Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 24: Sunny Sunday was chosen as nature study day by Ecological society and Army Wives Welfare Association to get kids connected to nature in the refreshing outdoor morning session today. The guest speaker Director State Forest Research Institute delivered Feathered Friends Tree Talk highlighting bird tree interrelationships by giving on spot examples from the neighbourhood tree and bird diversity, remembering contributions of great ornithologists A O Hume Imperial Civil servant, Hugh Whistler Imperial police servant, Dr Salim Ali who persuaded then PM to declare Black necked Crane as state bird of J&K, highlighting wild fig fruits as much sought after favoured food of hornbills called Doaa in Dogri, Dhanesh in Hindi, green pigeons called Preu in Dogri, Hariyal in Hindi, barbets called Kudru in Dogri, Basanta in Hindi & monkeys; wild Kamilla Kumkum tree fruits as favoured fruit of Oriental turtle Dove called Kalmoonha in Dogri, Kala Fakhta in Hindi and Mango tree fondly visited bu Koel cuckoo associating sweet melodies with sweetness of mangoes in Indian folklore prompting Britishers to coin another name for Mango as Cuckoo joy tree. Major Rohit keen bird watcher and tree taxonomy enthusiast highlighted bird diversity of campus and associated tree connectivity as documented by him during birding sessions. Notable feathered friends encountered are Rajlal, Doodhraj, Dhanesh, Kotwal, Maina, Shakrkhora, Lahtora, Meenrank, Hariyali, Prewa, Cheel, Shuk, Mahlaat, Khanjan, Darzi, Baya, Kathfodva, Tiliyar, Chayeha, Thirthira, Koel, Papeeha, Peelakiya, Pankhdumi, Hudhud, Kabootar, Kala fakhta, Chilchil, Sat Bhai, Fudki, Shikra, Myank, Tesuari etc. |
