Saturday, March 29, 2025
“Where science fails, the lapwing warns first.”
The lapwing is no ordinary bird. It has long served as a silent sentinel of nature, a living indicator for farmers who traditionally interpreted its nesting patterns to predict rain, floods, or drought. Even modern science recognizes such species as ecosystem indicators—sensitive beings that detect and respond to environmental changes before humans can. Today, however, rapid urbanization and chemical use are threatening its habitats. Ignoring the warnings of birds like the lapwing will only make us more vulnerable to future disasters. Protecting them is not just about saving a species; it is about safeguarding our own survival.
For centuries, rural India has lived in deep dialogue with nature. Fields, seasons, and animals shape both the farmer’s daily life and future. Within this delicate balance, the lapwing may look small and ordinary, but folklore remembers it as a weather forecaster and guardian of fertility. To farmers, it is more than a bird—it is a messenger that bridges earth and sky, a silent oracle of both prosperity and calamity.
Traditional wisdom holds that the lapwing’s behavior reveals vital clues. Four eggs signify four months of good rainfall. Nesting on higher ground signals heavier rains, while laying eggs on rooftops or trees warns of impending floods. The absence of eggs is seen as a dire omen of famine. Farmers also believe that fields where the lapwing nests never remain barren, making the bird a symbol of fertility and protection.
Another striking belief is that a lapwing’s dead body is never found outside Kurukshetra—a thought that may be symbolic, but elevates the bird as a sign of life’s resilience. In folk songs and sayings, the lapwing is a trusted companion, a guide whose behavior has been observed across generations.
So what role does it play in the modern world of satellites, radars, and computer models? The truth is that science and folk experience complement rather than contradict each other. Scientifically, lapwings are highly sensitive to shifts in humidity, soil moisture, water levels, and temperature. In technical terms, they are “ecosystem indicators,” providing early warnings about environmental changes through their behavior.
Our ancestors, without instruments, learned to read these signs through keen observation. A delay in nesting, a move to higher ground—each was interpreted as a coded message from nature. What folk wisdom expressed through symbols, science explains through data.
Today, immersed in the glitter of urbanization and industrialization, we have almost stopped listening to this silent language. City dwellers rarely notice when bird populations decline, when calls change, or when nesting patterns shift. This disconnect leaves us defenseless against sudden disasters. If we take the lapwing’s warnings seriously, our capacity for disaster preparedness could improve dramatically.
The lapwing reminds us that every form of life is woven into the larger fabric of the environment. A tiny bird’s eggs can forecast the future, and in doing so, warn us not to tamper with nature’s balance. Science itself affirms that the earliest signs of environmental stress are felt by birds and small creatures. If we heed them in time, we may prevent larger catastrophes.
From an editorial standpoint, the lapwing teaches us that knowledge does not only emerge from laboratories and satellites but also from the living classroom of fields, animals, and weather patterns. Modern science works with data and technology; the lapwing works with instinct and harmony. Building a bridge between the two is the urgent need of our age.
If lapwings disappear, we will lose not only a cultural belief but also a vital part of nature’s early warning system. Protecting them means reducing pesticide use, conserving natural habitats, and safeguarding water sources. Their survival is directly linked to our own resilience.
While science may take time to detect and analyze disasters, the lapwing warns us in advance. Our greatest challenge is to listen to this silent dialogue and act upon it. If ignored, we risk not only the extinction of the lapwing but also the loss of the wisdom it embodies—a wisdom crucial for the survival of human life itself.
