Bird Call Playback

There has been quite a bit of debate in recent times about the use of playback devices to lure birds. While some birders argue that it is a non-intrusive method of procuring a sighting, playing bird calls has been proven to have several negative impacts. Playback stresses the birds out as males expend energy in outdoing a non-existent competitor. It also brings birds out in the open, exposing them to predators. Recorded calls also distract birds from more important activities like foraging. It has therefore been suggested that playback when used, must be done judiciously and patiently, respecting the bird and its ecology. 

This cartoon appeared in Saevus magazine along with an article on bird call playback, in the January 2014 issue.

Newly discovered species

Here's an ode to the myriad of species discovered in the last few years! Beginning with the Limestone Leaf Warbler in 2008 to the newest species of dolphin described from South America, these discoveries only remind us of how little we know about our planet and how much of the earth is yet to be unearthed! 

The Limestone Leaf Warbler was first seen in 1994 but was mistaken for the Sulphur-breasted Warbler. It was later described in 2008 along with the Bare-faced Bulbul, both found in the limestone karst mountains of Laos. The lyre sponge or harp sponge was discovered off the coast of California in 2012. The Kabomani Tapir described in 2013 from the Amazon, made headlines for being the first odd-toed ungulate to be described in a century. The Lesula of Congo, although known to the indigenous people, became known to the international scientific community only in 2007. The Olinguito that shot to popularity after being tagged as a cross between a cat and a teddy bear, was the first species of mammal to be described from the Americas in 35 years. The Cambodian Tailorbird was discovered in Phnom Penh during the avian influenza checks of 2009 and was assigned a unique species in 2013. The Omani Owl was discovered in the Al Hajar mountains of Oman. The Araguaian Boto is a river dolphin from Brazil, described in 2014.

This cartoon appeared in BLink, a supplement of The Hindu's Business Line today.

Oxpecker and Wild Buffalo

Sigh! Another one on one of my favourite savanna species.

Marrying a taxonomist

I did a page on wildlife scientists, conservationists, taxonomists and the like for the current issue of Saevus magazine, of which this cartoon was a part. Any husbands of wildlife scientists here who have shared this guy's predicament? Thought this might be relevant with Valentine's Day around the corner. 

The Arunachal Bird Festival

As most of you might know, my bird caricatures were a part of the Arunachal Bird Festival held at the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary earlier this month. Because of an unprecedented militancy surge in the state, there was a bit of chaos, but that didn't deter the spirit of the event much. I'm also glad that a prelude to the event was held at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, where lots of the prints and merchandise sold off before hand. The trip for me was nothing short of life-changing, as it not only popularized by bird caricature series, but also instilled tremendous confidence in me about these funny looking fowls I draw! (Also, birders would be interested in knowing this- on my very first birding trek in the North-east, I got to see the Bugun Liocichla, the rare new babbler described from the region in 2006). By the end of the trip, I not only felt enriched having seen one of the most beautiful birding venues in the world, but also felt ecstatic at having my bird count leap up by more than 60 species!

Here are some pictures and proceedings from the event-
                                  
                                                                          The posters

Notebooks printed on recycled paper

These stickers of the Bugun Liocichla can be seen all around the camps.

The keychains.

The venue of the events.

A skit performed by schoolkids on the demerits of hunting on communities.

I delivered a talk on art and wildlife.

This supremely talented designer, Soujanyaa Boruah designed boxes with heat sensors that played the calls of the respective birds as you walked past them!

The bird call boxes with the bird caricatures on them.

We also had a little drawing contest for the kids. I participated too!

My favourite entry- the Beautiful Nuthatch.

I tried to draw the Rufous-bellied Eagle but lost to the kid above!

And finally we proceeded to paint a wall with the kids, full of birds. Soujanyaa and the kids did all the work here.

Soujanyaa's wall of fame!

And a wonderful folk dance to one of those melodious tunes of the mountainfolk to end the show.

  The caricatures of Eaglenest's big six- The Bugun Liocichla, The Rufous-necked Hornbill, The Wedge-billed Wren Babbler, the Ward's Trogon, the Blyth's Tragopan and the Beautiful Nuthatch that were used across all kinds of media related to the event-