Here is the latest edition of *The Flock* -- a newsletter about birds and
nature. Please do subscribe; and forward this to anyone else you know who
may be interested. Subscribe here:
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Dear friend,
Birds have fascinated people since early times. We know this from the art
that humans create. Prehistoric people across the world drew birds and
other animals in luminous cave paintings. We can also see this fascination
in the wonderful folk art styles of India. Madhubani art is filled with
peacocks and parrots; Bhil art has waterbirds; and Warli paintings use
geometric shapes to decorate walls with peacocks, storks, crows and
sparrows.
Over the centuries, art featuring birds has been popular at the centres of
power too. The famous Rajasthani miniatures stem from here. The Mughal
emperor Jahangir commissioned detailed paintings of Indian and exotic
birds. One of his artists, Ustad Mansur, painted some of the earliest known
depictions of birds like vultures
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Sarus Cranes and Great Hornbills
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.
Have you seen art inspired by birds, or are you an artist who depicts
nature through your art? Write back to us to share your stories and
experiences.
Know Your Bird
The tailorbird is a designer, architect and an engineer all at once! This
small songbird has a most striking nest. It uses supple green leaves to
form a cup-like structure, and skillfully sews the leaves together using
grass, plant fibres or even threads from your rugs outside the house. While
the male brings the threads and fibres, the female does the stitching. She
pierces holes on the sides of the leaves using her needle-like beak,
pulling the thread through them. Both of them help lining the nest to keep
the mother and eggs snug and safe from predators.
Learn More
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Watch a tailorbird in action building its nest using some fibres to stitch
the edges of leaves together.
[image: Tailorbird making nest]
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Birdy People
Sudarshan Shaw
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is a naturalist and an artist who interprets and shares stories about
wildlife using regional art in a contemporary manner. He blends his
understanding of flora and fauna with folk art styles. His illustrations
reflect the rich biodiversity and cultural diversity in India. He is the
author of the book, When a forest wakes up
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.
In the News
Read
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how artists are using their social media handles to inspire people into
conservation at Mint Lounge.
*Pooja Kothule and Pratiksha Kothule* बोरगडः
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राज्यातील
पहिले संवर्धन राखीव क्षेत्र
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write about Borgad, first conservation reserve in east Nasik forest
division of Maharashtra for Wire Marathi.
*Neha Sinha* highlights the importance of protecting, conserving and
restoring nature and ecosystems
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for Mint Lounge.
*Suzana Camargo* elaborates on why tropical birds are more colourful than
their temperate peers
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in Mongabay.
*Priyamvada Bagaria* writes about the spectacular tree and bird diversity
at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun in विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस विशेष: वन
अनुसन्धान संस्थान, वृक्षों का अनूठा संसार
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for Amar Ujala.
*Shobha Ananda Reddy* in ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಜೀವಿಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೆಯ ಭವಿಷ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುವುದು
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=bbad60d66c&e=1c3f1645f6>
describes the rich bird diversity at the lakes of Bengaluru and restoration
of degraded lakes to help revive crucial habitat for birds in Prajavani.
Book Launch
In her book
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*Sejal* vividly describes her experiences and observations from walks along
the shores of India and paints awe-inspiring pictures of the oceanic
diversity. Her fascinating and witty narration brings to life creatures
from the intertidal zone –that’s the place between land and sea, revealed
only at low tide – highlighting their superpowers such as bioluminescence,
camouflage and shapeshifting.
Newly Available
Delve into the fascinating world of birds in the Kumaon region of the
Himalayas.* Listen to their songs* in this unique series by Kumaon Vani and
NCF
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.
For a quick introduction to birds of Northeastern India, check out these *handy
pocket guides* which list common species occurring in all seven sister
states of North east. Buy here
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.
Always wanted to learn more about *beaches and oceans*? Here’s a nature-based
learning activity book
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for you.
Learn while you play
<https://bit.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3ef063e940ccce68dd0ce153&id=89f2ba9de3&e=1c3f1645f6>:
A card game about local biodiversity, different habitats and the ecological
roles of species.
Upcoming Events
*18 June:* Webinar by Monica Kaushik on urban bird communities, threats to
urban bird species and ways to conserve them. Register here
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.
*19 June: *Orientation and workshop for adopting and observing a tree for a
year by *Rupa Rahul Bajaj Centre for Environment and Art*. Enroll here
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.
*23- 25 June, Matheran: *Filming and documentation expedition by *The
Nature’s eye*. Details here
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.
*1 July: *Webinar on Russell's Viper ecology Using radio telemetry to
understand elusive species by Gerry Martin. Details here.
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*Countrywide Birdwatching Events:* Don’t miss a single bird walk around
you! Here’s your one-click-stop for birding events
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, 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
Be a part of a *citizen science project* to monitor Harriers in their
wintering grounds. Details here
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.
*Nature Conservation Fellowship* for research and conservation projects in
India. Details here
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.
*Multiple opportunities*: Holématthi Nature Foundation invites applications
for various positions. Details here
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.
*Multiple internships*: Opportunities to work on and learn more about birds
in the Western Ghats. Apply 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; Common
Tailorbird image*: *Abhishek Das;* *Purple Sunbird image: Mihir Shukla;
Birders in Manipal Image: Mohith Shenoy*
What do you want to see in future newsletters? Write back to us with your
suggestions.
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