Fresh Starts

 

After being away from this blog for a whole year, it is time to bring it up to speed. 2025 was quite transformational as we switched cities.... again! 

Only this time it was a return to the roots. To known haunts and familiar places. Except that we didn't realise how much our city had changed in the intervening years...

Every new beginning comes with its challenges.

Can you spot the rising sun in the smoke-filled sky?

Being in the most polluted, and the most densely populated city, are certainly tribulations not to be taken lightly. Both the human congestion and the man-made smog have been overwhelming to deal with.

Add to that the extremes of temperature, and one has quite a cocktail on hand.

However, a new year is meant to instill hope, and that is what floats our boat in 2026! Looking forward to a happening year that connects us to old friends and new experiences.

Joys of Backyard Birding

 

This month we have been birding in our backyard.... well almost, since the birding site is right behind our lane. And an unusual one at that - it is actually an open plot of vacant land that mostly lies undisturbed. Situated right next to the dispensary, it is an enclosed area with very little human footfall. Due to the growth of wild vegetation and tall grasses through the year, the area is preferred by the avian population. 

Many a times it is used as a breeding site. We have seen peafowl, egrets, lapwings, and herons before. This year due to the accumulation of stagnant brackish water, there are waterhen and black winged stilts as well.

During our walks around the neighbourhood, we make it a point to stop by this unusual birding site while it lasts. The chirps and twitters are pleasant to hear, especially in the evenings when the slanting sunlight gives the area a golden glow.

However, while the birds and their graceful flights look great, this swampy area actually points to a deeper malaise within the locality. Local residents are aware of the issues but the powers that be choose to ignore it. Six years of living in the neighbourhood have made us realise that systemic changes are impossible to pull off; the only options are to close our eyes to the problem, or grin and bear it. Of course there are more drastic measures that one may have to eventually take... 

But for now, I am loving this opportunity for backyard birding daily.

Update: Indian black glossy ibis spotted at this site on 15Feb2025.

A Rookery In The Making

 

Last month on our evening walks we noticed droves of egrets and herons flying overhead in a particular part of our block. It was a magical sight, no doubt and we wondered what brought these water birds to be so close to human habitats.

On probing further, some obvious reasons emerged. The upcoming expressway in the vicinity must have disturbed their earlier haunts due to the construction noise, pollution, and sudden influx of activities. Meanwhile, the shady clump of trees in this part of our block provided the ideal coverage for these birds to spend the night comfortably and undisturbed. Slowly their numbers grew...

Till a friend informed us that the people living in the nearby houses were struggling to keep the area clean. Droppings, dead birds, clumps of feathers, and that peculiar smell associated with water birds made it difficult for the residents to cope.

I researched some more and suggested that the clump of trees should be cut to limit their numbers. It seemed to work for a little while but then they returned. Once egrets and herons start nesting at a site, it is difficult to dislodge them. Really feel sorry for the affected residents but in the process I learnt about rookeries - a colony of egrets and herons.

Their graceful flight is a pleasure to watch every evening. I hope in future we come upon a solution whereby both birds and humans can happily coexist.