The Urbania Avian Symphony Orchestra
Bird songs at the township that keep you connected with nature
In the ninth issue of the Times of Urbania published on May 25, 2019 we read about common birds at the township. Here is the article if you have not read it earlier:
https://giribpai.substack.com/p/birds-of-urbania
This issue of our newsletter, the 23rd in the series, re-visits birds of Urbania but in a different context - how birds at the township provide a variety of sounds through the day leading up to what I call the 'Urbania Symphony Orchestra'. Or a medley of bird sound almost through the day that is different for each bird type, purpose of the call and time of the day.
Avid bird-watchers (nowadays called birders) recognise birds in their vicinity two ways: by sight and by sound. During bird watching exploration it is not always possible to sight birds, more so if they are at long distance or covered by vegetation. In such cases, bird sound becomes a convenient aid to help locate a bird and also recognise the type. Bird calls are now easily available on the web with YouTube videos, bird call apps (even ones exclusively for Indian birds) and websites with recorded bird voices all helping one to hear bird calls and learn to recognise them. As we shall learn here, some birds can be easily recognised by their sound alone and through mnemonics.
Chirping of sparrows: Most Indians wake up each morning to sounds familiar to them all their lives including the chirping of sparrows. With environmental change affecting India in recent decades, due to rapid urbanization, it is now common to be in an Indian city and not hear sparrows or see them at all. However, being a resident of Rustomjee Urbania, one has the pleasure of being woken up or hearing sparrows on waking up. Though Mumbai region has seen decimation of sparrow population on account of change in architecture and reduction in vegetation which is denying sparrows nesting and perching spaces, Rustomjee Urbania has vegetation and niches where sparrows are thriving. They are township residents who don't have an occupancy certificate (OC) yet are welcome and in fact much appreciated in the community.
Sparrows chirp and that is their most common sound one hears and mostly in the morning. Sparrows thrive around Indian households as it was common practice of house holds to feed them cooked or uncooked grains daily. Being adaptable, sparrows now live in and around even tall buildings and you can find them even at higher floors. They typically use small spaces to make nests and if there are hatchlings ones can also get to hear the young ones asking for food from their parents, which is the second sound from sparrows one hears. Grass or thread hanging out of niches is a give away of a sparrow nest.
Parakeets: Parakeets do not occur within Rustomjee Urbania but one can see and hear them from the Urban Farming Zone. On a cable dangling along Shyam Apartments (on the other side of the nalah) each morning one can see parakeets use the cable as a perch and hear their screechy calls. In some seasons there are many of them but they are there through the year.
Mynahs: Mynahs are another common bird which feed on food scraps, move around in flocks and are probably the most heard birds of Urbania and almost through the day. They make a chattering type of sound.
Bulbuls: These gregarious birds are common too and most common bird sound one hears at Urbania is that of Bulbuls. The red whiskered Bulbul common at the township can be seen in pairs or alone and chirps a lot. The bird is quite used to people and hence one can be close to these birds and not scare them away.
Pariah Kites: A predator bird that is dark in colour and found flying at a height looking for prey or on posts at a height. They make a screeching and shrill sound and one can see and hear them more on the northern side where they fly over open vegetation. They also feed on slaughter-house waste and hence can also be seen above rubbish dumps. Their call is distinct and gives away their presence and being in the vicinity.
Cuckoos or Koel: They make long cooing sounds and the Indian name Koel derives from the sound they make. Male koels coo to attract females and also to mark territory and warn males to keep off the territory. Also they make alarm sounds when startled or when they apprehend predators. They are seasonal and mostly can be heard from the trees in the Festival Plaza.
Red Wattled Lapwing: This common bird makes nests in the open and can be seen feeding on insects in open fields or even lawns. It makes a sound which birders say stands for - Did You Do it? Ti-ti-ti-toon is how the call goes and the bird's name in Kannada is Titti-ba bird or one that makes the Titti sound. Again, residents on North side of Rustomjee Urbania are lucky ones who can hear this bird and if luckier, can spot it too.
Happy Weekend. Happy Bird Orchestra.
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