HOW TO ENJOY BIRD NEST STUDY OR PHOTOGRAPHY IN CONSERVATIVE MANNER

     Now the monsoon season has begun in Indian Subcontinent and many birds are busy in their breeding activities. This season is always the feast for any wildlife photographer or birdwatcher to observe bird’s nesting or breeding behavior.  From last few years there has been a debate going on topic ‘whether the Nest photography is justified or not?’ Many experience naturalist and wildlife photographer has already declared the ban on publishing nest pictures/photos on many Social Media sites & Wildlife photo portals.  But still wildlife photographers published their bird nest photographs and debate continues again and again.

In today’s era the definition of photography has been changed drastically. With New advance SLR and Point & Shoot Cameras Wildlife photography is no more remains the niche segment. Every youngster somehow get attracted to this wildlife photography field & with course of time intentionally or unintentionally start exploiting wildlife while pursuing his/her interest.

This article doesn't justify or conclude the debate topic; rather it will explain you the right approach for enjoy nesting activities of the bird for the new birdwatchers and wildlife photographers.

First remember this; birds are quite secretive about their nest location and their breeding activities. This is simply to avoid predator attentions and to provide the better environment for upbringing of young ones. Hence any disturbance in this process causes risk to their young ones.

So if you are interested in bird nest photography or study then please follow the simple guidelines below and I am sure you will experience the lifetime memories with birds.

1.       Research more about birds:  Before you step into the field please try to find more information about bird/s which you are going to photograph or observed.  You must be well aware about  following things

a.       Breeding season for bird/s

b.      Nesting type, preferred site (micro habitat), Location of nest i.e. on ground, in bush or on tree etc, breeding behavior and its breeding cycle. [ All this information you can gather via Internet. There are many research reports, videos and photographs available.]

2.       Understand limitations & Overcome them tactfully: Once you are well aware about bird/s then next step is understood the limitation associated with you goal. For e.g. there limitation like ‘distance between you and bird nest.’  For ground birds it will be easy approach but for birds that nests at tree top then it’s become quite difficult.  So to overcome them you need to develop ‘HIDE’ through which you can observe bird without even being notice. Never approach Nest directly.

Hide prepared using natural material

Artificial Hide

3.       Be a part of nesting activity not the disturbance: Many bird photographers and bird watcher always act like disturbance for the birds. Nowadays ‘Coffee & Sandwich’ concept on field is very much prevailing. Remember our every action is get noticed by birds and they react to it different ways. So try to avoid luxuries bird watching or photography and develop 2 simple qualities in yourself ‘Patience and adaption with natural environment’ also avoid flash while taking photographs of Birds especially with Owls, Night jars etc. Try to become part of nature and nesting activities you will surely notice many small things and this will take your experience to next level.

4.       Try to conserve not to exploit: Many times photographers or birdwatcher transferred the information about the nest to their friends so that their friends can also get the same experience. In my opinion this is not the wrong practice but when you convey such information please remember that you are transferring the guardianship or safeguard responsibility of that nest to your friend. Hence it has to be given to person who must be conservation rather than exploitation oriented. So convey information wisely.

Bird Conservation Plan Framework

These are 4 basic steps one need to follow while doing nest study or nest photography. As Newton 3^rd law says’ Every action has its equal reaction’ so make sure that your every action while bird nest study or photography is always with best intention to respect their privacy and natural process associated with it.

SARUS CRANE (Grus antigone antigone)

NOTES ON SARUS CRANE ( Grus antigone antigone) 

The Sarus Crane ( Grus antigone antigone) is basically a wetland bird and widely distributed in India. The Sarus Crane has 3 disjunct populations in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia and northern Australia. The nominate race (c. 8,000 to 10,000 birds)  inhabits Pakistan, northern and central India, and Nepal, with occasional  vagrants in Bangladesh. Subspecies sharpii occurs in South-East Asia where its  range has declined dramatically and it is now confined to Cambodia, extreme  southern Laos, south Vietnam (c.800-1,000 birds between these three countries),  and Myanmar (c.500-800 birds). The Australian population gilliae is estimated  at less than 10,000 individuals. It is extinct in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines  and probably China. 

Description: The adult Sarus Crane is very large with grey wings and body; a bare red head and part of the upper neck; a greyish crown; and a long greenish-grey pointed Bill. In flight, the long neck is held straight, unlike that of an heron, which folds it back, and the black wing tips can be seen; the crane's long pink legs trail behind them. This bird has a grey ear covert patch, an orange-red iris and a greenish-grey bill. Juveniles have a yellowish base to the bill and the brown-grey head is fully feathered.

Measurements
G. a. antigone
Culmen 172–182 mm (6.8–7.2 in) ? Wing 670–685 mm (26.4–27.0 in) 625–645 mm (24.6–25.4 in) Tail 255–263 mm (10.0–10.4 in) ? Tarsus 310–355 mm (12.2–14.0 in) ?
Combined
Culmen 156–187 mm (6.1–7.4 in) 155–169 mm (6.1–6.7 in) Wing 514–675 mm (20.2–26.6 in) 557–671 mm (21.9–26.4 in) Tail 150–200 mm (5.9–7.9 in) 100–200 mm (3.9–7.9 in) Tarsus 269–352 mm (10.6–13.9 in) 272–350 mm (10.7–13.8 in) Weight 8.4 kg (19 lb)

The bare red skin of the adult's head and neck is brighter during the breeding season. This skin is rough and covered by papillae, and a narrow area around and behind the head is covered by black bristly feathers. 

