May your New Year be like the Golden Oriole

The Golden Oriole wishes all of you a bright new year! Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine.

Prints of the comic are available as new year gifts on my Happywagon (for Indian orders) and Redbubble (for international orders) webstores

Mohammad Rafi was a Magpie Robin

I first listened to his voice in an audio cassette my mother owned when I was 5, and he has since then been my guru! Happy birthday to the timeless legend, Mohammad Rafi, from me and Magpie Robins. Comic from my column with Roundglass Sustain. 

Birding in the Northern Plains in Winters

I have just returned from birdwatching in 7 degrees, and there couldn't be amore apt time for this cartoon to appear in my Roundglass Sustain column!

Blyth's Reed Warbler

A tribute to my neighbour from Europe, the Blyth's Reed Warbler, that chose to grace my backyard this winter! Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-day. 

Illustrations for Singapore Bird Race

I'm delighted to be a virtual part of the Singapore Bird Race this year, having created three illustrations of the threatened song birds that will be the faces of the event: the White-rumped Shama, Blue-rumped Parrot and Greater Green Leafbird. The Bird Race will be held on the 5th of December. To know more and register, visit the Facebook events page.

Thanks to Yong Ding Li of Birdlife International and the Singapore Nature Society for commissioning me for the illustrations.

The Many Original Compositions of the Orange-Headed Thrush

Live music by the Orange-headed Thrush from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

Cuckoo Chartbusters for your Monsoon Playlist

It's monsoon and cuckoo compositions are topping all music charts! Which one is your favourite? (Mine has to be the Grey-bellied!)

Comic from my column with Pune Mirror.

Bioacoustics and Biodiversity Trends

Comic # 4 in my series with Current Conservation magazine 'Research in Translation', comics based on science papers, speaks about bioacoustics and their role in monitoring trends in biodiversity, based on a paper by Dr. Rachel Buxton. The bird in the comic is the Grey Catbird, one of the most vocal residents of the Rocky Mountains National Park in the USA, where the research is based.

More on the series here.

No to Playback

Bird song playback as a tool should exist only to help the cause of ornithology and science, not to help photographers become social media sensations, or for birdwatchers to win the 'big year'.

Are you a birder/photographer who treats birds with respect by not using playback? Now you can proudly wear your 'No to Playback' badges and t-shirts and let your peers know that you're an ethical birder. 

Order 'No to Playback' badges, tshirts and posters by mailing me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com. The prices for the merchandise are as follows:

Badges (58mm): Rs. 600 for 5 pieces

Tshirts: Rs. 1200

Prints (A3): Rs. 500 for the first print, 200 for the second copy onwards

For orders outside of India, visit my webstore here.  

(The bird in the illustration is a Mishmi Wren Babbler, an IUCN Vulnerable species endemic to Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, North-east India, that is serially hounded by photographers and birders who use playback).

Illustrated Courtship Displays of Ten Indian Birds

Learn the art of courtship  from 10 Indian birds

For many of us, including your humble narrator, the art of courting is still a puzzle that mankind does not seem to have a definite answer to. But birdkind, in this regard (and of course, several other regards) has proven to be far more sophisticated and superior. From the Bowerbird’s designing of a ‘red carpet’ to impress his mate, to the expertly choreographed mating dances of the Birds of Paradise, bird courtships are possibly the most outstanding marvels of nature. As Valentine’s Week approaches, here are some very handy courting lessons from 10 Indian birds that have mastered the act of wooing-

1.       The River Tern’s Gift to his Mate-

Presenting a rose is an age old courting tradition. But the male River Tern replaces the obsolete rose with gifts of practical value- he gets her mate her favourite fish! To lure females in the nesting colony, he presents the ladies with his catch of the day. Even after the ‘I-love-yous’ have been exchanged and pair bonds formed, he feeds the female before mating with her. Now that, is gifting like a true gentleman.

2.       The Indian Roller’s Airborne Somersault- 

(Disclaimer- the stunts in this scene have been performed by trained professionals. Imitate at your own risk!) Nothing says, “You make my world spin round” like the male Indian Roller’s courtship display- a series of somersaults performed mid-air, displaying the sparkling blue spots on his wings. This ‘rolling’ display is what gives the species its name. The Roller woman obviously has a taste for raw action, and picks the best stuntman among her suitors.

3. The Great Indian Bustard’s Inflated Neck-

This majestic species of our grasslands puts up a gallant courtship display. After warding off rival males, the male inflates the feathers on the neck which take the shape of a fluffy bag while the tail is held out and raised upright. To make sure that the ladies are watching, he emanates a deep, resonant, booming call that can be heard at a distance of 500 metres!

4.     The Ashy-Crowned Sparrow Lark’s Aerial Parabola- 

Though a sober bird in appearance, the Sparrow Lark goes to dynamic lengths (heights, actually) to woo his mate. He sings a chirruping song, soaring up to a height, then slowly gliding down with closed wings, and rising up again. The undulating display makes for an engaging crescendo, both for the lady sparrow lark and the bird-watcher. Each time the performer descends, he gives out a long, continuous whistle. Thankfully, the art of whistling at the ladies is appreciated in the bird world!

