flimsy nest with sticks on grape vines and bushes.
The list of familiar and not so familiar birds of Jammu is long and mention must be made of some in passing. Blue rock pigeons, flower peckers, grey tits, starlings, babblers, bee eaters (toti in dogri) barbets (kudro in dogri), finches, fantails, fly catchers, Indian rollers (leelori in dogri), kingfishers, thrushes, nut crackers, upupa (hud hud in dogri) , wagtails, warblers, weaver birds, fly catchers, quails magpies, tree pies, drongos (genkaat in dogri) house crows, jungle crows, kites, vultures, pheasants, bitterns etc etc. are all seen especially in wooded areas.
Jammu also has a wide range of aquatic birds, most of them migratory. Mallard is 50-65cm sized green headed duck found in wetlands like Gharana, Mansar & Surinsar. Eurasian Wigeon is 45-50 cm water bird with a yellow forehead and fore crown, chestnut head and pink coloured breast. Gadwall is 40-42 cm sized water bird. Common Teal is 34-38 cm sized chestnut headed water bird. Spot-billed duck is 58-60cm with a yellow tipped bill and dark crown. Common Pochard is 42-48 cm in size with chestnut head and pale grey back. Bar-headed Geese is 75cm and has two black stripes on the head. Grey heron is a large bird 78-90 cm long necked marsh bird. Cormorant is another water bird visiting Gharana wet land in winter.
Birds add to the beauty of our cities, towns and countryside. They deserve our protection and to this end we should not disturb them when they are nesting. We must also educate our children, youth and public in general not to steal eggs from their nests nor disturb the chicks.
Birds are very fascinating creatures and attract our attention by their colour and song. Bird watching and listening to their song in gardens, meadows, forests and even in our homes can be a wonderful experience. We need to develop an interest in bird watching among our younger generation. It is a very useful past time and hobby. Ornithology (study of birds) is a field which has a vast scope and can help our young men and women find jobs not only in India but world over.
Our universities, colleges and schools must start bird watching and nature study clubs to encourage the students develop interest in nature study. It will go a long way in conservation of nature and wildlife in our state and the country.
(The author is an environmentalist, educationist and social activist)
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