Biodiversity of SIEMENS LTD, Kalwe plant

Compilation of avaina fauna of the premises of SIEMENS LTD, Kalwe plant

Thanks to the enthusiasm of Mr. Ashtaputre we could document the bio-diversity of Siemens Ltd, Kalwe Works. As a part of preparation of the nature profile the various species of trees and their numbers, shrubs, the different species of birds and butterflies were observed. We would subsequently continue to update the list of various trees and flowers, butterflies observed in the premises. We have found the presence of these nature elements helping to create a beautiful and congenial working environment in the factory. The trees are nothing but the basic element of nature which supports various life forms to develop and survive. The trees in the campus are biggest asset of Siemens, Kalwe Plant. At the entrance itself visitors are welcomed by the tall rain trees and inside one can feel the cool atmosphere maintained by the numerous Palms, Banyans and Devil's trees. Many of the trees are shelter for water birds which feed in creek nearby and roost and breed on those. Thus Siemens is putting its strong, direct and indirect share in conserving the local natural environment.

Greenery Inside the campus

TAMAN / JARUL

This is the State Tree of Maharashtra. .It has flowers that look like crepe paper and are mauve colored. Conical clusters of its flowers are about 12 inches long. When in full bloom the tree looks beautiful. For this reason it is also called the Queens Flower Tree. Its wood is also very valuable for boat building and making furniture.

SCHOLAR / DEVIL’S TREE

A very tall evergreen tree, wood was earlier used to make slates. It is believed that it is the abode of evil spirits and that the devil guards this tree.

Three-striped Squirrel

ABOUT BIRDS

BIRDS play crucial role in the survival of a human being. The statement isn’t an exaggeration but the truth as every bird throughout its life cycle helps to maintain the healthy environment by maintaining the health of the trees. They act as destroyer of insects which are pest for plants and trees. Birds prey on the variety of insects which are ever multiplying and keep consuming various living being and plants as food. A bird is the ultimate solution to keep check on the growth of the voracious life forms like bugs, beetles, caterpillars and locusts e.g. Birds also play important role as destroyers of vermin, as a scavenger, as flower-pollinating agents and seed dispersers. Thus, birds help to maintain the balance in nature.

Apart from their above usefulness the birds offer something more as their activities of song and play and display of various striking beautiful colors and features creates a lively environment and source of boundless pleasure, fulfilling the need of human character of appreciating the beauty and awe of nature.

Birds occupy certain type of habitat and each group of plants has certain predictable assortment of birds. Some occur in gardens, some only occur in grasslands while some require water habitat like lakes, marshes for the survival. Thus depending on the environment the number and variety of species of birds can vary. However, whatever is the number of birds or type of species, small or large, each bird counts when it comes to the survival of nature and man!

Birds in SIEMEN’S LTD, Kalwe Plant

The factory compound is full of variety of trees and garden plants and hence providing the habitat suitable for most of the garden species like Tailorbirds, Sunbirds, Warblers, Orioles, Robins and Bulbuls. However the tall trees in the premises offer a safe roosting place for the most of the common water birds from the nearby creek like cormorants, heron and egrets. Also birds like Crows, common mynas, pied starlings, sparrows roost on the trees here. One can see large congregations of water birds and crows and mynas gathering over the trees at dusk for roosting.

Indian Cormorant - roosting on treetop before leaving to feed in the morning

Crows, Mynas and common birds roost on the trees in the premises

Checklist of Birds observed in campus of SIEMEN'S LTD, Kalwe Plant

Here is the checklist describing the species of the birds seen in the campus

1. Oriental Magpie Robin
2. Baya Weaver Bird
3. Asian Koel
4. Common Tailor Bird
5. Spotted Dove
6. Laughing Dove
7. Greenish Leaf Warbler
8. Common Iora
9. Little Cormorant
10. Indian Cormorant
11. Little Egret
12. Indian Pond Heron
13. Cattle Egret
14. Common Kite
15. House Crow
16. Large Billed Crow
17. House Sparrow
18. Eurasian Golden Oriole
19. Common Myna
20. Asian Pied Starling
21. Black Crowned Night Heron
22. Red Vented Bulbul
23. Shikra
24. Green Bee Eater
25. Plain Prinia
26. Ashy Prinia
27. Coppersmith Barbet
28. Greater Coucal
29. Black Drongo
30. Purple Rumped Sunbird
31. White Throated Kingfisher
32. Spotted Munia
33. Rose Ringed Parakeet
34. Blue Rock Pigeon
35. Long Tailed Shrike
36. Crimson Sunbird
37. White Wagtail
38. Chestnut Tailed Starling
39. Barn Swallow
40. Fantail Flycatcher
41. Asian palm swift





Description of the Birds

1. Oriental Magpie Robin

The bird is regularly seen hopping under and around the garden bushes. Above photograph is a female Oriental Magpie Robin and below is the male Oriental Magpie Robin. In this part of the country it is surely the best songster one can hear. It seems to prefer the avenue separating the Switchgear and Motor plants. Interestingly "Oriental Magpie Robin" is a National bird of Bangladesh.

2.Baya Weaverbird

This is the famous and phenomenally skilled bird that is known for its peculiar nest using grass blades, the nest is usually seen hanging over safe ,top branches of trees. Few Nests have been located hanging on the top of Palms in the compound, near the canteen. The male birds are bright yellow, black and brown and are polygamous. As it builds a nest, a troupe of Sparrow like females come and inspects the half built nest. If a female is satisfied as to the quality of construction, she accepts the nest and mates with the male. The male then finishes building the nest and starts to build the next nest and the same is repeated as many as 4 to 5 times a season.

