Editor's Den

Raghul Patteri

Editor

The Mara ecosystem is famous for the big cats and other mammals which are present in abundance. It is lesser known that the mara alone has 500 plus species of birds, both visitors as well as endemic species. The lilac-breasted roller is truly a rainbow bird, with a plumage of 8 different colours. In this edition of PT Aware, Dr. Peter Hudson takes you through the colourful lives of the lilac-breasted roller.

It is a darling of the photographers who visit mara, with its size, colours and behaviour, all contributing to abundant photographic moments.

These sit and wait predators have the most curious of preying routine, which again gives you ample photographic opportunities.

Dr. Peter dwells into the biology of the bird and provides amazing insights on how species adapt to feeding opportunities that arise from ecological events of the habitat. The way this bird uses bushfires to source abundant prey is ingenious.

This article explains how the intersections of disease, habitat and the consequential impact on so many species is at the heart of understanding the ecology of the African savannah. The ways of nature are indeed amazing.

We thank everyone who contributed the beautiful images in this edition. Our next edition will be special on African lions, so please be ready with your lion images.

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