Friendship beyond Barriers

"God loved the birds and invented trees.  Man loved the birds and invented cages."  ~Jacques Deval

A neighbour has two bird cages - one for budgerigars and one for rose ringed parakeet. The cages are placed in their balcony, around early morning and evening hours. These caged birds or rather their feed attracts pigeons, mynas and sparrows to the neighbor's balcony.

In a way, the caged birds enjoy the  company of others from Avian world during their stay in the balcony. 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.  
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.  

The budgerigars were the perfect conspirators who kept a watch on the human activities inside the house and gave alarm calls to parakeets if anyone approached the balcony door. The wild parakeets would leave at the slightest hint of human presence, to return later when all was clear. 
The caged parakeet would become restless after its friend left, shunning the food it's jailers offered, pacing within cage frantically. 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.

Caged Juvenile Plum-headed Parakeet
rescued and set free from a project site

The peak winter chill is over and caged birds 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.

#birdwatching #indianbirds #woodpeckers #birdingwindow #birding #birdingathome #naturelovers #nature

A Furry Friend practices Yoga

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.

This furry friend, a squirrel,  is seen practicing yoga asanas 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.

Ready - Steady- Go

Stretching to warm up those muscles

Can you touch your nose......with your toes

Try this... Paschimottanasana

Exercising with instruments

Relaxing after strenuous workout session

Whew ... those asanas were something... Hope you enjoyed this break.. Will return to our Feathered friends now.. watch out for future breaks.. keep fit

Accipiters in the neighbourhood

Female Shikra

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.

Sub-adult Shikra

My sister grabbed her Olympus SLR and quietly crept into the adjacent balcony.

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.

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.

Mr Shikra

Saarika - The Garrulous Myana

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.

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.

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.

The adults of the family can be identified by their dark-yellow lores. In the fledglings, the lores and plumage is duller.