The sexes do not differ in plumage although males are on average larger than females; male Sarus of the Indian population can attain a maximum height of about 180 cm (5.9 ft) making them the world's tallest extant flying bird. 

Habitat: It inhabits wet and dry grasslands, agricultural fields, marshes and pools, either  open or enclosed by forest. It prefers a mixture of flooded, partially flooded and dry ground for foraging, roosting and nesting. In the Indian subcontinent, populations make seasonal movements in response to monsoons and droughts

Food: Sarus Cranes forage in shallow water,  fields, frequently probing in mud with their long bills. They are omnivorous, eating insects (especially grasshoppers), aquatic plants,frogs, crustaceans and seeds. Sarus Cranes may in rare cases feed on the eggs of birds and turtles. Plant matter eaten includes tubers, corms of aquatic plants, grass shoots as well as seeds and grains from cultivated crops such as groundnuts and cereal crops such as rice.

Breeding Behavior:

NESTING DETAILS:

Nest Site Selection:  The Sarus Crane generally nested in Marshy areas land but due to depletion of such areas Sarus also nested in  agricultural marshlands such as paddy fields. Sarus pair select a elevated area in marshy area which is surrounded by water completely. On such area they build nest platform using surrounding vegetation. 

Sarus Crane generally show strong attachment to previous year nest site even when previous clutch size get destroyed. So less nest site fidelity.

Nest:  The Nest building activity generally started  just 2-3 days prior to egg laying. Both partners actively engaged in nest building. Nest is platform which is generally oval in shape and partially submerged in water. In the central part, little depression is made and it filed with soft green material. this addition of green material continuously going on through out incubation period. This addition is also known  as 'Amendment activity'.

    If there any changes happens in water level then pair immediately adds vegetation to nest platform and increased the level. Even when chick is present in nest, amendment activity was observed. when eggs are present in nest the incubating bird periodically stood up on the nest for egg rolling and also performed amendment activities.

Eggs:  Generally white colour with shades of creamy yellow and Pinkish or light blue pigmentation. They are long oval shape with mean length 10 cm and mean width 6.5 cm, weighted  200 gm  approx. The clutch size is generally 2 in some case 3 is also recorded. 

Incubation & Parental care : The incubation period is of 30-40 days and when chicks come out the egg, the eggshells are removed by the parents after the hatch either by carrying away the fragments or by swallowing them. The chicks are fed by the parents for the first few days, but are able to feed independently after that and follow their parents for food. When alarmed, the parent cranes use a low korr-rr call that signals chicks to freeze and lie still.  Young birds stay with their parents for more than three months.

Approximately 30% of all breeding pairs succeed in raising chicks in any year, and most of the successful pairs raise one or two chicks each, with brood sizes of three being relatively rare.

CURRENT STATUS &  POSSIBLE THREATS:

There were about an estimated 15–20,000 mature Sarus Cranes left in the wild in 2009.The Indian population is less than 10,000, but of the three subspecies, is the healthiest in terms of numbers. They are considered sacred and the birds are traditionally left unharmed, and in many areas they are unafraid of humans. Many farmers in India believe that these cranes damage standing crops, particularly rice, although studies show that direct feeding on rice grains resulted in losses amounting to less than one percent and trampling could account for grain loss of about 0.4–15 kilograms (0.88–33 lb).

The Sarus Crane is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Threats include habitat destruction and/or degradation, hunting and collecting, as well as environmental pollution and possibly diseases or competing species.

BLOG INTRODUCTION

' Birds means freedom and joy'

In my childhood my parents used to show me HOUSE CROW and HOUSE SPARROW, soon they introduced me to MYNA, PARAKEET & EGRETS and then everything changed. Every new bird in my life made me more curious about birds and their life cycle. At my 10th birthday I got my first bird book and  soon pair of binoculars.In my school days I wasn't aware about science of bird watching, identification methods or any techniques but I used to like watching birds through binoculars and with little efforts I started identifying them with my small bird book or field guide. 

I used to amaze how these creature have so beautiful body shapes, colour and calls? Slowly I started observing their food habits and Nests and my curiosity goes on toss every time. I was My first birdwatching trip was at Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary -Karnataka(India) where I introduced whole new world of birds. Sunbirds, Minivets, woodpeckers, Eagles and many more birds literally made me crazy about birds and that was a moment where birds started becoming my passion. Soon I met my  Mentor or Guide Dr. Pramod Bansode and my journey of birdwatching begun. From last  12 years I am watching these beautiful creatures and till now I am as crazy as 12 years before.

In this blog I am going to share my field experience and bird identification tips with you all. Hope you will like it.