index

1. Introduction-------------------------------------1-3
2. Objective of Study-----------------------------4
3. Method of Study-------------------------------5
4. Study Area--------------------------------------6
5. List of Birds in Locality----------------------7-11
 Common Myna---------------------------------7
 Greater Coucal----------------------------------8
 White-Breasted Kingfisher--------------------9
 House Crow-------------------------------------10
 Pigeon--------------------------------------------11
6.List of Plants in Locality---------------------12-16
 Tulsi Leaves-------------------------------------12
 Mango--------------------------------------------13
 Aloevera------------------------------------------14
 Rose-----------------------------------------------15
 Madagascar Periwinkle-------------------------16
7.Acknowledgement-----------------------------17
8.Conclusion---------------------------------------18
9.Suggestion and Recommendation-----------19
10.Bibliography-------------------------------------20
 INTRODUCTION
Birds
Birds play an important role in monitoring (informing) the environment. Every
species (living creature) has its own significance and its presence or absence in a
particular habitat (local environment of a group of organisms) has a specific
importance.
The birds have freedom to move wherever they like and political boundaries
have no meaning for them. The only thing that matters is the suitability of the
environment. The birds of the Polar Regions are different from those found in the
tropics or those found in the temperate regions. Similarly the hill species are different
from those found in the plains.
It is noticed that the metabolic rate (pertaining to change of food into living
tissues) of birds is much higher than that of humans, and as a result they suffer from
pollution much before it affects humanity. Birds have a close connection with the
environment.
Therefore, the birds effectively forecast an environmental set up of the region. Some
birds are intentionally kept near the coal mines and in case the release of carbon
dioxide exceeds the permissible limits, the birds die that forecast the danger of mine
explosion.
The appearance of vultures, owls, bats, etc., are symbolic of bad weather or
unfavourable environment while on the other side, the appearance of peacock is
symbolic of rain, good weather and good environment. Such examination can be
multiplied and reflect how the birds monitor the environment.
The sudden fall in the number of aquatic (water life) organisms due to the
spraying of poisonous pesticides (killing chemicals) and other chemicals also show
their close connection with the environment. The spraying of DDT destroys the
aquatic fauna (animals) on which the marine organisms depend. The fish eating birds
die on account of consuming fish that are affected by DDT and / or other poisonous
gases or chemicals. environment and the birds had also been established by their
presence in specific regions.
The presence of parrots indicates the presence of guava and berry trees. The
presence of cuckoos suggests the existence of mango trees whereas sparrows are seen
near paddy field.

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 Birds and nature
When birds travel, they take the seeds they have eaten with them and disperse
them through their droppings. They bring plants back to ecosystems that have been
destroyed, and even carry plants across the sea to new land masses. Birds have helped
to shape the plant life we see around us – and around the world.
Birds are obviously important members of many ecosystems. ... Birds play a
vital role in keeping this balance of nature. In addition to being important parts of
food webs, birds play other roles within ecosystems. Birds eat insects.

Plants
Plants are living organisms that can live on land or water. They have many different
forms such as huge trees, others are herbs or some have bushy form. The basic food
for all organisms is produced by green plants. Plants help in maintaining oxygen
balance, the most important gas that enable us to breathe. Animals emit carbon
dioxide by taking in oxygen. This rise in carbon dioxide levels in air is reduced by
plants. Removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere reduces the greenhouse effect
and global warming. It also maintains the ozone layer that helps protect Earth’s life
from damaging UV radiation. Humans directly or indirectly depend on plants for
several of their need.Plants are mainly multicellular organisms,
predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically,
plants were treated as one of two kingdoms including all living things that were
not animals, and all algae and fungi were treated as plants. However, all current
definitions of Plantae exclude the fungi and some algae, as well as
the prokaryotes (the archaea and bacteria). By one definition, plants form
the clade Viridiplantae (Latin name for "green plants"), a group that includes
the flowering plants, conifers and other gymnosperms, ferns and their
allies, hornworts, liverworts, mosses, and the green algae, but excludes
the red and brown algae.
Plants and nature
Some plants are also grown for the sake of bio-fuels. Plant products are used as coal
and other fuel products. The plants fuel is less toxic as it does not emit harmful gasses
and also less expensive. Even the plant waste is used to generate electricity. Plants
are also the source of insecticides and pesticides. Artificial pesticides are harmful to
the environment. They may even enter food causing health issue to human and
animals. They degrade with time and even do not harm the soil. Ex: Pyrethrin (as
Mosquito repellant), Neem, bacteria etc.

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 Birds and plants
Birds are among the main components for plant reproduction in tropical ecosystems,
with hummingbirds being the most important vertebrate pollinators in the Neotropics.
Flower-visiting birds of another groups (the perching birds) are often considered as
parasites of the flower-hummingbird relationships. These birds do not present a high
degree of specialization for nectarivory, although nectar should be a very important
component of the diet of some groups. Birds usually also visit non-ornithophilous
flowers, as they look for resources in flowers adapted to pollination by other animals
as well. However, very few studies have focused on non-ornithophilous flowers,
which means looking at the whole group of species visited by birds, from the bird’s
point of view—the resource approach. While visiting non-ornithophilous flowers,
birds (usually hummingbirds) may act merely like robbers, thieves or even
copollinators.
Therefore, when the aim of the study is pollination, one should not
only look for ornithophilous flowers, but also for other possible bird pollinated
species, from the flower’s point of view—the pollination approach. Studies focusing
on this last approach are even scarcer at the community level. It is important to realize
that the set of ornithophilous species are inside the wider set of pollinated species by
birds, and this one is contained inside the set of visited species by birds. Studies that
only pick up ornithophilous species from a community are not focussing on pollinated
species by birds, but rather on a subset of that. Another problem of point of view is
that most studies in the Neotropics are ground based, which may reduce sampling of
canopy species information.
After putting together these different approaches to study the bird-
flower interaction network, we could maybe build—with the help of other animal-
flower networks—a picture of a combined model of nested compartments to the
whole community, connecting all animal-flower networks by interactions of co-
pollination or just visits, reinforcing the idea of communities displaying high
connectance.

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 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The aim of this project to understand the value of plants around us and usefulness of
them. To protect our nature we have to protect plants and forests. Those are the lungs
of the world. It is important to make a healthy environment of our feature.
The main objectives of this project are :
1. To save the feature of this world Stop cutting trees.
2. Encourage afforestation. Plant new saplings and plants as much as we can.
3. Ban and check control on all such activities that have negative impacts on plant life
and its survival.
4. Be a volunteer in many non profit organizations that work for this cause and also
donate and collect maximum funds possible for this cause.
5. Create maximum of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
6. Strictly avoid buying products made from plant products or remains.

The aim of the project is to model bird migration flows based on water bird species
characterized as potentially high risk of transporting and spreading the influenza A
virus, to distinguish if a spatio-temporal pattern of the migratory flows and predicted
countries which may be at high risk of outbreaks are linked with confirmed outbreak
cases.
The main objectives of the project are to:
1. Determine the waterfowl species to be used in the analysis and justification for
selection and determine their wintering, breeding and migration seasons.

2. Generate a network of migration for each of the species, and generate migration
flow map for each.

3. Use of network analysis package to analyse the networks of each bird species and
predict optimal flow paths based on higher population estimates on each flow line
which would act as a greater risk to the spread of the disease.

4. Test the model output to actual reported outbreaks and generate maps of confirmed
cases and maps of modelled outbreak cases.

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 Method of study
For many people around the world, birds are among the most fascinating fellow on
Earth. Ornithology, the scientific study on birds, is one of the oldest organized
scientific disciplines (Birkhead et al. 2014). And birds are among the best studied
organisms (del Hoyo et al. 1992–2013). To that end—and for many scientific
reasons—it is important to understand what a bird species is and how it arises, is
modified, and vanishes. It is far less easy than it appears to circumscribe a bird
species. This is mainly due to the transient nature of species. Being one descendant
of another species, a species can slowly become another species (anagenesis), die
out, or split into two or more daughter species (cladogenesis). This study is based
on Indian birds. For the study of biomass or weight of each species, all individuals
are uprooted (but when the weight of a particular organ, e.g., branch, leaf, fruit, etc.,
is to be determined only the concerned organ is clipped or harvested) and its fresh
or dry weight is recorded.

Demarcation or laying out of different types of quadrats are basically same.

Generally, an adjustable wooden frame is prepared with perforations at regular
intervals on each arm. Four arms are fixed in the field with the help of long nails or
surveyor’s hooks and it is ready to provide data necessary for list, list- count and
clip quadrat. This study totally based on Indian plants.

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 STUDY AREA

INDIA WEST BENGAL

HOOGHLY

(22.7705° N, 88.3220° E) SHEORAPHULY

Page no-6
 List of birds in my locality
Common Myna (Myna)

Mynas are one of the most common garden birds of India, which are easy to identify
because of its distinctive yellow-patch around the eyes which extends to its beak.
Common Myna is widely popular in Indian culture, appearing in Vedic and Buddhist
texts; often paired with rose-ringed Parakeets (Tota), probably because both birds are
vocal and are capable of mimicking human sound.
 Other names: Common Indian Myna/Mynah.
 Scientific name: Acridotheres tristis
 Distribution: widespread across South and South-east Asia.
 Habitat: open woodland, cultivation and around human habitation.
 Diet: these omnivorous birds feeds on insects, reptiles, small mammals, seeds,
grain and fruits and discarded waste from human habitation.

Common Mynas mate for life and build their nests in tree hollows as well as the walls
and ceilings of buildings, making these birds a nuisance to humans. Although
introduced in Australia and New Zealand as a natural pesticide against locusts and
beetles, Mynas have become invasive and a threat to their crops and local birds.

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 Greater Coucal (Mahoka)

Resembling like a more beautiful and colourful version of a crow,

Greater Coucal is a large bird with a long tail, chestnut-brown feathers and vampire-
like red eyes. The deep resonating calls gives away the location of this relatively shy
bird, often sitting concealed in dense vegetation.

 Other names: Crow pheasant

 Scientific name: Centropus sinensis
 Distribution: these non-migratory birds are residents of South and South-east
Asia.
 Habitat: found in wide range of habitats, from dense forests to open cultivation.
 Diet: mainly insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs, nestlings, fruits and seeds.

Although belonging to the Cuckoo family of birds, Greater

Coucals are non-parasitic birds (they don’t lay their eggs on a host bird’s nest, rather
raise their own young ones). They are often spotted in morning, sun-bathing with
their wings spread out.

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 White-breasted Kingfisher
( Halcyon smyrnensis )

Locally known as the Shada buk machranga in Kolkata , this bird is often
considered as the only kingfisher that can be seen in the city and which is a very
wrong concept. There are 4 types of more kingfishers that are often seen commonly
in and around the city. The misconception that occurs with this bird is that it is often
mistaken with the other 3 out of the 4 kingfishers, as it is seen most commonly among
the other 4.
 Scientific name: Halcyon smyrnensis
 Distribution: Asia from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to the
Philippines.
 Diet: This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, insects, earthworms,
rodents, snakes, fish and frogs. Predation of small birds such as the Indian
white-eye, chick of a red-wattled lapwing, sparrows and munias have been
reported.

In years, the species has adapted accordingly in the urban habitat and is often found
to be very friendly with humans. Mostly seen near any water body, it feeds
extensively on small fishes, crabs, lizards etc. 17
White breasted kingfisher is also the state bird of West Bengal.

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 House crow (Corvus splendens)

The house crow (Corvus splendens), also known as the Indian, greynecked, Ceylon
or Colombo crow, is a common bird of the crow family that is of Asian origin but
now found in many parts of the world, where they arrived assisted by shipping. It is
between the jackdaw and the carrion crow in size (40 cm (16 in) in length) but is
slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed
black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in colour. The wings, tail
and legs are black.
 Scientific name: Corvus splendens
 Distribution: The House crow is widely distributed throughout southern Asia,
from southern Iran through Pakistan, India and Bangladesh and into south-
western China, southern Tibet, and central Thailand, as well as the Maldives.
 Diet: House crows feed largely on refuse around human habitations, small
reptiles and mammals, and other animals such as insects and other small
invertebrates, eggs, nestlings, grain and fruits.

House crows feed largely on refuse around human habitations, small reptiles and
mammals, and other animals such as insects and other small invertebrates, eggs,
nestlings, grain and fruits. House crows have also been observed swooping down
from the air and snatching baby squirrels. Most food is taken from the ground, but
also from trees as opportunity arises.

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 Pigeon (Columbidae)

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is a pigeon subspecies that was
derived from the rock dove (also called the rock pigeon). The rock pigeon is the
world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the
domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Research suggests that domestication of pigeons occurred as early as 10,000 years
ago.
 Scientific name: (Columbidae)
 Distribution: Pigeons and doves are distributed everywhere on Earth, except
for the driest areas of the Sahara Desert, Antarctica and its surrounding islands,
and the high Arctic.
 Diet: Everything from corn and rice to leftover food, even cake and cookies,
is fed. This makes the birds highly dependent on human beings for survival,
changes their eating habits drastically, and killing their natural instinct to forage
for food (they are grain-and and fruit eating).

Pigeons have made contributions of considerable importance to humanity, especially

in times of war. In war the homing ability of pigeons has been put to use by making
them messengers. So-called war pigeons have carried many vital messages and some
have been decorated for their services.

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 List of PLANTS in my locality
TULSI LEAVES

Tulsi has the anti-bacterial property which helps to relieve cold. It’s known to boost
immune system and keep other diseases at bay. By maintaining the pH balance in the
stomach it helps to ease acidity. Some phytochemicals in tulsi are known to protect
against cancer too. Tulsi has the anti-bacterial property which helps to relieve cold.
It’s known to boost immune system and keep other diseases at bay. By maintaining
the pH balance in the stomach it helps to ease acidity. Some phytochemicals in tulsi
are known to protect against cancer too.
 Botanical Name: Ocimum Santum(O. tenuiflorum)
 Local Name: Tulsi.
 Distribution: Tulsi is widely grown in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and
Sasangir National Park in India.
 Uses:
1. It acts as a detoxifying, cleansing and purifying agent – both from within and
without.
2. Therefore it is good for skin – both when consumed and applied topically.
3. It is also effective in treating skin disorders, itching and issues like
ringworms.
4. It can be made into teas or can be had raw, powdered, paste or in form herbal
supplements.
5. It has antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-carcinogenic properties.
6. It helps in relieving from fever, headache, sore throat, cold, cough, flu and
chest congestion.
7. It is also beneficial in treating respiratory ailments like chronic bronchitis,
asthma et cetera.
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 Mango(Mangifera indica)

Mangifera indica, commonly known as mango, is a species of flowering plant in

the sumac and poison ivy family Anacardiaceae. Mangoes are believed to have
originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India.
It is a large fruit-tree, capable of growing to a height and crown width of about 30
metres (100 ft) and trunk circumference of more than 3.7 metres (12 ft).
 Scientific name: Mangifera indica
 Distribution: The mango is now cultivated in most frost-free tropical and
warmer subtropical climates. It is cultivated extensively in South Asia,
Southeast Asia, East and West Africa, the tropical and subtropical Americas,
and the Caribbean.
 Uses:
Mango tree:
 Mango tree is used to get unripe mango to make pickles.
 Mango tree leaves are used for medicinal purpose.
 Mango tree leaves helps in keeping body energetic.
 Mango tree leaves helps in keeping skin clean.
 Mango tree is rich in proteins, nutrients and vitamin C.
For health:
 It helps in fighting cancer.
 Helps in maintaining cholesterol level.
 It helps in cleansing skin.
An Aphrodisiac fruit. M. indica were domesticated separately in South Asia and
Southeast Asia since ancient times, resulting in two distinct genetic populations in
modern mangoes – the "Indian type" and the "Southeast Asian type". Mangoes have
since been introduced to other warm regions of the world.

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 Aloe Vera

Aloe vera ( or) is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. The name comes from
two root words: "aloeh" is an Arabic word meaning bitter, and "vera" is Latin for
"truth." An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows
wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated for
agricultural and medicinal uses.
 Scientific name: Aloe Barbadensis Miller
 Botanical Name: Aloe vera
 Local Name: Grhetakumari
 Uses:
 Soothes Rashes and Skin Irritations.
 Treats Burns.
 Heals Cold Sores.
 Moisturizes Hair and Scalp.
 Treats Constipation.
 Helps with Digestion.
 Boosts the Immune System.
 Provides Antioxidants and Reduces Inflammation.
 Helps in smooth functioning of the properties of soothing defornyhing the
body, cleaning and helping the body tomaingain healthy tissues. It louens
cholesteral and total triglycrides facilities, digestion aiding blood and
lymphatic circulation and well as improving kidney, liver and gall bladder
functions.

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 Rose(Rosa)

A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the

family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens
of thousands of cultivars.They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs,
climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed with
sharp prickles.] Flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in
colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia,
with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and
northwestern Africa.] Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their
beauty and often are fragrant. Roses have acquired cultural significance in many
societies. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that
can reach seven meters in height.] Different species hybridize easily, and this has
been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.
 Scientific name: Rosa
 Distribution: Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to
Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are
all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant. Species
 List of Rosa species:The genus Rosa is composed of 140-180 species and
divided into four subgenera.
 Hulthemia
 Hesperrhodos
 Platyrhodon
 Rosa

 Uses: Roses are best known as ornamental plants grown for their flowers
in the garden and sometimes indoors. They have been also used for
commercial perfumery and commercial cut flower crops. Some are used as
landscape plants, for hedging and for other utilitarian purposes such as game
cover and slope stabilization.
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 Madagascar Periwinkle
(Catharanthus roseus)

Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as bright eyes, Cape

periwinkle, graveyard plant, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, pink
periwinkle, rose periwinkle,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the
family Apocynaceae. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but grown elsewhere
as an ornamental and medicinal plant. It is a source of
the drugs vincristine and vinblastine, used to treat cancer.[3] It was formerly included
in the genus Vinca as Vinca rosea.
 Scientific name: Catharanthus roseus
 Distribution: Catharanthus roseus, more commonly known as the Periwinkle
of Madagascar, is a native species to the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar.
Madagascar is located off the east coast of Southern Africa. The Periwinkle is
a perennial plant that is very prevalent in areas that are tropical to sub-tropical.
 Uses: In traditional medicine, the periwinkle has been used for relieving
muscle pain, depression of the central nervous system, also used for
applying to wasp stings and to heal wounds. Its application ranges widely from
the prevention of diabetes to treatment of stomach ache (Gajalakshmi et al.,
2013)
 List of Madagascar Periwinkle:rosy periwinkle, bright-eyes, Cape
periwinkle, old-maid, periwinkle, pink periwinkle, rose periwinkle, vinca.
 COLOURS:The commonly found flower colors in periwinkle
(Catharanthus roseus)—pink, white, red-eyed, and pale pink center—are
reported to be governed by the epistatic interaction between four genes—A,
R, W, and I.

Page no-16
 CONCLUSION
This and the fact that bird movements and migrations are well documented are the
reason we chose to focus our study on birds). Evidence found specifically from birds
shows that there is a correlation between bird population characteristics and
alterations in climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation. Bird beaks are
multi-functional tools.
Birds use them to weave nests, defend their territory, attack competitors,
groom feathers, communicate, and most significantly, to gather or capture food. Birds
are an important fundamental element of the environment. Over the last 200 or so
years, many animals including birds have become extinct or rare, thanks to human
activities. It is the moral and ethical responsibility of human beings that they save
many species from becoming extinct.Wildlife in general and birds in particular, are
important from the economic and other points of view. Wildlife (including birds)
carries positive as well as negative values (Shaw 1985).

This and the fact that plants are well documented are the reason we chose to focus
our study on plants. Evidence found specifically from plants shows that there is a
correlation between plant’s characteristics and alterations in climatic factors such as
temperature and precipitation .plants are most important living thing .They provide
oxygen and consume CO2 and also prevent so many natural callamaties like soil
erosion, earthquake, etc . It also make a healthy environment for all creatures.
Plants are an important fundamental element of the environment. Over the
last 200 or so years, many plants have become extinct or rare, thanks to human
activities. It is the moral and ethical responsibility of human beings that they save
many species from becoming extinct. Wildlife in general and particular, are important
from the economic and other points of view. Wildlife carries positive as well as
negative values

In the present discussion, management for harvest is not considered,

because it is banned in India. Therefore all the suggestions and recommendations are
with reference to preserving plant and bird diversity and solving most of the problems
related it.

Page no-17
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and Foremost I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks
to SERAMPORE COLLEGE, SERAMPORE for providing me with an
opportunity to explore into such an upgraded project STUDY OF
COMMON BIRDS AND PLANTS.

Secondly I express my sincere thanks to my project guide professor for this

steady guidance and ever so encouraging advice. His endless
encouragement motivated me to perform to the best of my ability. Moreover
he was ready to provide me with feedback which helped me to a great extent
in the betterment of my work and making it comprehensive.

Also I would like to convey my gratitude and thanks to our Vice Principal
for providing me with such a golden opportunity which will help me in
future for sure. The college library has also been an excellent source of
relevance material information. I am also thankful to my family and friends
whose constant support and motivation was there for me and providing me
with the strength in completion of this project.

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 Suggestions and
Recommendations
The very basis of suggestions and recommendations, presented here are that they
should be

 Practical
 Feasible
 Simple to implement
 Require limited budget
 Possible as individual, group and public level activity

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Information has been collected from the following various websites:
 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.org
 WWW.birds.com
 www.scribd.com
 www.kolkatabirdsw.com
 www.harbpathy.com
 www.triponzy.com

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