A Bird Calendar for Northern India Informative Summary

Overview:

“A Bird Calendar for Northern India” by Douglas Dewar is a fascinating and detailed account of the avian life in Northern India, specifically the United Provinces and Punjab. The book is organized by month, providing insights into the breeding seasons, migratory patterns, calls, and fascinating facts about the diverse bird species found in the region.

The author meticulously describes the different stages of bird life throughout the year, from courtship and nest-building to raising young and the annual migration. Each month’s entry highlights the unique characteristics of the bird population, including their calls, nesting behaviors, and how they adapt to the ever-changing climate of the Indian subcontinent.

Key Findings:

The book reveals the richness and variety of bird life in Northern India, highlighting the numerous species that inhabit the region.
It details the complex migratory patterns of many birds, including the arrival of winter visitors from the Himalayas and beyond.
Dewar provides a comprehensive overview of the nesting seasons for different species, highlighting their unique nesting behaviors and how they adapt to their surroundings.
He also provides a detailed account of the fascinating interactions between different bird species, including their courtship rituals, territorial disputes, and parasitic relationships.
The text emphasizes the profound impact of climate change on bird life, illustrating how various species adapt to the seasonal changes throughout the year.

Learning:

Bird Calls: Readers will learn how to recognize the unique calls of a wide variety of birds, from the familiar “did-he-do-it” of the red-wattled lapwing to the mournful “Be thee cheery” of the wood-shrike. This will enhance their appreciation for the complex symphony of sounds that fill the Indian countryside.
Nesting Habits: The text reveals the diverse and often ingenious nesting strategies employed by different bird species. From the intricate woven nests of the weaver-birds to the carefully concealed nurseries of the shrikes, the reader will gain a deeper understanding of the creative adaptations that allow these birds to thrive in their environment.
Migratory Patterns: Dewar sheds light on the complex migratory patterns of birds, explaining how they navigate vast distances to reach their breeding grounds and why they choose to migrate at specific times of the year.
Adaptations to Climate: The book provides a detailed understanding of how birds adapt to the extreme climate changes in Northern India, from the scorching heat of summer to the cool, crisp winter months. Readers will gain an appreciation for the remarkable resilience of these feathered creatures.
Parasitic Relationships: Dewar describes the fascinating parasitic relationship between the Indian Koel and the house crow, where the koel lays its eggs in the crow’s nest and relies on the crow to raise its young. This example reveals the intricate web of interrelationships that exists within the avian ecosystem.

Historical Context:

The text is written in 1916, a time when British colonialism was still prevalent in India. This historical context is evident in the author’s use of imperial terminology, such as “cantonment” and ” bungalow,” and his observations on the activities of Anglo-Indian officials and the role of colonialism in shaping the Indian landscape.

Facts:

Doves are highly successful breeders: Some pairs of doves can rear seven or eight broods in a year, due to their small clutch size of two eggs and their ability to nest frequently.
Vultures struggle with tough branches: White-backed vultures flap their wings and tug violently when trying to break off tough branches for their nests, creating a commotion in the trees.
Bonelli’s eagle prefers squirrels: The Bonelli’s eagle favors squirrels as prey, as evidenced by the numerous squirrel skulls found beneath their nests.
Tawny eagles are distinct from kites: Unlike kites, tawny eagles have a short and rounded tail, making them easily distinguishable in flight.
Pallas’s fishing eagles are opportunistic thieves: They often rob ospreys, kites, and marsh-harriers of their prey, demonstrating their bold and aggressive nature.
Red-headed merlins are fierce despite their small size: Known for their aggressive behavior, these miniature birds of prey frequently engage in squabbles with crows over nesting territories.
Crows take pleasure in teasing raptorial birds: Crows often mock and harass birds of prey, particularly during nest-building, causing delays in their nest construction.
Owls are silent hunters: Owls, being nocturnal birds of prey, silently hunt at night, escaping the attention of crows and most humans.
Ravens in India are social birds: Unlike their English counterparts, Indian ravens are social and frequently gather in groups.
Amadavats are popular cage birds: These small, brightly colored birds are highly prized for their sweet songs and are frequently kept as pets in India.
Finch-larks are recognizable by their unique plumage: Male finch-larks have earthy grey upper parts and black lower plumage, making them easy to identify.
Hoopoes are aerial acrobats: Both hoopoes and rollers are known for their impressive and acrobatic flight patterns, particularly during courtship.
Coppersmiths and green barbets dislike cold weather: These species thrive in hot weather and are most vocal during the summer months.
Nuthatches seal their nests with mud: Nuthatches use mud to reduce the size of the nesting hole, making their nests difficult to locate.
Sunbirds are skilled nest-builders: They use a variety of materials, including cobweb, fibers, roots, and even paper, to construct their unique pear-shaped nests.
Black crows are vigilant parents: They rarely leave their nests unguarded, especially during the breeding season, to protect their offspring from other crows and predators.
Kites and crows have a peculiar preference for cantonment trees: They often build their nests in the trees of military cantonments, a preference that remains unexplained.
White-backed vultures are slow breeders: Their breeding season extends from October to March, allowing them ample time to raise their young.
Pied kingfishers are fish-loving birds: They are particularly fond of goldfish and can cause significant damage to ornamental ponds.
Woodpeckers are surprisingly tolerant of human presence: They often allow observers to approach closely while excavating their nests.

