tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54238713054664655902024-03-05T21:01:19.980+05:30More than Feathers.....Encounters with the Avian worldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-84860583359515097232020-08-19T19:56:00.001+05:302020-08-19T20:33:23.044+05:30Brownie chooses his path (Part 3 of 3)<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>While Brownie's affiliations with
humans grew, he remained the ferocious alpha for other dogs. An abandoned pet
dog found her way into our neighborhood. L</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">ed by Brownie, </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the other street dogs hounded and dominated her. The world of street dogs </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">is not known for charity</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and she was unprepared for this rough and tough world. She could barely scavenge food to survive. </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">On a rainy
afternoon, my mother saw her sitting alone in the middle of the park, staring
blankly at a distance in the rain, oblivious to the downpour and her surroundings. We called this dog
Jimmy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> <span> </span></span>Jimmy was growing weaker every day. So,
I decided to feed her. Late in the evening, we walked Brownie to the park and my
Dad blocked the gate. Brownie was trapped inside. Outside, I tried to cajole Jimmy, offering her water and food, but she would have none of it. She was either completely
heart-broken or too scared of the consequences. Finally, we had to give up and let Brownie
out. He came out in a state of shock and </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">shaking with fear</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. He had been
betrayed by the very people he loved. I had to reassure him with pats and strokes
before returning home.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>A few days later, Jimmy was
injured by a motorbike, and then disappeared the next day. We feared the worst
for her. A couple of months later, I saw a woman taking two dogs out for a
walk; one of whom resembled Jimmy. She had adopted her! This abandoned dog story had a happy
ending, unlike many others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Brownie loved mass gatherings - groups playing in the park, festival gatherings, wedding processions and even seeing-off visitors. Election days were exciting, with so many people stepping out to cast their votes. On such days, one can see small groups of people hotly debating on politics; and Brownie next to the circle listening keenly. If he had the
rights, he would have cast his vote for the right candidate :)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most memorably, he decided to visit the <i>Durga Puja Pandal</i> with us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xj7ljdWBYmrXFAB7C4dIKYWtZQ0gTfkpu0nXO_7cWL9F2c5pRWwiNp8Ayc_2OoRaamsVNzOcT6c-PlvpYcAkx0EUT51kpNaUmPVhrsiER0gGm94Z6v70Z9V4FkJXhL76a9KjXUWnX6yC/s2048/649.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Durga Puja Pandal" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xj7ljdWBYmrXFAB7C4dIKYWtZQ0gTfkpu0nXO_7cWL9F2c5pRWwiNp8Ayc_2OoRaamsVNzOcT6c-PlvpYcAkx0EUT51kpNaUmPVhrsiER0gGm94Z6v70Z9V4FkJXhL76a9KjXUWnX6yC/w640-h480/649.jpg" title="Durga Puja Pandal" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Durga Pooja Pandal</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmDHDphkVoByK0zgu8TLVM4xgKddENqrBYg5IkMf-hR2fvRBk-DOctZHCfKec0XpBMyOwCaYiCOyBPMyCr81XxhC2ovzkxImLM9Uwl75PDijGL-5y5G4trR4_UJBUPZ__hshIY_V3zRyH/s2048/650.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brownie at Durga Pooja" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmDHDphkVoByK0zgu8TLVM4xgKddENqrBYg5IkMf-hR2fvRBk-DOctZHCfKec0XpBMyOwCaYiCOyBPMyCr81XxhC2ovzkxImLM9Uwl75PDijGL-5y5G4trR4_UJBUPZ__hshIY_V3zRyH/w400-h300/650.jpg" title="Brownie at Durga Pooja" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brownie at Durga Pooja</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span face="" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span>H</span></span></span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">e saw us walking in the direction of <i>pandal</i>; h</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">aving heard the sounds and smelt the smells emanating from there<i> </i>since a few days, he decided to visit. The guards with sticks at the gate did not look particularly friendly to him, so, he slipped in through a gap in the tent. Once inside, he made it e</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">mbarrassingly</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">clear that he was with us by sticking close to us. However, nobody seemed to notice him in the crowd. What a happening place this was! Dazzlingly lit, people dressed in their finery, the perfumes of incense sticks intermingling with aroma of food and soulful music. We quickly took the <i>darshan</i> of the deity, Ma Durga and were in a quandary on what to do next. With Brownie in tow, we could not sit to watch the performances or visit the food stalls. Exactly then a woman saw him, and shrieked in Bengali "<i>Eeeeeeeeeee! Kukura!</i>" This was followed by a lot of confusion, and we quickly exited the Pandal, with Brownie in tow, before any of us could get caught in a tight spot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Brownie's age began to slow
him down. His visits to the market shortened to the corner of the street and
then just across the street. His power of smell reduced too. Earlier, when we got him leftover bones, he would
catch the whiff from far-off . Now, we had to take the bag near him before he could decipher the treat. </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">His front teeth had worn out too. </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Multiple injuries on his right hind leg, meant that he could not walk straight.
He had this peculiar walk that took him ahead sideways, and his moves resembled that of a knight on a chess board.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>While earlier he survived on a healthy diet of leftovers, suddenly there was excess of food. Many people became had turned dog-lovers without understanding dogs. Sometimes they offered a whole loaf of bread without comprehending that the creature weighed one-fourth of an adult human, and could not eat as much. Some people fed yellow rice <i>khichdi </i>on Tuesdays and Saturdays, probably on the advice of an astrologer. Our fit and healthy dog turned into a fat cylinder. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>His duties towards our apartment,
however, continued undeterred- morning walk, dropping kids to school, prayers
in the evening and guarding at night. </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">He had to share the park with other dogs, but he was still the alpha and respected.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> By now, I could understand Brownie quite well. If he wanted to play, he would put his paw on my foot. If he did not want me to leave, he would put circle his paws around my foot. If we wanted a pat, he would call me
with a typical howl-bark. If he was fast asleep, I would not disturb
him. One day, he looked asleep, and I suspected he was not. So, I walked past
and turned around after crossing the gate. Brownie was slyly checking, with his one eye open in a slit, to see if I had gone
away. He was pretending to be asleep to avoid my affections. The crafty dog!</span></p><div><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>In December 2019, severe winters descended on Delhi with bleak sun, chilly winds and gloomy hazy days. It was bone chilling.
Some dog lovers gave Brownie a sweater and shawl, that he gladly accepted. This was a first, as dog-jackets or sacks offered before had been promptly
discarded. This time, however, he sat on the sweater and the guards wrapped him
in it at night. Then someone gifted him a small mattress, which was accepted too.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Over the years, the guards of the
society had changed many times. But they all valued his company. The guards put out his clothes for drying on the bushes in day time, and wrapped him up in shawls and sweater at night. Royal treatment for a street dog indeed!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65je9sYH5xHyOvjBw7Z4OR9KSd0dGf_8DpzQJnps2QfupInIXfOEFXdW4I7HYvBYhKiR0HfYTNs_XWBeTrT-Cc1vqSgcKC4btNxiFJSUUz2eBYG9DIJ3vZaGLpBrTI6t0-W9JFlMu4QGI/s2048/20200320_102720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brownie (on the right) with his apprentice Chhoti" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65je9sYH5xHyOvjBw7Z4OR9KSd0dGf_8DpzQJnps2QfupInIXfOEFXdW4I7HYvBYhKiR0HfYTNs_XWBeTrT-Cc1vqSgcKC4btNxiFJSUUz2eBYG9DIJ3vZaGLpBrTI6t0-W9JFlMu4QGI/w400-h300/20200320_102720.jpg" title="Brownie(Right) and his apprentice Chhoti (Left) enjoying a nap" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Brownie was approximately 15 years old by then - very old by street dog standards. Many dogs vied for his territory, including one who looked like him, and would walk by, pretending to be Brownie. During these cold days, one dog from the park gang approached Brownie - a s</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">hort dog, looking almost like a beagle with a thick furry coat. She had lost one eye, either due to cataract or genetic causes</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. He tolerated her at first, she had to keep her distance, and not eye his food. She would sleep near the light of the gate, which probably helped her bear the cold. We called her "Chhoti". Brownie soon declared Chhoti as the heir to his throne, by allowing her to share his mattress and the gate. Under his keen eye, he started to train her to do guard duties, learn to recognize the residents of the society, and receive pats from his friends. We used to joke about this new apprenticeship, but we did not realize that Brownie was dead-serious about it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>On March 22, 2020, India went under
a nation-wide lock-down. People stopped moving out of homes, the morning walks, the schools, the evening prayers
and the coming and going of visitors - his entire life came to a grinding halt.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: times;"><span><span> </span></span>Someday, in April, I
noticed that Brownie was missing. The guards had not seen him in last few days.
We searched for him in the park and around but could not find him. Dogs, I
learnt, walk away from their pack in their final days. This is a natural instinct to protect their family and we had no choice but to accept his decision. </span><span style="font-family: times;">It is sad, that a dog
who was so well looked-after all, spent his last few days in solitude. But I
console myself, reminding myself that we never owned Brownie; rather he was his own
master and owned us. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;">He had chosen his own life-paths all along, as in the end<span style="font-family: times;">.</span></span>
</p><p></p>Prachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05302603489160292082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-11627187202933124002020-08-11T13:36:00.002+05:302020-08-11T13:36:54.781+05:30"Hariyal" says Hello<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuohFz1WLCOJaFsmIszYOkq7MRjnSv4iEl8sO7cGSq_gYEbOWOhUnpoLL4UQNgQpjXvCXuWGxLQdztBd7Wy3Y0kYWuXiZfZ7pCxtyxgzMfAfosLytjgGmzxYLu9wS6mJGuJsYWcQkLPg/s2510/YFGpigeon+04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="2510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuohFz1WLCOJaFsmIszYOkq7MRjnSv4iEl8sO7cGSq_gYEbOWOhUnpoLL4UQNgQpjXvCXuWGxLQdztBd7Wy3Y0kYWuXiZfZ7pCxtyxgzMfAfosLytjgGmzxYLu9wS6mJGuJsYWcQkLPg/s640/YFGpigeon+04.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hariyal or Yellow-footed Green Pigeon</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Hello there. Have you seen me before here? Let me introduce myself. I am 'हरियल' also known as Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. I think my English name is unimaginative; probably the person who named me so thinks it is colourful!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICB94a-SCJYdgMDt8KK1EuhRnnNJU-SbKrZ4H-WX_27_ILEBCPeHR-pib6kfgs_bI84V2Xbig3iZ1f_UmyYxeQSiPvDK2r9pBMGHDMZrYkndaShDNgDefxLrI-CbgQzpoYV_GYyzzRg/s1600/YFGpigeon+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICB94a-SCJYdgMDt8KK1EuhRnnNJU-SbKrZ4H-WX_27_ILEBCPeHR-pib6kfgs_bI84V2Xbig3iZ1f_UmyYxeQSiPvDK2r9pBMGHDMZrYkndaShDNgDefxLrI-CbgQzpoYV_GYyzzRg/s640/YFGpigeon+01.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tree dwelling is the best</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>I am a tree dwelling cousin of the common Rock Pigeon. You may have spotted me in the peepal tree near your home. The peepal tree is a favored neighborhood; the branches perfect for perching and nest, it's leaves give shade and privacy and fruits are our daily diet. Our entire clan can live in a peepal tree, unseen by predators and troublemakers, the canopy providing a perfect camouflage.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzftTcO6l946Vv3MVAskGDfoAMrMyeX6o28q1mUppE8b47sJ3pyfauA419arxTbJcQWPpf9BKLatKZIkuJzUIe_b2ISdnQqREQmYKW5NbZZ-oC2iCunRQs0RKcdooLjfLF1-gftDYIw/s2740/YFGpigeon+05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzftTcO6l946Vv3MVAskGDfoAMrMyeX6o28q1mUppE8b47sJ3pyfauA419arxTbJcQWPpf9BKLatKZIkuJzUIe_b2ISdnQqREQmYKW5NbZZ-oC2iCunRQs0RKcdooLjfLF1-gftDYIw/s640/YFGpigeon+05.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hariyal family tree</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span> You are familiar with the rock pigeon, who is an ardent fan of the cities
and all kinds of human construction. It leaves no building structure or a
shady nook unexplored. Till a century or two back, this pigeon was essential
for message delivery system of humans. The age old livelihood and
traditions of the rock pigeon is displaced by the cables, wires and
transmission towers. The rock pigeons of the world are trying to fight
back.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MbWJ43oB5TkaONU5hlclbTlzAqlNcZJHXx2hGIaRXQkKjHF1w-La7DcpRwqZ13e5sUlnjwjKDbOaYwAW2Mf6G6NBpF0SbHYjNgKHvgS8iOLO02dLFQCNzYKtMESYuLwX4L8DyVggQA/s602/rock+pigeon+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MbWJ43oB5TkaONU5hlclbTlzAqlNcZJHXx2hGIaRXQkKjHF1w-La7DcpRwqZ13e5sUlnjwjKDbOaYwAW2Mf6G6NBpF0SbHYjNgKHvgS8iOLO02dLFQCNzYKtMESYuLwX4L8DyVggQA/s0/rock+pigeon+01.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rock pigeon admiring human creations</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>They are protesting by mass gatherings near cables and wires
hanging in the city. Sometimes the pigeons use force and try to weigh
the wires down by shear large numbers. The wires and cables are not
relenting or retaliating; the towers may shock the pigeons sometimes but
that is about all.<span> </span><span>Every popular space of humans, has it's own
protesting pigeon gang. The gangs graffiti these spaces with feathers
and big stinky splotches and voice loud "go- go-goo" slogans.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATVTnHMPecPp5FYwqvuH8h4Z6HNO68mYizc_cYsMlnj0TezlZ6mzyin6NHV4EB0fMFMEpHYzELW-tn1r8QB3_XEW58JywK4w5IdRotUM-Fy2vWdcwoyyEKea_23hnsd6pxy5ecZ3pTA/s1021/rock+pigeon+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="1021" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATVTnHMPecPp5FYwqvuH8h4Z6HNO68mYizc_cYsMlnj0TezlZ6mzyin6NHV4EB0fMFMEpHYzELW-tn1r8QB3_XEW58JywK4w5IdRotUM-Fy2vWdcwoyyEKea_23hnsd6pxy5ecZ3pTA/s640/rock+pigeon+02.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rock pigeon gang & Raging red eyed pigeon</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span>Usually,
the humans don't pay them much attention; but some fools try to feed the