3. Asian Koel

This bird is from the Cuckoo family and is often heard than seen. It has a melodious "Kuhoo kuhoo" calls particularly during the breeding season that keeps the environment lively. The males are black and the females are brownish with white spots. Does not build its own nests but lays its eggs in Crows nest.

4. Common Tailor Bird/ Shimpi

The afternoon silence is silence is sometimes filled with a "Tweet tweet" calls of this tiny cute bird famous for its nest building skill. Builds its nest by stitching two leaves, hence the name Tailor bird

5. Spotted Dove

A pigeon like bird with prominent chessboard on its hind neck.

6. Laughing Dove

A slim dove, pinkish brown with some grey on the wings. The peculiar call gives it his name.

7. Greenish Leaf Warbler

A tiny bird that breeds in the Himalayas/ Pakistan/Afghanistan and spends the winter in south India. Flits around the branches and under the leaves hunting for insects.

8. Common Iora

A tiny yellow and black bird with a melodious call. Aptly called as "Subhag" in Marathi

9. Little Cormorant/Pan-kawla

A crow like bird, expert diver and underwater swimmer. Seen drying its wings after a dive. Collects in huge congregations for roosting in the siemens campus. Builds nests on trees near Canopy gate.

10. Indian Cormorant

Similar to Little Cormorant, but larger and emrald green eyes.

11. Little Egret

A snow white bird with a black beak, builds it nests near the trees next to central building.

12. Indian Pond Heron

One of the most common water birds of India. It is also called as "Paddy bird".A brown and white bird seen near the rear side stream, near bounrdy wall. Feeds on water insects and fish.

13. Cattle Egret/Bagla

A white and yellow bird raises its young ones near Canopy gate. It is so called because of its habit of following cattle for the insects that are disturbed by them.

14 Common Kite/Ghar

Seen soaring high above, a large bird with a prominent forked tail. Helps to clean up the city garbage.

15. House Crow

Grey and black bird, intelligent and inquisitive. Helps keep our city clean. These congregate in huge nos. around the canopy trees near the gate and create quite a rucous.

16. Large Billed Crow

Jet black bird, larger than a crow. Commonly called as Jungle crow, but has now well eastablished its abode in the city environment.

17. House Sparrow

Sparrow (male)

Males are brown, white and black. Females are light brown. These tiny birds are fast loosing hold in most of the cities around the world, however, the Siemens campus provides them with a safe abode for feeding and resting.

18. Eurasian Golden Oriole

A brightly golden yellow colored bird with a melodious call. It is aptly called as "Haldu" (Turmeric) in Marathi & Hindi. This is a migratory bird and is seen between Oct-Mar in the campus.

19. Common Myna

A common yellow, black, brown and white bird. Very noisy. This bird also roosts in the campus in huge numbers. Interestingly this native bird has been introduced to other parts of the world where it has turned to pest, owing to its remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in any conditions.

20. Asian Pied Starling

A black and white bird similar in size to Common Myna. The Siemen's campus is among few spots where these birds roost in huge nos.

21. Black Crowned Night Heron

A large grey and black bird. Rests all day and feeds at night.

22. Red Vented Bulbul

Black headed, with red feathers below root of tail. Melodious calls.

23. Shikra

The Hunter of the campus, a bird of prey, found patroling the campus for insects, birds and lizards. The male is blue-grey in colour and female is brownish. It is considered a terror amongst birds.

24. Green Bee Eater

This is a beautiful, small green bird with a black necklace and pointed tail. keeps on fliting thro' the air for catching bees and other winged insects.

25. Plain Prinia/Wat-watya

A tiny light brown bird seen mostly in bushes and grass. Its tail resembles as if just attached to its body.

26. Ashy Prinia

Similar to Plain Prinia but dark grey and brown. It is very noisy in the breeding season (Monsoon) and keeps to the bushes & reeds around water

27. Coppersmith Barbet/Tuk-tukya

A stocky green, yellow and red bird seen feeding on the many fig trees in the factory compound.

28. Greater Coucal/Kukudkombda/Bharadwaj

A large glossy black and chestnut bird with long black tail.

29. Black Drongo/Kothwal

A black bird with long forked tail.

30. Purple Rumped Sunbird

A yellow, green and purple, tiny bird wih a conspicuous downward curved beak.

31. White Throated Kingfisher

A blue and brown bird with large red beak. Throat and upper abdomen white.

32. Spotted Munia

A tiny reddish brown bird with white spots. In the breeding season, seen with a blade of grass held in its beak.

33. Rose Ringed Parakeet

A green bird with a long tail. Male has a rose-pink and black collar.

34. Blue Rock Pigeon

A familiar grey and black bird with metallic green, purple and dark pink neck and breast feathers

35. Long Tailed Shrike

A brown, black and grey bird. Black patch around eyes. A winter visitor, from South India.

36. Crimson Sunbird

A brilliantly colored purple, green and crimson bird with a long pointed tail.

37. White Wagtail

A black and white bird usually found on the ground. A winter visitor.

38. Chestnut Tailed Starling

A grey and brown bird, looks like a common myna.

39. Barn Swallow

40. Asian Palm Swift

38. Fantail Flycatcher

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Above Information is Compiled By Julius Rego and Ritesh Bagul. Many Many thanks to Shri Ashtaputre for providing us an opportunity of observing birds inside the campus.