Live Encounters Magazine Volume Two November-December 2024.
The Birds, a photo feature by Jill Gocher.
Ever since Alfred Hitchock unleashed his shocker masterpiece “The Birds” on an unsuspecting public, the sight of flocks of birds has triggered some kind of primeval instinct within each of us. Seeing huge flocks of these primeval creatures wheeling and circling while cawing and crying is always a sight to behold.
Some countries love their birds while others are more ambivilent. India has a huge and visible birdlife – from the huge flocks of pigeons that gather in major towns and monuments to the crows that the British brought from England – to remind them of “home”, not realizing how quickly they would proliferate in India’s perfect conditions. Then there are the crrion birds of prey, wild birds and the annual visitors that come to spend the cold months in India’s more benign climate.
Pigeons play an important part in Indian culture, whether it is believed that they are the embodiment of goddess Lakshmi, designed to bring good fortune, or the sacred animal that embodies Yama the God of Death, or even the rather arcane tale of Shiva and his wife Parvati. Whichever story you subscribe to, you can believe that the pigeon is a revered bird.
And India, like Singapore is a great stopover for migrating birds During the winter months the Ganges and her tributaries are home to thousands of Siberian seagulls who find the Indian winter preferable to the freezing climes of Siberia. The huge Siberian cranes used to winter here as well but sadly, their numbers are declining and now there are few that can make their journey south. Diminishing habitat and creeping industrialisation are not healthy for wild birdlife.
But mercifully the pigeons and crows continue to survive !
© Jill Gocher
Jill Gocher has been writing about and photographing Asia and beyond for a long time – in her travels, between writing articles, books and even guidebooks, she. has noticed a certain fascination with birds. Show her a flooded landscape with an active birdlife, and she’s out with her camera and trusty 500ml mirror lens to capture these fascinating creatures. Even more beloved are the flocks of pigeons that crowd ancient buildings and generally add life to many an urban landscape. Frequently there will e hawkers selling grain to feed the birds and of course, their own good karma. May you enjoy the photos that they evoke.