Birds 16 - The Nilgiri Pipit Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The Nilgiri pipit

The Nilgiri Pipit is a tiny bird
a distinctive species of pipits
seen in the high altitudes
of Nilgiri and Anamalai Hills.

It is easily identified
by its richer brown colour
and a streaking on the breast
that flows along the flanks.

It has dark lores and beaks
buff coloured outer tail feathers
and throat, black-streaked
crown and upper parts.

It feeds on grass seeds
and insects, builds its nest-
a cup of grass in short grass
in the breeding time of April-July.

Just four thousand birds remain,
endangered by destruction of its
grassland habitation by wild fire,
weeds like broom and acacia plantation.

We need to avoid encroaching into
the natural habitat of animals and birds,
avoid fomenting wild fire, thus save
our flora and fauna from extinction.