Birds In Our Lives

Preface and Acknowledgements / Birds, Birds, Everywhere! / Birds in Indian Culture / Ornithology Through Indian History / Brought in by the Wind: The Wonder of Migration / What good are they to us? Birds in Indian Economy / An Ill Wind Blows: Indian Birds in Danger / The Winds of Change: Conservation of India's Birds / References and Bibliography / Annexure 1: Threatened Birds of India / Annexure 2: Important Bird Areas of India / Annexure 3: Current and Proposed Ramsar Sites / Annexure 4: Some Periodicals on Indian Birds and Related Issues

Birds in Our Lives provides glimpses of the incredible diversity of India’s birds, the ecosystems where different kinds of birds are found, and the various ways − cultural and economic − in which birds have touched our lives. It gives a brief account of the history of ornithology in India. It stresses on the serious threats that bird habitats and populations face, and gives a sense of both the continued erosion of Indian birdlife, as well as the rapidly growing efforts to save it. Finally, it provides key pointers for what needs to be done if we want to save this precious natural heritage. • An extremely readable and technically accurate account of bird conservation in India • Written by one of India’s most well-known and outspoken conservationists • Printed on art paper, with over 100 colour photographs