Going Green

Peninsula Rock Agama
Dr Anish Andheria / Sanctuary Photolibrary

Land Alive

Bittu Sahgal
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Some of the world's greatest natural history discoveries were made not in dense jungles and swamps, but in back gardens, village parks and even in laboratories where near natural conditions were recreated to study elusive and shy creatures such as snails, spiders and insects.

As a potential naturalist, armed with a little more than your eyes, ears and curiosity you too could eventually stumble upon some earth-shaking discovery provided you have patience and develop the discipline while you are still young.

The first lesson in discipline for a naturalist is to maintain a field-notebook, which will help you make final entries in your Nature Diary. Even if you think your memory is good, it's bound to fail and when it comes to 'insignificant' details - which of course might eventually prove to be most crucial.

One of the principal laws of Nature is its absolute insistence on living things making the best possible use of any given circumstances, bad or good. Thus, though some of our city birds and reptiles would be happier in a less disturbed environment they quietly buckle down to carve for themselves a secure corner in which to live and bring up their young. Try and make a list in your Nature Diary of ALL the living things you can find in, around, or near your home. Don't be haphazard or confused. List them down purposefully under separate heads i.e. birds, mammals (that includes man), reptiles, amphibians, insects (mosquitoes, flies and beetles) and invertebrates such as snails, earthworms etc. Next time you try to name and identify as many as you can, write down simple information like where found, colour, size, time of day etc. Initially, you might find your task somewhat lacking in excitement but as your pages swell with entries and you discover newer and newer creatures your eyes and ears will be constantly on the alert and you will find yourself rushing to 'find' with a friend or relative.

Small Green Bee-eater feeding on a dragonfly
R.G. Srikantha / Sanctuary Photolibrary

In cities, as in wild places, all living things vie with each other for the most favoured eating places or homes. After some weeks or months of observation you will be able to see this dramatic interplay and even understand it, as some bird bullies away another from a nesting site or some lizard continues to occupy a favourite hunting ground in spite of another wanting the same area. You will discover food chains that will amaze you as ants go about their business of scavenging for food while spiders lay traps for the ants themselves.

Dragonflies will be seen hawking on the wing for insects such as mosquitoes while they themselves fall prey to quick-moving birds. Lizards, of course, will eat almost any living things small enough to swallow, while snails will digest literally any organic matter. Snails are considered delicacies by several birds and if you are lucky and patient enough you'll see how they get them in spite of their 'coat of armour'. Crows for instance, will pick up the snail, fly to a height and drop it on a hard pavement to crack open its shell. In cities, stray cats have become great predators, stalking gardens or back alleys for rats, lizards, or birds with much the same stealth that a tiger or leopard uses in a jungle.

With the right amount of curiosity, no one interested in Nature could ever be bored. Explore. Never be shy to ask questions. And don't be put off if initially no 'pattern' or 'understanding' comes to mind.

BITTU SAHGAL
is the Editor
of Sanctuary Magazine