Du'gone'!

Dugongs and Manatees, also known as 'sea cows' are seal-like herbivorous aquatic mammals and are probably the most gentle and harmless animals. Sadly, dugongs are hunted for their meat, and are now on the brink of extinction, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild. The fact that they are extremely slow breeders makes the problem even worse. Another recent conservation threat that has surfaced is injuries resulting from collisions with boats. This is particularly significant in case of the Manatees of the West.

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Cartwheel Crash!

To settle territorial disputes, eagles indulge in a sort of a territorial battle called 'Cartwheeling' wherein the two conflicting birds lock talons with each other and swoop towards the ground. The bird that withdraws first from the battle, loses. This usually takes place when the nesting season approaches.may also be a part of the courting or mating ritual.

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Pronounced Guilty

The levels of suspended particles in the atmosphere increases drastically just after the Indian festival of Diwali. The reason? Firecrackers. Magnesium, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons- crackers have them all. layers of smog can be seen over cities from a distance as people shamelessly continue this illogical practice. While a lot of initiatives have been undertaken to reduce the use of crackers, a lot remains to be done in this respect.


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Smart Nesting!

"Nest parasitism or brood parasitism" is a phenomenon in which a bird raids another bird's nest, destroys its eggs and lays its own eggs in the nest. The cuckoo is an 'interspecific' nest parasite. It usually lays its eggs in the nests of babblers and crows. the 'host' species, i.e whose nests have been raided, incubate the cuckoo egg and the raise the cuckoo chick as their own, acting as foster parents to the cuckoo offspring.
Brood parasitism is also seen in various insects, fish, reptiles and other birds such as some species of duck, cowbirds and honeyguides.

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Pirates!

Many animals which do not have specialized hunting adaptations resort to food piracy, wherein they steal food from any other animal they can subdue. among the birds, skuas and gulls are among the famous food pirates. The frigate bird resorts to piracy so often that it has even been nicknamed the Piratebird. Skuas are extremely notorious for their habit of bullying other birds to give up their catch, and will often raid nests for eggs and chicks.

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Supper with Spoonbills

The spoonbill's beak is flat and spatulate, resembling the shape of a spoon. this enables it to feed with ease. when a fish, aquatic insect or a crustacean comes in contact with the surface of the 'spoon', the bill is snapped shut. Spoonbills usually eat for hours together on shallow waters. India has a single species- the Eurasian spoonbill, that grows a sparkling white crest in the breeding season.

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The Songster's Notes

Thrushes are a group of passerines classified in the family Turdidae. They usually prefer the undergrowth, feeding on ground insects. Thrushes are known to have extremely melodious and pleasing calls and are considered among the best songsters of the bird world. I have myself witnessed an entire concert by the Orange-headed Thrush, a common garden bird in Central India.

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Married Life!

Hornbills have a rather bizarre way of breeding. The female locks itself up in a hollow of a tree trunk, that is sealed with a plaster of feces. She remains inside and lays eggs, incubates them, and feeds the chicks after the eggs hatch. After the chicks have attained a semi-dependent state, the female breaks open the seal and lets herself out. Throughout this period, the female and the chicks depend on the food supplies provided by the male, who is a loyal husband and a dedicated father.

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Migrant Migraine!

Migration is an extremely gruelling journey, with most waders travelling thousands of miles to reach their breeding grounds. Stints and knots are among the waders that migrate for the longest distances. In a recent research, a Red Knot was recorded to have flown for six days and six nights non-stop, covering a distance of 5000 miles! Imagine the toll such a journey would take on their little bodies. This is the reason why birds need to fatten up before they embark on their epic expeditions.



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Industrial Pollution

The most harmful sources of water pollution come from industries. Unplanned industrial growth, inefficient waste disposal and leaching of resources from the natural world have all contributed to the destruction of wetlands. Major environmental mishaps have occurred due to industrial pollution in the past and it is a growing concern for every country on the planet.


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Bat Chat

The upside down way of bat life helps the creature in several ways. It enables them take to the wing easily and immediately in case a predator gets too close. Moreover, the hind limbs of bats are not very well-developed for flight, and they are unable to generate lift for taking off in an upright position. Upside down, they simply have to 'fall into flight'. Bats are the only true mammals that are capable of true and sustained flight. Others like the flying squirrels are only able to glide for short distances.

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