Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal arranged a programme on ‘Romance of Birds’ on Friday by 4 pm in the Eco-theater to match with the romance in the air of Bhopal.
Sangeeta Rajgif and Mohamed Khalique from Birds of Bhopal were the resource persons to conduct this interactive show. S Sethuramalingam, Scientist-E of the museum welcomed the gathering.
Thereafter, Sangeeta Rajgir presented a slide show detailing sexual dimorphism of birds and their breeding behaviour, change in constume to attract female and courtship dancing displayed by the birds.
The colour of birds monalphesant, Jungle foul, birds like Magpie Robbin were discussed.
These males as told by Sangeeta Rajgir display their plumes for the purpose of attracting female and warn other intruding male in their territory. She further told how the male egret change their color known as breeding costume change.
While narrating the various efforts of male to attract the female, she was discussing the nest building behaviour of male in the case of weaver birds.
Noticeably in this case, she told many nest were usually not approved by female birds ending in rejection of male. The Indian Roller was explained by the speaker as the classic example of male bird to attract the female by rolling, diving and displaying other acrobatic skills.
Rajgir depicted the national bird Peacock, dancing before its mate, proposing for breeding. Similarly the lesser Florican were the other example sited by the speaker regarding the romancing of male bird. Pied Kingfisher was also found to be moving around with romantic inclinations. Sangeeta Rajgir focused the protective behaviour of horn-bill male by confining their mates during their reproductive cycle.
She further narrated the monogamic behaviour of Brahmine Duck as well Sams Crane. While discussing the polygamic tendency of male birds, Rajgir was quoting that ten per cent of the birds are known to be in that category.