pigeon gang. Do the humans not see the rage- red eyes of the rock
pigeons?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span> </span></span>Enough about the raging rock pigeon now! This post is about me - the blue eyed darling of pigeon species. Poets have penned odes praising our blue eyes. Yes, my kind is special. So is our call, a sweet whistling one, just like that of naughty little child. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-B75PFC_wAuyUA_8xcCKOy5eq5xQXYp4WNmFI6WHRA0p667CUJrDZkm3bI-s6O8IBc_-OpOSCHCKNVaUqAYfvaLrVk1s2WDJMI_ewNvW-vxT8KD3eGQRD1bU-foSRtapvmAJguMB5Q/s1017/YFGpigeon+03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1017" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-B75PFC_wAuyUA_8xcCKOy5eq5xQXYp4WNmFI6WHRA0p667CUJrDZkm3bI-s6O8IBc_-OpOSCHCKNVaUqAYfvaLrVk1s2WDJMI_ewNvW-vxT8KD3eGQRD1bU-foSRtapvmAJguMB5Q/s640/YFGpigeon+03.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grab on to the tree branch</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>Keep an ear out for our whistles near fruit laden trees. Our flock eats all kind of berries and ficus fruits. Trekking through the branches is easy because of our big strong yellow feet. These feet help in grabbing the branches and holding on to them during windy, stormy weather. Strong wide feet are good for everyone; they take one far and wide. We cannot comprehend the trend of thin narrow feet and pencil thin heels.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIekIhay9trVR5H9hvGP-6ZHSNpF5m5lomjjmCBsX6CtiauWpLVVmo6_gc-Q3HXyugIgLKAEtqv8fw0QS4NwTl-naf1RtiSbGuHRRTbrMq6EQLu3Nw18jf1U50iHPSospRzc_4A8_j_g/s2538/YFGpigeon+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="2538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIekIhay9trVR5H9hvGP-6ZHSNpF5m5lomjjmCBsX6CtiauWpLVVmo6_gc-Q3HXyugIgLKAEtqv8fw0QS4NwTl-naf1RtiSbGuHRRTbrMq6EQLu3Nw18jf1U50iHPSospRzc_4A8_j_g/s640/YFGpigeon+02.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hariyal loves berries</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>My species is spread all over the Indian subcontinent. You need not go
towards sanctuaries and forests to search for me. I can be found with my
flock in the local gardens or any tree lined avenue amidst tree
foliage. Bothering humans by dirtying their buildings, cars, clothes etc
is the agenda of rock pigeon, not ours. If you wish to befriend the Hariyal flock, plant some indigenous trees in your neighborhood. And if your neighborhood is green with lots of trees, then my kind will probably be the in the nearby tree. Just use the binoculars to locate our bright yellow feet, or the pale pink shoulder patch; or if you are lucky enough then the gorgeous blue eyes, watching you from behind the green leaves.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW9EzxMCf0NO0vFjCish8rT4QVWWx6IfHILblxAMHVmjslzLz3CS5KM-BJMgItXS8W3uYRQQoMV8czAL1fgC8IQui4sAge8t3JEdocPGAxXCFjAG3bhDeZxECwfydVsZ3DN4lD5mOlQ/s2602/YFGpigeon+06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW9EzxMCf0NO0vFjCish8rT4QVWWx6IfHILblxAMHVmjslzLz3CS5KM-BJMgItXS8W3uYRQQoMV8czAL1fgC8IQui4sAge8t3JEdocPGAxXCFjAG3bhDeZxECwfydVsZ3DN4lD5mOlQ/s640/YFGpigeon+06.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our shy neighbor - Hariyal</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-49175579973361614192020-07-29T18:48:00.002+05:302020-07-30T12:11:14.104+05:30Brownie sees the City Lights (Part 2 of 3)<div style="text-align: justify;">Brownie and Whitey became adventurous, with many new friends and human acceptance. They decided to latch on to us sisters, for exploring new uncharted territories. On weekends, we would usually walk-down to the market, which is 10-15 minutes away. The dogs usually followed us till the end of their territory. On one such Sunday, as we stepped out of the society gate, the duo's excitement was palpable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_ZWA54Th8BX6r3awx4fZOcjiyOL-Z_2suZ9KgCe3-jkyAEJYDMOEapvkW5ifMHkOEQGrhEh6FOk0avNhK8UfBgQ4hPyjq9Sf2ev38OzjYCOORoeVO00ChLxctNfsyr_yJE83diozAg/s2048/territory01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_ZWA54Th8BX6r3awx4fZOcjiyOL-Z_2suZ9KgCe3-jkyAEJYDMOEapvkW5ifMHkOEQGrhEh6FOk0avNhK8UfBgQ4hPyjq9Sf2ev38OzjYCOORoeVO00ChLxctNfsyr_yJE83diozAg/w625-h338/territory01.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Team Alpha territory</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span>They greeted us enthusiastically with wagging tails and eyes shining with mischief. That day, they followed us beyond their territorial border; sometimes running excitedly ahead and sometimes falling back to "mark" a spot. But, whenever we passed near a pack of dogs, they stayed close to our heels, pretending to be our pets. They brilliantly fooled most of the dogs, at least on this first trip.<br /><span> </span>By the time the four of us reached the market, it was a sight! We had a distinct feeling of escorting two village bums, from the quiet tree-lined residential neighborhood, to the dazzling and noisy city market. Undeterred and to our embarrassment, they waited outside each shop we visited; taking in the sights and smells, their tongues hanging out with excitement, sniffing each new scent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span><a href="#" id="ATM" name="ATM">And, then we reached the ATM</a>: brilliantly lit, with glass walls, shining like a jewel amidst the other shops. Brownie pressed his nose on the glass wall to see the strange contraption that humans were paying homage to. He wanted to get in, but the security guard had already read his intentions, and hit him with his stick. Yelping, the poor dogs ran away. We finished our errands, worrying about the dogs. We need not have; the two adventurers were hiding in a dark corner outside the market, waiting for us to return. They happily greeted us and followed us back home with their heads held high. Their "Mission" for the day was accomplished. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkyYihsKpzCDJNIwm6MzHq8yC58QZAsTVBg3q5Qm_3S-lTUXROmkp9vMNZKTZbQuAmfC_mE-nuwRE8QGnq_v5v_dhazv7HmP1qIJ8BBllJNpqYQUZHoxqj35U8i9TIlJKIhB_5XO2dA/s1170/brownie+sketch07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKJE8kpp4Gbuj8kJvbRtSZroMgXgXNYplm6PCKa6oEFdfFxcdr6giNmmnAtUe5WDsirwbNuadNE2gMHwf26wLs8e3yxbOqwK8iKR6E1g1bT9l4vRi3SZRdC0MpOi3vyEZK2bkYf8eRQ/s1170/brownie+sketch08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1170" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKJE8kpp4Gbuj8kJvbRtSZroMgXgXNYplm6PCKa6oEFdfFxcdr6giNmmnAtUe5WDsirwbNuadNE2gMHwf26wLs8e3yxbOqwK8iKR6E1g1bT9l4vRi3SZRdC0MpOi3vyEZK2bkYf8eRQ/w625-h311/brownie+sketch08.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span>The market became their favorite haunt. Unlike pet dogs, they had many human friends from different households, and could go with one, and could return with another. Their adventures were not without injuries. Brownie would sit near the gate, leaving just enough space for cars to pass by and would refuse to budge. It was a driving test, that many failed. He injured his right hind leg several times. If a street dog gets sick or injured, it goes away into a hiding place, and returns when it recovers. Brownie would do exactly that, returning with a slight limp in his foot. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span> </span>One day, both Brownie and Whitey disappeared. We waited, assuming that one of them was injured. A couple of days later, Brownie returned alone, he looked physically fine, but sad and lonely. He would sit near the gate, as if waiting. The guards found out that Whitey had passed away in a road accident on the main road. Probably, he was running crazily to dodge the cars on his way to the bus-stop. Brownie was in mourning. He never be-friended any other dog, till almost the very end. We usually greeted the dogs on returning from office, but after this, I made sure that I patted Brownie every evening to reassure him. Brownie had more worries on his plate these days. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span> </span>Firstly, he had to give up some territory, as he could not control it alone. This loss was minor compared to the loss of the neighborhood park for the better part of the day. The new gardener of the park was not pleased to see his flower beds being destroyed. He chased the dogs out of the park; canine entry was a no-no in his duty hours. Brownie protested. Every day, he would put up his front paws on the corner wall and bark at the gardener, non-stop, for a few hours. The gardener, now a sworn enemy, was equally prepared for the war. He would slowly jog past the park's corner in a comical manner, teasing the dog. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span> </span>To get past his misery, Brownie quickly drowned himself in a routine. Dogs have a keen sense of time and Brownie was never late. At 6 AM he went out for morning walk with the residents. He played the "wet nose" prank on his old and new friends. He invented a new prank, where he would "ambush" people by suddenly emerging out of bushes onto the jogging path. At sharp 7 AM, he could be seen hurrying towards school bus point to see off school kids. He would stand with the kids, his tail wagging at top-speed, while the parents waved good-byes. He was fiercely protective about the kids and would not let any stranger near the bus pickup point, till the kids left. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span> Brownie would then sun himself in the park with the senior citizens and ladies, till the gardener arrived, followed by a few hours of barking. He would welcome the kids back near bus drop off point in the afternoon. Sharp five in the evening was the time for prayers. He would sit with a group of elderly men who prayed and chanted together, every day in the park. Brownie would sit around them listening and waiting for the occasional "prasad" in the end. This was followed by an evening nap; a visit to the market, if possible; and then the night-long guard duty. I have not seen a busier dog. <br /></div> <span> </span>Sometimes, he would also see me off to the office cab. He had noted that scent of my office cabs and had no objection to them. One day, I returned home late in a hired cab. Brownie sat near the gate, alert, and waiting. As soon, as I got out of the cab, I was greeted with a volley of barks. I tried to pacify him, but he was visibly upset with me for returning home late. This became a pattern. He had no objection, if I came back late in our family car or in the office cab. But, returning home in a hired cab, like Ola or Uber, was met with strict disapproval.<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://featheredcollection.blogspot.com/2020/07/brownie-adopts-neighborhood-part-1-of-3.html">Part 1(Brownie Adopts The Neighborhood)</a><br /></div><div>Part 3 (Brownie Chooses His Way)</div>Prachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05302603489160292082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-18882109093062995792020-07-25T15:20:00.002+05:302020-08-03T19:35:18.380+05:30Brownie Adopts The Neighborhood (Part 1 of 3) <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><font face="verdana"></font><blockquote><font face="verdana" size="2"><font size="3">By any stretch of imagination, Brownie was neither cute, nor handsome nor cuddly.</font> </font></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span>H</span></span><font face="verdana">e did not fit into any of the typical descriptions of a love-able dog. Yet, with his unique personality he walked right into the hearts of many people. He also had his share of sworn enemies; but I will tell you about them later.<span><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span><span><span> </span>M</span></span>y first memory of Brownie is of this young, probably two-year-old dog, running on the street on a winter afternoon in 2007. It was a cold and sunny day. Our area, being newly developed, did not have a lot of traffic. And here comes Brownie, leading a pack of four dogs and growling ferociously at the one trying to overtake him. He looked quite menacing, with his two canine teeth protruding out.<span> </span><span><br /></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span><span> <br /></span></span></font><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRwVtbaHsyJconky7_9DXsNp3dup77TzHZrE0aNZE-X3O_q_sawRSGO9rB3l5fyBixWyd8_16UXeDntK61T5qWoWB0lad6C4P-wHTsYuHhNu0bPJLXMaAiEHidV43s45RGRksZrBCIw/s1785/brownie+sketch02.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="1785" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRwVtbaHsyJconky7_9DXsNp3dup77TzHZrE0aNZE-X3O_q_sawRSGO9rB3l5fyBixWyd8_16UXeDntK61T5qWoWB0lad6C4P-wHTsYuHhNu0bPJLXMaAiEHidV43s45RGRksZrBCIw/w400-h376/brownie+sketch02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Neighborhood watch - Dog duties</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font face="verdana"><span><span></span></span><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span>Brownie was named so because he had brown spots on his white coat. His identity were two conjoined brown spots on his lower back, giving an impression of the figure 8 when seen from the front, and the symbol of infinity (∞) when seen from the sides. There were also some black dots, which could give an impression that he was dirty, even if he was quite clean. He was not a dog that you would want to mess with! This is how we saw him over the next few years, fighting for territory and food. He had soon established himself as the alpha male. </font><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span>Our locality, Dwarka in Delhi, was still developing and used to be quite desolate at night. Petty crimes and robberies were commonplace as many areas were uninhabited and under-construction. The first human friends who befriended Brownie wer</font><font face="verdana">e the night-time security guards. They valued him for his alertness and ferocity; and fed him regularly so that he would accompany them on the night-duty. Brownie was sharp. He could detect an approaching far-off stranger in pitch dark and would immediately alert the guards by growling. </font><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span><span></span></font><font face="verdana"><span></span>On these guard duties, he made another canine friend. Whitey was a light-buff colored dog with black shining eyes. While Brownie with his two teeth sticking out looked ferocious, Whitey was furry and handsome, by standards of street dogs. Always full of joy, he quickly befriended all the humans around. He would put up his front paws on your knees and demand your attention.<span> </span>I remember being surprised, on seeing my sister Pallavi, patting this street dog affectionately. I was ambivalent towards dogs, neither afraid nor friendly. Touching a street-dog was a big no-no for me, since they could carry infections and ticks.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span></font><font face="verdana"><span> </span>Soon, Brownie and Whitey formed a team and became best friends. They announced this friendship to the world spectacularly with chest thumps. This was a dangerous duo, and no dog dared to enter their territory. Their princely estate was a road stretching across entrances to no less than four apartments and an entire public park. Moreover, they had unquestioned, visiting rights to the areas of neighboring dogs, right up to the main road 260 meters away. Whitey's affectionate ways rubbed in on Brownie, and he decided to befriend humans in his own unique way. </font><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span></font><font face="verdana"><span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRav9wnfwefKdcId4Nn8O2HJsAXyWeRklkeRjz6AxiWXbcPbngqcgv_uZ-XtC3DIFxMjljugWGMAFex6SdIKPHOq-Gnkiv9lINo0VYc49K-2IIqjXL-z_H3tdFCg_bSjIxi1DYrl9irA/s1990/brownie+sketch01.