tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28899001304671903332024-03-13T09:08:35.212+05:30SARUS SCAPERANDOM OBSERVATIONS OF A WANDERING NATURALISTGopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-31338079506475332092015-12-23T08:34:00.000+05:302015-12-23T14:01:10.181+05:30Waterbird foods: Lesser Adjutant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Surprisingly little is known of many species of large waterbirds such as storks, ibis and spoonbills. The Lesser Adjutant is one such species. Until recently, it was thought to require tall trees in forests to nests. However, surveys in the <a href="http://orientalbirdclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Baral-Adjutant.pdf" target="_blank">lowlands of eastern</a> and central Nepal during 2013-15 have found that practically all of the nesting in some of the rice-growing districts are <a href="http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/CS/article/view/8581" target="_blank">on trees amid fields</a>. Clearly, a lot is needed to be done in the field to understand this species better. Here is my bit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With my colleagues, I observed Lesser Adjutants for many an hour in central lowland Nepal in the districts of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. I restrict this blog post to some of the observations we had of the species feeding in the rice paddies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As has been seen in eastern Nepal, and in <a href="http://threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2015/November/o417426xi158089-8095.html" target="_blank">Sri Lanka</a>, Lesser Adjutants in Nepal frequent rice paddies during the monsoon. They steer clear of traffic on the roads, and keep at least 20-30 feet from farmers working on the fields. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One morning, we observed three stork feeding together - all three were exceedingly successful in finding earthworms in the flooded rice fields! We watched as each of them found and devoured 5-7 earthworms in just five minutes! The photo below shows one earthworm meeting its end between the massive beak of a Lesser Adjutant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another individual seemed an expert at finding insects in the rice fields. In the photo below, a Belastomatid (giant water bug) is swallowed with gusto.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another individual, shown below, caught and devoured a freshwater crab that seemed too tiny to be of consequence, but clearly kept the stork's attention as it maneuvered the animal into its mouth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With almost no time wasted the same stork also caught a fish, which nearly escaped. But,down the hatch it went!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Other colleagues and students have seen Lesser Adjutants in Nepal bring snakes to feed chicks at nests. Now, that must have been a treat for all!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(All photos from Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts in lowland Nepal, Aug 2014.) </span></span></div>
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Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-63510382940608948612015-12-20T18:39:00.002+05:302015-12-20T18:39:48.406+05:30Bill Fence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bird behaviour is fascinating to observe. It is no less fascinating to read about. Particularly since several behaviours have been given catchy names - some really spot-on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bill Fencing is one such phrase used for a behaviour that many storks exhibit. As the name suggests, they fence with their bills!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fencing can start pretty small - appearing to be a friendly, even affectionate, touching and clicking of bills. Like the two Painted Storks below.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyPhrrW991I/VnZ869PelNI/AAAAAAAABSw/B4PhJ764W3k/s1600/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyPhrrW991I/VnZ869PelNI/AAAAAAAABSw/B4PhJ764W3k/s320/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Quickly, it can escalate to an obvious joust that is not <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">so</span> friendly!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The point of bill fencing appears to be to grab hold of the beak of the opposition.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp4Mnvn7tF8/VnZ97og0atI/AAAAAAAABTA/UX0QMt7PJKg/s1600/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp4Mnvn7tF8/VnZ97og0atI/AAAAAAAABTA/UX0QMt7PJKg/s320/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then, if food or a prized foraging patch is involved, it can escalate to a full-on fight! Use of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">w</span>ings, beaks and even legs seem fair game<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. A <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">stork below appears to be karate-chopping the other <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">lunging stork!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_D0QGcHi6oY/VnZ-dsEbZkI/AAAAAAAABTI/A9VmzfF8L0Q/s1600/PaintedStorkJousting_Mainpuri1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_D0QGcHi6oY/VnZ-dsEbZkI/AAAAAAAABTI/A9VmzfF8L0Q/s320/PaintedStorkJousting_Mainpuri1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Until the beak of the opponent is finally in hand. Or rather, in bill!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy7l8VLur3U/VnZ-3NXxZSI/AAAAAAAABTQ/EsYNATetEUI/s1600/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy7l8VLur3U/VnZ-3NXxZSI/AAAAAAAABTQ/EsYNATetEUI/s320/PaintedStorkBillFence_Mainpuri2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then, the "vanquished" opponent either walks away, or, if feeling particularly adventurous, tries to disengage, and another bout of bill fencing ensues until the beak is in hand (or bill) again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One bird, clearly tired of the forced bill-shutting (and perhaps finally ala<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rmed at the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">dang<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">erous jabs of the long bill so close to the face!)</span></span></span>, eventually flies away. And <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the winner, after some work, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">keep</span>s the spo<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ils!!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Better this I say than jabs to the body, bleeding wings, and gouged eyes. Maybe these happen too...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(All photos taken in 2015 from various locations in western Uttar Pradesh.) </span></span></div>
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Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-78030930067683816742013-01-21T11:00:00.001+05:302013-01-21T11:07:48.243+05:30Wheat fields, flooding, snakes and storks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The setting of <span style="font-size: large;">w</span>inter in the northern Indian landscape signals a major change in <span style="font-size: large;">the c<span style="font-size: large;">rops. After harvesting the rice, farmers plant mustar<span style="font-size: large;">d and wheat. <span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the rice<span style="font-size: large;">, that requires to be flooded, wheat needs the soil to be just wet. Farmers achieve this by <span style="font-size: large;">flooding the fields intermittently. This sets off an una<span style="font-size: large;">nti<span style="font-size: large;">c<span style="font-size: large;">ipated set of events. Mice and snakes in burrows recently dried out are forced out again a<span style="font-size: large;">nd again.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Large waterbirds in Uttar Pradesh seem to have figured this circumstance out - to their benefit. In this set of photograph<span style="font-size: large;">s, I share our observations of a Wo<span style="font-size: large;">olly-necked Stork successfully dis<span style="font-size: large;">patching a keelback. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We missed seeing how the stork actually caught the snake, but the photo below shows the bird with the struggling snake, shaking it violently. As we watched, the snake beca<span style="font-size: large;">me visibly weaker and nearly stopped attempting to esca<span style="font-size: large;">pe alt<span style="font-size: large;">ogether. