12.4.7. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)

♤ It is a winter migrant to India. This species has suffered a sudden and rapid population decline due to which it has been listed as critically endangered.

♤ Habitat: Fallow fields and scrub desert.

♤ Distribution: central Asia, Asia Minor, Russia, Egypt, India, Pakistan. In India, habitat / distribution is restricted to the north and north-west of the country.

♤ Threats: Conversion of habitat to arable land, illegal hunting and proximity to human settlements.

Do you know?

Some trees can “talk” to each other. When willows are attacked by webworms and caterpillars, they emit a chemical that alerts nearby willow of the danger. The neighboring trees then respond by pumping more tannin into their leaves making it difficult for the insects to digest the leaves.