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

The Miracle Neem Tree Mount Abu

Neem Trees Arna Village
Saurabh's house Neem trees

Plummy from Arna Village

The Golden Horn from Tiger path

Common Shrike

Precarious water situation in Abu

The Legendary Neem tree can be found in nearly all parts of India, it grows at the foot hills of Abu but not in Abu. Abu is blessed with a cocktail of diverse trees, evergreen, deciduous and desert varieties, but not the Miracle tree, the Neem. Many have tried to grow this tree over time but not a single tree could be found in this heaven of ours, my quest for locating a single tree almost came to end and I was ready to believe that this tree could not be grown in Abu, when out of the blue I was told that there were Neem trees growing in Abu.
I had gone to order a cake for my lady love on Valentine’s Day from Saurabh of Swastik Hotel, (by the way his chef makes wonderful cakes) and in the course of our conversation we hit upon the topic of the wonders of the Neem tree and how this tree did not grow in Abu. Saurabh who has a house in Arna Village, just below Monkey Temple told me he had four Neem trees growing on his property, at first I thought he was pulling my leg, but he was dead serious, he told me he had brought them from Himatnager in Gujarat. I told him I would drop in when I could find the time to confirm his claim.
Today was a hay day for me I had driven down to the Arna Village to see the extent of damage the forest fire had caused there. Not only did I get to see the Neem trees but got to hear the Legendary Golden Oriel melodious tunes. The Oriel was a common bird in the sixties, today if one gets to see or hear one, one can consider himself lucky. I did manage to get some lovely shots of the Neem and of some birds and of the horn. I have posted them above. Probably the Neem trees have survived at Arna Village due to a small variation in temperatures, Neem trees cannot survive in temperatures below 4 degree C.

Tragic end to the fish in the school fish pond

After I had posted the article “Nostalgia St.Mary’s School Mount Abu”, I heard that the fish in the school pond the next day met with a tragic end. No it was not the sloth bear of Abu that attacked the fish in the pond, it was a Good Samaritan, as this bloke took it upon himself to replenish the drying pond with fresh water. It was probably chlorinated water that put paid to the fish in the pond.
The pond is now being refilled after a through spring cleaning. Any one feeling generous could donate some fish when visiting the school next, only after getting a green signal from the principal.