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmI1kkyiw7c/UPzOwbEefsI/AAAAAAAAAbk/1szI4O8lACs/s1600/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmI1kkyiw7c/UPzOwbEefsI/AAAAAAAAAbk/1szI4O8lACs/s320/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw7.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">A Woolly-necked Stork with its catch of the morning - a keelback<span style="font-size: small;"> - in a wheat field.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stork pi<span style="font-size: large;">cked up the <span style="font-size: large;">weakly struggl<span style="font-size: large;">ing snake<span style="font-size: large;">, carried it over to <span style="font-size: large;">a drier spot <span style="font-size: large;">near the <span style="font-size: large;">d</span>ike and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>began beating the head with its beak. The photo below shows the snake - <span style="font-size: large;">that is hopefully dead by now - with its bloodied head.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNRYnycjCjI/UPzMG2SSgLI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/swTlhtfGM2w/s1600/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNRYnycjCjI/UPzMG2SSgLI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/swTlhtfGM2w/s320/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw2.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The bloodied and hopefully dead keelback awaiting the swallow. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Storks swallow snakes headfirst, and whole. This is easier said than done w<span style="font-size: large;">hen the snake is a mite bigger than the usual small prey items that storks swallow. The photos below, that took well over a couple of minutes, show the difficult process.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Head-first is how storks like to swallow snakes.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpT70Jk6LUs/UPzQvcTkE7I/AAAAAAAAAb8/AsazcuxDXQg/s1600/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpT70Jk6LUs/UPzQvcTkE7I/AAAAAAAAAb8/AsazcuxDXQg/s320/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The biggish keelback presented a bit of a problem to the Woolly-necked Stork, b<span style="font-size: small;">ut it managed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qFUZ-cY8hUM/UPzRKkkF9uI/AAAAAAAAAcE/yWvHXtMn3mU/s1600/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qFUZ-cY8hUM/UPzRKkkF9uI/AAAAAAAAAcE/yWvHXtMn3mU/s320/Woolly-neckedStorkEatingKeelback_Etw8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the keelback went, a<span style="font-size: small;">nd the serious swallowing began!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a few minutes, many many swallows later, the snake completely disappeared visible only as a bulge in the stork's neck (above). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though <span style="font-size: large;">a snake <span style="font-size: large;">being swallowed by a stork is pretty common<span style="font-size: large;">place, given that snakes are commonly taken pre<span style="font-size: large;">y<span style="font-size: large;"> by these birds, what we watched represented much more<span style="font-size: large;">. Human habits (planting wheat and intermittently flooding them), anim<span style="font-size: large;">als attracted by crops (rats in burrows, that in turn attracted snakes), and other wild<span style="font-size: large;"> species (here, a Woolly-necked Stork)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> all came together to make for a memorable viewing. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Photos information: Taken in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh<span style="font-size: large;">; taken on</span> 5 Jan 2013.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></div>
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Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-27330665069336476372011-02-06T20:15:00.001+05:302011-02-06T20:27:05.192+05:30Out on a limp, as it were...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TU6xbhxM_rI/AAAAAAAAAa0/jZ4XJZWgMxA/s400/Black-winged+Stilt+brokenleg+Aligarh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Injuries and physical deformities are commonplace in nature. Not all of these result in the death of the injured. Here are two somewhat unusual and amazing stories of injured birds.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TU6xbhxM_rI/AAAAAAAAAa0/jZ4XJZWgMxA/s400/Black-winged+Stilt+brokenleg+Aligarh.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TU6xbhxM_rI/AAAAAAAAAa0/jZ4XJZWgMxA/s320/Black-winged+Stilt+brokenleg+Aligarh.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This Black-winged Stilt, posing like it is stretching its legs, had an injured foot. Two toes appeared completely broken off, and at least one more was broken. The Stilt foraged like this in the flooded fallow fields for hours hopping around on one leg. It appeared to be avoiding getting the injured foot wet. After a couple of hours, the bird hopped over to a dry spot and relaxed its injured leg, before hopping back in the field to forage again. When a dog appeared, the bird took off completely normally and landed in another flooded area. Talk about taking things into ones stride!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TU6yMGeKf1I/AAAAAAAAAa4/5PvHWDfUFGY/s400/LittleStintLame_Basai2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TU6yMGeKf1I/AAAAAAAAAa4/5PvHWDfUFGY/s320/LittleStintLame_Basai2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Among a flock of Little Stints, a tiny wading bird that migrates across most of Asia to winter in India, there was one with only one leg (in the left bottom corner). The bird hopped around foraging in the wet soils almost as fast as stints with both legs. This long-distance migrant seemed to be faring well with just one leg. Are two legs in fact better than one?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Photo information: Black-winged Stilt taken in Aligarh district, May 09, 2010; Little Stint taken in Haryana, Feb 27, 2010.)</span></span></div></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-52585056756091088202010-09-13T00:03:00.006+05:302010-09-13T00:21:29.232+05:30Top soil makes bricks<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Top-soil in farmlands are coveted items. It takes a very long time for top-soil to form, and is almost entirely responsible for providing the foods humans eat across the globe.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Strange as it may sound, top-soil is increasingly being sold across relatively vast areas in north India by farmers to maker of bricks.<br /><br />Tall chimneys scattered across the landscape give away locations of the kilns that are fueled by fire wood, also taken from the immediate surroundings.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0fdXp0NmI/AAAAAAAAAac/2OiN5SIbj64/s1600/Brick+kiln+and+machan+Barabanki.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0fdXp0NmI/AAAAAAAAAac/2OiN5SIbj64/s400/Brick+kiln+and+machan+Barabanki.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516099708024796770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A new chimney is being constructed and marks the location of a new<br />brick kiln in Barabanki district.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The removal of top soil leaves behind brown scars, and also walls of mud.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0ftiIy9nI/AAAAAAAAAak/FK5_9JJnsvg/s1600/Brick+making+topsoil+use+Etah.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0ftiIy9nI/AAAAAAAAAak/FK5_9JJnsvg/s400/Brick+making+topsoil+use+Etah.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516099985716999794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Barren grounds in Etah are used to dry tobacco leaves after<br />the top-soil has been sold to make bricks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />While the effect of such removal on agricultural productivity remains unknown, the walls certainly have great utility for wildlife. Foxes use them to den, and bee-eaters and bank mynas use them to nest.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0fQ6v7saI/AAAAAAAAAaU/PCOkmwRWkZc/s1600/Bank+Myna+colony+Mathura1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/TI0fQ6v7saI/AAAAAAAAAaU/PCOkmwRWkZc/s400/Bank+Myna+colony+Mathura1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516099494107394466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bank Mynas make their condominiums in a sheer wall created<br />by removal of top soil for making bricks in Mathura.