Birds@
RCET-B
This is a narrative of birds commonly
encountered at Rungta College of Engineering & Technology, Bhilai(RCET-B).
The campus may be particularly attractive for birds since it is a virtual oasis
of green amid the surrounding urban land; this checklist lists about more than 25 bird species that
have been sighted around here. While most of the images are procured
from Google and birding sites, they resembles the same species of birds from in
and near about the RCET-B campus, majority of birds are actually common across most of Chhattisgarh
and some are common much beyond.
The avifauna of India includes a large variety of unique and
rare species of birds including Great Indian Hornbill, Great Indian Bustard, Green Avadavat and Sunbird’s. Total
of around 1301 species of bird found in India out
42 are endemic to Indian subcontinent and rest of others are Introduced and
accidental species. Out of which 400-425 bird species has been recorded in
Chhattisgarh. The Species of avifauna include partridges (which nest in shrubs
outside cities and run almost as fast as they fly), cattle egret, pond heron,
babblers, parrots and parakeets, blue jay, wagtails, quails (both black and
grey varieties), bulbul , koel ,fly catchers, woodpeckers, sun bird and weaver
bird
I am no bird expert. Until some years ago, I
didn't know a cattle egret from a little green bee-eater. The birds shown here
are not rare or special - they are just everyday birds, birds that may drop in
at your lawn.
In my article on Birds found in RCET- B campus,
I have tried to locate their actual spots in college campus where you can have
a glimpse at some or another time as I have watched these Birds at these location
in RCET-B campus.
List of Birds with their Common names recorded
or we can say that they have now a permanent residence or home at RCET-B are
as:
They are in large number of
about 15-20 can be seen in A
block’s Ashoka Trees and can be seen resting on wires in flock above A Block.
This bird is one. These are known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice
finch, is a sparrow-sized finch native to tropical Asia. This munia eats mainly on grass seeds apart from berries and
small insects. They forage in flocks and communicate with soft calls and whistles. The species is highly social and may sometimes roost with other
species of munias
2. Weaver Bird/ Baya :
Seeing their nest one can easily say
they are very good weavers. These birds can be seen with their nest in large
number above on the porch of A Block, near server room on big Palm Trees.
3.Common Swift/ Black Swift:
These swift birds
are small in size and can be seen hovering frequently near and above the A
block fountain, whole area above A Block Lawn and are having their nest on
Second floor corridors windows.
Another bird from Munia Family, Along
with scaly breasted Munia’s, they are in large number of about 15-20 can be
seen in A block’s Ashoka Trees, can be seen resting on wires in flock above A
Block and garden behind Exam Section. The birds listed above 1-4 are permanent
residents of RCET-B
5.Spotted Owlet
I
was surprised to see three Spotted owlets one day in the one of the palm trees at
the entrance of A Block right side during noon time by chance. They are small
owls resting or sleeping with their eyes closed side by side all three on one
of the palm tree upper branch.They may or may not be permanent residence there.
They are extremely difficult to find during day times
They'll
often be sitting on the wires, sitting on wires above A Block, on wires Between A Block and B Block their tail
having the distinctive thin wire-like bit coming out in the middle. They are
amazingly acrobatic, catching insects on the wing. They'll often be sitting on
the wires.
Red-vented
Bulbul. The "vent" is that red
tuft at the bottom of the tail can be seen
anywhere in Lush green gardens around RCET-B campus
Brown Rock Chat
The
Brown Rock Chat (also called the Indian Chat) is a fairly common bird on
campus, frequently seen trilling away from the roof corners of the lecture hall
complex or other buildings. A pair of rock
chat I have seen singing away in solitary splendour. It is often be seen on prominent roof corners of A
block and B Block roof top entrances, and are well-known for their ability to mimic the songs of several
species. It is a permanent resident here at RCET-B.
Crow Pheasant (Greater Coucal):
The commoner the bird, the less one
feels like "wasting" energy on them... (such are the laws of
entropy). Perhaps the act of flight gives this image a little distinction.
These
glossy black birds with a distinctive forked tail are fairly common in RCET-B; Can
be seen seating on wires at evening time near Light lamps waiting for insects
to fly out.
