Monday, Jan 12, 2004 WHETHER it is for serious ornithological pursuit or just as a hobby, a new book from the Oxford University Press (OUP), Birds of Western Ghats, Kokan and Malabar, including birds of Goa, published jointly with the venerable Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), is bound to be a good resource. More so for students of natural history who want to carry something with them on a field trip. As a region that is host to a breathtaking variety of birdlife, the Western Ghats and the coast up to southern Maharashtra draw scores of avid ornithologists each year from around the world. Habitat that varies from high altitude rainforests to the seacoast nurtures a large number of bird species. The hardbound book by Satish Pande, Saleel Tambe, Clement Francis M. and Niranjan Sant is a visual introduction to the avian richness of the southwestern habitat types, with scores of photographs, literature on the origins of ornithology in the country, Sanskrit and Marathi names for the birds, besides a list of the threatened birds of the country, identified by Birdlife International. Interest in ornithology has grown in the country because over 70 species are threatened today, and unless experts identify the reasons for their decline, it may just be too late to save many of them. Bird lovers who already have the field guides by Salim Ali, Inskipp and others, would find this a welcome addition to the shelf. Systematic bird studies have led to the starting of specialised institutes like the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), at picturesque Anaikatti near Coimbatore (Tel: 95422 - 2657103). Students pursue Ph.D. studies at SACON covering various areas including the neighbouring Western Ghats.