<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Strange and unpredictable are the ways in which "new" habitat becomes available for wildlife in this human-dominated landscape!<br /><br />(Photograph information: Chimney in Barabanki district photographed 20 Nov 2008; barren ares in Etah district photographed 14 May 2010; nesting Bank Mynas in Mathura district photographed 25 Mar 2009.)<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-7049625286882366812010-05-03T12:09:00.010+05:302010-05-03T12:58:18.053+05:30The mad courtship of the Cotton Pygymy-goose<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S950aWr6tnI/AAAAAAAAAaE/TI8tHIu95zo/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur1.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Cotton Pygmy-goose is India's smallest Anatid (a group of birds comprising ducks and geese). The males are incredibly pretty, and the females are drab - characteristic of Anatids. One cloudy early morning, I chanced upon several small flocks spread out on a large lake. They appeared to be engaged in courtship. In this entry, I share my observation and attempts to photograph their mad yet delightful behaviour.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S950aWr6tnI/AAAAAAAAAaE/TI8tHIu95zo/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S950aWr6tnI/AAAAAAAAAaE/TI8tHIu95zo/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466934993789564530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Each female - apparently unpaired as yet - was chased by 2-4 loudly honking males across the lake. Females appeared to be attempting to escape the loud and boisterous masculine efforts. But they kept up with her as she weaved around the lake. Above, the female is being pursued by four gorgeous males.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95ztRH2MQI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/a15f1rbzgJI/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95ztRH2MQI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/a15f1rbzgJI/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466934219201982722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The female landed several times, perhaps tired, perhaps attempting to dissuade the males from further pursuit.<br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95ypXnPM4I/AAAAAAAAAZs/jPRLifyqZiw/s1600/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur6.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95zMI8qDyI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KAg_hwVvnh4/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur5.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95zMI8qDyI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KAg_hwVvnh4/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466933650071883554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The female attempted also to take off again several times, and her troubles only grew as a result. All the males, honking their protest, gave chase.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95ypXnPM4I/AAAAAAAAAZs/jPRLifyqZiw/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur6.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95ypXnPM4I/AAAAAAAAAZs/jPRLifyqZiw/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466933052713153410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">They tried to ward her off, and females seldom managed to fly free again after the first landing.<br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95xgB0e_GI/AAAAAAAAAZc/Tif3f8A4hlE/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur8.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95yEuqqzVI/AAAAAAAAAZk/0eNs2wOBQ7o/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur7.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95yEuqqzVI/AAAAAAAAAZk/0eNs2wOBQ7o/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466932423246400850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The nearest male then physically dunked her back onto the water! Above, the female is on the extreme left hidden by the male who is pecking at her to force her to land on the water again.</span><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95xgB0e_GI/AAAAAAAAAZc/Tif3f8A4hlE/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur8.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95xgB0e_GI/AAAAAAAAAZc/Tif3f8A4hlE/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466931792732683362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The female then was in real danger of being drowned as the enthusiastic males rushed at her, frequently landing on top of her. The female was under water many times, as the males splashed around vying for her to choose them. The water churned madly as the males appeared to be nearly killing the female they were fighting to get.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95wpRrMTWI/AAAAAAAAAZU/iC_NDnuQNcM/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S95wpRrMTWI/AAAAAAAAAZU/iC_NDnuQNcM/s400/PygmyGooseCourtshipSamaspur11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466930852095872354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then suddenly and quite mysteriously, a partner had been chosen. He swam around her in slow circles with head bent forwards in a graceful bow, and the other males swam away honking their obvious disapproval.<br /><br />Was this going to be her partner for the year? What was better about him compared to the other males who appeared as robust, noisy and interested? Another bird mystery that awaits study.<br /><br />(All photographs taken on 02 May 2010 at Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Rae Bareli.)</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-13816172859733513132010-04-30T13:01:00.012+05:302010-05-03T13:47:04.641+05:30De clay is good<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay is sticky, holds water for long periods, and accumulates in wetlands each year. Clay also breaks up into dry blocks in the summer making it easy to collect!</span></span></span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qH-MBypdI/AAAAAAAAAY8/jTVn-C3oT9M/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qH-MBypdI/AAAAAAAAAY8/jTVn-C3oT9M/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465830600217896402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wetlands in the Gangetic flood plains have a lot of silt and clay in the water that are continually churning due to water flows and human activity. The finer silt settles down, and on top of it the coarser clay is layered. This can "kill" the wetlands - making them easier to convert to croplands, filling up the depression, and holding up moisture that would otherwise have likely percolated to the ground water store.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qJfCMQTFI/AAAAAAAAAZM/KL_PQ-vGBRY/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli4.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qJfCMQTFI/AAAAAAAAAZM/KL_PQ-vGBRY/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465832264024738898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The ancient practice of removing clay during summer in Uttar Pradesh by the people keeps wetlands from dying. Block by pain-staking block of dried clay is broken off, and ferried by hand to the road where a bicycle awaits. </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qIa1BghCI/AAAAAAAAAZE/E09XeQQKiVs/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9qIa1BghCI/AAAAAAAAAZE/E09XeQQKiVs/s400/CollectingSiltFromPond_RBareli1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465831092258898978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Entire villages stockpile the useful clay. They are used to repair damaged walls of mud-huts, fill up leaks or as a natural cement for brick-houses, to make clay-bricks, or to make dykes of flooded paddy fields. Villages therefore benefit from maintaining village ponds, and collecting clay is often a community activity. The following year(s), the process of soil accumulation begins all over again in a now-deepened wetland. Unwittingly, natural habitat for a variety of birds and flora is maintained.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Newer "technology" has allowed many people to build houses that do not need annual maintenance. In such areas, village ponds like the one above likely require the clay to be removed, but is not paid attention to. The landscape ends up losing precious wetland habitat, and the people lose opportunities to work together.