Overview:
Douglas Dewar’s 1915 book, “Birds of the Indian Hills,” is a captivating account of the avian inhabitants of the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. Dewar, a keen observer of nature, provides vivid descriptions of the common birds found in these regions, detailing their habits, appearance, and calls. The book is not a dry scientific treatise, but rather a delightful narrative filled with anecdotes and personal insights into the world of these feathered creatures. Dewar’s passion for his subject shines through as he vividly portrays the beauty and diversity of the birdlife found in these mountains, offering a unique glimpse into the natural world of the early 20th century.
The book is divided into three parts: Part I covers the birds of the Himalayas, focusing on the Western Himalayas and then the Eastern Himalayas. Part II delves into the common birds of the Nilgiris, and Part III explores the avifauna of the Palni Hills.
Key Findings:
- Birds of the Himalayas are distinct from those found in the plains of India, showcasing a dramatic shift in birdlife as one ascends the mountains.
- The Himalayas, with their varied altitudes and climates, provide a diverse habitat for a wide array of birds.
- The author observes the social behavior of many Himalayan birds, highlighting their tendency to flock together for food and companionship.
- Dewar highlights the importance of food and temperature in determining the distribution of birds, explaining why some birds migrate seasonally while others remain year-round.
- The author challenges common scientific theories, particularly those regarding mimicry and natural selection.
- The Nilgiris, while offering a smaller variety of birds than the Himalayas, showcase a unique blend of plains and mountain species.
- The author emphasizes the abundance of specific bird species in certain regions, suggesting that the Nilgiris are particularly rich with bulbuls and that the flycatchers are a common sight in the Himalayas.
Learning:
- Bird Identification: The book provides a practical guide to identifying common birds of the Himalayas and the Nilgiris, offering details about their appearance, calls, and behavior. Readers can learn to differentiate between similar-looking birds, even in the field.
- Nesting Habits: Dewar delves into the fascinating nesting habits of various birds, describing the nest construction, egg-laying patterns, and parenting behaviors.
- Bird Communication: The author explores the vocalizations of different birds, offering explanations for their calls and how they communicate with each other.
- Bird Adaptations: Dewar explains how birds are adapted to their environment, highlighting how their beaks, plumage, and behavior play a role in their survival.
- Human Impact on Birds: The book touches upon the relationship between birds and humans, noting how human activities can affect bird populations and how some birds have adapted to human settlements.
- The Limits of Scientific Theories: Dewar critically examines common scientific theories, such as mimicry and natural selection, questioning their universality and highlighting the need for further research and observation.
Historical Context:
The book offers a snapshot of the natural world of the early 20th century, providing context for the impact of British colonialism on the environment and the scientific understanding of birds at the time. It reflects a blend of traditional natural history observation with the emerging field of ornithology.
Facts:
- Crow Behaviour: Indian crows have a habit of swearing at those who disturb their nests.
- Crow Nesting Material: Crows prefer horsehair for nesting but will use human hair or hair from cattle if necessary.
- Flocking Behaviour: Many Himalayan birds flock together, likely due to the abundance of food and their natural sociability.
- Tit Aggressiveness: Tits, while small, are known to be aggressive birds, sometimes even attacking young and sickly birds.
- Laughing Thrush Calls: Himalayan Laughing Thrushes are very noisy, with calls that some might describe as “laughter.”
- Scimitar-Babbler Beaks: Scimitar-Babbler beaks are long, slender, and curved, resembling a scimitar.
- Himalayan Whistling-Thrush Habitat: These birds primarily inhabit mountain streams and are often found near dhobi ghats (washermen’s washing areas).
- Black Bulbul Habitat: Black Bulbuls reside mainly in the tops of tall trees, rarely venturing to the ground.
- Nuthatch Food Preferences: Himalayan Nuthatches have a fondness for the red berries of Arisæma jacque-montii.
- King Crow Boldness: The king-crow (black drongo) is known for its fearless and aggressive nature, often attacking other birds.
- Jay Sociability: Black-throated Jays are very sociable, typically seen in flocks.
- Butcher Bird Feeding Habits: Shrikes (butcher-birds) perch on high branches and swoop down to catch insects and small birds.
- Oriole Nesting: Indian Orioles (Oriolus kundoo) rarely descend to the ground and are seldom seen at hill stations.
- Mynas and Food: Common mynas (Acridotheres tristis) are known to steal grasshoppers from cattle and even raid fruit gardens.
- Flycatcher Nesting: Verditer Flycatchers and White-browed Blue Flycatchers prefer to nest in holes.
- Bush-chat Plumage Change: The plumage of the dark grey bush-chat (Oreicola ferrea) changes from grey to black throughout the year due to wear and tear.
- Forktail Feeding Habits: Spotted Forktails (Henicurus maculatus) pick up dead leaves and turn them over while searching for insects in streams.
- Himalayan Cuckoo Call: The call of the Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) resembles the “whoot-whoot-whoot” of the crow-pheasant.
- Brain-Fever Bird Calls: The brain-fever bird (Hierococcyx varius) is known for its loud, crescendo call that can be heard throughout the day and night.
- Vulture Flight: Vultures are known for their impressive soaring flight, often hanging motionless in the air on outstretched wings.
Statistics:
- Himalayan Range Size: The Himalayas are a vast mountainous region, spanning approximately 80 miles in width and several hundred miles in length.
- Altitude Changes in Flora: Every rise of 1000 feet in the Himalayas results in significant changes to the flora.
- Temperature Range in Hill Stations: The minimum temperature in Himalayan hill stations can vary drastically from 70°F in the summer to 23°F in the winter.