Statistics:

Average January temperatures: Even in January, the sun’s rays can cause the thermometer to register 70° in the shade at noon, except on cloudy days.
Wheat and barley growth in January: By the end of January, young wheat and barley shoots can reach a height of sixteen inches.
Sugar-cane presses are active year-round: Sugar-cane presses are operated from sunrise to sunset in most villages throughout the year.
Number of eggs in a hoopoe clutch: Hoopoes typically lay four eggs, with the hen incubating them alone.
Weight of a black vulture nest: One black vulture nest was found to weigh over eight maunds (about six hundredweight).
Number of Tawny eagle eggs: Of 159 tawny eagle eggs recorded by Hume, 38 were taken in December, 83 in January, and 28 in February.
Length of a pied kingfisher burrow: The tunnel leading to the nesting chamber of a pied kingfisher is typically over a yard in length.
Number of eggs in an amadavat clutch: Red munias or amadavats can lay between six and fourteen eggs in a single clutch.
Number of eggs in a white-throated munia clutch: White-throated munias lay between six and fifteen eggs per clutch.
Number of Indian cliff-swallow nests in a single cluster: As many as two hundred Indian cliff-swallow nests have been observed in a single cluster.
Length of a white-breasted kingfisher tunnel: The tunnel leading to a white-breasted kingfisher’s nesting chamber is typically about two feet in length.
Average bulbul clutch size: Bulbuls typically lay three eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in an Indian wren-warbler clutch: These tiny birds lay between three and four eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in a grey shrike clutch: Grey shrikes lay from four to six eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in a common myna clutch: Common mynas lay four blue eggs.
Number of eggs in a bank-myna clutch: These mynas typically lay between four and six eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in a grey hornbill clutch: A grey hornbill clutch typically consists of three eggs.
Number of eggs in a green pigeon clutch: Green pigeons lay two white eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in a brown rock-chat clutch: This species lays four pale blue eggs per clutch.
Number of eggs in a white-eye clutch: White-eyes lay between three and four tiny pale blue eggs per clutch.

Terms:

Aigrettes: Ornamental plumes or tufts of feathers, often found on the head of some bird species, such as the rock horned-owl.
Churs: Sand islets in rivers, often serving as nesting sites for various waterbirds.
Kachcha: Loosely constructed, made of unbaked materials, often referring to walls or wells.
Mali: Gardener, a common occupation in India.
Monsoon: The seasonal winds that bring heavy rainfall to India, typically from June to September.
Pipal: The sacred fig tree, a common and recognizable tree in India.
Rabi: Spring crops, referring to the crops sown in the winter months and harvested in the spring.
Sal: A durable hardwood tree, common in the sub-Himalayan forests.
Shesham: A valuable timber tree, also known as Indian rosewood, with delicate, feathery foliage.
Topes: Artificially planted mango groves, a common feature of the Indian landscape, often providing shade and fruit.

Examples:

Doves’ nests: The author describes a dove’s nest as a “bundle of spillikins,” an “upset box of matches,” or a simple structure of four twigs laid in a specific pattern.
White-backed vulture’s nest: The author observed the struggles of a vulture breaking off a tough branch for its nest, making a commotion in the tree.
Bonelli’s eagle’s nest: Mr. Currie found a Bonelli’s eagle nest in a mango tree, finding numerous squirrel skulls and pellets of skin, fur, and bone beneath it.
Crows’ harassment of raptorial birds: Crows often chase and taunt birds of prey, such as white-eyed buzzards and kites, during their nest-building season, causing delays in nest construction.
Hoopoes’ courtship: Hoopoes perform strange aerial antics during courtship, twisting and turning in the air, resembling a flycatcher chasing a fleet insect.
Coppersmiths’ nesting: The author suggests that a neatly cut circular hole in a branch is a sure sign of a coppersmith, green barbet, or woodpecker’s nest.
Sunbirds’ nests: The author describes the sunbird’s nest as a pear-shaped structure, often irregular in contour due to the variety of materials used.
Black crows’ vigilance: The author highlights the fact that a crow’s nest without an adult crow present will never contain eggs or young birds, due to their vigilant guarding of their offspring.
Pied kingfisher’s nest-building: The author describes the amusing sight of a pied kingfisher pair literally “charging” into a sandbank with fixed beaks to create a nesting hole.
Bulbul’s nests: The author notes that bulbuls often build their nests in exposed locations, leading to a high rate of egg and nestling destruction by predators and humans.

Conclusion:

“A Bird Calendar for Northern India” offers a comprehensive and engaging look at the diverse avian population of Northern India. The book showcases the fascinating adaptations and behaviors of these feathered creatures as they navigate the changing seasons, from the scorching heat of summer to the cool, crisp winter months. By meticulously detailing breeding seasons, migratory patterns, calls, and the intricate relationships between different species, Dewar provides a captivating portrait of the avian ecosystem. Readers will gain a deep appreciation for the richness and complexity of bird life in Northern India, along with a better understanding of the delicate balance of nature and the importance of conservation efforts in preserving this precious wildlife.

Learn more