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Thanks to Shyamal for a lesson in Soil 101. All photographs taken on 30 Apr 2010 at Rae Bareli.)</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Post-script: Illegal usurping of community wetlands can lead to unfortunate disputes - for a recent story on a shoot-out due to clay removal, read <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Varanasi/Girl-saves-father-faces-bullets-herself/articleshow/5884769.cms">this</a>.</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-70832974087826886582010-04-25T14:47:00.006+05:302010-04-25T15:03:51.312+05:30Mud puddlers<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wet mud and butterflies - the two do go together.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QJwb37rEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/b_mkznAjXmU/s400/GrassYellowMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QJwb37rEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/b_mkznAjXmU/s400/GrassYellowMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464002975627979842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Two-spot Grass Yellows bustle on wet mud</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Male butterflies drink up moisture retaining only nutrients that are dissolved, and quickly get rid of the water that would otherwise weigh them down.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QK33scCiI/AAAAAAAAAYs/Rn2fcGPVq_0/s400/CommonMormon%26GullMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QK33scCiI/AAAAAAAAAYs/Rn2fcGPVq_0/s400/CommonMormon%26GullMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464004202866674210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Common Mormons (background) and Common Gulls (foreground) puddle together</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The nutrients are passed on to females during mating, and improve the chances of the eggs surviving.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QLg7YqrQI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Q_bB6a8pO4w/s400/LimeMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S9QLg7YqrQI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Q_bB6a8pO4w/s400/LimeMudPuddling_Katerniaghat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464004908232125698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Common Lime butterfly gets its share of nutrients</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nutrients are also obtained from over-ripe fruit, sap, dung, and rarely, even blood.<br /><br />(All photographs were taken on 18 Apr 2010 at Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-3484998298802743982010-02-10T11:47:00.005+05:302010-02-10T11:58:34.269+05:30Getting an earful<div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Bank Mynas and water buffaloes hit it off just great. The buffaloes have plenty of treats walking around on them for Mynas to actually be territorial on the buffaloes' back.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQDV4SGRI/AAAAAAAAAYM/_PD7LgCaTgI/s400-h/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQDV4SGRI/AAAAAAAAAYM/_PD7LgCaTgI/s400/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436495718532651282" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br />But the real battles are fought at the ears, for the ears, and going by how the buffaloes endure the vociferous battles taking place at their ear, it must be good for the ears.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQpI_EvWI/AAAAAAAAAYU/46h9U8lQKH0/s400-h/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo+Etw2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQpI_EvWI/AAAAAAAAAYU/46h9U8lQKH0/s400/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo+Etw2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436496367906504034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQ6R7c8cI/AAAAAAAAAYc/-76c2CeyZXE/s400-h/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo+Etw3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/S3JQ6R7c8cI/AAAAAAAAAYc/-76c2CeyZXE/s400/Bank+Myna+%26+Buffalo+Etw3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436496662365008322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >(Photograph details: Mynas on buffaloes - shot at Basai wetland in Haryana on 6 Sep 2008; the vocal battle for the ear - shot at Etawah on 12 Feb 2009.)<br /></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-72828542682319250062009-12-18T09:44:00.004+05:302009-12-18T09:57:41.536+05:30Debugging with ash<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SysCrnGs3dI/AAAAAAAAAX8/fXDYKdjQYXg/s400-h/Fertilizer+Spray+On+Rice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SysCrnGs3dI/AAAAAAAAAX8/fXDYKdjQYXg/s400/Fertilizer+Spray+On+Rice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416425925097872850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A woman in centra</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l Pratapgarh district throws handfu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls of ash from the kitchen stove on ripening rice. Many farmers in Uttar Pradesh sti</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">limit the use of chemica</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l pesticides, or continue using traditiona</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l materia</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls, </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">like ash, a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">longside chemica</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">pesticides </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to contro</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> insect pests on rice. A Zitting Cistico</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">la sat undeterred (not visib</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le here)</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, presumab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly near its nest,</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> as a c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">loud of ash fe</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l on and around it - now that wou</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld have been an exce</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lent photo to get!<br /><br />(Photograph detai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls: 23 Sep 2008; Pratapgarh district.)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-18237709773762809412009-12-17T09:29:00.004+05:302009-12-17T09:38:43.353+05:30A leucistic lapwing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Syms4vRGdXI/AAAAAAAAAXs/3Bkk3kMerZA/s400-h/Red-wattled+Lapwing+leucistic+Rae+Bareli.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Syms4vRGdXI/AAAAAAAAAXs/3Bkk3kMerZA/s400/Red-wattled+Lapwing+leucistic+Rae+Bareli.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416050117650576754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lbinism - reduction in the me</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lanin content (b</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lack co</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">louration)</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> causing whiteness - is a we</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l-known condition in many anima</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. However, </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism">leucism</a> - a reduction in a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l types of pigments, not just me</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lanin - is probab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly more widespread and often confused to be a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lbinism. Here, a Red-watt</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">led </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lapwing, norma</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly textured brown-grey on the wings (<a href="http://sarusscape.blogspot.com/2009/05/fiesty-lapwings.html">see previous post</a>), disp</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lays </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">leucism. The b</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lack on the neck and face, and on the f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">light feathers,</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> are norma</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l - this is not a condition of a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lbinism for sure!