- Naini Tal Lake Area: The area of Bhim Tal, one of the largest lakes in the Himalayas, is roughly 150 acres.
- Almora Elevation: Almora, a charming Himalayan hill station, is situated approximately 5300 feet above sea level.
- Number of Himalayan Birds: The book describes approximately 20 birds in the Western Himalayas and over 90 in the Eastern Himalayas.
- Black-Throated Jay Flocks: Flocks of black-throated jays can contain as many as 40 individuals.
- Green-Backed Tit Size: The green-backed tit is smaller than a sparrow, measuring only a few inches in length.
- Himalayan Whistling-Thrush Size: The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush is the size of a blackbird.
- White-Crested Kalij-Pheasant Size: The white-crested kalij-pheasant (Gennæus albicristatus) is a large bird, measuring over two feet in length.
- Cheer Pheasant Call: The call of the cheer pheasant (Catreus wellichi) can be heard up to a mile away.
- Number of Quail in Migration: Large flocks of grey quail (Coturnix communis) migrate across the Himalayas in October and April.
- Himalayan Forktail Tail Length: The spotted forktail (Henicurus maculatus) has a tail that measures over 6 inches in length.
- Imperial Eagle Diet: The Imperial Eagle (Aquila helica) primarily feeds on carrion, rarely catching prey.
- Crested Serpent Eagle Size: The crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a large bird of prey, measuring 4 feet in length.
- Number of Kites in Hill Stations: Hundreds of kites (Milvus govinda) are present in each Himalayan hill station.
- Great Himalayan Barbet Size: The great Himalayan barbet (Megalæma marshallorum) is a large bird, measuring over a foot in length.
- Himalayan Pied Kingfisher Size: The Himalayan pied kingfisher (Ceryle lugubris) is the size of a crow.
- Nilgiri Hill-Bulbul Size: The southern hill-bulbul (Otocompsa fuscicaudata) is a small bird, smaller than a sparrow.
- Tickell’s Golden-Backed Woodpecker Size: Tickell’s golden-backed woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes gutticristatus) is a large bird, measuring over a foot in length.
Terms:
- Avifauna: The birdlife of a particular region or time period.
- Tarai: A low-lying, marshy area at the foot of the Himalayas.
- Bhabar: A strip of forest located between the Tarai and the Himalayas, characterized by tall evergreen sal trees.
- Deodar: A species of cedar tree native to the Himalayas.
- Rhododendron: A genus of flowering shrubs, many of which are native to the Himalayas and the Nilgiris.
- Calyx: The part of a flower that encloses the petals and reproductive organs.
- Crest: A tuft of feathers on the head of some birds, often used for display or as a signaling device.
- Tarsus: The lower part of the leg of a bird, between the ankle and the toes.
- Cere: The fleshy, often colored, part of a bird’s beak at the base of the upper mandible.
- Aigrette: A tuft of long, delicate feathers on the head of some birds, often used for display.
Examples:
- Blue-Magpies: Blue-magpies, with their striking black, blue, and white plumage, are a common sight in the Himalayas, particularly the red-billed species (Urocissa occipitalis) and the yellow-billed blue-magpie (U. flavirostris). Their loud, ringing calls make them easily noticeable.
- Black Bulbuls: Black Bulbuls (Hypsipetes psaroides) are notorious for their unkempt appearance, loud calls, and tendency to congregate in rowdy gangs. They often frequent the tops of rhododendron trees, feasting on nectar.
- Spotted Forktails: The spotted forktail (Henicurus maculatus) is a striking bird, with its black and white plumage and long, forked tail. It inhabits mountain streams and is often seen perched on rocks, constantly wagging its tail.
- Himalayan Whistling-Thrushes: These birds (Myiophoneus temmincki) prefer to reside by streams, using their long beaks to extract insects and snails from the water.
- Great Himalayan Barbets: The great Himalayan barbet (Megalæma marshallorum), with its massive yellow beak and vibrant plumage, is a common sight in Himalayan forests. Its mournful “pee-yu, pee-yu, pee-yu” call echoes through the hills.
- Tailor-Birds: The tailor-bird (Orthotomus sartorius) is known for its unique nesting habit. It uses leaves to create a cup-shaped nest, stitching them together with plant fibers, earning its name.
- Ashy Wren-Warblers: The ashy wren-warbler (Prinia socialis) is a small, active bird that flits from branch to branch, constantly making a curious snapping noise.
- Minivets: Minivets, with their bright plumage and small size, are often found flitting about in flocks, feeding on insects. The common minivet of the Nilgiris, the orange minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus), displays bright scarlet and black plumage.
- Grey Jungle-Fowl: The grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonnerati) is a common bird on the Nilgiris, with its distinctive crowing and tendency to sprint across roads when disturbed.
- Painted Bush-Quail: The painted bush-quail (Microperdix erythrorhynchus) is a small, partridge-like bird with its distinctive mottled brown plumage and red bill.
Conclusion:
Dewar’s “Birds of the Indian Hills” is an insightful and engaging account of the birdlife of the Himalayas and the Nilgiris, offering a valuable resource for bird enthusiasts and anyone interested in the natural world of these regions. The book showcases the author’s keen observation and passion for his subject, highlighting the beauty, diversity, and intriguing behaviors of these birds. The book also reveals Dewar’s critical thinking, as he questions prevailing scientific theories and emphasizes the need for continued observation and research. Whether you are planning a trip to the Himalayas or simply fascinated by the natural world, “Birds of the Indian Hills” provides a captivating and informative read.