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="1990" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRav9wnfwefKdcId4Nn8O2HJsAXyWeRklkeRjz6AxiWXbcPbngqcgv_uZ-XtC3DIFxMjljugWGMAFex6SdIKPHOq-Gnkiv9lINo0VYc49K-2IIqjXL-z_H3tdFCg_bSjIxi1DYrl9irA/w400-h384/brownie+sketch01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Team Alpha - Brownie & Whitey</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></font><font face="verdana"><span> </span>My sister was walking down to the bus-stop on the main road. There were very few other people on the road. Suddenly, something wet and cool touched her hands. Shocked, she turned around to see Brownie, his two canine teeth sticking out in a grin. It was difficult to interpret if it was a growl or a smile; until you saw the smile in his eyes that literally said, "Wasn't that a fun prank?". A passerby commented in Hindi, "Ghabrao mat, woh shaitaan hai."; literally, translated to, "Don't be scared, he is a naughty dog". These surprise attacks became a trademark of Brownie; he would approach stealthily from behind and surprise you by touching your fingers with his cold and wet nose. The people who shouted, fled in fear or scolded him were not befriended; the ones who smiled at his prank were.<span> </span></font><font face="verdana">Although, they were the best friends, Brownie would compete for affection of humans and food, with Whitey. We fed them sometimes with leftover bones from a meal. But that was not often. The dogs were well-fed, and all they wanted was affection and human company.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><span> </span></font><font face="verdana">They found this company in many people. The vegetable vendor who stood outside our society premises in evenings, the guards, and many of our neighbors; most significantly, an elderly gentleman whom they accompanied on morning walks, and a lady with two kids. </font><font face="verdana">This lady soon became their favorite. She fed them regularly and gave them medicines if they fell sick. Soon, they were duty-bound to drop the kids to the school-bus with her. </font><br /><font face="verdana"><span> </span>Together the duo ruled the roost. If they were not chasing away intruders, they were chasing cars or playing in the park, happily rubbing their backs on the grass to groom themselves. Going by the number of white-furred and brown spotted dogs in our area, they must have "dated" a lot of females in their hay days. They guarded the street at night and entrusted themselves with further responsibilities in human affairs. This included escorting people to and from the bus-stop. Many a times, they would drop my sister till the bus-stop in morning. Whitey was a bit more adventurous. He would cross the main road after her, running like crazy to avoid the moving cars. In the evenings, at least one of them would be waiting for her near the bus stop, to escort her back. This company was welcomed, as the road used to be lonely at that hour. </font><br /><font face="verdana"><span> </span>It was after this, that I truly warmed up to the pair. Brownie tested me with his "wet-nose" prank, and we soon became friends.</font><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana"><a href="https://featheredcollection.blogspot.com/2020/07/brownie-sees-city-lights-part-2-of-3.html">Part 2 (Brownie sees the City Lights)</a></font></div> <p></p></div>Prachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05302603489160292082noreply@blogger.com5Delhi, India28.7040592 77.1024901999999910.39382536382115418 41.946240199999991 57.014293036178842 112.25874019999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-23185778571819458012018-05-08T19:40:00.003+05:302020-07-25T15:24:22.210+05:30Woodpecker Fest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">A jackfruit tree canopy frames the kitchen window of my Miramar apartment. Loaded with fruit during the summer months; it attracts squirrels and different birds through the daytime.</font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXoLM6Fhcp85xXE9uaVXCdATPJbNBlNUkNBbKrTV5smBglLn_dL3Q1eZouyJZFPOgXjBt7AUniHhWzC89sySkK14fKTm7gl819UDQhWA4mBKSMDUlL_73zkEtqXrz9FBC1Yt2EvEMnA/s1600/P1020477.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXoLM6Fhcp85xXE9uaVXCdATPJbNBlNUkNBbKrTV5smBglLn_dL3Q1eZouyJZFPOgXjBt7AUniHhWzC89sySkK14fKTm7gl819UDQhWA4mBKSMDUlL_73zkEtqXrz9FBC1Yt2EvEMnA/w800-h600/P1020477.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Lesser flameback woodpecker</font></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><font size="3"><br /></font></font></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">The lesser flameback woodpecker</font>, a shy visitor frequents the canopy; eating ripe fruit, as well as flies and maggots that infest it. These visits are concluded with a loud cackle. The bird apparently announcing that it has eaten it's fill and will return to the feast on another occasion.</font></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></font></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"></font></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCGOHykHhzNpeEye8Xdd7NoSc5kA0vjLu0b5fweR5EcaZKaVxBT7TZtw88Xunpp1SUHqvyG_J3A3XB_iXffsLwP33XMY15q7p3NQ3hFStFWxGu6CTCsuQL_pQ3rQHpfZt3Lb6cAJm3g/s1600/P1020479.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCGOHykHhzNpeEye8Xdd7NoSc5kA0vjLu0b5fweR5EcaZKaVxBT7TZtw88Xunpp1SUHqvyG_J3A3XB_iXffsLwP33XMY15q7p3NQ3hFStFWxGu6CTCsuQL_pQ3rQHpfZt3Lb6cAJm3g/w801-h601/P1020479.jpg" width="801" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Raiding the food store</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"></font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3">Waiting for more species to join this feast.</font></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #birdingathome #naturelovers #nature #woodpecker<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-34390632815766175952017-03-11T20:22:00.004+05:302020-07-25T15:26:02.839+05:30Vigor's Sunbird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltjDnExm_WdKtjWdkfFm9Vf6oKbrN98jef09gtuORNs9sc9oNlglEEbeiNHl2ol09Am0ryhjex4xMbxVTaowWlq1zlfpifP5wTZ2yELnewgG9OUE1HKUglz-Tyv-Qxsxs-IYpLOMPIg/s1600/Sun+bird+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltjDnExm_WdKtjWdkfFm9Vf6oKbrN98jef09gtuORNs9sc9oNlglEEbeiNHl2ol09Am0ryhjex4xMbxVTaowWlq1zlfpifP5wTZ2yELnewgG9OUE1HKUglz-Tyv-Qxsxs-IYpLOMPIg/w800-h448/Sun+bird+1.JPG" width="800" /></a></div>
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It is rare to find a Sunbird perched peacefully for a photograph. This Vigor's Sunbird was preening it feathers to impress its mates on a late winter afternoon. The bright colours vibrant in the warm winter sun.</span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></font><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONw1E8zDiiyIiLiilbSq0FaBoAjeUv72PxW-Ah2uVx0TITbZASxdU3x2Ps72EV2Q3CGnq03Q9ILnRaAuFPI-k9h6YPmhW65Tgd3FaFMm2uj9AIK4vVHrY5itQBwApvgmfpR6aOt453Q/s1600/Sun+bird+3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONw1E8zDiiyIiLiilbSq0FaBoAjeUv72PxW-Ah2uVx0TITbZASxdU3x2Ps72EV2Q3CGnq03Q9ILnRaAuFPI-k9h6YPmhW65Tgd3FaFMm2uj9AIK4vVHrY5itQBwApvgmfpR6aOt453Q/w800-h448/Sun+bird+3.JPG" width="800" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1zk8gNACYTX06PK2nRHWZPnqiNDdJ-8rkRtC5m-0Fkm_YUeZliiFhRvcAXsdGLTay3xhd6oj-ycc37X02_CWi_7FOOKvJRewIEOZHtoPecEnPMhGBVzao04AARabYRVWcbk_Rmx7IA/s1600/sunbird+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1zk8gNACYTX06PK2nRHWZPnqiNDdJ-8rkRtC5m-0Fkm_YUeZliiFhRvcAXsdGLTay3xhd6oj-ycc37X02_CWi_7FOOKvJRewIEOZHtoPecEnPMhGBVzao04AARabYRVWcbk_Rmx7IA/w800-h448/sunbird+2.JPG" width="800" /></a></div>
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #birdingathome #naturelovers #nature #sunbird<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-36879052008392388992013-10-03T16:48:00.005+05:302020-06-25T22:34:50.465+05:30Birding in Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar empire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;">Hampi, once capital of Vijaynagar empire, is now a world heritage site. The extent and magnificence of the Vijaynagar empire can be experienced here, while exploring remnants of the city that are spread over few hundred square kilometers. <br /></span></span></font></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0AE_Lri-9n8Xh-VfBKf2Am9BMHXrRcoLMx2gwLpyAfWCIlYcR51oVDYpe4VgNPb1-8MQ6yM_QeyCjMQfbVsHThYg_jhy6NO39yrEKSCX8ImETqDkJhbWUtfkAQ86CuGI9ecike-3Ew/s1600/P1130249.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0AE_Lri-9n8Xh-VfBKf2Am9BMHXrRcoLMx2gwLpyAfWCIlYcR51oVDYpe4VgNPb1-8MQ6yM_QeyCjMQfbVsHThYg_jhy6NO39yrEKSCX8ImETqDkJhbWUtfkAQ86CuGI9ecike-3Ew/w800-h570/P1130249.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeons in temple courtyards<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font><h3 style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;">
The ruins, surrounding paddy fields, ba</span></span></font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;">nana plantations and rocky surroundings provide diverse ecosystems for our avian friends. Here are some of the common ones which can be found while explorin</span></span></font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5;">g Hampi & its surroundings.</span></span></font><br /></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8QANpj1iGafz7e_DLY15GHd7KHYvB1KJM3-wRWC4mszLeQwJCzxZAhXSinNnOrfGbc_bTztPQSjoFbyFZrGYT2hdtWn1S9BfIm-KLAosDI0fVqGrFtlqQNHAEnkUqNKWIvSIFJZC4A/s1600/P1130367.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8QANpj1iGafz7e_DLY15GHd7KHYvB1KJM3-wRWC4mszLeQwJCzxZAhXSinNnOrfGbc_bTztPQSjoFbyFZrGYT2hdtWn1S9BfIm-KLAosDI0fVqGrFtlqQNHAEnkUqNKWIvSIFJZC4A/w800-h500/P1130367.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Bee Eater<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxMKHomyeC0aGG8eJKbQXnf1dmtx1G1LXlzlY9dzE6lrnIsrXnZAfJCcISErtdKAMUUQZPFiUtgiMDXQKrIDHJWrz6NIzXNEydQznpkqTsj9gwc9JqAJo_TnCWxRsAIue1sSDN9eNtQ/s1600/P1130449.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxMKHomyeC0aGG8eJKbQXnf1dmtx1G1LXlzlY9dzE6lrnIsrXnZAfJCcISErtdKAMUUQZPFiUtgiMDXQKrIDHJWrz6NIzXNEydQznpkqTsj9gwc9JqAJo_TnCWxRsAIue1sSDN9eNtQ/w800-h570/P1130449.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorant at Pushkarni stepwells<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy2gT7zlUP0MUXWOZq6UCR3U3-hGvMEmav1GrPNfs80ER1oIXPc9S-X2_EDXkeviTDJKs4UTcEqG04AimKFJA85fxQhgVaT7900M7bsb1cfIGpl_iPm3SXGODnmVj7Mig2rtzHIeB7Q/s1600/P1130594.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy2gT7zlUP0MUXWOZq6UCR3U3-hGvMEmav1GrPNfs80ER1oIXPc9S-X2_EDXkeviTDJKs4UTcEqG04AimKFJA85fxQhgVaT7900M7bsb1cfIGpl_iPm3SXGODnmVj7Mig2rtzHIeB7Q/w819-h614/P1130594.JPG" width="819" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skylark at Royal Palace enclosure<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tJ9ksK-6a0YRmY7hyphenhyphenw41b5vpKhedRoAlXr5bRH_U6RySC9t6Y1MwGavN9FymaOrsDf9BvrVXWjZW_Mx3RSgyEw5LobQjU1ndHjFp0VRXM3T6wQQs6yRZ5tqrPGx9K4_Yl0JJHUIS0Q/s1600/P1130815.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tJ9ksK-6a0YRmY7hyphenhyphenw41b5vpKhedRoAlXr5bRH_U6RySC9t6Y1MwGavN9FymaOrsDf9BvrVXWjZW_Mx3RSgyEw5LobQjU1ndHjFp0VRXM3T6wQQs6yRZ5tqrPGx9K4_Yl0JJHUIS0Q/w800-h480/P1130815.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaly breasted Munias amidst banana plantation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkM55KuEAPW6qUwLZYXvID68NKyKWEB1KkTjCROWxfb3OJIWAwR2TXU7x_9QlwlLpRF9gz-6MN4bBG-JYjwV5WO6x-dsiIDhyphenhyphenqq5vJK0eRLnCEiGt5jRf_zL51TwtpmQOK_p5wPauvg/s1600/P1140011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkM55KuEAPW6qUwLZYXvID68NKyKWEB1KkTjCROWxfb3OJIWAwR2TXU7x_9QlwlLpRF9gz-6MN4bBG-JYjwV5WO6x-dsiIDhyphenhyphenqq5vJK0eRLnCEiGt5jRf_zL51TwtpmQOK_p5wPauvg/w800-h450/P1140011.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted owlet<br /><br />#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #birdingathome #naturelovers #nature</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-58512884755273445832013-02-19T22:51:00.006+05:302020-07-24T23:11:01.113+05:30Friendship beyond Barriers<div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</h4><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><font size="2"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia", "bookman old style", "palatino linotype", "book antiqua", "palatino", "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", "garamond", sans-serif, "arial", "verdana", "avante garde", "century gothic", "comic sans ms", "times", "times new roman", serif;">"G</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia", "bookman old style", "palatino linotype", "book antiqua", "palatino", "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", "garamond", sans-serif, "arial", "verdana", "avante garde", "century gothic", "comic sans ms", "times", "times new roman", serif;">od </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia", "bookman old style", "palatino linotype", "book antiqua", "palatino", "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", "garamond", sans-serif, "arial", "verdana", "avante garde", "century gothic", "comic sans ms", "times", "times new roman", serif;">loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages." ~Jacques Deval</span></font></blockquote></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia", "bookman old style", "palatino linotype", "book antiqua", "palatino", "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", "garamond", sans-serif, "arial", "verdana", "avante garde", "century gothic", "comic sans ms", "times", "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia", "bookman old style", "palatino linotype", "book antiqua", "palatino", "trebuchet ms", "helvetica", "garamond", sans-serif, "arial", "verdana", "avante garde", "century gothic", "comic sans ms", "times", "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJwSE-gJL_1VBE17qMq5X2c-fOFPFnOPU7yKUFMe8oICjZ-Vgeyqhg0be2cLI1OSsDHYL808krTlliGQ5EchW3c_MUz-wX7DxPw0bteR5FmG9p-sCbjkL4A9rdUQ_De4OU5QaxzuZvw/s1600/img2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJwSE-gJL_1VBE17qMq5X2c-fOFPFnOPU7yKUFMe8oICjZ-Vgeyqhg0be2cLI1OSsDHYL808krTlliGQ5EchW3c_MUz-wX7DxPw0bteR5FmG9p-sCbjkL4A9rdUQ_De4OU5QaxzuZvw/w800-h590/img2.JPG" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">A <span style="line-height: 1.5;">neigh</span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">bour has two bird cages - one for budgerig</span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">ars and one for
rose ringed parakee</span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">t. The cages are placed in their balcony, around early morning
and evening hours. These caged birds or rather their fe</span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">ed attracts</span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> pigeons,
mynas and sparrows</span></span></font></span> to the neighbor's balcony.</span></span></font></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"></span></span></font></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW055c78VklkBXQ3K5m8-CQ8sn9aO5Pn5A3WtHizb4mEPQqvrV6DYnDl88H2n_xiaKVqEzvPt-PE5MgjcfKK1m6EW3GLZUrMEr4Jh-uyqvhlxoambxeyU2hAuAZgdrB13dHATVsDSUA/s1600/P1120998.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW055c78VklkBXQ3K5m8-CQ8sn9aO5Pn5A3WtHizb4mEPQqvrV6DYnDl88H2n_xiaKVqEzvPt-PE5MgjcfKK1m6EW3GLZUrMEr4Jh-uyqvhlxoambxeyU2hAuAZgdrB13dHATVsDSUA/w800-h600/P1120998.JPG" width="800" /></a><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">In a way, the caged birds enjoy the
company of others from Avian world during their stay in the balcon</span></span></span></font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">y. All
birds are at their chirpiest behaviour at these times, probably enjoying
the refreshing open air and view of the blue sky, which is near yet so
far. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span></span></span></font><br /><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">
</span></font><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">One November morning a pair of wild
rose ringed parakeets visited the balcony. They were perhaps summoned by the plaintive cries
of the caged parakeet, who longed to be free like its wild friends.
