(delhibirdpix) The Commoners - # 73.11 - Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus) - 2010-109

A few years back, it looked the area would soon be lost since one of
the largest Indian Corporate was set to convert it to a SEZ with full
Government help. Not so sure now with Eco-Sensitive Zone being
defined around the Park now. The land still belongs to the Corporate
and one day it would find a way to construct in the area.

Till then, it is good news - Indian Coursers, Yellow and Red Wattled
Lapwings, Thick-Knees continue to breed there.

Two nests with two eggs each were seen on 21st March and 4th April.

It beget a question - how long does it take for a Courser to hatch its
egg ? Internet search did not throw any light except the general time
of the year for breeding and that it lay 2-3 eggs with opinion being
majority for two eggs. There were a couple of article abstract re
breeding habit in BNHS journal. Could not open their CD to read the
articles. So my own quest started - monitoring the nest as often as I
could.

The general answer is 21 day +/- a day or two. This is based on the
'hatchlings' being seen in the near vicinity of Nests (with nothing in
Nests, not even the shell, which beget another question - what happens
to shells ?).

Found two 'hatchlings' (or chicks/babies, whatever is the correct
term, biologists can correct) on 10th (no photos by me but my guest
from U.S. did get a few) and again on 13th. Would assume these to be
from the first nest.

Found another two 'hatchlings' on 24th April early morning. These
must have hatched that morning or the evening before because the
movements of 'hatchlings' were a bit awkward and size the smallest I
have seen.

This gives the period of 'incubation' at 21 days assuming the 'eggs'
were laid on dates of observation. The eggs could have been laid a
day or two before and similarly the 'hatching' could have taken place
a day or two earlier. So, it is 21 Days +/1 1 or 2.

Can some one throw light on what happens to the 'egg shells' - eaten
up for 'calcium' ?

Another interesting observation was the 'incubating' only by the
female with the other 'parent' not being seen anywhere over the period
of observation (which extended to about 3 on a particular day). On
another day, 4 individuals besides the one on nest were seen in the
vicinity. One of these tried mounting the one sitting on the nest and
hence i would assume the hatching was done by female but was 'shooed
away'.

When the 'hatchlings' were found, both the parents were seen (the
three occasions) feeding the 'hatchlings'.

It was also very interesting to observe the 'hatchlings'
'disappearing' in the undergrowth at the slightest 'call' from one of
the parents which were given every time a movement was seen in terms
of villagers and any other animal passing nearby. Even though my
'Cannon 800 mm' was sighted on the 'hatchlings', it was almost
impossible to locate these after I took my eyes off to see what the
disturbance was.

The Parents (I would assume it to be the mother) would do a 'broken
wing dance' too and then also hide the 'hatchlings' under its wings
such that one cannot see the 'hatchlings'.

So, here are some images - hatchlings, mom and hatchling, both parents
feeding a hatchling and the mother hiding the hatchlings.

Made some videos too - which are great. Now, I would have learn
editing these and also uploading on youtube. Till I learn, please
wait or help me learn. BTW, I am a slow learner.

Cheers.

Anand Arya
353, Sector 15A
NOIDA 201301
INDIA
+ 91 98182 61909
www.anandarya.com
www.okhlabirdpark.com