<br /><br />(Photograph detai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls: 9 Dec 2008; taken in Rae Bare</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">li district.)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-44869558738682678162009-09-27T08:34:00.006+05:302009-09-27T08:48:08.253+05:30Of Owlets and Owlings<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The young of an ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l is </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> an ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling, whi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le the ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lets are a group of sma</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls. Uttar Pradesh's non-forested areas sti</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l retain severa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l species of ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls and ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lets who appear to breed quite nice</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly as evidenced by the regu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lar sightings of ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lings. Here are two species that I was ab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le to photograph.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XU_q9gRI/AAAAAAAAAXc/RWiqJ94CItg/s400-h/Jungle+Owlet+Rae+Bareli3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XU_q9gRI/AAAAAAAAAXc/RWiqJ94CItg/s400/Jungle+Owlet+Rae+Bareli3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385978960070672658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jung</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le Ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lets may not be very appropriate</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly named since they occur in a wide variety of habitats, many outside what may be considered a "jung</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le". This fe</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">low was ca</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling away on a Euca</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lyptus tree in the midd</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le of a wheat-and-vegetab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">landscape.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XL1d4obI/AAAAAAAAAXU/5pQJO10T9bM/s400-h/Spotted+Owlet+Sultanpur3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XL1d4obI/AAAAAAAAAXU/5pQJO10T9bM/s400/Spotted+Owlet+Sultanpur3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385978802712650162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XBjtumMI/AAAAAAAAAXM/7XxEsnRmfeU/s400-h/Spotted+Owlet+Sultanpur1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sr7XBjtumMI/AAAAAAAAAXM/7XxEsnRmfeU/s400/Spotted+Owlet+Sultanpur1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385978626148571330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Spotted Ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">et is perhaps India's most common and widespread ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">let. The adu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lt (top) is coming to terms with the ear</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly-morning </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lighting in the canopy of a Neem tree - the pupi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls of each eye are di</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lated different</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly. The ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling of the Spotted Ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">let (above) appears obvious</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly teenager-ish, and is ready to begin hunting on its own at a few months of age.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This particu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lar one, however, was sti</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l depending on its parents to do the work.<br /><br /><br />(Photographs information: Jung</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le Ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">let: 09 Dec 1998, in Rae Bare</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">li district; Spotted Ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">let: adu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lt - 24 Ju</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l 2009, in Su</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ltanpur district, ow</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling - 04 May 2009, Su</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ltanpur district.)</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-57716130839408253432009-09-10T07:35:00.011+05:302009-09-10T10:20:29.236+05:30Body language<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cranes have among the </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">argest non-voca</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> communication repertoires in the animal kingdom. Body </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">anguage is exceedingly important. Here are a few Sarusy gestures that other cranes wo</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">u</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">d know the meaning of instant</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqhghLE4SPI/AAAAAAAAAXE/QLlCr4pz5yo/s400-h/Sarus+wing-open2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqhghLE4SPI/AAAAAAAAAXE/QLlCr4pz5yo/s400/Sarus+wing-open2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379655877919262962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wing ha</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">f-open, an exaggerated wa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">k with </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">egs raised higher than usua</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, this crane wa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ks up very meaningfu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly to another Sarus that had </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">anded uncomfortab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ose to an active nest. The inter</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">oper got the message rather quick</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sqhfu9-2JoI/AAAAAAAAAW8/vXaVIN6cqbM/s400-h/Ruffle+threat+Etw.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sqhfu9-2JoI/AAAAAAAAAW8/vXaVIN6cqbM/s400/Ruffle+threat+Etw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379655015410837122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Crane emp</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">oy a </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">arge number of threat postures increasing</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y aggressive in their meaning. This fema</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e (right extreme) gives a c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">assic ruff</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e-threat combined with a bow to the pair adjacent to her territory whi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e her partner engages them at c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">oser quarters.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqhfOsVIsxI/AAAAAAAAAW0/0ppOll6lAtE/s400-h/Sarus+bowthreat+Frkabad1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqhfOsVIsxI/AAAAAAAAAW0/0ppOll6lAtE/s400/Sarus+bowthreat+Frkabad1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379654460916675346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This rare bow-threat is carried out with e</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">an and grace successfu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y dissuading a pair f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ying overhead from landing in this crane's territory.