Raptors of Gurgaon

Crested Serpent Eagle spotted at the Sultanpur National Park

While Gurgaon develops into a concrete jungle with fewer wetlands and greenery, Raptors have adapted to the changing landscape with great success. It is therefore not surprising to see Shikras and Eagles perched on power line poles waiting for a chance to pounce on small rodents or even scrounge for leftover food in the dustbins. 

A Brahminy Kite spotted at the Chandu Budhera Canal area. 

Raptors are, however, not just scavengers (unfortunately) but also some of the apex flying hunters. Their swiftness in flight, keen eyesight, and superb maneuverability make them among nature's most amazing flying wonders! No wonder some of the fighter planes with stealth features take their shape from falcons.

A Shikra spotted at the Sultanpur National Park

Raptors are some of the most amazing birds to photograph. They are nature's examples of aerospace engineering and no wonder many of our fighter aircrafts are designed after them. Raptors are a source of inspiration for aerospace engineering. They exhibit exceptional aerodynamic capabilities and unique flight adaptations whether it is reconfiguring their flight dynamics in terms of changing their wing and tail profiles to suit the situations! Talk about thrust vectoring! The field of study associated with a study of the flight dynamics of raptors is called biomimicry. Aerospace engineers study flight patterns of raptors in several key areas including wing morphing and flexibility, adapting to different speeds, (sweeping back wings, flaring, maneuverability, and improving wing camber to achieve efficient flight patterns.

Sultanpur National Park

Serpent Eagle at the Sultanpur National Park