Birds of Mount Abu Phase III

Asian Paradise flycatcher female in nest

Asian Paradise flycatcher female in nest
Asian Paradise flycatcher Male in nest

Asian Paradise flycatcher Male in nest

Asian Paradise Flycatcher Male Paradise flycatcher

Asian Paradise flycatcher

Follow the leader Geese at the Lake

Black Bird

Black Bird

Black-lored Tit

Black-shouldered Kite /Dove/Bulbul

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-throated Tit

Black Winged Stilt

Black Winged Stilt

Brahimny Starling

Brahimny Starling

Brown Headed Barbet

Brown Headed Barbet

Bulbul Red Whiskered

Bulbul Red Whiskered

Common Kestrel

Common Sparrow

Coppersmith Barbet

Dab chick

Dove Little Brown

Dove Little Brown

Egyptian Vulture

Fledgling Green Bee Eater

Fledgling Green Bee Eater

Flying Fox

Flying Fox

Flying Fox

Great Cormorant Adult
Great Cormorant Adult

Green Bee Eater

Green Munia

Indian Robin

Indian Robin Female

Indian Silverbill

Jungle Babbler

Jungle Babbler

It will be a while before I post more on birds as the monsoons are around the corner.

Birds of Mount Abu Phase I

Sparrow-Hawk

Sun bird female

Sun bird fledgling

Male Sun bird singing to White bellied Drongo

Sun birds

Tailor bird

Tailorbird

Speckled Dove

White Bellied Drongo

Drongo singing back

White bellied Drongo

Drongos

White breasted water-hen

White eye

White eye

White eye

White bellied Drongo

White breasted water-hen

White-browed Wagtail

White-naped Woodpecker

White_throated Kingfisher

White_throated Kingfisher

White_throated Kingfisher

Wood Sparrow

Woodpecker Lesser Golden-backed

Woodpecker Lesser Golden-backed

Woolly-necked Storks

Woolly-necked Storks

Woolly-necked Storks

Woolly-necked Storks

Yellow Throat

I have always been fascinated with birds. As a young lad from the age of thirteen I have observed and studied the habits and habitats of birds in Abu. For years I explored the jungle of Abu in search of rare birds and their nesting habits. Over the last two months I have visited almost every nook and corner of Abu to snap birds so that I could refresh the memories of the boys who have passed out from this paradise of ours. I’m sure they will enjoy this walk down memory lane with nostalgia.

Look forward to the next phase, till then enjoy this post.

Sunbird in my garden Mt.Abu

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus    

Sunbirds nest May 30 7.30 am

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus   - Female

Nest in the afternoon around 1.30pm

Day two interior decoration day 8.30pm

I stumbled upon this little sunbird building its nest on the Jamun tree in our garden on the 30th of May. The little one kept darting to and fro and in a jiffy, she had her nest going great guns. She completed the main structure from about 7.3 0am to 5.30 pm. Not once did I see the male sunbird give a helping hand, it does sound familiar, especially in this part of the world.
Day two and three went into the interior decoration of the nest; carefully chosen soft feathers and lovely silky threads went into this master craftsman’s abode. Today I had a peek at the nest all seemed quite on the western front, she’s probably incubating her eggs. I still haven’t see the male around, is she a modern bird I wonder ‘a single mother’! Will post some more on her as and when I get the time. Happy viewing

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus    nest completed 

SWINE IN MY BACK YARD MOUNT ABU

Isn't this Critter one photogenic swine

oink oink my grace before a meal

“Always remember, a cat looks down on man, a dog looks up to man, but a pig will look man right in the eye and see his equal.”

Winston Churchill

Last week my back yard was invaded by a herd of swine/pigs, out of the blue. Had the herder of this herd, got an inside tip that the swine flu, would fly to this part of the world and hence set them free to escape the flu.

India today has made a formal announcement that there are reports of at least seven cases down with the dreaded swine flu influenza. I know a lot of hype, has gone into this via the media, the internet and the WHO. If it’s so contagious it could be a real bummer for this country of ours as the people are gullible, and Tantrk’s, Baba’s and our faith healers would have a hay day making a fast buck on just plain cough and colds. But should the flu spread it would be an epidemic that would probably leave this land of Bharat more shattered than any earthquake or tsunami.

Pigs bring to mind our local ‘Porkie’. Porkie was the pork man who would deliver his bunch of goodies every Sunday; he would supply spicy pork sausages, homemade bacon, and pork. Ham and his local salami ‘Roll’ would only make the round around Christmas time. Porkie’s Roll and ham was so famous that he would get orders all the way from Bombay and Delhi. Toady most of the veterans pork eaters have either given up eating this delicacy or have become gass-puss (vegetarian) eaters.

My Bassett Bhoski and the cats’ curiosity knew no end when these weird and wonderful creatures first made their appearance. Bhoski if given half a chance would make home with these critters.

An update on my Bassett isn't she fat and cute

Grim water situation Mount Abu

The Grim Reality of Water Scarcity in Mount Abu.

 Mount Abu, once a haven of cool climates and lush greenery, is now facing an alarming water crisis. Over the past few years, a pattern of weak monsoons has led to a severe strain on our water sources. The situation has become so dire that we’ve had to adapt to water being supplied only on alternate days. Yet even this has worsened, the waterworks haven’t been able to meet our needs because of pressure, resulting in reducing our water supply to half of what it once was.

This year’s summer has been unlike any I’ve experienced before—hotter, drier, and far more unforgiving. Abu’s once vibrant streams and ponds have dried up. The few remaining artificial water bodies in the hills are shrinking, unable to sustain the local wildlife that depends on them.

Among those hardest hits are the dhobis, our local washermen. Because of the limited availability of clean water, they have had to wash clothes in stagnant, polluted pools. The health risks are evident—skin rashes, waterborne diseases, and the foul stench that clings to everything washed in these murky waters are becoming all too common.

The cost of water has skyrocketed. Just two months ago, a tanker of water cost Rs 150. Last month, that price more than doubled to Rs 350, and now, even if you can afford it, finding a tanker with water is a matter of luck. Our once reliable tube wells have dried up, and most of the municipal sources have failed, leaving us in a precarious situation.

 If the South-West Monsoon fails to arrive on time this year, or worse, if it’s as erratic as in the past, it could plunge Mount Abu into a full-blown water crisis. The fragile ecosystem of our hills, combined with the water scarcity we are already experiencing, calls for immediate, comprehensive action. We might turn to traditional rituals or hope for divine intervention, but only a well-planned, long-term strategy can ensure a reliable water supply for our community and protect our environment.

I remember a time in the late sixties when Mount Abu was so pleasant that we didn’t even need fans in our homes. But those days are long gone. With the relentless advance of climate change, we now rely on air conditioning to endure the summer heat. The future looks grim unless our leaders take this crisis and tackle it head-on. If we don’t act now, we’re headed for a water crisis that could change the very fabric of life in Mount Abu.

Dhobis washing clothes in stagnant water

Dhobi at the Paddys bridge washing clothes