There I was, minding my own buisness today, I was sitting in the Balcony, trying to study that boring Interference of Light chapter from Physics, when this bird decided it would be smart on me and wandered around, right in front of my eyes, challenging my instincts. Only a birder will understand that sudden rush of excitement when he spots a new species. What can be more attractive than extremely pleasant weather and a species of bird that I hadn't seen ever before? Well, it happened. I abandoned my books again ( I needed to convince myself that I was pretty good at physics, having done quite well in the college test, so now was the time to relax), I rushed to the net, and started searching for the species. Well, I found it! It's the Indian ROller I saw today, a pretty little creature, a mixture of sea-blue wings and dull brown--a real treat to the eyes. Did you know something else? The Indian ROller is the Karntaka's State Bird!! Being a Kannadiga, I did'nt know that till today, until I searched the net. More than being ashamed, this has somehow excited me. I had never seen this bird before, and this is the first time I spotted it. I am pretty sure it is an Indain Roller ('almost sure' is called as a 'giss' in birding terms) I think our proud state bird has done something to me today, it has jolted my interest in Bird-watching once again. I had given up some time ago, as I was frustrated that there were not many birds left in Bangalore except the crows, jungle mynahs and tailorbirds, but I guess I need a litte more pateince. I need to fish out my old birding book now, and make a fabulous new entry. After all, spotting the KArntaka's state bird for the first time deserves some celebration!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
I saw Karnataka's state bird today!!
There I was, minding my own buisness today, I was sitting in the Balcony, trying to study that boring Interference of Light chapter from Physics, when this bird decided it would be smart on me and wandered around, right in front of my eyes, challenging my instincts. Only a birder will understand that sudden rush of excitement when he spots a new species. What can be more attractive than extremely pleasant weather and a species of bird that I hadn't seen ever before? Well, it happened. I abandoned my books again ( I needed to convince myself that I was pretty good at physics, having done quite well in the college test, so now was the time to relax), I rushed to the net, and started searching for the species. Well, I found it! It's the Indian ROller I saw today, a pretty little creature, a mixture of sea-blue wings and dull brown--a real treat to the eyes. Did you know something else? The Indian ROller is the Karntaka's State Bird!! Being a Kannadiga, I did'nt know that till today, until I searched the net. More than being ashamed, this has somehow excited me. I had never seen this bird before, and this is the first time I spotted it. I am pretty sure it is an Indain Roller ('almost sure' is called as a 'giss' in birding terms) I think our proud state bird has done something to me today, it has jolted my interest in Bird-watching once again. I had given up some time ago, as I was frustrated that there were not many birds left in Bangalore except the crows, jungle mynahs and tailorbirds, but I guess I need a litte more pateince. I need to fish out my old birding book now, and make a fabulous new entry. After all, spotting the KArntaka's state bird for the first time deserves some celebration!
4 comments:
sorry for the comment out of context for your post. This just a small alert to you that I have posted the first school photo on my blog as promised
Our office van on its daily journey passes by Yediyur Lake. I think I spotted "Karnataka's Bird" there. Will keep you posted
Really? Hmm...that's quite interesting. That means the bird is coming back, cause it is spotted aroud here now. I haven't see one at all, till last week, and I've been living in Bangalore all my life! Thank you for the valubale information. The last I saw, bulbuls seemed to have dissapeared...I think this is of supreme relevance. We might be onto something! Grandpa told me that I ought to write an article to deccan abt this bird, now, I really think I should. I think there is something scientific in this too...perhaps the bird is returning to the city, and we have caught the first signs. Sometimes, it is difficult to figure out how birds behave. Or, it might not be the same bird at all...in any case, I am deeply indebted because bird behavior intersts me so much that even a small peice of info can be extemely useful.
Talking of Bulbuls, I have a very interesting incident. I was recently - just 2 weeks back - visiting a relative in a remote village about 120 Kms from Bangalore - Banasandra - in Tumkur Dist. There is a big Tulsi plant which is quite bushy. We were shown a nest with 3 egss of which one had just hatched. The eggs had brown patches. The mother/father was not in the nest. After a few minutes when we looked again, the adult bird was back in the nest. The family was protecting it against the rain by covering the top of the plant with a plastic sheet leaving plenty of space for the adult birds to fly in and out of the nest. I finally - by pure co-incidence - happened to see the adult birds out of their nest. I was able to identify it as the bulbul by the prominent head feather. It had red cheeks. I was able to later identify it through pics on the google images search as the "red whiskered bulbul". I unfortunately had not carried the camera - else would have made a blog with pics.
Hats off the the protective family. THE BULBUL LIVES ON
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