What followed was a surreptitious interaction between caged and free
birds; they exchanged food and probably news updates. </span></span></font><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span></span></span><br /></div>
<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">The budgerigars were the perfect conspirators who kept a watch on the
human activities inside the house and gave alarm calls to parakeets if </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">anyone approached the balcony door. The wild parakeets would
leave at the slightest hint of human presence, to return later when all
was clear. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">The caged parakeet would become restless after its friend
left, shunning the food it's jailers offered, pacing within cage frantically.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> These interactions between the wild & caged world
continued for few days till the winter chill forced our neighbour to
keep the birds inside house for over a month.</span></span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUQez39QwjJ3-8MA38efJP8RlEXeDASWFvvvdYT3nIuODtJsL07WvAvJpGBt71N0nkxIci5h8_wbl6SGkNYZMxlQaW0Wc3AJNNCxHlplA3hBmW_8H1uA9iLxsChn4s0kddGd3EzYOjg/s2048/Caged+parakeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUQez39QwjJ3-8MA38efJP8RlEXeDASWFvvvdYT3nIuODtJsL07WvAvJpGBt71N0nkxIci5h8_wbl6SGkNYZMxlQaW0Wc3AJNNCxHlplA3hBmW_8H1uA9iLxsChn4s0kddGd3EzYOjg/w781-h564/Caged+parakeet.jpg" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Caged Juvenile Plum-headed Parakeet<br />rescued and set free from a project site<br /></font></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></span></span></font></div><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">
</span></font><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.5;">
<tr style="line-height: 1.5;"><td style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: center;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"></span></font></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The peak winter chill is over and cage<span style="line-height: 1.5;">d birds</span> are back in balcony to enjoy the warm winter sunlight . The
caged rose ringed parakeet however is missing in action, and so are its
visitors. Perhaps the bird was sent away, or perhaps it died of a broken
heart; unable to join its friends in the free world.</span></span></span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody></tbody></table><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 19px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left; width: 240px;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody></tbody></table>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #birdingathome #naturelovers #nature</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-2623670266221130582012-02-13T23:19:00.004+05:302020-06-25T18:56:15.688+05:30Big Bird Day 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">" Kya aap birthday party ke liye aye hain?", asked a young guard posted at the campus gates, as we asked for directions. Another car joined the queue, with similar query, and the guard was puzzled by the group gathering for some crazy </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">early morning </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">birthday party. The time was 7 am, on Sunday 5th February morning and a group of 10-15 people had collected at JNU gates for the event.</span></span></font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn2nj6NTCGZ-nkRbxoQvOOPM5Z6e14SydLtoEPX3tMOwOLfs7bPnmuBpfyp0ujHlI8dyZN1KaawYxpLyybtcxemuW0ivleHHOmbpWNyMxbQ-8r1uQIp4m0Z3aZtX8j5ueLn3RM8Q9Pw/s1600/P1120011+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn2nj6NTCGZ-nkRbxoQvOOPM5Z6e14SydLtoEPX3tMOwOLfs7bPnmuBpfyp0ujHlI8dyZN1KaawYxpLyybtcxemuW0ivleHHOmbpWNyMxbQ-8r1uQIp4m0Z3aZtX8j5ueLn3RM8Q9Pw/w800-h531/P1120011+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">White Wagtails</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">"Arre birthday nahin, Big Bird day ke liye aye hain saab", quipped another senior and experienced guard. The occasion was Big Bird Day, an annual event of active bird watching
community in the country. At least 10 or more teams start birding at different places around
Delhi. Jointly, by the end of the day, the teams try to watch
as many species as possible, tabulate the list of each team and arrive at the total number of
bird species collectively seen during the day. My sister and me were part of JNU team headed by Dr. SP, a veteran birder.</span></span></font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisglgPc9tgCmi1VxIjXQ7jejXl6ALqO5z-4ALQ1vofoovLmcOmHgP0sM6GHQgey-olAqnnsxuq8XSryahMWrDUISEgI7hlNV50j7LbJ5JaV58QqpexcMC-xxpNXECLz-3nzOocqk-wNA/s1600/P1110943+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisglgPc9tgCmi1VxIjXQ7jejXl6ALqO5z-4ALQ1vofoovLmcOmHgP0sM6GHQgey-olAqnnsxuq8XSryahMWrDUISEgI7hlNV50j7LbJ5JaV58QqpexcMC-xxpNXECLz-3nzOocqk-wNA/w800-h533/P1110943+%25281280x853%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Indian Silverbill / Munia</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Soon a security jeep escorted all visitors to the location where Dr. SP was waiting. After quick introductions interspersed with occasional spotting of a bird species, we headed of to explore the campus and ridge area around JNU. Within few minutes common birds like parakeets, mynas and pigeons were sighted and ticked away in the official bird count list. A spotted owlet took keen interest in our group, puzzled by early morning human activity in its surroundings.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBELf5EnoSha98njIu0wZKi8wWJbHuuMvCElxHssXbFizazV2J6cX3WN5R5if4wUTEsLhEo9zu8NLsIxMD622JzNwDc3DrLJPkvQOMs6rZ2_n_85eCn8ZlC8Eh7rXHhSvNW31ouFFJg/s1600/P1110980+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBELf5EnoSha98njIu0wZKi8wWJbHuuMvCElxHssXbFizazV2J6cX3WN5R5if4wUTEsLhEo9zu8NLsIxMD622JzNwDc3DrLJPkvQOMs6rZ2_n_85eCn8ZlC8Eh7rXHhSvNW31ouFFJg/w800-h530/P1110980+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Yellow wattled lapwing</span></td></tr>
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<font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> To locate more birds, we moved away from human civilization towards ridge forests around JNU campus. By 10 am, the bird count had reached fifty five however many common ridge area birds like larks and pipits had not been seen. I had learned to differentiate between warblers, bushchats and stone chats and learned that all small brown birds are not sparrows.</span></span></font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvYlg2ZLiQOB-ddEZ75dW4FQynonmCa2k2Wz-gMRqLcaQvGR8hfUCsZZcl4dWq53knwe3yCT27a198xb_GWJKxUG7ipgDQW1yFKe6Wd17sN_Cm_wl4j4wzHbuUUXNGZykM6nnzVyNgg/s1600/P1110971+%25281280x852%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvYlg2ZLiQOB-ddEZ75dW4FQynonmCa2k2Wz-gMRqLcaQvGR8hfUCsZZcl4dWq53knwe3yCT27a198xb_GWJKxUG7ipgDQW1yFKe6Wd17sN_Cm_wl4j4wzHbuUUXNGZykM6nnzVyNgg/w800-h533/P1110971+%25281280x852%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Black winged Stilt</span></td></tr>
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<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">Breakfast in the campus guest house created opportunity for casual chats and we got to know a bit more about our fellow team-mates. It was a mixed group of amateur and seasoned birders from different professional backgrounds. Few had taken up this as hobby after retirement, the senior most being a 77 year old gentleman. The youngest in the group, aged 7 -12 years were also enthusiastic birders who had memorized the Grimmett guide to Birds of Indian Subcontinent.</span></font></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAc8RcX_ATWTrAKw44kWnJZpodnfI7MYnvMoW82ZjSNOyyh1edSfAsDTOHritr6urOrz8OezF3PAeRn2v6rT8UrEOiBlDP0gynw5x82tiGC5wZyjKlzp3Aa8SkHgi44mB4iX8uSy5QA/s1600/P1110985+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAc8RcX_ATWTrAKw44kWnJZpodnfI7MYnvMoW82ZjSNOyyh1edSfAsDTOHritr6urOrz8OezF3PAeRn2v6rT8UrEOiBlDP0gynw5x82tiGC5wZyjKlzp3Aa8SkHgi44mB4iX8uSy5QA/w800-h533/P1110985+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;">Long Billed pipit</span></span></td></tr>
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<font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">Shankar Vihar, was the second location to be visited by our team. It is a huge stretch of wasteland between Mahipalpur and Vasant Kunj, where sewage water from a nearby treatment
plant has accumulated. Delhi
birders discovered that the spot has been functioning as a wetland for the last few years. Black winged stilts, gadwalls, northern shoveler and lapwings were spotted there in huge numbers. The urban wasteland has been embraced by migratory birds as a winter home.</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"></span></font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMQjv9qz6q1zYvHWGanrNDsDpHVrRjFgOnM2exdLvH3KcVB0FGRxbUraMgYrsVS9WiCL5RBQcaXwkgx4CEdQsa05YLl4c0JF7R93VU7Ll5cvVzjkP2CtV6m4Gzcgd5uijOZTGCJIZgA/s1600/P1110949+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMQjv9qz6q1zYvHWGanrNDsDpHVrRjFgOnM2exdLvH3KcVB0FGRxbUraMgYrsVS9WiCL5RBQcaXwkgx4CEdQsa05YLl4c0JF7R93VU7Ll5cvVzjkP2CtV6m4Gzcgd5uijOZTGCJIZgA/w800-h530/P1110949+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;">Brown headed Barbet</span></span></td></tr>
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<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">Bhatti mines was the third and last birding location for the Big Bird Day. We hoped to find ridge area birds like vultures and eagles. The afternoon half however did not yield expected results, as only a long billed pipit, a long tailed shrike and 4-5 more birds were added to the bird count list. It was sunset by the time we headed home. In Delhi NCR, 155 species of birds had participated in the day long bird birthday celebration. Hoping the next year will see increase in the number of participants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoHbNnfPFLIgqA73zhuGgTBhnmFLxmEa3woMD3-VNF3tTdQJI8OTlMnaxPOHoB6E5k_e9AdIwKGm0c1ApXugik5m-YrtDEQYNeus5Uv8isPYoEr8x__zqjEGLv6jDHrRWGpYC1vRgqA/s1600/P1120002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoHbNnfPFLIgqA73zhuGgTBhnmFLxmEa3woMD3-VNF3tTdQJI8OTlMnaxPOHoB6E5k_e9AdIwKGm0c1ApXugik5m-YrtDEQYNeus5Uv8isPYoEr8x__zqjEGLv6jDHrRWGpYC1vRgqA/w800-h531/P1120002.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;">Common Kestrel hovering midair</span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Let each day be a "Bird Day" celebration.</b></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0New Delhi, Delhi, India28.574874047446968 77.1679687525.008656047446969 72.114257750000007 32.141092047446968 82.221679749999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-63524130678905370082012-02-08T10:00:00.004+05:302020-07-25T16:19:51.466+05:30Birding in Himachal hills<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RGBbxjLdwG186UNM2Av0On5o74yVSOJ0KY_IARRSzPEj1kMe26T5qWU3H7MMoBzsdrD4nrMgDxmQar94Y3E4uDccDOye8zzmKq1HRdIiyUVgzBqj5XUmUhvNzU8UDnoXwJC-iJVIRA/s1600/P1120193.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RGBbxjLdwG186UNM2Av0On5o74yVSOJ0KY_IARRSzPEj1kMe26T5qWU3H7MMoBzsdrD4nrMgDxmQar94Y3E4uDccDOye8zzmKq1HRdIiyUVgzBqj5XUmUhvNzU8UDnoXwJC-iJVIRA/w800-h570/P1120193.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental White-eye<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">A wedding invitation brought me to a small village near Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. </span></font><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"> Hamirpur gets it's name from Raja Hamir Chand of Katoch dynasty, who ruled over this region from 1700 to 1740 AD. <br /></span></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"></span><br /></font></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggY9JvXkrxVtafUN6GUfuL9XhHHFYJIqOSNxtCjlRDSH9Cy5EYia_9kuZieK-xnAcpgXKDaf42ZKzHIY1tm11LtSpASpAB3oaMahlggB9L7re3bIfABSXMaVXD2Plo1r2R79rJBry1Iw/s1600/P1120025.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggY9JvXkrxVtafUN6GUfuL9XhHHFYJIqOSNxtCjlRDSH9Cy5EYia_9kuZieK-xnAcpgXKDaf42ZKzHIY1tm11LtSpASpAB3oaMahlggB9L7re3bIfABSXMaVXD2Plo1r2R79rJBry1Iw/w800-h568/P1120025.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Flameback Woodepecker<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">Away from the dust and grime of the cities, the birds were brighter, easier to spot and photograph. Many were attracted by the wedding feast and food scraps thrown out from the community kitchen. Among these were varieties of woodpeckers, magpies, bulbuls and mynas. The lesser flameback and brown fronted woodpecker were bold enough to pose for the camera.</font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"></font></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vgR3RoxQzTkAwFLJ6mFsNSMbLMDtL7fvFHGhaqcZ7ukEt5bRy7MqH4NUap4ASgNQhxfTBJAOuzIa7iWlJBLjSV4i-X1PvrZpwQfrwgAS84a1ndN4epjtdBz-8zRTE5MyGALdhjONCQ/s1600/P1120081.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vgR3RoxQzTkAwFLJ6mFsNSMbLMDtL7fvFHGhaqcZ7ukEt5bRy7MqH4NUap4ASgNQhxfTBJAOuzIa7iWlJBLjSV4i-X1PvrZpwQfrwgAS84a1ndN4epjtdBz-8zRTE5MyGALdhjONCQ/w800-h570/P1120081.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-fronted Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp5uzB-zTL3kZmPa3Va2Lr6DK_Cv4BoNdGPveoNqm3tcv9BF0M6_HV27HeSk_5ErX-UxNUCCluVNoO3GJTlgfdxrGoU2duiw2VMfHyCPBabmDr-EzOaQiG9NuAghbNBhx7ypBdrTNUg/s1600/P1120070.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp5uzB-zTL3kZmPa3Va2Lr6DK_Cv4BoNdGPveoNqm3tcv9BF0M6_HV27HeSk_5ErX-UxNUCCluVNoO3GJTlgfdxrGoU2duiw2VMfHyCPBabmDr-EzOaQiG9NuAghbNBhx7ypBdrTNUg/w800-h570/P1120070.JPG" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Titmouse<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; height: 522px; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right; width: 311px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGq7Nus3KVE_LJ1w_AnvDSDxgkZOPIK6p2ZuKAzaKvCc1UtN1M_3mZPSCmDnzg3q2iyENFxRUx6zrCdNZfa8S3NxxgOjoyrs_D0ehIcnQIHCvlANvao-U4alWTaujtCC2p8PbyCtEKw/s1600/P1120031.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGq7Nus3KVE_LJ1w_AnvDSDxgkZOPIK6p2ZuKAzaKvCc1UtN1M_3mZPSCmDnzg3q2iyENFxRUx6zrCdNZfa8S3NxxgOjoyrs_D0ehIcnQIHCvlANvao-U4alWTaujtCC2p8PbyCtEKw/w356-h500/P1120031.JPG" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Billed Blue Magpie<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><font face="verdana">Birds as well as humans enjoyed the wedding feast; everyone sharing the joy of auspicious occasion, showering their blessings and good wishes on the married couple and their families.</font></font><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><br />#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #himachalbirds #naturelovers #nature</font></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India31.6861745 76.521309231.6726625 76.501568200000008 31.6996865 76.5410502tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-16192760158801905062011-05-27T17:17:00.006+05:302020-09-04T10:31:59.578+05:30Birding Around Mukteshwar - II<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIm-_fB5Jhc8hBSEdgQNMS8tULpI6n2ZbDPzN9fxW2UhWWtdLW5ff7Vvrgu3rF2yzVxj_SmH02Tycy5Obu39SILeT1r5QMJawe076cvMgdSwU48CXPBvpE2ak9No1hEgyb7VeXKBDvw/s1600/rb+blue+magpie3.