With over 130 species of birds,many local and a few fascinating like the Chatak that migrates from South Africa,the University of Pune is a haven for birdwatchers Following the famous statement by Jim Corbett- Before you spot a tiger,be sure that the tiger has already spotted you,a micro version of the jungle life exists right at the heart of the city. Experience can be more enriching for people whose day remains incomplete without a jog in the University of Pune if they just lift their heads and take note of a world that exists on the trees. The University of Pune,besides being a dynamo of international researches has also been a home to over 130 species of birds- some common,some uncommon and a few even migratory. "The first time I visited UoP was in 2003- 04. Just a look at the variety of trees,bushes and even ponds was enough to guess that this place is a birds' paradise. And like my true friends,birds confirmed their existence too," says Dharmaraj Patil,researcher,Center for Environment Education (CEE) who has been a regular visitor since then. "University garden,IUCAA road,Main Building,area surrounding the Environment Department are some of the areas where I have witnessed nesting as well as roosting of many birds. Crows,Mainas,Sparrows,Parakeets and Pigeons are the most common ones. In addition to these,there are Red Vented Bulbuls,Red whiskered bulbuls,both the species of Sunbirds- purple and purple rump,Oriental white eye and so on that I encounter regularly. In fact the smallest bird in the city- Pale Billed Flowerpecker which is just about eight cm long can also be seen sometimes," says Patil. One of the most exciting phenomena in the nature- Brood Parasitism takes place quite regularly at the UoP. "We all know that Cuckoo lays eggs in crow's nest. On similar lines Common hawk cuckoo and Gray bellied cuckoo lay their eggs in babblers' (Satbhai) nests. And the babblers feed them as their own offspring," says Girish Jathar,bird watcher who comes to Pune from Kolhapur to keep a track of birds in UoP. Other than local species like-Golden Orioles,Kingfishers,Spotted Owlet,Barn Owl,Robins,Hornbills and water birds such as- Red wattled lapwings,Pond Herons,Egrets and water hens,a fascinating visitor every year is Pied cuckoo also known as Chatak. "This bird has been catching the fancy of poets and writers for centuries. Stories such as- this bird survives on raindrops have triggered numerous romantic thoughts in countless fictions. Though this is a myth,the reality however is equally fascinating. This bird visits UoP from South Africa by the beginning of monsoon. And while other migratory birds travel over the sea,this is one bird who flies over land," smiles Patil. The king of this jungle is Shikra,the raptor bird that preys on small birds. And as human intervention creates imbalance in its empire,Patil has some suggestions to keep it intact - "Eco architecture,involvement of students,creating awareness amongst joggers are some measures. Birds need mud bath and thus jogging tracks should not be made out of pavement blocks. Banning dogs is another important aspect. We must understand that whether we note or not,the world of birds still exists in University,awareness can just make it easy for them and happy for us."
