"Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we'll soon be in trouble" - Roger Tory Peterson
On 18 February 2022, 'Campus Bird Count' was organised in the Miranda House Campus under the 'Great Backyard Bird Count', for the students to experience and appreciate the diversity of birds in the campus. The event was organised by MH Vatavaran (The Environment Society of Miranda House) in collaboration with Synapse (The Zoology Department of Miranda House) under the supervision of Dr. Deepak Yadav, Dr. Yasha Yadav (Faculty members of Zoology Department) and Dr. Saba Zulfiquar (Faculty member of MH Vatavaran and Zoology Department). Mr. Chandra Bhushan Maurya, a Delhi-based birder, was the event's special guest. He led the students through the event and guided everyone in identifying birds. Over 40 students participated in this event.
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual global bird count in which thousands of birdwatchers from around the world look for birds over the course of four days in February. The exercise provides a "snapshot" of the bird population and sheds light on the ecology that supports it, as well as whether the population is shrinking or the bird distribution pattern is shifting as a result of human involvement and its impact on habitat. This year, the GBBC is celebrating 25 years enjoying birdwatching. GBBC has been observed in India since 2013, this year GBBC will take place from the 18th to the 21st of February.
The event was scheduled to start at 8:30 AM for which all the participants gathered near the science shed. Mr. Chandra Bhushan began by describing his previous visit to Miranda House in 2019, during which 25 bird species were identified. He also told students about some of Delhi's resident birds and how to identify them. In addition, he informed students about the eBird App (for details visit - https://ebird.org/home). Following that, students walked around the campus identifying different birds, under the guidance of Mr. Chandra Bhushan and faculty members.
Also, this event was recognized and reported by Times of India on 19 February, 2022.
Source : Times of India
The 18 species spotted during the campus tour are as follows:
Black Kite
Source : eBird
Unmistakable forked tail
Common raptor, found in large number in Delhi
Call - shrill call resembling ewe-wir-wir-wir
Blue Rock Pigeon
Source : eBird
Dull grey bird with dash of green, purple and magenta sheen on neck and upper breast.
Most widely seen pigeons
Adapted to human habitations
Call - deep throated gootr-goo
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Source : eBird
Narrow prominent pink and black band around neck of male
Most commonly seen parakeet in Delhi
Often seen in groups
Call - kee-awk
House Crow
Source : eBird
Most commonly recognized
Glossy greyish bird
True omnivores
Call - ka-aa
Laughing Dove
Source : eBird
Slender dove with greyish upper parts and brown lower parts
Chessboard pattern on sides of neck
Call - laugh like cook-took-took-oo-roo
Eurasian Collared Dove
Source : eBird
Grey-buff to pinkish-grey
Little darker above than below, with a blue-grey underwing patch
Black half-collar edged with white on its nape
Call - goo-GOO-goo
Common Myna
Source : eBird
Most common bird in human habitations
Dark brown body, glossy black head nad yellow beak, legs and eye patch
Has huge repertoire of calls
Brown-headed Barbet
Source : eBird
Stocky, green colored
Brown head, neck, upper breast
Back interspersed with wide white streaks
Orange patch around eye
Call - kutrook-kutrook
Black Drongo
Source : eBird
Common glossy black bird
Deeply forked tail
Call - cheece-cheese-chiuk, with chatter-like quality
Asian Koel
Source : eBird
Most popular song bird
Male - shiny black with crimson eyes
Female - white spotted on brown
Call - kuoo-kuoo
Purple Sunbird
Source : eBird
Male - glossy dark blue and purple color
Female - olive brown and uniformly yellow below
Slender curved beak meant for sucking nectar
Call - chew-it, chew-it
Red-vented Bulbul
Source : eBird
Small brownish bird
Black head with crest and crimson red vent
Call - peep-peep-peep
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Source : eBird
Familiar garden bird
Red whiskers behind eyes
Black crest, brown back, white underparts and red vent
One of it remarkable call sounds like 'Pleased to meet you'
Hume's Warblar
Source : eBird
Small bird with greenish upperparts and off-white underparts
Crown stripe, and conspicuous white tips to the innermost flight feathers
Call - chew-wee
Jungle Babbler
Greyish head, long tail and lemon yellow eyes
Has short rounded wings and a weak flight
Call - monotonous kay-kay-kay
Rufous Treepie
Source : eBird
Blackish head and long greyish tail with black tip
Call - ability to chatter noisily and sing melodiously
Yellow-Footed Green Pigeon
Source : eBird
Stocky pigeon with grey head and rump
Golden green collar and yellow feet
Call - low pitch whistle
House Sparrow
Most easily recognized bird
Strong decline in their numbers
Call - cheer-cheer-cheer
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