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIm-_fB5Jhc8hBSEdgQNMS8tULpI6n2ZbDPzN9fxW2UhWWtdLW5ff7Vvrgu3rF2yzVxj_SmH02Tycy5Obu39SILeT1r5QMJawe076cvMgdSwU48CXPBvpE2ak9No1hEgyb7VeXKBDvw/w781-h520/rb+blue+magpie3.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Redbilled Blue magpie</span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face=""></span></span><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="4" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">A well known idiom says that,"Early bird catches the worm". Most members of the Avian world follow this advice religiously. Early morning is the time when birds are most active. This also the time for birders and especially bird photographers to observe and capture the avian life at its best. </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="4" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">Hectic schedule, during recent visit to Mukteshwar, pushed birding to backseat. However, my visit to the place would be incomplete without documenting some feathered friends. Hence, one day, just after sunrise, I embarked on walk around our hotel to greet these local residents. </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"> <font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><u style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /></u></span></font></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V28nKUr7uesVgLWhHmiSlz5mAbrvcC4RXkl2kEhnJwzgcKQT651Q40Ns84_mTq71MyyXpmJke4w3BPVeh4yjReVKfsWaXsRsEEFRqUEdUZT6yDlPfE0mVQXrxf5bMdMPf7RPq24Z9Q/s1600/great+titmouse1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V28nKUr7uesVgLWhHmiSlz5mAbrvcC4RXkl2kEhnJwzgcKQT651Q40Ns84_mTq71MyyXpmJke4w3BPVeh4yjReVKfsWaXsRsEEFRqUEdUZT6yDlPfE0mVQXrxf5bMdMPf7RPq24Z9Q/w781-h523/great+titmouse1.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="3">Titmouse</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><u style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></u></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><!--more--></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 371px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 266px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvmUfzmqtSICofWfeneUXVDz-vnX-vMXPmFd0-ZN2HgBNZLV72qc2CEksMPCe1QHfgzbtMS8mAZogFcF3UIXsWXqsMESo7h_roZEH4ubbn315WfdNQNot7SxB1E59Tvvb-3xGWo9y_w/w266-h400/grey+treepie.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="3">Juvenile Himalayan Treepie</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><span></span></span></span></span></font></span><font size="4" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><u style="line-height: 1.5;">Titmouse</u>, also known as <u style="line-height: 1.5;">chickadee</u>,
is a resident bird found in forested areas of Northern Himalayas. Many
orchard owners depend upon the help of this active little bird for a
successful fruit crop. They
search every crevice for hibernating insects and for the larvae and
eggs from which harmful insects hatch. These s</span></font><font size="4" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">prightly, bold, and inquisitive birds have been described as "feathered question marks."</span></font><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><span></span></span></span></span></font></span><font size="4" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><!--more--></span></font><span style="color: black;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span><span></span></span></span></span></font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"></span></span></font></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Grey Treepie or</span> <span style="line-height: 1.5;">Himalayan treepie</span>, and the <span style="line-height: 1.5;">Red-billed bluemagpie</span>
are related to crows, jays and magpies. They are widely distributed
along the foothills of the Himalayas in South Asia and extending into
Southeast Asia. </span></font></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span> </span>Streaked laughing thrush is part of the babbler family. Like most
birds of thrush and babbler family, forages for food on ground. The bird in the pictures below has
captured a betel for breakfast.</span></font></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt7d_-ibrBowcZvRVZCPM32XmciDgj30I6_hFKbHgvDQLmmaITKGnQyrdR7-Qk1g5TlW7W0mm418YKDBx1Xqc9ovAhDmhQmpuPtb0kEquLZbTfQZoH4JNeS5G5orstgZ5k_lnRIO4EQ/s1600/streaked+laughing+thrush.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt7d_-ibrBowcZvRVZCPM32XmciDgj30I6_hFKbHgvDQLmmaITKGnQyrdR7-Qk1g5TlW7W0mm418YKDBx1Xqc9ovAhDmhQmpuPtb0kEquLZbTfQZoH4JNeS5G5orstgZ5k_lnRIO4EQ/w625-h419/streaked+laughing+thrush.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="3">Streaked Laughing thrush</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-35718893027790867442011-04-29T00:37:00.002+05:302020-07-25T15:27:49.463+05:30A Furry Friend practices Yoga<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">The most eagerly awaited day of a working week is Friday. This holds true for our office too. This is also the day, when we take a break from the computer and desk job routine, for an hour of yoga. Deviating from the Avian theme, by featuring a health conscious mammal, who visits balcony at home. </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></font>
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">This furry friend, a squirrel, is seen practicing <i style="line-height: 1.5;">yoga asanas</i> here. Revealed here, is the secret behind strength and agility, that enables our furry friend to scale vertical walls and catwalk on tightropes. Watch closely.</span></font></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcds7eJnfQn3fMqOTt6g_mmvR5MfTIuN_6j5oC7r4sExcpTS0shyphenhyphenygScrjI_518tsMPfcgosrZTP4dIF_jdnUO8qWTqf_Mc2VnwjUahUeKww65WEbKGaKcPScnhXEg0cifsFWWoKLRmw/s1600/P1070141.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcds7eJnfQn3fMqOTt6g_mmvR5MfTIuN_6j5oC7r4sExcpTS0shyphenhyphenygScrjI_518tsMPfcgosrZTP4dIF_jdnUO8qWTqf_Mc2VnwjUahUeKww65WEbKGaKcPScnhXEg0cifsFWWoKLRmw/s640/P1070141.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready - Steady- Go</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZVrT0ggfKLBdtssrUMl2iQAns-xlg22O_yhyphenhyphenrD0dFe131H-idBRULHK1p3SXJF90K68VHii7xIqflgrQZpu7Md9coHKiEBTzUEvMTDLQTr2U0hiik1_St6XU0OrdMwt1tLzsSsgdnw/s1600/P1070138.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZVrT0ggfKLBdtssrUMl2iQAns-xlg22O_yhyphenhyphenrD0dFe131H-idBRULHK1p3SXJF90K68VHii7xIqflgrQZpu7Md9coHKiEBTzUEvMTDLQTr2U0hiik1_St6XU0OrdMwt1tLzsSsgdnw/s640/P1070138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stretching to warm up those muscles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI2HPzXZ77P1q1Z_HEEDwlfWk-pDerJnK-AISo1zvNtXL5ukXrHeXQsDnibuYcgAhRvz8tC40o8IKavTBtTVujnTQap04Slx0bNyStuG7IhFj7IYtJZmVY42y3eGITNgDO5Elx1Pveg/s1600/P1070139.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI2HPzXZ77P1q1Z_HEEDwlfWk-pDerJnK-AISo1zvNtXL5ukXrHeXQsDnibuYcgAhRvz8tC40o8IKavTBtTVujnTQap04Slx0bNyStuG7IhFj7IYtJZmVY42y3eGITNgDO5Elx1Pveg/s640/P1070139.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you touch your nose......with your toes </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDtlPZxpD9Y9vxnUK45AhYe9KH2AkDcULSrY6BFCBNBk1f7dZ6_KWVDHqk2pPm8gWZ1crU5LBKXnNKHV-RA0d0sEXhTz5NRq_1KIeu3ySH53NVxQDXh79x4b8BMOidRIYxauF65D7kQ/s1600/P1070142.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDtlPZxpD9Y9vxnUK45AhYe9KH2AkDcULSrY6BFCBNBk1f7dZ6_KWVDHqk2pPm8gWZ1crU5LBKXnNKHV-RA0d0sEXhTz5NRq_1KIeu3ySH53NVxQDXh79x4b8BMOidRIYxauF65D7kQ/s640/P1070142.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try this... Paschimottanasana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku0AiBfyAX40z6DzDjQC9T8YAJUZvdkTnYBu8V0h9WQT4Sw5CS9M2kWRqj5XBZbP4ZrT7OYzTUmUa3OLBt8mVmduEY_KB_RK19ccUZy1hHLGuCOhWZwh-Eau8JzNvk1WQFdcpQWre4A/s1600/P1010258.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku0AiBfyAX40z6DzDjQC9T8YAJUZvdkTnYBu8V0h9WQT4Sw5CS9M2kWRqj5XBZbP4ZrT7OYzTUmUa3OLBt8mVmduEY_KB_RK19ccUZy1hHLGuCOhWZwh-Eau8JzNvk1WQFdcpQWre4A/s640/P1010258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exercising with instruments</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqhCznoQWGclGc_gTbs3VP6V2j7pWUexI0HawV9CTBU_LL0rkLKp4t8NRxRohu1Mji-qrVIpMJisBa6463dVjR4nKSR6eIXfJ0nLVmEUqwvprbLWIyeJAiU01X-nLuYRdL4SKyTJ46g/s1600/P1070137.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqhCznoQWGclGc_gTbs3VP6V2j7pWUexI0HawV9CTBU_LL0rkLKp4t8NRxRohu1Mji-qrVIpMJisBa6463dVjR4nKSR6eIXfJ0nLVmEUqwvprbLWIyeJAiU01X-nLuYRdL4SKyTJ46g/s640/P1070137.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing after strenuous workout session</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">Whew ... those asanas were something... Hope you enjoyed this break.. Will return to our Feathered friends now.. watch out for future breaks.. keep fit </font></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-35936409683021016692011-04-24T00:35:00.004+05:302020-06-26T21:43:57.819+05:30Birding in National Parks - Part 1 Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkVxdrya3PerRxPLW89hQx3Tfs6KMFGYNqsQoq0z2nvk3krTaNf1WYrWfgtQKoqDNrG6l0GDvRRaimIUHQUDlmBjXlz5fj0cYhWz1XjmbgjphsaFIJr0LcCCMpz5Thi98kbglNtr3lQ/s1600/sultanpur+park+lake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkVxdrya3PerRxPLW89hQx3Tfs6KMFGYNqsQoq0z2nvk3krTaNf1WYrWfgtQKoqDNrG6l0GDvRRaimIUHQUDlmBjXlz5fj0cYhWz1XjmbgjphsaFIJr0LcCCMpz5Thi98kbglNtr3lQ/w800-h530/sultanpur+park+lake.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Lake at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary</font></td></tr>
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</div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">The year 2011 started on a good birding note. The second Sunday of the year, saw us heading towards Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Harayana. Our family planned to visit the bird sanctuary to see the migratory bird that nested there during winter season. While researching the routes to reach Sultanpur, we were surprised to find out that it was about 35 kilometers from our home by road. Traveling through Najafgarh and other villages on Delhi Rawta border was estimated to take us around an hour to reach the place.</span></font></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXiNqXY84NjQJIIOQ8_SGbpoTD-kYpYLDufyEQ5Ywcq_lGrXgBv6Ck-TIx4gwcr4TafSEeGCirnPLjWJlU_2SbCbdi4oeoESuNI717YY7zorYeVh9Ghybu7czWTkQZ1oNcCkVYk6wog/s1600/black+winged+stilt.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXiNqXY84NjQJIIOQ8_SGbpoTD-kYpYLDufyEQ5Ywcq_lGrXgBv6Ck-TIx4gwcr4TafSEeGCirnPLjWJlU_2SbCbdi4oeoESuNI717YY7zorYeVh9Ghybu7czWTkQZ1oNcCkVYk6wog/w320-h212/black+winged+stilt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Black Winged Stilt</font></td></tr>
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</div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">Sunday, 9th January dawned as a cold, foggy and rainy day. Chances of viewing birds, migratory or resident, seemed too bleak. However, our heart was set on visiting the place and we drove off towards Harayana, after breakfast. Weather gods were benevolent after the early morning drizzle; soon the sky cleared up and the rain had stopped. <br /></span></font></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"> </span></font></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></font></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"></span></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD20GbJgwXC_ggG-NZGa2ybPluMQNmJuODBAt5ncy3sijXr9ojDNb4Lx_jPIo6YVbb2PHsn2Z_O9SATnK5SnD-tuVe_RY5XzhXTsAmVBvMUMzHlxFEEnA7Iak_sn6jRCSgo1Tz6Vr0w/s1600/cattle+egret.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD20GbJgwXC_ggG-NZGa2ybPluMQNmJuODBAt5ncy3sijXr9ojDNb4Lx_jPIo6YVbb2PHsn2Z_O9SATnK5SnD-tuVe_RY5XzhXTsAmVBvMUMzHlxFEEnA7Iak_sn6jRCSgo1Tz6Vr0w/w320-h213/cattle+egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Cattle egrets</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></font></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">The outing looked promising in spite of the late start. The modern day traffic gods played truant as usual. Delhi traffic showed its colours after drive of 5-6 kilometers from our home. Our car had to crawl for an hour, through dense traffic, which started from main Najafgarh road up to Khaira village crossing. Thankfully, traffic and noisy human habitats ended beyond this point. We enjoyed rest of the drive through fields and fruit orchards along the Delhi- Harayana border. </span></font></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXQAiMdIgcivDi6RzJutOIuc3n2XWGUnLqgxULrcV6mxN-Is1h6FPYcJ3mGi7dxfdjAlTZ-T1TIRqEYkD_f4ldVWlsniOmyT3QjZrIy_b4usvEAI-1TMGyoK7mwqNqBJx2BjoSB9ajQ/s1600/moorhens+lapwings+teals.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXQAiMdIgcivDi6RzJutOIuc3n2XWGUnLqgxULrcV6mxN-Is1h6FPYcJ3mGi7dxfdjAlTZ-T1TIRqEYkD_f4ldVWlsniOmyT3QjZrIy_b4usvEAI-1TMGyoK7mwqNqBJx2BjoSB9ajQ/w800-h530/moorhens+lapwings+teals.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Teals, Lapwings, Moorhens</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2M-hQTd9Fa4U3gKAGo9lf_EHlQ1K2I9WM6Hib9OSXOfGjVHZgES78X230JLSrVJlVO_h7ANVaeoavP3UEpoVYYJA9UX1sfNTmaeTuPvcVLZP6tMEScphHLITkh68oS4bTijlJUMJlQ/s1600/common+coot.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2M-hQTd9Fa4U3gKAGo9lf_EHlQ1K2I9WM6Hib9OSXOfGjVHZgES78X230JLSrVJlVO_h7ANVaeoavP3UEpoVYYJA9UX1sfNTmaeTuPvcVLZP6tMEScphHLITkh68oS4bTijlJUMJlQ/w400-h265/common+coot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Common coot</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">On the way we found vendors selling fresh guavas and bought 4 to 5 kilos of the delicious green fruit. We reached Sultanpur around lunch time. After quick snacking on guavas and sandwiches, we entered the bird sanctuary to explore.<br /></span></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eLjWQYDpGUmpMQwQ7BrQpqZqLvyG3c_yuXyaPe3wt-XHX1ccDfsApPuDParv46ESGJtbOKtCynkwkQ5lOhyel3WXx-xMF643J2IDZHo6MzY7jVs551lc2OXz4tPJEAEO1OfhRB6dPQ/w265-h400/grey+heron.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="265" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Grey heron</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"> Storks, herons, moorhens, teals and ducks were enjoying the warm afternoon sun. Painted stork families were nesting and were noisiest of all. Peacock, kingfishers, parrots were some of the more common birds that we saw.</font></span></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></font></span></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">The Sultanpur lake had been replenished by the abundant monsoon rains, hence many species of birds were visible this year. We stayed for short while, pledging to return later for lengthier exploratory visit.</font></span></div> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9lIEqW5Ph06SD5R4pQoWe7Q8NqEbhxf6NoMi_XwgrLUpXoA9jO_jFfx64C_EZRndk9R_zuZw5jDGUp2cXboGMefNt3ww7J8QBTogvTRhbQeH9wUs3YldmANASRznDky2w80RAQNP4w/s1600/painted+stork.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="625" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9lIEqW5Ph06SD5R4pQoWe7Q8NqEbhxf6NoMi_XwgrLUpXoA9jO_jFfx64C_EZRndk9R_zuZw5jDGUp2cXboGMefNt3ww7J8QBTogvTRhbQeH9wUs3YldmANASRznDky2w80RAQNP4w/w1000-h625/painted+stork.jpg" width="1000" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Painted Stork in Flight</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: times;"><u>Quotes displayed near Sultanpur national Park Gates</u></span></font></div><div style="text-align: left;">
