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From: The Flock <contact@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2022 at 09:59
Subject: Dear friend, has a mimicry expert ever fooled you?
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Dear friend,
Have you ever taken a breather on a walk and listened to the song of a
bird? Birds make sounds to impress a mate or to signal danger or simply to
keep in touch with each other. Some species, however, step up their game by
expanding their vocabulary. They mimic songs of other species, sounds from
their surroundings and even human speech! They might also blend in their
own calls to produce a mixtape. Drongos, shamas and larks are some Indian
species that are masters of mimicry. Have you heard them in the wild or
mistaken them for another bird species? Write to us to tell your mimicry
tales.
Know Your Bird
The Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo is a handsome glossy blue-black bird: a
sort of decked-up version of the familiar Black Drongo. Its name comes from
the tail that streams behind as it flies. It also has a funky hairdo: a
crest of backwards-curled feathers. It inhabits dense forests across India.
The Racket-Tailed Drongo is famous for its ability to mimic other sounds:
squirrels, monkeys and many species of birds – even fooling expert birders.
It can also use mimicry to get a quick meal. While foraging in the company
of another species, it sometimes gives an alarm call, which causes the
other birds to drop their prey, and the drongo swoops away with the snack!
Learn More
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Birdy People
Samira Agnihotri
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is an ornithologist and behavioural ecologist who has conducted research on
call mimicry and nesting of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo in Biligiri
Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve in southern Karnataka. She did her PhD in
Ecological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. In
addition, Samira
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is
keenly interested in the documentation and preservation of the endangered
language, ecological knowledge and cultural diversity of the indigenous
Solega people of the region.
In the News
*Ranjith Lal* pens a mesmerising piece on those loud and distinctive fuzz
balls, the Babblers
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=137c32914a&e=1c3f1645f6>,
in RoundGlass Sustain.
Can climate change affect the breeding behaviour of birds?* Kasturi Das*
highlights how and why Sarus Cranes are forming trios to raise their chicks
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=e8cd94fd23&e=1c3f1645f6>
in Mongabay India.
*Manik Puri* writes about the Great Indian Bustard at Nannaj Sanctuary,
Maharashtra in माळढोकच्या शोधात
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=24b5e19826&e=1c3f1645f6>
for
Lokmat.
Do you know India harbours six species of bee-eaters? *Sharmila
Vaidyanathan and Aravind Venkatraman *describe these fascinating birds,
their nesting and feeding habits. Read here and listen to bee-eater songs
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=65f2fd9a84&e=1c3f1645f6>
at
Nature In Focus.
*Raja Simma Pandiyan* writes about birds and organic farming in பறவைகள்:
விவசாயிக்கு நண்பனா, எதிரியா?
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=68d63dae68&e=1c3f1645f6>
for The Hindu Tamil.
*Himansu Sekhar Fatehsingh* describes the diversity of birds at Chandaka
Dampada wildlife sanctuary in Odisha in ଚନ୍ଦକା-ଡମପଡ଼ା ବନ୍ୟଜୀବ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟର
ପକ୍ଷୀ ବିଭବ
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for Sambad.
Newly Available
Have you ever wondered how a forest sounds as the twilight slowly drops its
curtains on the day? Researchers are listening to these songs of the
forest. Watch the video
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=b576d30309&e=1c3f1645f6>
to dive into the fascinating world of animal sounds.
Jungle babblers don’t really babble. Instead, they communicate with other
members of their flock using a variety of specific sounds. Find out more
about their calls in this video
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=26525b1ad4&e=1c3f1645f6>
.
Upcoming Events
*23-31 July: *National Moth Week is coming up. Register here
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=9deaad16ea&e=1c3f1645f6>
.
*24 July, Rajkot:* Workshops on bird calls and raptors by *Bird
Conservation Society*. Register here
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.
*28 July: *Webinar on oceans and fisheries by *Mongabay*. Register here
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=126b8be9b3&e=1c3f1645f6>
.
*18-21 August, Coorg: *Photography workshop by *The Nature's eye*. Details
here
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=46cda0e35b&e=1c3f1645f6>
.
*Online sessions for educators:* *Early Bird* hosts online events on bird
and nature education in the 3rd week of every month. If you are interested,
sign up for their mailing list to stay updated and register
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for upcoming events.
*Countrywide Birdwatching Events:* Don’t miss a single birdwalk around you!
Here’s your one-click-stop for birding events
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=e7ca8e24eb&e=1c3f1645f6>,
happening weekly or monthly across India. Do check (using the contact
information provided) whether the event you are interested in has resumed
and don’t forget to be Covid-safe!
Calls and Opportunities
*Multiple opportunities*: Wildlife SOS invites applications for various
positions. Details here
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=580a5d1ac2&e=1c3f1645f6>
.
*Data Analyst, Bengaluru*: Wildlife Conservation Society is looking for
someone to manage and analyse information on wildlife trafficking. Details
here
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.
*Nature Writers: *Can you write about birds in Indian languages? Nature
Communications
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is facilitating a series of articles in top media outlets. If you would
like to contribute an article, please fill this form
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.
*Credits: Banner design: Rupsy Khurana; Logo design: Janhavi Rajan; Greater
Racket-tailed Drongo: Sriram Reddy; Spotted Owlet: Prasanna Kumar Dhal;
Rose-ringed Parakeet: Prasanna Kumar Dhal*
What do you want to see in future newsletters? Write back to us with your
suggestions.
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