Visitors to DPST Campus – Indian Red-wattled Lapwing

Dear Students

Do you recognise this bird? Before we began building the Sports Centre, the Indian Red-Wattled Lapwing (Tituri in Hindi) was a frequent visitor. We once nursed an injured Tituri and released it successfully. We hope the birds will return, once the disturbance of workers has ended. This is the price we pay for progress! You can still spot them in the fields all around our school, where they feed on small snails and shell fish, insects and worms.

Meanwhile, here is some information about the lapwing.

Did you know that the Tituri is found all over India, from the mountains to the plains? It usually makes its nest on the ground and its eggs look like pebbles, so they are camouflaged (well hidden). Predators cannot find them easily.
The Tituri is a very clever bird. I once saw a pair of Tituri save their eggs from stray dogs just outside our school. The dogs were sniffing about very close to the nest, in the field adjoining our school wall. One bird pretended to be lame and kept hopping and flapping and flying low, drawing the dogs away from the nest. When it had gone a sufficient distance, it flew up and away! The surprised dogs just stood and stared at the bird disappearing into the sky!

Have you heard its call? Ti-ti-tiu, ti-ti-tiu – that is why it is called Tituri. The scientific name is Vanellus indicus.

I had hoped to start a bird-watcher’s club with interested students, but the sports centre work has scared all the birds away! Instead of putting the plan on hold, I thought I would share my my experiences in bird-watching through my blog. 

You are welcome to send me any information you wish to share about birds, trees, etc. in Comments. Remember, I prefer Comments to Likes!

Principal

 

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