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: times;">Everyone wants to understand painting. Why is there no attempt to understand the song of the birds? (Quote by - Pablo Picasso)</span></font></div><font size="2"><span style="font-family: times;">A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)<br />
</span></font></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-61805455572052828332011-04-09T00:53:00.006+05:302020-08-02T20:38:40.271+05:30Birding around Mukteshwar<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukteshwar" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span> </span>Mukteshwar</a> is a quite hill township in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The small town is perhaps better known for the man-eating tigress that terrorized people in the neighboring villages in late 1920s and was killed by Jim Corbett in 1929.</span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span> </span>No tiger, spotted near Mukteshwar in recent years, however leopards are seen occasionally around IVRI forest reserve near the town. Jackals, mountain goats and various species of birds can be spotted around fruit orchards and forests of the area. <br /></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"></span></font><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgyFLTZBfRj_fNuHzW749hIFC9Sr75vii61Ajhr5sLeh4cFPGY3iGOmLnVpf4gv6qK_mg7aGDZ15cHJkxb1mzEDQl-fenSZToO4cM45GcuenFdQ7FwYknz0DNCt7lz25uuYptuUhZNA/s1600/black+and+orange+flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgyFLTZBfRj_fNuHzW749hIFC9Sr75vii61Ajhr5sLeh4cFPGY3iGOmLnVpf4gv6qK_mg7aGDZ15cHJkxb1mzEDQl-fenSZToO4cM45GcuenFdQ7FwYknz0DNCt7lz25uuYptuUhZNA/w800-h530/black+and+orange+flycatcher.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Black and Orange flycatcher</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;">The area is now a popular tourist destination in summer, known for the panoramic views of the Nandadevi and Trishul mountain range of the Himalayas. This part of Uttarakhand is also famous for fruit orchards of plums, apricots, apples, peaches and sweet lime. Known as the "fruit basket", Mukteshwar orchards send supplies all over India. Frequent visits to Mukteshwar for work in the last 1-2 years, have given me a chance to photograph the beautiful species of birds of the Himalayan ecosystem. Sharing pictures of a few of them that I could capture this spring season.</span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr align="center"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kwyXZrRWJE_KNd9lKTx9oURpidkEr_JkbZyUIj8Zb6pVcAKyz6wZy_DYiaFDCYucdcHM0bTWIVlToHwwrRcYATyCGJhTCIxho1NHIqmiF4AjirL8P2RXkDFOX1TrsVCoURPYCzd8nQ/s1600/barn+swallow.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kwyXZrRWJE_KNd9lKTx9oURpidkEr_JkbZyUIj8Zb6pVcAKyz6wZy_DYiaFDCYucdcHM0bTWIVlToHwwrRcYATyCGJhTCIxho1NHIqmiF4AjirL8P2RXkDFOX1TrsVCoURPYCzd8nQ/w800-h301/barn+swallow.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Barn Swallow - It makes a new mud nest in the project site office every year.<br /><br /><br /></font></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc0dGUbGGVuQmXhZDgbVo3r9cwxUCB63IeHkfe00WRDjNN9bR2K_VmPfwFVMrhvOvLJjVeLsFhLwcvRtrK5YIrm21OUE1yiSVU6S6On1cm4l9TgCUgkLPHTojOnO9kVkOjNEoAZtIsw/s1600/black+throated+tit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc0dGUbGGVuQmXhZDgbVo3r9cwxUCB63IeHkfe00WRDjNN9bR2K_VmPfwFVMrhvOvLJjVeLsFhLwcvRtrK5YIrm21OUE1yiSVU6S6On1cm4l9TgCUgkLPHTojOnO9kVkOjNEoAZtIsw/w781-h520/black+throated+tit.jpg" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Black Throated Tit - A tiny bird, hunts for insects in bark of apple and plum trees on site.</font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3">My camera card always ended up having more pictures of the scenic views, village life and birds than the project site. Once, while going through site photographs in an office meeting, the images of a local home with cattle pen popped into the slideshow. Our structural engineer asked bemusedly, "What is this?" My boss immediately quipped,"Contractor and his site team", and everyone burst out laughing.</font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhizV3cBd5GToMKHgO0aXKPoqoPh-0UbcFPd-7bsjCdsqGq4I3XFCHxjCitqShHyv_Mtr7kW-Tccl38dOq-mO-ckXMxi3dI7QDRI0bmUndGB2BznPZI9xie2cotykCXkGc1cyCaCv_A/s1600/manzara+bird1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhizV3cBd5GToMKHgO0aXKPoqoPh-0UbcFPd-7bsjCdsqGq4I3XFCHxjCitqShHyv_Mtr7kW-Tccl38dOq-mO-ckXMxi3dI7QDRI0bmUndGB2BznPZI9xie2cotykCXkGc1cyCaCv_A/w781-h586/manzara+bird1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">This bird is part of Quality Check Team. Can be seen checking steel reinforcements here :)</font></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnvoAzGh4eWIKaHaHGHf2dnW3ak06ILO3UPnNL284qiP0QW7zlh1rxphlTo1a48_jIQHa9QzOOwLPQwKCSiF7qiGMTtSSKgvzHUVQiLxnrjd4uM8cvO76Uuq29FO8gZzPwjWrnaTTA/s1600/grey+headed+canary+flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnvoAzGh4eWIKaHaHGHf2dnW3ak06ILO3UPnNL284qiP0QW7zlh1rxphlTo1a48_jIQHa9QzOOwLPQwKCSiF7qiGMTtSSKgvzHUVQiLxnrjd4uM8cvO76Uuq29FO8gZzPwjWrnaTTA/w781-h575/grey+headed+canary+flycatcher.jpg" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Grey headed Canary Flycatcher</font></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfmxF-uuil2IwvT_n1IjWbQvoz-sLz14iAE-g8FRedLm7TMokXVwqL9rwEsszT1271ydbZhYF9iOTdfleikDrLsf2b8qZSnx4yPS6EDAQHq8xKPtFRO1CFVuuLhRLQma6VQjRZ4AOhg/s1600/Verditer+flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfmxF-uuil2IwvT_n1IjWbQvoz-sLz14iAE-g8FRedLm7TMokXVwqL9rwEsszT1271ydbZhYF9iOTdfleikDrLsf2b8qZSnx4yPS6EDAQHq8xKPtFRO1CFVuuLhRLQma6VQjRZ4AOhg/w800-h300/Verditer+flycatcher.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDipMFlhYojvs5KcJgVfp4xdP6jPIR9hR4uJ9trY4vXf5aUUcGljtPt0jdLHFEDozRCI0OKt_ggjKFXv_CsznoPq_QeYYjUalQLoZV4S_xEH06n3-sgzpH1qEo38OCdEPCM_MguAHHBg/s1600/yellow+cheeked+tit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDipMFlhYojvs5KcJgVfp4xdP6jPIR9hR4uJ9trY4vXf5aUUcGljtPt0jdLHFEDozRCI0OKt_ggjKFXv_CsznoPq_QeYYjUalQLoZV4S_xEH06n3-sgzpH1qEo38OCdEPCM_MguAHHBg/w800-h533/yellow+cheeked+tit.jpg" width="848" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Black Lored Tit looks more like a stylish bulbul but can be easily distinguished by black streak across lores</font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><br />
</font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;">Hoping to capture images of other birds when I visit Mukteshwar next. More feathered friends coming soon. :D</font></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></font></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><font size="1">#birding #indianbirds #himalayas #birdwatching #birdwatchingphotography</font><br /></font></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-88027062918573169592011-03-11T17:29:00.019+05:302011-03-11T22:59:47.621+05:30The pigeon story: A first hand account<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZcuP_MiEwjtdfeHEIaZKtMP5_ZYoYKibUUJIhOkIKp2fTeowKRN3HHSs_n6nwfAaYCiodGGhH8xXoVPP6JNso74ebOLDSvuf0RJ_nVV_wolnTqFVibIPFRC0y2fj6DSxRBJ9eqHGh8o/s1600/19.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">This is the story of a pair pigeons who made home a corner of the balcony at my place. I never thought the eggs will ever hatch if they escaped the evil eyes of crows around, but they were meant to survive. All was well till an unfortunate incident united us with the pigeon family in their agony...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU47GR8IChuXasL4EBAYANVQXf0NHkpI-0_EbMymOI5Exg6ssPc0DbEDcQPSsqeMomTAufQ6C2L73vyRyjt9JlW5qwtidKHMrzksP5E4h63pZmhMd2GjgQClZwBDgjJjDy2B9UPRZwqo/s1600/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582805714815728914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU47GR8IChuXasL4EBAYANVQXf0NHkpI-0_EbMymOI5Exg6ssPc0DbEDcQPSsqeMomTAufQ6C2L73vyRyjt9JlW5qwtidKHMrzksP5E4h63pZmhMd2GjgQClZwBDgjJjDy2B9UPRZwqo/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">I had thought the eggs will fall prey to one of the crows around. Pleasantly, one fine morning, I discovered the poor helpless chicks out in open. I really felt bad for them. Dunno why the mother pigeon could not find a safer place....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582806723298406002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd2_pRa-SElpHgI1ZrBszVjsk8-9R6vZX0sdDSzoXf3K8V7PMIVRWT4jtcnf7IPCab-3OyIS9spxjz-Cnc81fgahfEX18r9v9eF32XbWY7PB_qheOlR4TrsoJUvNExrtV_BJL4f_4OxU/s320/0.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Things in a larger perspective. That pot in the upper rack in the corner is the home to the chicks. Thats where the eggs were laid. I know you are amazed too. The mother pigeon would fly to neighborhood every time we went to balcony. She trusted us completely or was just helpless...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582806731302541202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLSzGUN-BogHABuucrT_c78zjhiQTvpMAYxwHCqLCuX9AFGf5G1P9_QYbQtDBH-_Pws4uVAf-c-zyo7nOs8d_nD4FDZAPDm0L-IV7k27KSwHD4P-Uk9dw3tavDTbT4gztB1xqaEXGqew/s320/2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Chicks are growing....</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582806733949759122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE-KEItwYb21eKSEljxW2A3KgfdOAcRlq8MY90UcAxHLi4YohsV92zE_O1cJE4-mF0dNg88BrlmIMeTx8G8pgWYXIZjGkJV8f9NJWCUz55EVHj45NXJSvBIjqigERrMG0ao4Lm7rnrjI/s320/3.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Still growing, day by day....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582806748930316658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMm5sl168X7TkQV_bmE_LfAfL-VFiGDsO4ov17JmyypQw9sc3S-e6TNSsBY4YB3EOhaf3AlXACEeu6IadjmtF8DhctypyQ5Yb7NxOGJQkO7lxY1iPiGMHsEeXwl_KDIoz7suUOGmqpIs/s320/4.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Could finally catch them with mom.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2iQ1fE1PRpiqWprjv66oOTJdFWfQxLgdFjaaVGU0U5v2obBO3iURWE97E_Q4gkpVs963OoZKu0p-riG4iJqZejPaD7reguDtE2k6EaZ-frDAm6Lphf4uhayw0-bwBcLD-fTFEeuXWoE/s1600/5.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582806750584613922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2iQ1fE1PRpiqWprjv66oOTJdFWfQxLgdFjaaVGU0U5v2obBO3iURWE97E_Q4gkpVs963OoZKu0p-riG4iJqZejPaD7reguDtE2k6EaZ-frDAm6Lphf4uhayw0-bwBcLD-fTFEeuXWoE/s320/5.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">My bai had already started complaining about the mess they were creating everyday :)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582808332577627138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPmcxSwKcqBEqupshBZXc8CJ8468T678XnRLQxU7UXxQw8P8aJZMiYt3jeSRyU0SVF1QKt1LHcqqhiGzXYrD_QlKSUND5n993CS8HZ-F-RBnRR1f__PVBhhdJY1Pi46k6oivGDWRGQIM/s320/6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Soon they will outgrow the pot. Probably they have already. Look at the mess around...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582808357926980706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih76t_Daif50v_UzLnGdfCKMs1ydZRmtiNoGJwsqq8vDf1okFCWGp5p1M0RD-mjkZmjPn9bQF7axADb34p-JKcSLaWzynSOjODoew-pyPeKHpdUg3M3O3MY1Cmkt8UYHPQMobBUY7hilI/s320/7.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Closer. That makes them attentive...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582808354166938370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMtih2YC9q9NeMe-ELr829ZGJwMiuzAUyQBD0vGEAuQYnfubhzt0VZi21eIrg9yOcrLB5eWx85KXVHZ-_JHw6RuxVzuvAcGR9MD6QWJz4HAmV8sxMks6-8ROxFsaYCgyTpp39gv3R-0I/s320/8.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Here they are in their teens. When we are not looking the whole balcony is their playground and now they have their personal pots to sit. Huddled together for the click...</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTB0dcUminXMQROYX-rt39jEFnjMHsGxgTCTaEKddQuekcOCQNensN0KBvcqDNomK2hXwnYpiIS5vCtx5TBbsJYQLaA4ANo9GQpFvNh-WORLXT9NyyRhnApOpEspKoODUomSBbA8vLCRw/s1600/9.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582808348552419154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTB0dcUminXMQROYX-rt39jEFnjMHsGxgTCTaEKddQuekcOCQNensN0KBvcqDNomK2hXwnYpiIS5vCtx5TBbsJYQLaA4ANo9GQpFvNh-WORLXT9NyyRhnApOpEspKoODUomSBbA8vLCRw/s320/9.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">The youth, cant tell them from parents in one glance.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE2EXduZ_Zq4_4pjwDPALfB8VedvpbAc0mhrnPYR8FRrEB7eRb_MSyuikEj3W4akAIAJnpklt_9LxuapCkps8ewHfg9zBSkRsmH_PexF7R_tagWq-hgzB5Db1NYsmkEl5oyed7dI8Bic/s1600/10.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582808344209181986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE2EXduZ_Zq4_4pjwDPALfB8VedvpbAc0mhrnPYR8FRrEB7eRb_MSyuikEj3W4akAIAJnpklt_9LxuapCkps8ewHfg9zBSkRsmH_PexF7R_tagWq-hgzB5Db1NYsmkEl5oyed7dI8Bic/s320/10.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Venturing unknown territories..</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582810745825371426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF_a5ew8m_t-1BM80SS4qXEDPb_dJG_UmuGIAs-WQOIGKoclZbkQNzpsOSGycLHr22l-_N17ouNG82QNI5eIyFr_mJTcx-qFiCUH8Wm4gNqUgXbDeJ7eklLfRrbiXzTYd0F-84yN4UnU/s320/11.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">They are no more afraid of us. Well, cant say that, they can hardly fly.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Tragedy struck!!! The chicks were attacked by an eagle ;( One fell victim to it, the other literally knocked on the door to let it in the house. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUo43X8EnK8y-1Tp2MUCrMltmgiDVHhxMcGagM5kpKhj7XNRmANHZHcJ0xiv20Cutaep1Y_cinxIkbMhJDlSvQrjYmlMXueGQ_SC-w2FVFL6ExuaHF3PSvl6_vHbmi9zWMFCtpJ_P8iA/s1600/16.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582811520158932530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUo43X8EnK8y-1Tp2MUCrMltmgiDVHhxMcGagM5kpKhj7XNRmANHZHcJ0xiv20Cutaep1Y_cinxIkbMhJDlSvQrjYmlMXueGQ_SC-w2FVFL6ExuaHF3PSvl6_vHbmi9zWMFCtpJ_P8iA/s320/16.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><div class="fbPhotoTheaterCaption mbs" id="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" live="polite" style="margin-bottom: 5px; outline-style: none;" tabindex="0"><div class="clearfix fbPhotoInlineCaptionEditor editor" id="u067438_1" style="display: block;"><div class="captionWrapper" style="margin-right: 18px;"><div class="fbPhotoCaption"><div style="text-align: left;">Here we see the mother pigeon. She could not find the chicks at the usual place. She sensed something wrong happened in the balcony, wont dare coming there. Just waiting somewhere near by.</div></div></div></div></div><form action="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="live_10150099819693002 commentable_item autoexpand_mode" live="{"seq":3830931}" method="post" rel="async" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