We have
all seen these large snow-white birds hopping around in an ungainly manner near
fields in and around College campus or
even sitting on buffaloes grazing
in Bhilai along road side of
township also . Mostly they are looking for insects turned over by the buffalo
feet.
Large brownish kite, matched most features of Pariah Kite, which
is the most common raptor in urban areas. Sometimes the feathers may separate
in flight seeming like a tear (they are attached to the bone at the front of
the wing). Some times seen resting of flewing on Buildings of RCET-B campus.
You
often see them in flight:
Although
this bird is quite common, and sports such brilliant colours, it is relatively
less known, being often mistaken for the common myna. Can be Seen permanently on trees near Transformer or Power sub
station near parking of BBlock
Pied Myna
These are more common in areas of
Bhilai, they are almost as common as house sparrows. In RCET-B, they are seen
at Bus stand on Main Ground. This species is also called Asian Pied
Starling.
Common Myna
These are most common bird
found in and around College campus and need no introduction , all we know by
name Myna .
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The
totA or the parrot is often seen flying by noisily and fast.. Occasionaly can be
seen on the top of building of RCET-B in noisy groups
This is
one of the permanent resident in the campus can be seen moving pedestal on
concrete road between building and garden through out the campus This dove,
also known as the Little Brown Dove, has what Salim Ali calls "a miniature
chessboard" in brown or black on both sides of the neck
Have you noticed how it prefers to be at the very edge, on the
precipice, rather than in safer spots? That's because it's natural habitat used
to be cliffs and coastal crags. Can be seen on building near Main gate of
RCET-B.
It is
especially visible in the springtime, seen such one in Lawn of A Block and gardens behind and
front of A Block at one or two times only
Indian Robin
This is one of the permanent resident in the campus can be seen of
A and B Block grass lawns and gardens
behind and front of A and B Block
building and garden throughout the campus
One of
the most common and a permanent resident of RCET-B, They are present all over
the campus , can be seen in large no. with their nest as well.
Purple Sunbird
These
had me foxed for a long time. Though these birds look like several different
species, it turns out that the male Purple Sunbird changes its plumage
dramatically over the year. Purple
Sunbird – Female-light green while male is dark shiny purple in colour.This
bird is also a permanent resident of College campus , can be seen during befor
and after noon on trees with fruits eating nectors of flower and sprouted
fruits
Sparrow size, brownish colour, tiny tail,
often lifted up. The tailorbird makes its nest by stitching two or three leaves
together, somewhat off the ground. It is smallest of all birds found in RCET-B campus.
It will not stay at a place more than 2-3 seconds.
In last I would like to introduce a Bird a guest to our campus
during rise of winters , not native to
India, They come from area above and around Afghanistan it is from wagtail
family , a White Wagtail, I had seen this bird in 5-10 numbers in grass lawn of
B Block during morning time. Very beautiful to watch eating seeds and insects of grass.
There are so many other bird
species also resides at our college campus. The
purpose of this Article on “
Birds @ RCET-B” is to create general awareness about birds found in Bhilai
of Chhattisgarh State. Proper awareness regarding the importance of birds and
vital role in daily life will ultimately help the protection of birds of this
region, checklist of all common birds of Bhilai can be seen on http://bhilaibirdsbhilaiexpress.blogspot.in.
Disclaimer: Most of the
pics used in this article are procured from Birds Sites @ google. I am thankfull to all for their nice photographs.
They have their own copyright. Some References are: ebirds, delhi birds Nagpur birds,
Indian birds, bird@various places. Whole sole this article has been produced
for general awareness among the reader about birds in and around Bhilai.
Being this area is one the
greenest and forested urban part of Central India, habitat of these birds
should be protected. In this regard the lush green campus of RCET-BHILAI is
playing a vital role for the existence of these so called jewels of nature to
us as it has
done a wonderful job by planting indigenous herbs, shrubs and trees
spreaded all through the campus. They attract a lot birds and other small
creatures. Conservation has to be brought to the cities. We have to adopt a
green lifestyle. Preserve and maintain home gardens and reduce carbon footprint
by using fewer vehicles. The gradual disappearance of sparrows indicate the
seriousness of the situation. At last the green environment of Our college
campus is Symbol or model of such a Conservation.
Compiled by/Author:
PRADEEP KUMAR
ASSISTANT PROF.
ET DEPT. , RCET-Bhilai
