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OverviewA charismatic and arresting bird, the Painted Stork inhabits the plains and wetlands of India and Southeast Asia. This near-threatened species provides a good model through which to explore a variety of ecology and conservation issues. As a colonial nester, it is also useful for considering questions related to evolution and the development of avian coloniality. The Painted Stork sometimes nests opportunistically in the middle of large cities – the Delhi Zoo colony, for instance, has been active since 1960. This offers a splendid opportunity to study the species at close range, as attested by this book's lively photographic component. The Painted Stork is an important indicator of its wetland habitats, which themselves are highly threatened. Since environmental toxins, particularly organochlorine pesticides, travel rapidly along aquatic food chains, the study of piscivorous birds like the Painted Stork assumes special significance. Equally vulnerable today are the nesting colonies, located in marshes, village reservoirs and the wider countryside, including in urban settings. Perhaps because their natural nesting areas are becoming scarce due to habitat loss, colonial waterbirds look for suitable sites in parks and gardens. Hence, the behaviour of this species reflects changes occurring in its environment. Birds also help us monitor the effects of global climate change, and one of the most significant dimensions of the Painted Stork is its dependence upon the monsoon. How exactly do these seasonal rains govern the food cycles in wetlands? And what happens when the monsoon fails? Covering all aspects of Painted Stork ecology, behaviour, conservation and its relationship with humans, this accessible monograph contains a wealth of new insights. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Abdul Jamil UrfiPublisher: Pelagic Publishing Imprint: Pelagic Publishing Dimensions: Width: 15.60cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 23.40cm Weight: 0.505kg ISBN: 9781784274399ISBN 10: 1784274399 Pages: 208 Publication Date: 16 January 2024 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsReviewsThe book is scholarly but immensely accessible. You will learn a lot about this species but inevitably lots about habitat and birdlife, conservation and urban dwelling wildlife... Bravo! -- Bo Beolens * fatbirder.com * Author InformationAbdul Jamil Urfi has been researching the ecology and conservation of Painted Stork in India for more than 35 years. A senior professor of environmental studies, and currently head of department at the University of Delhi, he has published three previous books on birds, including Birds: Beyond Watching and Birds of India: A Literary Anthology. He was a European Commission Marie Curie Fellow in the UK and a Fulbright Fellow in the USA. He is a member of IUCN’s stork, ibis and spoonbill species survival commission. His interests include field ecology, conservation biology, biology education and birdwatching trends in India. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |