Lapwing: Nature's silent warning
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Dr Satyavan Saurabh
Rural life in India has been in deep dialogue with nature for centuries. Farms, weather, and animals together influence both a farmer's daily routine and future. Amidst all this, the lapwing is a small bird, seemingly insignificant to the naked eye, but in the memories of farmers and folklore, it is considered a sentinel, an accurate weather forecaster. It is not just a bird, but a medium of communication between earth and sky, a silent messenger that foretells both crisis and prosperity.
Rural experiences show that the lapwing's behavior provides important clues for determining the weather and agricultural direction. If it lays four eggs, it is believed to bring good rainfall for four months. When it lays eggs at a height, people believe that there will be more rainfall than usual. If it is forced to lay eggs on a roof or tree, it is considered a sign of a severe flood. However, if it does not lay eggs, it is the most frightening situation, as people consider it a harbinger of famine. Farmers say that the fields where the lapwing lays eggs are never empty; they are sure to yield crops.
(To be contd)
Rural life in India has been in deep dialogue with nature for centuries. Farms, weather, and animals together influence both a farmer's daily routine and future. Amidst all this, the lapwing is a small bird, seemingly insignificant to the naked eye, but in the memories of farmers and folklore, it is considered a sentinel, an accurate weather forecaster. It is not just a bird, but a medium of communication between earth and sky, a silent messenger that foretells both crisis and prosperity.
Rural experiences show that the lapwing's behavior provides important clues for determining the weather and agricultural direction. If it lays four eggs, it is believed to bring good rainfall for four months. When it lays eggs at a height, people believe that there will be more rainfall than usual. If it is forced to lay eggs on a roof or tree, it is considered a sign of a severe flood. However, if it does not lay eggs, it is the most frightening situation, as people consider it a harbinger of famine. Farmers say that the fields where the lapwing lays eggs are never empty; they are sure to yield crops.
(To be contd)