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</form></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs1u3mQipoAGyajt-Mc_59h12pZSktNTBBPh2gEPiuqgdQLiqCbu_jfkNBeF-6kboq_Hc7_UvOHUE1tygYT2GQ446w-Capjr0og7u_bje2bImaOR_Uo-rwNihYGKGuv70oPEKW9rYGqI/s1600/17.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582811525794856882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs1u3mQipoAGyajt-Mc_59h12pZSktNTBBPh2gEPiuqgdQLiqCbu_jfkNBeF-6kboq_Hc7_UvOHUE1tygYT2GQ446w-Capjr0og7u_bje2bImaOR_Uo-rwNihYGKGuv70oPEKW9rYGqI/s320/17.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Waiting for the chicks to appear...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq-Z-JwbuvRd1EQa_lhytdLlL5xdPlhZUVCtDh_pAXEtrVOC3Vi0Coox2Cm449UHlhDgajDrQ9IxaAFKEAJEt20Wes28i9By4ansOPJrjpW7sAXRrXaXp88RgfrvupRsVub0AVcofBMA/s1600/12.JPG" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582810743617509298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq-Z-JwbuvRd1EQa_lhytdLlL5xdPlhZUVCtDh_pAXEtrVOC3Vi0Coox2Cm449UHlhDgajDrQ9IxaAFKEAJEt20Wes28i9By4ansOPJrjpW7sAXRrXaXp88RgfrvupRsVub0AVcofBMA/s320/12.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKgN7jKG9ZKdBZSJ5aFMpD4Z_lynDvvT7XZHddqaQsHvlB9QJ7OnlGvJDj2joI4YzFioikEL8-bcPOpxJRq7ngtj1ATRHdwWXnhahSSPLDFAJARQQvVOva5UFjPjWCrSAAE92nFGkc94/s1600/13.JPG" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582810735720640146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKgN7jKG9ZKdBZSJ5aFMpD4Z_lynDvvT7XZHddqaQsHvlB9QJ7OnlGvJDj2joI4YzFioikEL8-bcPOpxJRq7ngtj1ATRHdwWXnhahSSPLDFAJARQQvVOva5UFjPjWCrSAAE92nFGkc94/s320/13.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">The remains of the fight put up...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4VWr9ZEPxxWKd2DXuA7b89lJ-W5lxvzpClZVlHzuuA8mMkJonS7Wq_CHs3-tmeu3iIGPWtnwBZp_k-2zqsBJbId7VK2_iAv1okXSgFPCSL3eYqDWdo6qUHN04I7lWCsMkGGJDlFCrXw/s1600/14.JPG"></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4VWr9ZEPxxWKd2DXuA7b89lJ-W5lxvzpClZVlHzuuA8mMkJonS7Wq_CHs3-tmeu3iIGPWtnwBZp_k-2zqsBJbId7VK2_iAv1okXSgFPCSL3eYqDWdo6qUHN04I7lWCsMkGGJDlFCrXw/s1600/14.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582810728286499506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4VWr9ZEPxxWKd2DXuA7b89lJ-W5lxvzpClZVlHzuuA8mMkJonS7Wq_CHs3-tmeu3iIGPWtnwBZp_k-2zqsBJbId7VK2_iAv1okXSgFPCSL3eYqDWdo6qUHN04I7lWCsMkGGJDlFCrXw/s320/14.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">The refugee. He spent the whole night there.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtoaS5PhyZ9GxxiXx3VFnsTXw42gDtVnFeipXLeZEULK_CPB6sVeXAwHMbtZGddCG9UxQ7pfIMEh_bWloZlhNYQ2EuxeBWW6jidYIoENSMCvSNMZIL9Qxh3tljSBY0yUUKhPDVQAPl_U/s1600/15.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582815843492024114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtoaS5PhyZ9GxxiXx3VFnsTXw42gDtVnFeipXLeZEULK_CPB6sVeXAwHMbtZGddCG9UxQ7pfIMEh_bWloZlhNYQ2EuxeBWW6jidYIoENSMCvSNMZIL9Qxh3tljSBY0yUUKhPDVQAPl_U/s320/15.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><div style="text-align: center;">We tried to feed it, but it wont budge.</div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></span><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582815855059209874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVW9SWiVU2nbFw_GKLiSCeXB6JPH_CvRR6QsdYBxBXdLYkkGO49Sm9uqttKm6G__6yqINeQnXMQ4hpXftIpL9pdqvjt3GmP8Mx8wAfUsTvX850tOD316sJKDX-iD04BpSe7AIR0H3OK8/s320/18.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Morning came, so came the parents looking for the kids. At least they found one. We were so relieved. They kept returning next two days, still hopeful, but ALAS!!</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs1u3mQipoAGyajt-Mc_59h12pZSktNTBBPh2gEPiuqgdQLiqCbu_jfkNBeF-6kboq_Hc7_UvOHUE1tygYT2GQ446w-Capjr0og7u_bje2bImaOR_Uo-rwNihYGKGuv70oPEKW9rYGqI/s1600/17.JPG"></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZcuP_MiEwjtdfeHEIaZKtMP5_ZYoYKibUUJIhOkIKp2fTeowKRN3HHSs_n6nwfAaYCiodGGhH8xXoVPP6JNso74ebOLDSvuf0RJ_nVV_wolnTqFVibIPFRC0y2fj6DSxRBJ9eqHGh8o/s1600/19.JPG" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582815855373416322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZcuP_MiEwjtdfeHEIaZKtMP5_ZYoYKibUUJIhOkIKp2fTeowKRN3HHSs_n6nwfAaYCiodGGhH8xXoVPP6JNso74ebOLDSvuf0RJ_nVV_wolnTqFVibIPFRC0y2fj6DSxRBJ9eqHGh8o/s320/19.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">The story ends with this reunion. Hope they have a short memory and remain happy ever after, but not so short a memory to make a similar nest. They learnt it the bitter way, if they have.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVW9SWiVU2nbFw_GKLiSCeXB6JPH_CvRR6QsdYBxBXdLYkkGO49Sm9uqttKm6G__6yqINeQnXMQ4hpXftIpL9pdqvjt3GmP8Mx8wAfUsTvX850tOD316sJKDX-iD04BpSe7AIR0H3OK8/s1600/18.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtoaS5PhyZ9GxxiXx3VFnsTXw42gDtVnFeipXLeZEULK_CPB6sVeXAwHMbtZGddCG9UxQ7pfIMEh_bWloZlhNYQ2EuxeBWW6jidYIoENSMCvSNMZIL9Qxh3tljSBY0yUUKhPDVQAPl_U/s1600/15.JPG"></a></span><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span></span></div></div>Mityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329200345160455130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-1174945713918038722011-03-06T23:48:00.011+05:302020-07-25T16:20:45.987+05:30Winter Session of the "Parliament"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">The 2010 winter session of Indian parliament was a no show. No new policies or laws were passed, as the opposition parties wanted investigations into the 2G scam by a JPC. Walkouts, protests and disruptions were highlights in the drama of the Indian legislative assembly. </div><div></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">No, this blog hasn't deviated from avian life to humans and their politics. While our elected representatives were not doing their assigned jobs, other parliaments were in session in avian world; that of the owls. A collective of owls, also known as a parliament, is most active during the winters, which is their breeding season. The usually silent predators are more vocal; with mates calling out to each other and young ones demanding food from their parents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZWckKGgJ1YVho_ZcGBAI6J2C0RwCTwRnHabzOETjOisg3QFvK3RmI7lrr0Jr3cioV3FIjcKd0PPjvOCF5Y8qIXpPWHTua1fp_CONR0fVkC_eyb1-5fmQnUJoqhVWXZBPhGP28a8CEg/s1588/owl-Hampi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1588" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZWckKGgJ1YVho_ZcGBAI6J2C0RwCTwRnHabzOETjOisg3QFvK3RmI7lrr0Jr3cioV3FIjcKd0PPjvOCF5Y8qIXpPWHTua1fp_CONR0fVkC_eyb1-5fmQnUJoqhVWXZBPhGP28a8CEg/w781-h518/owl-Hampi.jpg" width="781" /></a></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">Owl, a nocturnal bird, is often associated with misfortunes, black magic, evil, and conversely with intelligence by humans. Owl is also known as the vehicle of goddess Lakshmi in the Indian mythology. Fear of the dark and unknown, prominent at night, and deep rooted in the human psyche, has perhaps resulted in such conceptions.</div><div class="western">
</div><div class="western" style="text-align: center;">Is this the reason why the same term has been coined for a collective of owls and that of politicians? :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RSo0LMBlN-XonMnx3VjK5vaZyfJhVsgQ7Pv1D12gqBGV1RsK3DlDQ2X3FrtuZg6tNgiCBa_qahFnjHaB5CF9X9VPwpA7fY2XlHv5Qpf2OzKqofOySfFFMuGQ7j3FoUiWO8rCyfOjfw/s1024/Spotted+owlet+pair.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RSo0LMBlN-XonMnx3VjK5vaZyfJhVsgQ7Pv1D12gqBGV1RsK3DlDQ2X3FrtuZg6tNgiCBa_qahFnjHaB5CF9X9VPwpA7fY2XlHv5Qpf2OzKqofOySfFFMuGQ7j3FoUiWO8rCyfOjfw/w781-h586/Spotted+owlet+pair.JPG" width="781" /></a></div><div class="western" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
The call of the owl can sound very eerie in the dark, misty winter nights. The first time I heard an owl near my home, it sounded like someone was snoring loudly. Most residents of our housing society were annoyed by the continuous calls, which would start in the evenings and stop just before sunrise. Since no one could see the source of the sound, many theories were put forward to explain these winter happening. Some said it was bats hunting at night. Others proposed that it was probably a kite perched on high rise, protesting its discomfort in the cold weather. Mystery was unraveled one evening when someone standing in the 9<sup>th</sup> floor balcony saw the owls flying around. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VKjk9JjmQim1ab1EH-ZV42oTTMkbZRcWaWq2yMz0hURef_c2bkfjSkdz_9Ls75lLv96cBjvWjy9-6XmjBzkKDbBm4rAH1l-FA-mjtZ41kuqvp5ddudvqv9S35vT-H4-L-oaBV1_8xQ/s1600/P2093860.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VKjk9JjmQim1ab1EH-ZV42oTTMkbZRcWaWq2yMz0hURef_c2bkfjSkdz_9Ls75lLv96cBjvWjy9-6XmjBzkKDbBm4rAH1l-FA-mjtZ41kuqvp5ddudvqv9S35vT-H4-L-oaBV1_8xQ/w191-h256/P2093860.JPG" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Blurred photo of Barn Owl on our AC</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The birds residing near our building were the barn owls, which are widespread residents in the Indian subcontinent. They can be found near human habitation and cultivated areas. They are very effective in controlling pests like mice. They also prey upon small birds, rats and insects. </div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">One night a barn owl landed on our bedroom AC, where a pigeon family had made a nest. The owl sought a wholesome meal of freshly laid pigeon eggs. No sound came from the owl, but the pigeons made a lot of noise, which awoke me and my sister. We could see the owl from our balcony, as it waited patiently for the pigeons to leave their nest. Tried to click a photograph, however absence of a stand and darkness came in way of a good picture. Next morning, there was no sign of the pigeon nest abut remains of the owls meal were strewn on the window ledge below.</div><div></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">Another type, the Spotted Owlet is resident in my mother's school building. This bird breaks its nocturnal habit during winters. The spotted owlets are heard chattering or seen enjoying the warm winter sunlight.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">Other birds like parrots, crows and babblers never leave them in peace, protesting owls foray into their daytime regime. The owlet pays them very little attention, but relents after sometime, retiring into some gap in wall or a hole in a tree trunk. <br /></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU969Bb-Hj4EuKQX2YV3r0Dvy88ZybS7zoP4SHijNOoLkPegNdLakFk6oF2BAw3qZhhrEli2Z328CWLXK0A1iOE-Fw2V2rXgd6_lDASN2U8Dnq8oTjOwnA8X5-ZRnKlOo9693GTfGXg/s1600/P1070520.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU969Bb-Hj4EuKQX2YV3r0Dvy88ZybS7zoP4SHijNOoLkPegNdLakFk6oF2BAw3qZhhrEli2Z328CWLXK0A1iOE-Fw2V2rXgd6_lDASN2U8Dnq8oTjOwnA8X5-ZRnKlOo9693GTfGXg/w781-h648/P1070520.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Oh no! Its the papparazzi again !</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoKhPtKr4G4HD4D9OS86OC6TCVfeQwXHt_qfutaV8_E81RZqn08OAEUr_C1moTnMheKmdiPUFM4eNbwP5CgNxVURLxcJZTKTgEiUQyRM7nnBHiMVUjCVfTIkpnRmAhLvzYcpqBiI_9w/s1600/P1070523.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoKhPtKr4G4HD4D9OS86OC6TCVfeQwXHt_qfutaV8_E81RZqn08OAEUr_C1moTnMheKmdiPUFM4eNbwP5CgNxVURLxcJZTKTgEiUQyRM7nnBHiMVUjCVfTIkpnRmAhLvzYcpqBiI_9w/w320-h240/P1070523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Searching for an escape route</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">One afternoon, when I reached the school to pick up my mother, the owlet was perched on a security spotlight on the school building. The shy bird left as soon as it realized it was the centre of focus of my camera.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Hopefully, these "members of parliament", i.e. the barn owl and the spotted owlet, will reappear soon for more photo sessions.</div></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-64487185782815113962011-02-22T19:08:00.006+05:302020-06-30T23:51:21.100+05:30Baya's Blobitecture<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt_nD4BiSag21bAcWMvNAwNEyHPqXFEw3ddida2o2CCngqVb4cjWpsRVXNBKh3RfsvM_B3YzVzT5wvnexF1-_IYzHfyU9iqy4aFT667ocrzkNV4lSjiXZQy3jZVbp_s8EAYqofZYXSQ/s1600/P1040964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt_nD4BiSag21bAcWMvNAwNEyHPqXFEw3ddida2o2CCngqVb4cjWpsRVXNBKh3RfsvM_B3YzVzT5wvnexF1-_IYzHfyU9iqy4aFT667ocrzkNV4lSjiXZQy3jZVbp_s8EAYqofZYXSQ/w300-h400/P1040964.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Blobitecture or blob-is</span><span>m is a term for an architectural movement in which buildings have organic, amoeba shaped bulging forms. These structu</span><span>res types are designed for </span><span>theaters, museums, or tourist attractions. Come the monsoon season, and one can find the inspiration for these blob-ism structures, suspended from tall palms or thorny acacia trees. They are the p</span><span>endulum shaped nests of the <i>baya</i> weaver; built using green resources like palm fronds, paddy leaves or grasses.</span></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>During my stay in Moira village of Goa, I saw many <i>baya</i> nests precariously suspended from coconut palm trees. The freshly woven green nests would gradually turn brown with age, swinging gently in the monsoon winds. The bright yellow birds made countless trips from nearby rice fields to coconut tree tops, while making their masterpiece. Following is what I found out about the architect bird, the <i>baya</i> weaver.</span><br />
</span></font><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WWNViVgFFleu7NfIV3w83dY4QHzOExv7HIPlumftv1Z_yDCTYyKeO2WG9wOX4KPXl8bAVb__c3zvz9jjJowkV1UTY7BPVoyVkuZoaF0tQf11p4qO4ZvlfzPOhfOz1eaRpVvO8TpXXA/s1600/P1060670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WWNViVgFFleu7NfIV3w83dY4QHzOExv7HIPlumftv1Z_yDCTYyKeO2WG9wOX4KPXl8bAVb__c3zvz9jjJowkV1UTY7BPVoyVkuZoaF0tQf11p4qO4ZvlfzPOhfOz1eaRpVvO8TpXXA/w781-h586/P1060670.JPG" width="781" /></a></div>
<font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><i style="line-height: 1.5;">Baya</i> weavers are found near grasslands, plantations or marshy areas in the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia. They are related to the common household sparrow; so much so that the juveniles and females of the species look like the house sparrows. <i style="line-height: 1.5;">Baya</i> are social birds and breed in groups. Often 15-20 nests can be found together in a typical<i style="line-height: 1.5;"> baya</i> colony. Another <i style="line-height: 1.5;">Baya</i> relative, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-browed_Sparrow-weaver" style="line-height: 1.5;">the African sparrow weaver</a> builds multi-storied apartment nests, in which 100 to 200 pairs have separate flask-shaped nesting chambers entered by tubes at the bottom.</span></span></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEHUXARZI5t7rKPJ3bwDPZeyePF9q1fzMsx2q5oZdnq5qi2HMWL-52rJfeIdi8w44tEQRZOa6_rXc0t0qZV6BeMbgJPKFVHjBdu5jK3HyZSCHnEFxm8_AynREpXQRL-Kj9x0PZDZnWw/s1600/P1060590.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEHUXARZI5t7rKPJ3bwDPZeyePF9q1fzMsx2q5oZdnq5qi2HMWL-52rJfeIdi8w44tEQRZOa6_rXc0t0qZV6BeMbgJPKFVHjBdu5jK3HyZSCHnEFxm8_AynREpXQRL-Kj9x0PZDZnWw/w285-h400/P1060590.JPG" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspection time</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The nest is built by the male <i style="line-height: 1.5;">baya</i> weaver between months of June- July. The structure is cylindrical, with a central nesting chamber and a long vertical tube that leads to the side entrance of the chamber. Such a nest design prevents intrusion by predators like snakes or raptors. A male bird is known to make up to 500 trips to complete a nest. The birds use their strong beaks to strip and collect the strands from leaves and grasses, and to weave and knot them, while building their nests. </span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Once a male and a female are paired, the two complete the nest by adding the entrance tunnel. <i style="line-height: 1.5;">Baya</i>
