Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
A bird’s song
|
Author of “Garden Birds of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur”, Samar Singh tells Nandini Nairhow the book came about
|
Nature’s bounty Birds photographed by Nikhil Devasar and Amano Samarpan for “Garden Birds of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur”
Started as a book on birds at the Indian International Centre (IIC) it grew into “Garden Birds of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur”. This exhaustive catalogue written by Samar Singh, with photos by Nikhil Devasar and Amano Samarpan, has been publis
hed by Wisdom Tree.
Interested in nature and conservation, since childhood, Singh has worked for the environment at a personal and professional level. This Indian Administrative Service officer has been in charge of Forest and Wildlife at the state and national level. But this book happened more by chance.
Singh was quick to realise that IIC was a haven for birds. He explains, “But people come to the IIC only for gupshup and eating. No one notices the birds. No one sees nature.” The Directors of IIC turned the complaint back to him and asked him to fix it. The idea for a book on the birds and trees of IIC started from here. The book on trees has already been published. The one on birds grew beyond IIC to cover the golden triangle.
Aimed at a general reader, the book helps to identify birds through their size and call. It covers a range of birds from the common babblers to the rare and more splendid golden oriole.
But to Singh every bird is interesting. He explains, “Even the common sparrow is now a rare sight. It is a very pretty bird if you are interested in its behaviour. It is the same with the babbler. When you hear them chirping they might seem ugly but their mannerisms are fascinating.”
Interesting titbits
The book provides interesting titbits on bird characteristics. Like how the cuckoo practises “brood parasitism”, making other birds incubate their chicks. The incubating female Indian grey hornbill is another fascinating bird. We are told it nests in the deep hollow of a tree. She walls up this cavity with droppings, mud and wood. The entrance is sealed and she stays inside for 75 days, being fed by the male!
Why didn’t Singh take the photos himself? He replies, “I used to do photography. Then I found that when you are too hung up on the camera, trying to focus, etc, you are missing out on so much action. That fleeting moment when you see something interesting, you are worried about the camera. I now prefer watching through the binoculars instead of shooting.”
Singh is planning a project on natural heritage.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