<br /><br />Cranes' </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">arge body size and incredib</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e physical prowess poses a great risk of physica</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">injury</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> shou</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld they need to joust physica</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y each time a disagreement occurs. Non-voca</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> postures with specific meaning, </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ike the three above, are a safer a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ternative for a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> concerned.<br /><br />(Photographs information: Top: 10 Ju</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 2008, Mainpuri district; midd</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e: 28 Nov 2008, Etawah district; bottom: 07 Sep 2009, Farrukhabad district.)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-73061540087920556592009-09-07T11:55:00.008+05:302009-09-07T12:04:12.890+05:30Wing-stretch<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSoX1hjJzI/AAAAAAAAAWs/HFADk6NQLkc/s400-h/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSoX1hjJzI/AAAAAAAAAWs/HFADk6NQLkc/s400/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378608982445467442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSoHO2pX_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/qNXv5z4oHMc/s400-h/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSoHO2pX_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/qNXv5z4oHMc/s400/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378608697187065842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSn3QFBdGI/AAAAAAAAAWc/kxRhfKv8EG4/s400-h/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SqSn3QFBdGI/AAAAAAAAAWc/kxRhfKv8EG4/s400/Sarus+wingstretch+frkabad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378608422637892706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l birds stretch their wings to get the b</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lood f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lowing and stretch tired musc</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">les. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When the wor</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld's ta</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lest f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lying bird does it, the simp</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le activity becomes a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> spectacu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lar sight! </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The wor</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld is tru</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly its oyster.<br /><br />(Photo detai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls: A</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l photos taken on 07 Sep 2009 in Farrukhabad district.)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-80949929883119810082009-08-31T16:46:00.006+05:302009-08-31T17:02:08.419+05:30Morning with the Sarus<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">king around in the f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">looded rice paddies during the monsoon can be magica</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l. The Sarus make it more so. Here are two photographs that under</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">line this statement</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Spux3-6hYmI/AAAAAAAAAWM/9xslEKHTMlE/s400-h/Sarus+landing+Etah6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Spux3-6hYmI/AAAAAAAAAWM/9xslEKHTMlE/s400/Sarus+landing+Etah6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376086155536196194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The rains ensure that there is p</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lenty of wet, grassy wet</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lands to forage in. This Sarus was part of a f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lock of 45 that </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">landed in this wet</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">land and surrounded us for a fantastic few minutes</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Spuxej8G-oI/AAAAAAAAAWE/VjSf43X3B9Y/s400-h/Sarus+duet+in+rice+Etah2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Spuxej8G-oI/AAAAAAAAAWE/VjSf43X3B9Y/s400/Sarus+duet+in+rice+Etah2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376085718798367362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rea</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l estate is serious business in the bird wor</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld. On a c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">loudy and otherwise du</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l morning, a pair of Sarus </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">landed a few feet ahead of us and proceeded to unison ca</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l (photo above), gesture threatening</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly and fina</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly succeeded in chasing away another pair that had </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">landed in their territory.<br /><br />(Photographs were taken in Etah district on 28 Aug and 29 Aug 2009 respective</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly.)</span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-59897674039580148602009-08-22T09:48:00.011+05:302009-08-22T13:03:36.687+05:30Waterbird foods: Purple Moorhen<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/So9ynMXzhFI/AAAAAAAAAVU/8yCw_Uss84Y/s400-h/Purple+Moorhen+KNP2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/So9ynMXzhFI/AAAAAAAAAVU/8yCw_Uss84Y/s400/Purple+Moorhen+KNP2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372638898137826386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/So9ya50kvkI/AAAAAAAAAVM/z_eEEVSgfnk/s400-h/Purple+Moorhen+KNP4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/So9ya50kvkI/AAAAAAAAAVM/z_eEEVSgfnk/s400/Purple+Moorhen+KNP4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372638686999789122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Purp</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le Moorhens cou</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ld not be more appropriate</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly named - their gorgeous co</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lours stand out for mi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">les in any wet</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">land. They </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">like to forage for food in open wet</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lands with grassy vegetation. Above, you can see individua</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls that have pu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">led out grass sta</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lks, are using their </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">legs</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> as a dining tab</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le, and eating the soft shoot of the grass. They are </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">experts at pu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling out these shoots without breaking the grass ensuring they get most of the soft, juicy shoots.<br /><br />(Photograph information: These are not from Uttar Pradesh for a change, but from the famed Keo</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ladeo Nationa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l Park at Bharatpur (Rajasthan), which due to the resident pairs of Sarus Cranes sti</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l qua</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lify for this b</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">log! </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Both were taken on 07 Mar 2009. Thanks to Anoop for being a ster</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ling host at KNP!)