Star Citizens

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From Caring to Conservation: The Tale of Sparrows and Their 'Guardian'

In a heartwarming display of love for nature, Guruswamy, a 46-year-old conservationist from Coimbatore, has transformed his home into a sanctuary for sparrows. As the sparrow population faces a decline, Guruswamy's house in the village of Gandhaiyur has become a safe haven for these chirpy creatures. Guruswamy believes that nurturing pets involves establishing a profound connection with the ecosystem. He emphasizes the importance of allowing birds to roam freely, treating them with warmth and care. For Guruswamy, his relationship with sparrows is akin to a parent-child bond, earning him the unofficial title of the "guardian of sparrows." Since his childhood, Guruswamy has been fascinated with nature, caring for various bird species such as cuckoos and mynas. In 2007, he moved to Gandhaiyur village and began planting trees, which attracted flocks of sparrows. Witnessing their heartwarming presence, Guruswamy took dedicated efforts to care for these birds that frequented his house. Even during a dreadful night of heavy rains, Guruswamy's compassion shone through. When sparrows sought refuge from the storm, he sheltered them in his house, swaddling them in towels. The next morning, the sparrows joyfully fluttered around, reinforcing Guruswamy's deep connection with these creatures. As more sparrows flocked to his house, Guruswamy created a separate area to feed and shelter them. He even sacrificed Deepawali celebrations to ensure their safety. Guruswamy highlights the value of sparrows as pets, as they alert humans to the presence of venomous creatures. Inspired by Guruswamy's dedication, his neighbors have also embraced his path of ecosystem conservation. Guruswamy urges bird lovers to allow their pet birds to fly freely, emphasizing the importance of their freedom.

20 Sep 2023

Star Citizens

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99 Million-Year-Old Feathers in Amber Reveal Clue to Dinosaur Survival After Asteroid Impact

Scientists have discovered bird feathers preserved in amber dating back 99 million years, which could provide clues as to why some dinosaurs survived the asteroid impact that wiped out their species. The feathers were discovered in Myanmar and were found to be from a type of bird that lived during the late Cretaceous period. The study, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests that the feathers may have played a role in the survival of some species of birds and dinosaurs. The feathers had a unique structure that allowed them to maintain their shape even in extreme conditions, such as high heat or pressure. Researchers believe that this could have been an adaptation that helped some species survive the asteroid impact that caused a mass extinction event. The feathers may have helped protect the birds and dinosaurs from the intense heat and pressure that resulted from the impact. Lead author of the study, Dr. Lida Xing, said, "The discovery of these feathers is remarkable because it provides us with a glimpse into the world of birds and dinosaurs just before the mass extinction event that wiped them out. It also gives us new insights into how some species may have adapted to survive in extreme conditions." The discovery of these feathers is a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the evolution of birds and dinosaurs and could lead to further research on their survival strategies.

12 Jul 2023

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Know How This DFO Helps To Conserve Birds by Finding Their Names

Every year, a large number of birds migrate to Jharkhand including Jamtara from the Himalayan area and Central Asia. However, due to a tradition of bird hunting and poachers who hunt birds for food, the birds frequently fall victim to poachers and local villagers. The dwindling number of birds became a cause of worry for  Ajinkya Bankar, the DFO for Jamtara who came up with a novel way of protecting them. To safeguard the feathered creatures, he began a mission to identify birds and give them their traditional names so that locals could relate to them. Additionally, it was found that using the birds' traditional names rather than their English or zoological ones was more appealing to the locals. Therefore, the DFO with the assistance of local teachers, Van Samiti members, and members of the forest service in the district put together a list of birds with their traditional names. In addition, they have planted more than 35 species of trees, which is a natural habitat for birds. It was a tradition in the tribal society to carry slingshots to hunt birds. These were seized by the forest officials as another step towards protecting birds. All these efforts soon bore fruits. When birds were called by their traditional names, locals started correlating them with their culture. Gradually, the hunting of birds came down significantly. People stopped killing the birds as they could now identify them with their own culture and society.  

8 Nov 2022

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