World Sparrow Day Tomorrow 20 March 2018.

World Sparrow Day in Mount Abu: A Success Story of Conservation

In the serene hills of Mount Abu, the community has taken remarkable steps to ensure the survival and growth of the house sparrow. Abuites, the locals of Mount Abu, make extraordinary efforts to promote the population of these charming little birds. Daily, they scatter bajra and other bird seeds in spots accessible to the sparrows, providing a consistent food source. Additionally, they create safe havens for these birds to nest and thrive by carefully placing birdhouses outside buildings.

A few decades ago, the house sparrow population faced a steep decline, raising concerns among bird lovers and conservationists. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the people of Mount Abu, their numbers have increased. Today, it’s not uncommon to hear excited exclamations from tourists, those from Gujarat, when they spot a house sparrow. Phrases like, “Juoo Juoo Chakli che... photo leg, photo ley ane gear mokal WhatsApp pur!” (Look, look, it’s a sparrow... take a photo and send it home on WhatsApp!) echo through the hills as these visitors marvel at the sight of a bird that has become a rarity in their own cities.

During a recent month-long stay in Ahmedabad, I felt a personal connection to the house sparrow. As I recorded a variety of bird species during my visit, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of sparrows—a stark contrast to the bustling avian life I was used to in Mount Abu. Imagine my joy when, about two weeks into my stay, I spotted and photographed a single sparrow. It was a moment of triumph, but also a reminder of the challenges these birds face in urban environments.

The efforts in Mount Abu are a testament to what communities can achieve when they come together for a common cause. On World Sparrow Day, let’s celebrate not just the house sparrows of Mount Abu but also the spirit of conservation that has allowed these birds to flourish once again.

 

The single House sparrow I saw while in Ahmedabad.

The population of Yellow-throated sparrows in Mount Abu has tripled in the past 5 years. Local folks call them the jungle sparrow.

 To know more about SPARROWS click World Sparrow Day 

SPRING IS HERE- SPRING IS HERE in the Abode of Gods

SPRING IS HERE MOUNT ABU

Chaitra 2018: This festival marks the onset of spring. It is an auspicious day. In the lunar religious calendars, Chaitra begins with the new moon in March/April and is the first month of the year. 

The first of Chaitra–is a day celebrated as New Year's Day.

Wishing All Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu or Puthandu in Tamil Naduand Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

They observed this festival throughout the country and signals the start of spring. Abu during spring is a haven for butterflies, honeybees, and different birds because of the nectar from the blossoms. They covered the gardens and hillsides in blankets of different hues. Animals and birds reproduce in spring when temperatures are warmer and food plentiful.

Its spring and nature are beckoning humans to take part in its rebirth so why wait "Let's Party"

Cheers from the Abode of the Gods. 

The Hillsides of Abu.

17 March 2018 Happy St. Patrick's Day From the Abode of Gods

St.Mary's High School Mount Abu 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

St.Patrick’s Day - 17 March a holiday for the boys of St.Mary’s School. On the 17th of March, Ireland observes St. Patrick's Day as a national holiday. It’s a popular holiday in the history of the school as all the students gear up for the Jungle warfare that is carried out every year. Mention St. PADDY’s to an ex-Marian and he will reflect back with nostalgia for the Jungle war game he had participated in while in school.

This year the school has got a break from the traditional jungle warfare game. They gave the senior dorm boys the option of trekking to Gurushikar after 12 a.m. Approximately 120 boys went on the trek, while 45 boys did not. They started at 2 a.m. and made it back to school by 11 a.m. for lunch.

I wish all the boys and staff of St. Mary's School a Wonderful St. Patrick’s Day. 

St.Patrick’s Day would be incomplete without a good drink of beer or Whiskey Cheers!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Click for an Irish blessing.




Cleanliness Drive in Mount Abu. 15 March 2018

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Mount Abu 

Mount Abu is actively working towards the Clean Indian Mission, striving to uphold the slogan. Cleanliness is close to god. I’m sure the Gods are pleased to see an all-out effort being taken by the administration and the local Abuites to live up to the dream of Swachh Bharat.
I’m thankful to the chairman, Mr Suresh Thinger and his team under Shankar, who landed up outside my Abode with a JCB to clean the stream that was in a pitiful state. The pristine stream over the last decade or so had silted up and looked more like a gutter than a stream.
This is the first time that someone from the administration noticed the pathetic state of our streams.
They have reduced all our streams in Abu to gutters, as it has clogged the natural flow due to miniature dams being erected to preserve the rainwater. The water bodies that were constructed are now filled with silt and debris, making them irrelevant. No dredging plans have ever been in effect, leaving these places silted over with no rainwater. I believe that all these so-called rain harvesting efforts by the administration be put aside and removed from the embankments so that in our small hill station normality returns and no flooding occurs in this Abode.

A few snaps of today Ever so grateful to the Abu Administrative. 

Shankar Team Leader 

 JCB with staff in action 

Dredging our stream Yek! The stench!

Mount Abu,blood donation a super Spring event 11 March 2018.

Mount Abu, blood donation  11 March 2018.

We hold World Blood Donation Day on 14 June every year, but here in Abu, any day is Blood Donation Day. The Abuites of this small hill station only have to know it's gonna be blood donation day. They turn up from all walks of life. Everyone, including locals, armed forces, and various associations like the Lions Club and Rotary Club, showed great enthusiasm and fervour. They all head to make every blood donation camp a memorable event.
Today they held the event as usual at the Global Hospital. The turnout was exceptional.
As the saying goes, a pint of booze will do an individual some good, but a pint of blood donated will do you fine! Feel better and fitter….

The signature of my Family Doctor Dr A K Sharma Appreciates his poem.

LET US MAKE A LIFELONG PACT

 Let us make a lifelong pact

With this angelic munificent act

 From our parents’ pious legacy

By true decree, not a fallacy

 Love dyed in sacred red

In ambrosia of one’s blood

 WBC with their soothing balm

Spreading peace and serene calm

 Platelets preventing bloody hemorrhage

Saving from many vicious outrages

 Various factors battle like saviors

Armed to the teeth like kindly  warriors

Every drop is of great value

To every life a tender rescue

 The dues to all one’s life’s credit

Blood the precious seraphic gift

 Truly priceless and truly great

Betters health the more you donate

 The only way to gift a life

Sans sacrificing one’s own life!

…

My brother-in-law Jimmy sent me snaps via WhatsApp. 

A request by DR. A K Sharma
PLEASE INTRODUCE AND PROMOTE