</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-63495215866934591892009-08-18T09:38:00.009+05:302015-12-23T13:59:44.839+05:30Waterbird foods: Black-necked Stork<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sooqclxm4KI/AAAAAAAAAUc/DkxpGO8U3tU/s400-h/Black-necked+Stork+2+juvs+%26+frog.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371152176257622178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sooqclxm4KI/AAAAAAAAAUc/DkxpGO8U3tU/s400/Black-necked+Stork+2+juvs+%26+frog.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 290px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SooqKj_ZZII/AAAAAAAAAUU/9meHAGzqzJI/s400-h/Black-necked+Stork+juv+%26+snail4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371151866540942466" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SooqKj_ZZII/AAAAAAAAAUU/9meHAGzqzJI/s400/Black-necked+Stork+juv+%26+snail4.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 301px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Soop9ubav2I/AAAAAAAAAUM/fA3LVXQ2cUI/s400-h/Black-necked+Stork+fem+beat+frog+Etw2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371151646004526946" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Soop9ubav2I/AAAAAAAAAUM/fA3LVXQ2cUI/s400/Black-necked+Stork+fem+beat+frog+Etw2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 311px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Despite their </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">large size and dec</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lining popu</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lation, B</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lack-necked Storks have received re</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lative</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ly </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">litt</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">le scientific attention. The most prominent study is that carried out by Gopinathan Maheswaran in the managed </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lakes in Dudwa Tiger Reserve in northern Uttar Pradesh. The storks there were seen to eat fish as their major food.<br /><br />The unmanaged wet</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lands amid agricu</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ltura</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l fie</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lds in</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> western Uttar Pradesh have the </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">largest known popu</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lation of this species. Here, observations show that fish is not </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">like</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ly their major food - frogs (and repti</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">les) </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">are! The photographs above show (from top) new</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ly f</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ledged juveni</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">les have a</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lready </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">learnt</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> to catch frogs, snai</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ls sometimes figure in the diet of juveni</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">les, and </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">large bu</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l frogs make for a great mea</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l and are </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">litera</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ly </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">beaten to death by adu</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lts before they are swa</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">lowed</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.<br /><br />(Photo information: top: 21 Jan 2009, Etawah district; midd</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">le: 7 Apr 2009, Etawah district; bottom: 12 Apr 2009, Etawah district. I put together all the observations I had made over the years of food items that Black-necked Storks ate, and now have a note in the journal <a href="http://orientalbirdclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Black-necked-Stork.pdf" target="_blank">Forktail</a> in case you are <i>really</i> interested.)</span></span></div>
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Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-78306259003371080742009-08-09T08:11:00.021+05:302009-08-18T09:38:20.600+05:30Waterbird foods: Asian Openbill and Little Heron<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wetlands offer a range of foods to birds, and the monsoon is a fantastic season to observe birds getting their goodies. In this entry, two species are shown doing what they do best.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn45jsHV5GI/AAAAAAAAAUE/xptEviitiI4/s400-h/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn45jsHV5GI/AAAAAAAAAUE/xptEviitiI4/s400/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367791091172369506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44bBLRaWI/AAAAAAAAAT0/q_60VgotlEg/s400-h/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44bBLRaWI/AAAAAAAAAT0/q_60VgotlEg/s400/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789842695547234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44QCtBBRI/AAAAAAAAATs/BD9LilOXhO0/s400-h/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44QCtBBRI/AAAAAAAAATs/BD9LilOXhO0/s400/Asian+Openbill+eat+snail+Mainpuri2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789654126953746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Asian Openbi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">s are super-specia</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ized in their food habits - they a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">most ex</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">clusive</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y eat the </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">arge snai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">s associated with f</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ooded </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">rice paddies. It is be</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ieved that this stork species has increased in numbers and spread c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ose</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">fo</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">owing the increase of rice cu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">tivation in Asia. Above, you can see a stork getting ho</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">d of a nice-sized snai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, prising open the snai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'s </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">id, and pu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ing out the meaty snai</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for a doubt</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ess</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y yummy ear</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y morning snack.