Built in 1962, the India International Center (IIC) located in the heart of New Delhi prides itself as being the place “…where statesmen, diplomats, policymakers, intellectuals, scientists, jurists, writers, artists and members of civil society meet to initiate the exchange of new ideas and knowledge in the spirit of international cooperation…” Personally I agree with all of the above except for the “new” part. Frequented mostly by those who have been the who’s who in their hay days, the place reeks of a staleness that has nothing to to with the food served in the grandiose restaurant. It is mildly amusing how those who could do everything when they had a chance at it now sit and discuss “new” ideas about doing “something”…
Thoroughly disillusioned after one such “brainstorming” session at the IIC, I trudged along to the adjoining India Habitat Center (IHC) — a comparatively newer establishment that also happens to house the office of the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India), a place I often visit to remind me of what we are rapidly forfeiting in our mad race to accommodate more humans and more for humans.
That particular evening, the place was abuzz unlike anything I had seen before. A casual inquiry revealed that a Raptor Conservation exhibition was ongoing. As I walked across the walls covered with posters of the most magnificent birds of prey, I couldn’t help but marvel at the magnanimity, grace and dare I say royalty on display. As I neared the far end of the wall-to-wall display — I saw this.
Took me a good half a minute to realize that a picture I had shared with a researcher working with the raptor conservation project had made it to the exhibition display. It was as if a veil of mist lifted and I instantly knew what I would seek during my birding trails in October— read on to know if what I sought was seeking me too.
Elated beyond words by the visit to IHC, I sat down to sift through my birding documentation thus far (~2 years) the realization of what an important place these aves have in our ecology — urban and beyond, was quick to hit home.
The fact that all of these sightings have happened in and around urban areas underscores how these birds of prey have made themselves at home with humans for the lack of alternatives. The Black Kite in particular has taken to scavenging garbage dumps and food waste disposal points in the hope of that free meal, unaware of the hazards of bio-accumulation of life threatening chemicals and other substances that it may end up consuming.
Another urban raptor, frequently seen swooping inside tree canopies is the Shikra, named so after the Persian phonetic variation of it’s name quite literally meaning — a hunter. But my relation with this nemesis of the feral rock pigeons is quite unusual. Shikras have shown up in almost all the patches I have managed to call home over the past few years. The one in Delhi in particular had taken a special liking to me. Watching over me as a guardian angel at a time when I was at a personal nadir, sighting Agni (as I like to call her) was literally the spark that made me push through the worst of days.
Yet another raptor that often shows up in the urban setting is the Oriental Honey Buzzard. Don’t let the name fool you. This dove headed bird of prey is adept at raiding bee hives to finish of the larvae inside, not giving two hoots about the honey.
As I widened my birding sphere to include forests and grasslands later this year, Eagles were amongst the first to be added to my lifer lists. Birding books and field guides somehow don’t do justice to the “majesticity” of Eagles. Reading about their large size, tear-away beaks and merciless talons doesn’t actually hit home until you see one. Or until one sees you.
Pardon the low quality of photos. The urge to get that one record frame before they spread their wings and soar away, probably for long enough to tire you out waiting outweighs the effort to get all the setting on the camera right for the perfect shot.
My infatuation with raptors is not unique, neither is it of recent origin. Across times, these feathered descendants of dinosaurs have commanded awe and respect of humans — showing them as carriers of heavenly powers and national symbols across the globe. Many military aircraft in particular are named after raptors. Two stand out in particular — Harriers and Osprey.
The Harriers, having evolved with all the other raptor characteristics, bring to the fore the ability to hover low enough to kiss the ground and take off and land at will. The mainstay of some of the most advanced navies of the world — the Harrier Jump Jet capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) is named after this avian family.
The Osprey on the other hand is the sole member of the family Pandionidae. And I don’t think it minds being alone either, atleast not when is it controlling large swathes of water bodies while being perched atop a pole sticking out of nowhere. There is something about the Osprey that inspires an awe about it. It seems to have seized time under those rusty brown feathers. There is no rush in its action. It owns motion as it were.
As it swoops down on unsuspected marine prey, it does not for a moment hesitate to almost submerge itself in water till neck deep. Fighting the weight of the prey and water pulling it down, the powerful hunting machine lifts itself from water, the sharp talons having squeezed the life out of its prey already. Once it has finished its meal — it flies close to the water and lowers its talons to let them just graze the surface. If you are close enough you can almost hear the sound of razor-sharp keratin cutting the water — cleaning and sharpening those talons for the next hunt.
But don’t let yourself be convinced that size is the only thing that makes a raptor a fierce hunting machine. I have come to believe that “raptor” is a state of being. The family of falconets and kestrels has members as small as 18 cms in size. The Common/Eurasian Kestrel is hardly bigger than 35 cms yet packs a punch when cleaning off rodents in fields! Plus brownie points for sheer cuteness.
But power is not the only asymmetry that raptors exploit against their preys. The Peregrine Falcon in particular relies more on speed than any form of physical brute force. Flying and diving at speeds in excess of 300 km/h it literally translates the wrath of it all into bone crushing force on contact with its prey who doesn’t even know what hit it from where.
But the mention of all things raptors is incomplete without talking at length about the family that humans have developed a love-hate relation with since times immemorial. While some cultures consider them as wise and mysterious, others count them down as an evil omen. Caught between these fluctuating fortunes, Owls find themselves bordering on the brink of being endangered. In India in particular, a significantly high number of species are granted state protection owning to them being caged and killed over superstitious practices.
For this section, my fellow birder Ashwin (Insta: ashwin_kenkare) has agreed to part with some of his excellent shots of the Owl family members. Do give this artist who creates master pieces with a camera a follow on his Instagram page.
And then there are more of them to be found in forests, mountains, grasslands, desert and not to forget, even houses and bridges.
Apart from field guides, I’m always on the look out for books that explain bird behavior and there peculiarities. One such book I came across is “Bird Business” by the super talented Rohan Chakravarty. Does it look like a children’s book? Maybe it does. But the only time you should not read a children’s book is when you are busy writing one.
If you are into birding, nothing else will excite you more than a kid who is equally if not more interested about birding than you. My youngest birding partner, Iraa is all but 8 years young there is not a single dull trail with her around. It is literally a different perspective that you will experience if you bird with the youngest of the lot.
The “birding season” if one may call that was significantly delayed by the residual monsoon rains that ceased to leave as late as the last week of the month. But the weather seems to be holding up well and the migratory folks will be here soon. Exciting couple of month ahead before the year ends.
How are you planning to make the most of this birding window? Do share your thoughts in comments.
As always, leave behind a 👏 if you have stayed with me this far.
October is celebrated worldwide as Mental Health Awareness Month. I had written a little something about my own experiences over the past few years here. There is now scientific evidence to corroborate what we birders always knew — birding is good for mental health. There is a direct link between positive mood and sighting/hearing birds. But then again, it is not a substitute for professional interventions.
Seek help whenever possible. You deserve that self care. ❤️
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
Be Kind. Always.” — Robin William
