Here is the latest issue of The Flock, a newsletter on birds and nature.
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From: The Flock <contact@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2022 at 09:59
Subject: Dear friend, it’s time for you to go cuckoo
[image: Logo]
Dear friend,
As the summer progresses, birds are busy finding mates and singing. One of
the most prominent singers in the Himalaya and Central India is the Common
Cuckoo. Do you hear an insistent *Ku-koo Ku-koo*? That’s the song to tell
you that a Common Cuckoo breeds nearby.
The name ‘*Cuckoo*’ is onomatopoeic
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and tells you what to listen for. In general, cuckoos have rather simple
songs, repeating two notes (like the Common Cuckoo, or the Asian Koel's
*koo-oo*) or four notes (like the Indian Cuckoo's song, rendered
*one-more-bot-tle* in English).
Have you heard any cuckoos singing? Write back to us or post these stories
on your social media, tagging us on our Facebook
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Twitter
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or Instagram
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Know Your Bird
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is so named because if you are lucky enough to see
one, its appearance and flight might trick you into thinking that it's a
Shikra - a widespread hawk of our country. It's best to look for the yellow
rim around the eyes and the curved (not hooked) bill before you mark a
Common Hawk-Cuckoo on your birding list!
Like other cuckoos, the Common Hawk-Cuckoo is more often heard than seen,
especially in the breeding season from April to July. During this time the
male sings to woo females and to warn away rivals. Its song is a three-note
call
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that
rises into a crescendo and sounds like *brain fev-er*, *brain fev-er.* In
peak season, you can hear this song not just during the day, but in the
middle of the night. The male’s frenetic song is what gives the bird its
colloquial name - ‘brain fever bird’.
Learn More
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This is the breeding season for the Common Hawk-Cuckoo, so do keep an ear
out for its song. Like many other cuckoos, this species is a brood
parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other species. If you are lucky,
you might find some juvenile cuckoos being fed by their foster parents.
Watch this video to find out more.
[image: Common hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) - Brainfever bird/पपीहा
/पावश्या/പേക്കുയില്/ அக்கா குயில்]
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Birdy People
Amarjeet Kaur
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is a researcher working on Barn Swallows in the Himalayas. She is currently
working at the Wildlife Institute of India. Previously, Amarjeet has worked
on other migratory birds like Amur Falcons in North East India. During her
leisure time, she enjoys painting birds and has recently begun painting
birds on rocks.
In the News
Megha Rao and William Duckworth highlight the dwindling numbers of world’s
second largest heron, White-bellied Heron
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in India and its habitats around the world. *RoundGlass Sustain*.
A new species of Ghost Moth was discovered in Assam. Read more about ghost
moths and why they are called so here
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by Roopak Goswami. *EastMojo*.
Although Earth Day 2022 has passed, you can still discover various citizen
science projects and apps through which you can contribute to a better
understanding of nature, writes Cherylann Mollan in Earth Day 2022:
Discover the citizen scientist within you
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Hindustan Times*.
पृथ्वी दिवस: भारतीय ग्रे हॉर्नबिल - शहरी वनों के हरित इंजीनियर
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Hittarth Raval on the ecological role of Grey Hornbills in maintaining
urban ecosystems. *NDTV India*.
Cherylann Mollan shares tips and suggestions to design a garden that hosts
a diversity of bees, butterflies, birds, dragonflies and more in All
aflutter: Create a garden friendly to butterflies and birds
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. *Hindustan Times*.
Birds across the world face various threats to their survival, with many
species disappearing due to human activities. Which birds are declining,
and what can we do about it? This article by Damian Carrington has some
answers: ‘Canaries in the coalmine: loss of birds signals changing planet’
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*The Guardian*.
Book Launch
Handbook for Nature Guides
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by Payal Mehta and Harsha Jayaramaiah, for beginner nature guides or those
interested in pursuing nature guiding as a profession. The book talks about
the basics of guiding techniques and tips and suggestions on guiding
activities and responsible tourism.
Spiders of India
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by Karthikeyan S, provides visual cues and general characters for
identification of Indian spiders. Explore the amazing world of these
skilled hunters, which are found everywhere – in the wilderness, our
neighbourhoods, and even in our homes.
Newly Available
Fantail,
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a quarterly newsletter by Birdwatchers’ Society covers articles on various
aspects of birds including how they have been an integral part of history,
art and culture.
Upcoming Events
*25 May: *Webinar on unique adaptations of animals that live at high
altitudes. Register here
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*27-29 May, Mumbai:* 4th Karnala Bird Count by Green Works Trust. Details
here
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*4-7 June, Tehri Garhwal: *Devalsari Titli Utsav. Register here
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*23-25 June, Matheran: *Filming and documentation expedition. Details here
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*Countrywide Birdwatching Events:* Don’t miss a single bird walk around
you! Here’s your one-click-stop for birding events
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, happening weekly or monthly across India. Do check (using the contact
information provided) whether the event you are interested in has resumed;
and don’t forget to be Covid-safe!
Calls and Opportunities
*Submit your entries*: Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network is looking
for memes and comics on turtles and tortoises of India. Get the creative
juices flowing. Details here
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*Multiple opportunities*: Incredible Birding, a tour company, invites
applications for multiple positions. Details here
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*Multiple Positions: *Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation is
hiring. Details here
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*Nature Writers: *Can you write about birds in Indian languages? Nature
Communications
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is facilitating a series of articles in top media outlets. If you would
like to contribute an article, please fill this form
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*Credits: Banner design: Saniya Chaplod; Logo design: Janhavi Rajan; Common
Hawk-Cuckoo image*: *Azharudeen Sulaiman;* *Red Pierrot: Aparna K;
Blue-throated Barbet: Saniya Chaplod *
What do you want to see in future newsletters? Write back to us with your
suggestions.
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