Me Sahyadri December 2017

As the economic development has taken the center stage, the balance between the environmental sustenance and socio economic development will be under the scanner. As most experts with balanced views have proclaimed, Indian wildlife and ecological system sustenance will be under threat, unless precautions are taken with the help of appropriate research and long term national interests. As we encounter the economic development, many habitats which indirectly or directly help sustainable development will be damaged. The awareness to gauge the success by sustainable development and not by year to year growth is a distant dream any environmentalist will assume in current scenario.
Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and man made monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal, Me Sahyadri Magazine. The current issue has some photographs and information about the grassland hills of north western ghats in the rain shadow region east of Pune.

As the sun rises above the barren rocky hills after the cold starry night, the golden light spreads over the yellow grassland. The grass glitters with golden sparkle. The sun brings little warmth in early morning cold breeze. The birds on the dry grassland leave their roosting places in the acacia trees and the bushes. The migratory birds from the north and resident birds make a gala on the grassland in the winter. The migratory larks start making synchronised acrobatic movements in the flocks in the sky, sometimes showing their grey upperwings and sometimes their white underbodies.
The resident rufous tailed larks make beautiful light whistles adding the light melody to the wind melody. The pairs of chestnut bellied sandgrouse land from the sky and start walking fast picking the seeds from the soil under the grass. They soon are lost in the barren landscape thanks to their amazing plumage camouflaged with respect to the habitat. The acrobate lark species, the ashy crowned sparrow larks are seen basking in the morning sun on the rocks.
The bush chats are seen on the thorny aloe vera tips while the green bee eaters are busy catching the damselflies and bees in the mid air with intermittent perching on their favourite fence wires and acacia branches. As usual the drongos are doing their job of policing. The bajra and maize fields are invaded by the huge flocks of the migratory buntings. The frankolins are making their morning titir titir calls, while walking briskly over the mounds. The rock bush quails are busy in the foliage and the bushes and are hardly seen due to their amazing camouflage. The steppy eagles are patiently seating on the hill tops waiting for the air to get warmed up so that they can take their flights.
The Chinkara gazzels are seen cautiously feeding on the grass on the hills away from the human habitation. The devil eyed, black shouldered kites are seen hovering above the grassland looking for their food. The harriers are seen floating in the sky just few meters above the grassland, constantly looking for their food, with their heads down. While the nocturnal animals like wolfs and hyenas are now resting in their dens, suddenly one can see heard of grazing sheeps followed by their nomadic human masters. The colourful turbans, large moustaches and long bamboo stick follow these large sheep heards only to disappear beyond the horizon. After landing the courser birds are seen running on the grass before they start picking the beetles in the grass. By the time sun heats up the air, one can see the steppe eagles high up in the sky making rounds and rounds. While this is happening the humans are busy fencing the land plots, preparing for the economic boom they see in the future of this dry grassland thanks to the proposed new Airport.

Indian courser known scientifically as Cursorius coromandelicus is one of the three species of coursers found in India. It is a bird from Cursorius genus.The other coursers found in India are viz. the cream coloured courser from Cursorius genus and the rare and critically endangered nocturnal Jerdon’s courser from Rhinoptilus genus. The Indian courser is one of the enigmatic birds of Indian dry grasslands and arid region. These birds are often seen in small flocks. They nest in open in dry rocky grasslands. Coursers walk in the grass looking for the food. These birds walk a lot and are called as "dhaavik" in Marathi, meaning the runners. These birds run a short distance after landing. Their camouflage is very interesting and is called as obliterative coloration.(graduating tones, with colors which are same as the habitat) Their crown is rich rufous.The black strips pass through the eyes and the white strip pass above the eyes merging together at the neck behind. Their legs are long with beautiful silver white coloration. The bird is very elegant. Often the bird is seen in very small grassland strips in the midst of cultivated farms. As per IUCN red list classification the bird is “Least Concern” species. Unfortunately its habitat is being destroyed around the urban regions due to agricultural and industrial activities.

Nesting : Indian courser breeds in central India from April to June, in western India from March to July and in east coast dry zones in May and June. It breeds just before and at the onset of monsoon. The bird does not build the nest. It lays the eggs on the bare ground in the middle of the rocks and pebbles. The two eggs are typically of the exact same colour and pattern as that of the ground where the eggs are laid. The eggs are pale stone to rich brown buff with black or yellow markings consisting lines & smears.

Habits : Indian courser is not found in areas where it hardly rains. Howevere it also is not found in areas where it rains heavy. It is found in open country, cultivated or otherwise, on the land which is covered with the low scattered grass. It is a shy bird. When disturbed it runs away on the ground. If the disturbance approaches it at the very close distance, it flies away after giving a brief warning call to its flock. It is insectivorous bird. It is found in pairs or in small flocks. They run in spurts on the ground but take to flight with a hoarse creaky gwaat call. The flight is strong with rapid wing beats. They fly low and begin to run after landing.

Distribution : Indian courser is found in drier and open regions in India.It is absent in wet coastal region and the desert region. It is also found in north Srilanka. In southern India, the drier zone on the east coast, the Coromandel region, gives it the species name. The bird is seen in India, Srilanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Description : Indian courser male and female birds look same. The adult bird has rich rufous crown. It has broad white supercilium running from the front of the eyes to the nape where the supercilum meet. The lores are black. The black band starting from the lores run over the eyes, ending at the nape. Its hind neck is rufous. Its upper plumage is light brown. Its breast and flank are chestnut coloured, deepening on the abdomen. Iris is dark brown. Its legs are ivory white. Courser’s beak is black.