Nilgiris home to 3 species of larks

Ooty: Larks play a pivotal ecological role as bio-controllers of insects and pests and Nilgiris is home to three species of lark, environmentalists said. P. B. Shelly’s Skylark alludes to the Eurasian Skylark, a small passerine bird, seen distributed through most parts of Europe and Asia, said Dr P.J. Vasanthan. Though this species is not seen in Nilgiris, the deficit is made up by the presence of three others of its kind, the Jerdon’s Bushlark, the Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark and the Malabar Lark.

The Jerdon’s Bushlark is a small crestless lark seen inhabiting the open grassy areas of Segur Plateau. Though silent for most part of the time, the male has a trilling song, which he renders while springing up into the air from a perch and parachuting back to the ground.

The Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark is seen distributed exclusively through the Moyar Valley region of the Segur Plateau and prefers stretches of moist sandy soil, strewn with small rocks and covered with short grass.

The male has an ashy crown and chocolate brown undersides and the female resembles a hen sparrow. The courtship flight of the male is quite spectacular and is made up of a series of steep stoops, the bird rising and falling in the air over a particular patch of ground to the accompaniment of its trilling song.

The Malabar Lark inhabits most of the upper reaches of the district where it can be seen in pairs tripping daintily along the slopes covered with short grass. A range restricted species it is confined to the Malabar coast of SW India. Like all other larks this bird is a good songster with a whistling song which it renders when perched on the top of a bush or during flight.

These larks being insectivorous perform the useful function of bio-control, he said. Larks prey upon insects, especially pests in farms, thus helping in eradicating pests and controlling insect population thereby helping crops, said V. Sivadass, Managing Trustee, Nilgiris Environment and Socio-cultural Trust. People should identify larks through their songs and try to provide the perfect habitat for them to live and help the ecological balance and farming, he said.