Its the story of the 'goose that laid the golden egg'. Quite similar to my earlier post on Hills: Don't we need them anymore. But irony is, while the earlier story was about a place some distance from Delhi, this one is right from the heart of the capital. This too is about something equally crucial or perhaps more in the immediate future. This also had a bit more of emotional connect as it relates to the place which I visit almost daily. Another fact that it is also the place, where I had some of my very memorable photographs. So this was the scene yesterday (image below), that saddened me and prompted me to write about it. And honestly, I had thought about writing on this a number of times earlier as well, but couldn't muster the will. As could be made out, this image and the imag
Read MoreTag: Migratory birds
With sunlight ready to colour them, two pairs of Mallard Ducks trying to move away from my constant gaze of my camera lens. Belonging to the Anatidae family, these ducks migrate to many wetlands in Delhi NCR region as well during the winters. Sanjay Lake in east Delhi has a good number of mallards every winter. The bill of a female mallard is generally darker ranging from black to mottled orange. The female mallard is predominantly mottled with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat and neck with a darker crown and eye-stripe. The mallards are omnivorous and very flexible in their food choice. Here one female mallard looking for some food in the water. Male mallard has a bottle-green head...
Read MoreTwo tagged falcons complete two rounds from Mongolia to South Africa As two of the three Amur falcons tagged with satellite tracking chips last year returned to the north-eastern Indian state of Nagaland, central government has now decided to develop Doyang Lake as an ecotourism spot for bird-watchers across the world to have a wonderful and rare sight of Amur Falcons. Doyang lake is famous as a roosting site for longest travelling raptors Amur Falcons. They come every year at Doyang lake during their flight from Mongolia to South Africa. Pangti is now Amur Falcon capital of world The two falcons - named Naga and Pangti – tagged in 2013 have already done two rounds from Mongolia to South Africa via Nagaland and have again returned to Nagaland this year. Amur falcons, weigh just 15
Read MoreAlthough they are not classified as migratory birds, because they are native to south of Himalayan region and spread well into south as well as south east Asia, still in my neighbourhood lake painted storks will be visiting only in winters. Most common, still most beautiful of the storks, painted storks have been recently added to near threatened list because of there decreasing population. Their total number is estimated around 25 thousand. This year to my pleasant surprise, the number of painted stork visiting this lake in eastern Delhi has dramatically increased. Earlier there used to be hardly a couple. But this season, when they arrived in mid of October, I spotted five of them (See: We are Back). And then suddenly... few days later I was thrilled to see a flock of almost thirty. H...
Read MorePainted storks have been my favourite bird for last few seasons. Big, bright, colourful and adorable. Equally fascinating is there flight. Have always wanted to catch them in their flight. More so when the number is more. Storks fly high, so only time to capture them is when they join the group or are taking off for a new place due to some disturbance. Got some opportunity this time. Was quite fascinating. Isn't it! Have a look!! ...
Read MoreMigratory birds are treat to be shot (through camera of course). They are here, in many parts of the peninsular India. This is the most awaited time to visit the bird sanctuaries around. Painted storks are big and beautiful. Its also delightful to see that how amazingly easy they catch there prey- fish indeed. This is a series of images on how a painted stork catches a fish and then turns it horizontal by tossing it up, so that it can easily swallow it down its longed neck. Watch the full slide show till the end- ...
Read MoreIt was heartening to see the couple of painted storks back in the lake. It was bit pleasantly surprising also, because winters this year seem to be arriving bit late as its already mid-October and maximum temperature is still hovering around 35o celsius. So sight of migratory birds in the lake (Sanjay Lake, East Delhi), where we have our daily morning walk, was heart warming. Second surprise was the number- a couple of painted storks have been regular visitors to this lake every winter for last many years. But this time I was pleasantly shocked to see five of them— highest number I have seen so far in this lake. But unfortunately, I was not carrying the camera that day. Next day, when I was fully armoured with my lenses, I could find only two. But still it was a satisfying day with the ca
Read MoreIts simple spellbinding. Isn't it! More so when you get to witness such a visual spectacle at some of the most unassuming of places. This is on way back to Rameshwaram from Dhanushkodi in Tamilnadu. A cursory glance towards sea and this was what was to be seen. A huge flock of hundreds of Australian Flamingos, in all their glory. ...
Read MoreWith the hunters of migratory Amur Falcon birds turning into protectors, Nagaland has become the "Falcon capital" of the world. "Against the general perception of Naga people being compulsive hunters, the success of Amur Falcon conservation has put Nagaland on the global map; and the sheer number of the Amur Falcon population here has made it the 'Falcon Capital' of the world," Nagaland's divisional forest officer (Doyang) Zuthunglo Patton said in a statement. While migrating to African sub-continent every winter to escape the extreme cold of Siberia, thousands of Amur Falcon birds roost in Nagaland for over a month. Till two years ago, the raptors were slaughtered in large numbers by locals and eaten as food.The forest official said focused and relentless awareness in the last one year
Read MoreIts Earth day today. Lets make each other happier by making our earth happy. Let's demonstrate support for environmental protection. Let's make our cities more green, more sustainable. This painted stork migrates every year at a lake in the heart of Delhi, very close to where I live. Watching him daily for months keep myself reminding that how beautiful our earth is and how much we need to do to keep it like that...
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