       5. The Lesser Florican’s High Jump-

Floricans live amidst tall grass and the only way to grab female eyeballs in their habitat is the florican’s ingenious courtship display. The long-legged male suddenly takes off from the grass vertically upwards, emitting a croaking call, and then falling back. The leap is repeated at every three minutes or so. The higher he is able to jump, the fitter he appears to his ladies- a prerequisite to sexual selection.

6.       The Baya Weaver’s Aptitude for Architecture-

If you are a male Baya Weaver and you do not possess a Masters in architecture, you’re doomed to be a bachelor for life. Famous for building elaborate, pendulous nests, the breeding success of the weaver depends on his weaving skill. The complex nest can take over 500 trips to complete. Once it is partially built, the male begins to advertise by calling out to potential mates. When a female passer-by takes interest, she first carefully inspects the structure, and only if she finds it conducive to raise her young, does she accept the proposal. The rest of the nest is built by the pair together.

7. The Indian Peafowl’s Flamboyant Costume-

The peahen has a penchant for gaudy costumes and over-the-top fashion design, and her man does not disappoint her in this aspect. The extravagant ‘train’ of the male is actually comprised of feathers growing from the back, and not the tail, as is the common misconception.  This train of feathers marked with colourful ‘eyespots’ is held up and quivered in the famous courtship dance, that has inspired writers and poets for centuries.

8.       Role Reversal in the Greater Painted Snipe-

You might look at this dance and think that it’s just another bird borrowing lessons from the peacock, but if you delve deeper, there’s a surprise in store. In this species, it is the female who is the performer and the male, the spectator! The female painted snipe sports the more attractive plumage and her courtship display includes spreading her wings and cocking up her tail. After mating and laying eggs, she leaves the male to look after the eggs and raise the chicks, and repeats the same procedure with another mate. The polyandrous female painted snipe can produce 3-4 clutches in a single breeding season, all looked after by her ex-husbands!

9.       The Sarus Cranes’ Trumpeting Duet-

It is no surprise that one of the most endearing courtship dances comes from one of the most elegant birds in the sub-continent. The chivalrous male Sarus initiates the duet by holding his wings out and inviting his partner to join, emitting a loud, trumpeting call that resonates across the grassland. Once the female joins, a remarkable performance of song and dance ensues. Sarus cranes mate for life and are revered as a symbol of marital fidelity in India.

10.       The Great Crested Grebes’ Mid-water Ballet-

I have a habit of saving the best for the last, and my show-stopper for today is the Great Crested Grebe. Grebes are freshwater diving birds that feed on fish. Their courting dance is one of the most remarkable avian performances, in which the pair first dives into the water and emerges with plucked seaweed in the beaks. Then the male and the female come together, press their breasts against one another and rise vertically from the water, paddling furiously with the feet. While this happens, the couple gently nudges one another with the seaweed held in the beak! Now that’s taking Pas de deux to another level!

 The series was first published on National Geographic Traveller in 2015. Prints of the illustrations are available as a poster on my webstore here. For orders within India, write to me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com.

The Hume's Warbler in Delhi

Migratory birds aren't just seen in forests and lakes, but also come to your backyards. New Delhi, for example, has already started receiving its urban winter visitors, one of which is the humble Hume's Warbler. A walk through any of the city gardens can yield a sighting, and unlike other warblers which are a nightmare to identify, the Hume's gives itself away easily with its 'chew-ip, chew-ip' calls.

From my column with Mid-Day today.

Meet the Indian Pitta

A comic on the bird of the season, the Indian Pitta from my column with Mid Day today.

Tits of Europe

Birders from Europe, here's something for you all! A poster-cum-song infographic of the twelve species from the continent. The compilation is available as prints and merchandise (wall clocks, t-shirts, dresses, mugs, laptop skins) on my webstore here.

Tits are a family of small passerine birds found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and parts of Africa. Typically inhabiting gardens and forests, they feed on seeds and insects. They are known for a wide range of vocalizations, being among the most vocal of all birds! 

The idea for compiling this poster came when I spotted 6 species of tits on my trip to Germany and France last year, of which the Long-tailed is my top favourite! How many tits have you seen?

The Illegal Bird Trade in India

A comic on India's illegal pet trade that resulted from a visit to Hyderabad's 'Murgi Chowk', that appears in my column with Mid-Day. Thanks to Chemudupati Samyukta and Shreya Paropkari of The Humane Society International, India, for their inputs and for accompanying me on the visit.

(Readers may note that there is no communal angle intended in the comic. The comic resulted from a sting visit to Murgi Chowk, where most pet traders are dressed like the character depicted here).

The Lyrebird

Lyrebirds are ground-dwelling birds found in Australia, renowned for their exceptional mimicry! Immortalized by Sir David Attenborough in the documentary 'Life of Birds', the Superb Lyrebird in particular can mimic anything from a bird to a gunshot to a camera shutter!

The comic appears in my column with The Hindu BL-ink this weekend.

Sparrow Songs from around the World

It's World Sparrow Day this Sunday! Here's a sparrow cartoon from my Gocomics page today.

Merchandise on Redbubble available here, and in Indian prices on request (email me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com).

The Song of the Tailorbird

A cartoon inspired by a chirpy little Tailorbird who flits about in my backyard everyday. The comic appeared in my weekend column with BLink last weekend.