Sunday, September 10, 2006

Grasslands

You've probably seen the other picture of the Streaked fantail warbler. But this one tells the story better. Now renamed the Zitting Cisticola, this warbler is small insectivore that forages among high grasses. The name comes from its courtship call which is accompanied by an aerial display. The only place you can see this bird in IISc is the Airfield. I would reccomend going down and having a look see, this is breeding season and you might get to see just how loud a bird merely 3 inches long can be. Try early morning and remember if you get rid of your grasslands you will never hear sweet sweet sweet again.

I love this image for all the sharp colourful verticals its got. The white fluff at the edges, breaking the sharp lines. And of course my miserable selective focus, the bird couldve been sharper and clearer. I guess its a ok animal in habitat pic. Check out the poor guys legs though, you think you can do that?

This superb habitat, the Airfield is possibly one of the least disturbed in IISc. (Except for labour from NIAS fertilising all over the place and the dumping of cut logs from the newly cleared area where faculty quarters were built). And it has a few species that are absolutely exclusive to it, the ZC, the two species of lapwing. And this lark I have trouble identifying.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice Post :)

I was fortunate to have seen the other Cisticola(Bright headed) during its breeding time. It was so amazing to hear the sweet call from this small bird.


Btw the lark could be jerdon's bush lark. The jerdon's bush lark has the longest back toe in the lark family and this one seems to have a pretty big one.

Natasha Mhatre said...

Thanks...
My Grimmet and Inskipp doesnt list a Jerdons bush lark, is it the sub-species of the Rufous winged lark? Mirafra assamica affinis? It does have a rufous wing edge, which is not visible in this picture...