females give “feminine” finishing touches to interiors by adding blobs
of mud, which provides stability to the nest in windy conditions.</span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"></span></span></font></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ3WtBY1bNCSdfCgxJBPgcuSluSzP1LuiZUkY5NC7vhiXyOaD8oLkiymozWh3TtpYcc2eGLRvRUfHLcgn13Jsez6CuijdtRElvEEXypj9TUqdbrCoAnTH-V5uoEGL_8JzxF6GVaWcHw/s1600/P1060672.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ3WtBY1bNCSdfCgxJBPgcuSluSzP1LuiZUkY5NC7vhiXyOaD8oLkiymozWh3TtpYcc2eGLRvRUfHLcgn13Jsez6CuijdtRElvEEXypj9TUqdbrCoAnTH-V5uoEGL_8JzxF6GVaWcHw/w781-h556/P1060672.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding finishing touches to the Nest</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span></span></font></span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><font style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"></span></span></font>The nest building process can take up to 24-25 days. The <i style="line-height: 1.5;">baya </i>family resides in this nest for a period of 35-40 days. Next breeding season means construction of new nests. Abandoned <i style="line-height: 1.5;">baya</i> nest are later utilized by mice or <i style="line-height: 1.5;">munias </i>also known as the Indian Silverbill.</span></span></font><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEHUXARZI5t7rKPJ3bwDPZeyePF9q1fzMsx2q5oZdnq5qi2HMWL-52rJfeIdi8w44tEQRZOa6_rXc0t0qZV6BeMbgJPKFVHjBdu5jK3HyZSCHnEFxm8_AynREpXQRL-Kj9x0PZDZnWw/s1600/P1060590.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</a></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-61678876297774330762011-02-12T22:37:00.006+05:302020-07-01T23:06:17.235+05:30Accipiters in the neighbourhood<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYYgm5unbz0L_o_moomh37pm1ImqHlJwkt1wBmlaoZAMzN4lB1anJgqTZryBOWcz7-u-3oFRO3kwoqYOr_GBSR_kq6g6dqLPL5hRVT45p1uVOVao5iNbwcoafxrVZuW54cBQde59WGQ/s1600/P2023837.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYYgm5unbz0L_o_moomh37pm1ImqHlJwkt1wBmlaoZAMzN4lB1anJgqTZryBOWcz7-u-3oFRO3kwoqYOr_GBSR_kq6g6dqLPL5hRVT45p1uVOVao5iNbwcoafxrVZuW54cBQde59WGQ/w320-h240/P2023837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Female Shikra</font><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">It was time to leave for work. I was packing my lunch, while my sister read newspaper in the dining area. She looked up while turning a page and happened to see a big bird, about a foot tall, perched in the balcony across the room. This was an opportunity that could not be missed.</span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo2lMbdXa-Z3e9BMWLnIFUtREyJ3qv4O5EPgq_GipVN8yhun_rK2rpp8etHP1nP6NZfX2UbpjiM4ORHEx-x8SHRcKEKYB1dbpnik54yihJWiFjkQ_EHg4Gj7HShPgYCJ1i_K8NUtTEw/s2049/P1040857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo2lMbdXa-Z3e9BMWLnIFUtREyJ3qv4O5EPgq_GipVN8yhun_rK2rpp8etHP1nP6NZfX2UbpjiM4ORHEx-x8SHRcKEKYB1dbpnik54yihJWiFjkQ_EHg4Gj7HShPgYCJ1i_K8NUtTEw/w400-h279/P1040857.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Sub-adult Shikra</font></td></tr></tbody></table></span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>My sister grabbed her Olympus SLR and quietly crept into the adjacent balcony. <br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>We took turns to take pictures and admire the magnificent bird. The bird, stayed on the spot for few minutes, fanning its wings and tail feathers, in the warm winter sun. A soon as it saw us, the bird spread its wings and flew away.</span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The bird was identified as shikra, a resident of our neighborhood. It can be seen perched on trees or lampposts, waiting for unsuspecting prey. It targets the juvenile or hatchlings of many birds; even crows' nests are not spared.</span></span></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXbfvodbcUaCEnN-w-OmBnbrJSITVENyFzVe3OehGsjxj9GgdGubOUjw9hRnYTYJZTrdR4rnQQR7j7LnD-k6COSkzemuRjAO9kIhnUrLzBncjXMcd9QjcbqLkFKj21xYt9hJhJW7-yw/s1762/shikra+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1762" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXbfvodbcUaCEnN-w-OmBnbrJSITVENyFzVe3OehGsjxj9GgdGubOUjw9hRnYTYJZTrdR4rnQQR7j7LnD-k6COSkzemuRjAO9kIhnUrLzBncjXMcd9QjcbqLkFKj21xYt9hJhJW7-yw/w781-h556/shikra+1.jpg" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Mr Shikra</font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-12098975913786917102011-02-09T15:52:00.005+05:302020-07-03T14:51:19.995+05:30Peacock Dance<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/peacock/" style="line-height: 1.5;">The Peacock</a> should have been the first entry in Feathered Friends, being the national bird. Hopefully the number of pictures and the time spent on this chapter should appease this divine bird 😀</span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4ARyGxRz2fxbnKBc8Ttgti2PY87ouojPrPI-dcaJjr18KxcAZi-Yvt_TSEkokpQ9AUZ3OSkgLk8OjjGfowmliDfp39PYgIsuHHjypM-nh9f0fLmTUyUvG4z7nGE1Wi_mvH8dFxhwZw/s1600/P1060992.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4ARyGxRz2fxbnKBc8Ttgti2PY87ouojPrPI-dcaJjr18KxcAZi-Yvt_TSEkokpQ9AUZ3OSkgLk8OjjGfowmliDfp39PYgIsuHHjypM-nh9f0fLmTUyUvG4z7nGE1Wi_mvH8dFxhwZw/w781-h586/P1060992.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">Peafowl family in Moira, Goa</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">During my stay at beautiful <a href="http://www.goacom.com/village/moiravillage/mapofmoira.html" style="line-height: 1.5;">Moira village </a>in Goa, in July, I had an opportunity to see this beautiful bird dancing. The peahens scavenged vegetable patch of the neighbors for food, while the peacock merrily put up its show.</span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Being monsoon season, peacock's plumage was in its full splendor. Brilliant blue green and gold colored feathers were mesmerizing. The call of the dancing bird could be heard all over the village for hours after mid day. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The peacock is more flamboyant than the peahens in its harem. A typical peafowl family has one male and 3-4 females.</span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"></span></span></font><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1754747288" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8gWVza-o60ZcPuye7iNQA64Lb-R2Cbd65j9LNCI-YlL2g4kvCFtl0L11ajWUxYIp2yMQOywUArSIjYJLp_TeOYZjlfN5S029L34_ZjEd7zrqlaZbPiMKO7U_cdmk2pMk7VzvZleC6Q/w781-h586/P1070057.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="781" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">It is said that the</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> peacock "has angel's feathers, a devil's voice, and the walk of a thief."<i> </i>Peacock is also the vehicle for Kartikeya, son of Shiva and Parvati.</span></span></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Legends from Greek mythology, provide explanations for the extravagant display feathers of the peacock.</span></span></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; height: 1px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right; width: 1px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6L7pRyYZOGtk0XaseHes0OpHwfI174BONtRxmrKKXQ49cIAocegGubYsSNOTUxLcZmzJykkslQh9r5iHAHUmZaxahVGIMzK7O8JfhwK8AZGt8scfD2sTyMIJSKchIgverA-vfaupkQ/s329/5cb803c1fc7a90106aabb63bd02f4905--argus-panoptes-greek-mythology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6L7pRyYZOGtk0XaseHes0OpHwfI174BONtRxmrKKXQ49cIAocegGubYsSNOTUxLcZmzJykkslQh9r5iHAHUmZaxahVGIMzK7O8JfhwK8AZGt8scfD2sTyMIJSKchIgverA-vfaupkQ/s320/5cb803c1fc7a90106aabb63bd02f4905--argus-panoptes-greek-mythology.jpg" /></a></div>A story describes how the peacock acquired the many eyes in his ornamental train. The goddess Hera had a beautiful priestess named Io. Io was greatly admired by Zeus. To protect her from Hera’s jealousy Zeus transformed Io into a heifer. Hera tricked Zeus into giving the heifer to her as a gift and set her faithful servant Argus to watch over her. Argus had numerous eyes all over his body, making him a natural choice for the assignment. Zeus sent the god Hermes to free Io from Hera’s watchman. Hermes charmed Argus to sleep until all of his eyes were closed and then killed him. To honor her faithful watchman, Hera took Argus’ eyes and placed them on the tail of the peacock.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span></span></font><br /><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;"><div style="clear: both; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjcnG7WPgmPrlcqFmfB0QgEBoyCBHMZtJIVDE1ZxN2jS6ORknJEta6vk_KvxiWflcQvyf6lsnpjSZomiSNezHfmuPF7Cwzgcgrj8WEo9ISD_IkFy-os4AZMM2FzoiFFUiCEjwymkRqQ/s1600/P1070077.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjcnG7WPgmPrlcqFmfB0QgEBoyCBHMZtJIVDE1ZxN2jS6ORknJEta6vk_KvxiWflcQvyf6lsnpjSZomiSNezHfmuPF7Cwzgcgrj8WEo9ISD_IkFy-os4AZMM2FzoiFFUiCEjwymkRqQ/w839-h1000/P1070077.JPG" width="839" /></a>
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span><span>Three types of peafowls are found in world; Indian, Green and Congo. Green peafowl is found in southeast Asia which I have photographed in Sentosa island, Singapore. Hoping to get a chance to photograph the Congo variety in African region.</span></span><br />
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</span></font><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</tbody> </table></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-6334372035762056022011-02-06T14:36:00.015+05:302020-07-30T15:33:16.566+05:30Saarika - The Garrulous Myana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVApl5yhsjA864U414yPPsiVnrpc2L2qCo77PTOjsBkCyp8Z6ajOXo4mWpKPkir8_uxUZJBhGArEZYZ3ykfKTaYWPV2mdqu32rLJSXLs783GhbnOlmT5nQd3Rb5x-dhLDKSmoGDUCvzQ/s1196/Myana+family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1196" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVApl5yhsjA864U414yPPsiVnrpc2L2qCo77PTOjsBkCyp8Z6ajOXo4mWpKPkir8_uxUZJBhGArEZYZ3ykfKTaYWPV2mdqu32rLJSXLs783GhbnOlmT5nQd3Rb5x-dhLDKSmoGDUCvzQ/w625-h395/Myana+family.JPG" width="625" /></a></div>The balcony of our fifth floor residence is a happening spot for birds.We have variety of visitors landing in our balcony to drink or bathe in a shallow earthen water bowl.</span></span></font><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY1AjJXXtcnP6nyvmvg-qapvcGGvVBLgp7NuXCnn9nXZp639glTjxVKRUpd0DbfA8F2QbZ-9T56vFCGMLTSuyj7iMT9WNzF_eppOYcgDtl-oCg0DmspjAxBjW1HRJvJjW-QqMPZh-cg/s1600/P1010544.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY1AjJXXtcnP6nyvmvg-qapvcGGvVBLgp7NuXCnn9nXZp639glTjxVKRUpd0DbfA8F2QbZ-9T56vFCGMLTSuyj7iMT9WNzF_eppOYcgDtl-oCg0DmspjAxBjW1HRJvJjW-QqMPZh-cg/w400-h300/P1010544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">
<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">Myanas have devised another use for the bowl. Twigs, leaves and grass are soaked in water; softened sufficiently to be woven into a nest. Raw material for nest building are also sourced by these intelligent scavengers from flower pots and cloths line in the balcony. </span></font></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVv6UtR8Etwj8umNPpaXblHdPewYO90PEUUzvaRJLyRYjlFSPA-uxHl5Tr3E6p-PvFQkt5zbE8F6e9oqjoc-NWPMXrR0MnudxVP_DRk1o9FUKsld_8XYu_a4bPzEIyA__Ib7NtczkWw/s1600/P1010545.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVv6UtR8Etwj8umNPpaXblHdPewYO90PEUUzvaRJLyRYjlFSPA-uxHl5Tr3E6p-PvFQkt5zbE8F6e9oqjoc-NWPMXrR0MnudxVP_DRk1o9FUKsld_8XYu_a4bPzEIyA__Ib7NtczkWw/w400-h300/P1010545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">After the eggs hatched, young ones were spreading their wings; and the balcony became a training ground. Captured pictures of the myana family during one of their practice sessions.</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 1.5;">The adults of the family can be identified by their dark-yellow lores. In the fledglings, the lores and plumage is duller.</span></font></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423871305466465590.post-18191439142671986792011-01-26T18:52:00.006+05:302020-07-25T16:30:28.736+05:30Barbets lunching in Up market tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_3YQwgHZBX7WW93as6Z1fRXY7JJS6WWxL7V5JkdZXgR-gEgKftZCGxaOwJiAnpFEuxBm4Iq-g7q8xeihyphenhyphenw7jzeQGH2qAHG3vmpdeX66FXUZe0XcNQ-TPMS_PuD4ZhWPKYZgCUnqWGw/s1600/Barbet2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_3YQwgHZBX7WW93as6Z1fRXY7JJS6WWxL7V5JkdZXgR-gEgKftZCGxaOwJiAnpFEuxBm4Iq-g7q8xeihyphenhyphenw7jzeQGH2qAHG3vmpdeX66FXUZe0XcNQ-TPMS_PuD4ZhWPKYZgCUnqWGw/s200/Barbet2.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">The peepal tree offers a feast of figs from end winter to spring season. Its a banquet time, eagerly awaited by the <a href="http://www.kolkatabirds.com/citibirds.htm" style="line-height: 1.5;">city dwelling birds</a>. Parrots, sparrows and even squirrels can be seen having their fill. One of the not so common bird which can be spotted especially around this time of the year is the barbet. </font></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.5;">
Strolling in market near office, I saw a pair of barbets; with green feathers and brownish head and beak. They were well camouflaged in the foliage as they lunched on the abundant figs growing on branches of the dense tree. </font></span><br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-Gnx3ckpwzF0KzEIIt3bHKsjQ1FQm06Wiu9KoIAPG7Oa_S2EikSpGVhyphenhyphenIOVjrkn6wO8p96FUwI8JfSaL8gvsGbyJz4SzFx5K5N-BJEtlqg61yJ0J4E6XV4ksK0nFxhp4P194kBkRFQ/s1209/brownheaded+barbet01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1209" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-Gnx3ckpwzF0KzEIIt3bHKsjQ1FQm06Wiu9KoIAPG7Oa_S2EikSpGVhyphenhyphenIOVjrkn6wO8p96FUwI8JfSaL8gvsGbyJz4SzFx5K5N-BJEtlqg61yJ0J4E6XV4ksK0nFxhp4P194kBkRFQ/w625-h414/brownheaded+barbet01.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Checked the Pocket Guide to The Birds of Indian Subcontinent to find out about this beautiful and unusual bird, which turned out to be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-headed_Barbet">Brown Headed Barbet</a>. It is known as <b><i>bada basanta</i></b> in the North Indian plains. </span></font><br /><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span></font><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
Managed to get a few photos using phonecam, while sorely missing my Lumix FZ30. One of the barbets, being more inquisitive, came closer to find out why it was being given more attention than the display windows and advertisements.</span></font></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0