Among capital cities, Delhi hosts the largest number of resident and migratory birds after Nairobi. It is estimated that out of India’s 1,200 bird species, 400 are found in Delhi and out of these you can easily spot 83 species in the wooded premises of the cultural hub of Delhi, the India International Centre (IIC).
Keeping the ecological importance of IIC in mind, environmentalist Samar Singh, ex-Secretary-General, WWF-India, has come out with a bird guide called, Birds of IIC. In this guide, Singh takes a peek into the world of the shy Green Pigeons, colourful Kingfishers, curious Spotted Owlets, royal-like Golden Orioles, majestic Grey Hornbills, and the noisy Jungle Babblers. Published by Wisdom Tree, this book is a must for amateur bird watchers as it also highlights the common species easily spotted in Delhi.
Legendary ornithologist Salim Ali believed that birds have the power to sooth your frayed nerves. Bird watching in Delhi is fast catching up as a hobby and for most birders watching birds is a meditation of sorts. ‘Just bird away your worries’ is a commonly enough refrain. And the environs of IIC are just perfect as a stress buster.
With a cup of coffee, you can stretch your legs here and follow a Baya weaver busily flitting around with straws for its nest, or watch the industrious woodpecker busily digging insects. Take a stroll and catch the Common Tailorbird skip, hop and jump from one bush to another. Track the melodious call of the Asian Koel as it serenades a female Koel or watch the bandit-like Shrike harass the petite Sunbird. Maybe you could also join a Shikra chasing the Red-vented bulbul.
Through his expertise, Singh has been able to showcase common birds in a whole new light. He has given a very comprehensive description about the colour, plumage, behaviour, breeding season and habits of the birds, which many birding books have ceased to have. By mentioning the scientific name, Hindi name, size of the bird and call, Singh has been able to give some helpful indicators. Photographers Amano Samarpan and Nikhil Devasar have clicked beautiful and expressive pictures, which not only highlight a bird’s identification points but also ensure that the picture remains imprinted in your mind. You can see the bird, identify its various features and then compare it with the book.
The cover is very nicely designed and will definitely catch your eye. Beautifully captured by Amano, it gives the commonest bird, the pigeon, its fifteen minutes of fame. However, more importantly, it shows the birds sitting in the niche of one of Joseph Stein’s most original construction details, not to be found in any other building designed by him in Delhi: the ‘jalli’ of yellow sandstone flat bricks, which form the distinctive backdrop ‘walls’ along the sides of the buildings of IIC. These were constructed so as to allow the air to flow in, while simultaneously blocking excess sunlight. In a remarkable flash of genius the architect perched the flat rectangular bricks of the ‘jalli’ one on top of the other, providing only steel tubings that pass along both side in the grooves cut in them, to hold them together (no use of mortar!). Thereby also creating a free airy ‘hostel’ room for visitors like the pigeons, who, like Buddhist monks, are regularly seen ‘meditating’ in them.
On the cover, the two pigeons sitting in niches no larger than themselves are looking at each other, fortuitously appearing to be talking to each other, symbolizing thereby the essential message of both the building and the India International Centre, i.e. a place made by its architect (and as conceptualized by its founders) to the measure of man, a welcoming and comfortable meeting point of reflection and dialogue for all.
The author has incorporated a brief note by Salim Ali along with his views on the usefulness of birds. The appendix has some useful tips, bird watching tips like basic introduction to a bird, FAQs on bird habitat, behaviour and nesting activity. He shares interesting trivia such as the largest, smallest and most beautiful bird, and the common, rare and extinct species.
However, it would have been icing on the cake if the author had mentioned the various places or points at IIC, which the birds frequent or where they can be spotted easily. Since we are talking about Delhi, he could have also documented other bird watching areas in Delhi.
So what are you waiting for? Go grab a pair of binoculars with the bird book and explore the environs of IIC and cross birds out in your checklist.
Amrita Talwar is a freelance writer who covers wildlife and environment issues. She is a bird watcher herself and an active member of various bird watching groups in the capital. She is currently working in the communication cell of Katha. Her checklist of birds is increasing day-by-day. Her claim is that, out of India's 1,200 species she has spotted and identified nearly 400 birds.