Ages: 6-8 - KopyKitab · 2018. 10. 1. · A note by Dr R K Pachauri India has made tremendous progress in the last century, with growth in business, industry, and science and technology.

Wonders of India is an interesting look at the natural and human-made wonders all over India—from our rich heritage

in the form of forts, palaces, and other monuments, to the sparrow that chirps at our window, the trees along the

streets, and the animals we love to see. This book takes a look at the birds that India is known for—from the

magnifi cent peacock to the humble crow.

Other titles in this series:Wonders of India: AnimalsWonders of India: FlowersWonders of India: Trees

Wonders of India: Monuments

The Energy and Resources Institute

WONDERS OF INDIA BIRDS

This book is printed on recycled paper.

Ages: 6-8

775 (set of 5 books)

An imprint of The Energy and Resources Institute

© The Energy and Resources Institute, 2011

First published in 2011 byThe Energy and Resources Institute

TERI PressDarbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, India

Tel. 2468 2100/4150 4900, Fax: 2468 2144/2468 2145 India +91 � Delhi (0)11Email: [email protected] � Website: http://bookstore.teriin.org

ISBN 978-81-7993-346-6ISBN 978-81-7993-382-4 (set of 5 books)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. All export rights for this book vest exclusively with The Energy and

Resources Institute (TERI). Unauthorized export is a violation of terms of sale and is subject to legal action.

Author: Sanjay Sondhi (TITLI TRUST)Managing Editor: Anupama Jauhry

Series Editors: Arshi Ahmad and Rupak GhoshDesign: Priyabrata Roy Chowdhury and Santosh Gautam

Cover illustration: Yatindra Kumar, Vijay Nipane, Neeraj RiddlanImage Research: Yukti Garg

Production Head: T RadhakrishnanPhoto credits:

Bugun liocichla (page 6): Ramana AthreyaGreat Indian bustard (page 6): Arpit Deomurari © 2010

House crow eating (page 12), Myna (page 14), Indian grey hornbill(page 28): Clement M Francis

White-throated kingfi sher eating (page 21): Arun P SinghRed-vented bulbul on fl ower (page 25), Red-vented bulbul chicks

(page 25), Indian grey hornbill (page 29): Sanjay SondhiSpotted owlet (page 22): Saleel Tambe

White-rumped vulture (page 26): Nikhil Devasar

Thanks to Ranjit Lal (writer and birdwatcher) for reviewing the manuscript.

Printed and bound in India

This book is printed on recycled paper.

The Energy and Resources Institute

A note by Dr R K Pachauri

India has made tremendous progress in the last century, with growth in business, industry, and science

and technology. But our population has increased at a tremendous rate, and our cities are expanding rapidly into huge concentrations of human activity, often swallowing up forests and other natural spaces.

This series endeavours to acquaint children with India’s natural and man-made heritage. We are endowed with a wide variety of flora and fauna and have also inherited beautiful monuments—forts, places of worship, palaces, and tombs—reflecting our glorious and multicultural past. Children, especially in towns and cities, are not very familiar with these. We need to take pride in these wonders around us, and preserve them for future generations.

I hope that by highlighting the rich heritage and natural diversity of India, these books will inspire our youth to make personal and civic choices that are better for families, communities, and our natural heritage. Children, being leaders of tomorrow, are ideally placed to create a beautiful, peaceful, and healthy future for the nation.

R K PachauriDirector-General, TERIChairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

CONTENTS

Birds: our feathered friends 6Peacock 8House sparrow 10House crow 12Myna 14Rock pigeon 16Rose-ringed parakeet 18White-throated kingfi sher 20Spotted owlet 22Red-vented bulbul 24White-rumped vulture 26Indian grey hornbill 28Fun facts 30

Birds: our feathered friendsBirds are amongst the few creatures that can fl y! They live in all kinds of areas—from mountains, deserts, forests, and fi elds to seas and rivers, and even our homes. Many birds like geese, ducks, and cranes live in colder regions such as Europe in summer. During winter, when it is too cold, and there is not enough food, they fl y thousands of kilometres to warmer areas like India. This is known as bird migration.

Birds play an important role in nature. Many birds eat insects that cause harm to plants. Others, while feeding on the nectar of fl owers, help in pollination. Fruit-eating birds like pigeons

Bugun liocichla

Open-billed storks

Great Indian bustard

spread the seeds of trees. Birds like the vulture feed on waste, and keep our surroundings clean.

However, our feathered friends

are in danger. With trees being cut down and lakes and rivers

fast disappearing, birds can no longer

fi nd food to eat and places to build nests.

Many bird species, like the Siberian and sarus

cranes, have vanished from India. Many others, such as

bustards, are in danger.

The good news is that all is not lost. In the past

few years, birds that were earlier believed to have

disappeared, have been re-discovered. Also, new birds

have been found, like the Bugun liocichla, discovered

in 2006 by Ramana Athreya. These recent discoveries give us hope that despite

the threat to their lives and homes, birds are surviving.

Geese

Asian koel

Sarus crane

6-7

Wonders of India: Birds

How can you recognize the peacock?The peacock, or the male Indian

peafowl, is amongst the prettiest birds of India. It has beautiful blue-green feathers, a royal blue neck and breast, and a fan-shaped crest on top of its head. The tail feathers are long and green with markings that look like eyes. The female (peahen) is a dull brown bird with a white throat and green neck. The peacock‛s loud ‘payou‛ call can be heard in forests, usually during early mornings and late evenings. What does the peacock eat?The peacock eats seeds, grain, fruits, insects, and small animals such as mice. The bird is known to feed on young cobras.

PeacockScientifi c name:Pavo cristatus

• It can be seen all over India, especially in semi-desert areas, parks, and forests.

• Though originally from India, it is now found in various parts of the world.

I am India‛s national bird!

The peacock is considered sacred by the

Hindus. Lord Krishna’s crown always has a

peacock feather. The peacock was the vehicle

for Karthikeya, Lord Shiva’s son.

Where does the peacock build its nest?Peacock nests are found on the ground, hidden under thorny bushes. The nests are shallow and made of sticks, leaves, and grass. During its nesting season, the peacock dances to attract a peahen, while spreading its tail to show its beautiful colours.

Did you know?

8-9

Wonders of India: Birds

Wonders of India : Birds

Publisher : TERI Press ISBN : 9788179933466 Author : Sanjay Sondhi

Type the URL : http://www.kopykitab.com/product/8485

Get this eBook

35%OFF