</span></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44EAgHxLI/AAAAAAAAATk/otz6tQCAoPs/s400-h/Green+Heron+fishing+Bhadohi6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn44EAgHxLI/AAAAAAAAATk/otz6tQCAoPs/s400/Green+Heron+fishing+Bhadohi6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789447377568946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn434PQqnSI/AAAAAAAAATc/dZ1LTSa6vTA/s400-h/Green+Heron+fishing+Bhadohi7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sn434PQqnSI/AAAAAAAAATc/dZ1LTSa6vTA/s400/Green+Heron+fishing+Bhadohi7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789245180845346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">L</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ittle Heron (various</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">so referred to as</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> the Green Heron and Litt</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e Green Heron) is not common </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">in the in</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and areas of</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> northern India. A neat, compact </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">itt</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e heron, this species is an expert fisherbird. Above, a heron catches and hangs on to a fish beside a rice fie</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">d</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - good start for a </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">breakfast that wi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">no doubt in</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">clude many more fishies</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Photograph information: Asian Openbi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ls: 8 Aug 2009, Mainpuri district; </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Litt</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e Heron: 5 Aug 2009, Bhadohi district.)</span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-68818178642708440582009-07-31T12:53:00.017+05:302009-08-01T10:57:14.858+05:30Monsoon = rice + new birds + wetlands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKcexrsIxI/AAAAAAAAAS0/3slbsH9U5ro/s400/01+Field+preparation+for+rice+Allbad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKcexrsIxI/AAAAAAAAAS0/3slbsH9U5ro/s400/01+Field+preparation+for+rice+Allbad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364522158698275602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKcsoI52aI/AAAAAAAAAS8/32fb3sUH1A8/s400/02+rice+broadcast+Allahabad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKcsoI52aI/AAAAAAAAAS8/32fb3sUH1A8/s400/02+rice+broadcast+Allahabad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364522396654623138" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >This year, 2009, the rains in the Gangetic f</span><span dir="ltr" style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ood p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ains are de</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ayed as of Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ly </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >- the rains sort of began in mid-</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >y, and have not rea</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >y begun in earnest since. However, it has been adequate for most farmers to begin working on p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >anting rice - farmers everywhere are p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >oughing fie</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ds (top) and fertilizing f</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ooded fie</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ds in anticipation of regular rains later on.</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >With the rainy season, the p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lains witness the formation of</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" > wet</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lands, and the arriva</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l of </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >some species of birds that are absent here the rest of the year.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKfpDdWdFI/AAAAAAAAATE/zt7CKadqdDU/s400/Cinnamon+Bittern+Jaunpur.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKfpDdWdFI/AAAAAAAAATE/zt7CKadqdDU/s400/Cinnamon+Bittern+Jaunpur.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364525633803547730" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >Three species of bitterns are found throughout Uttar Pradesh</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" > in the monsoon</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >. This information was not known with certainty prior to this ongoing study.</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >Above, a Cinnamon Bittern poses in the morning </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >light beside a f</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >looded rice fie</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ld with few reeds growing on the edge</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >. (I hope to post more on bitterns </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >later on this b</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >log.)</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKgD9dCSxI/AAAAAAAAATM/974Znr-gekU/s400/Paradise+Flycatcher+Sultanpur1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKgD9dCSxI/AAAAAAAAATM/974Znr-gekU/s400/Paradise+Flycatcher+Sultanpur1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364526096048081682" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The stunning Paradise F</span>lycatchers are supposed to be </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >passing through</span> <span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >Uttar Pradesh in the summer and monsoon season</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, though this is not known for certain and they may we</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l breed here</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Above, a ma</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >le bird </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >in fu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l sp</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lendour </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ca</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ls</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> out to a fema</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >le in another tree in a roadside goose-berry orchard.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKgmeogr4I/AAAAAAAAATU/8zW8IV5hlzs/s400/Bronze-winged+Jacana+%26+lotus+Jaunpur.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SnKgmeogr4I/AAAAAAAAATU/8zW8IV5hlzs/s400/Bronze-winged+Jacana+%26+lotus+Jaunpur.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364526689070133122" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >Fina</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ly, this Bronze-winged Jacana (remember the </span><a href="http://sarusscape.blogspot.com/2009/05/lily-trotters.html"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >li</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" ><a href="http://sarusscape.blogspot.com/2009/05/lily-trotters.html">ly-trotters</a>?) stands on </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >li</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ly </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >leaves whose tubers were </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >awaiting in dry mud for near</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ly 5 months to grow again.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" ><br /><br />(Photographs information: Farmer p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >loughing</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >: A</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lahabad district, 24 Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l 2009; rice broadcasting: A</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lahabad district, 24 Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l 2009; Cinnamon Bittern: Jaunpur district, 31 Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l 2009</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >; Paradise F</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >lycather: Su</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >ltanpur district, 25 Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l 2009; Bronze-winged Jacana: Jaunpur district, 31 Ju</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" dir="ltr" >l 2009.)</span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-73047291616283021732009-07-13T14:51:00.024+05:302009-07-30T15:25:20.388+05:30Chambal Diary: 6. River Lapwing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr87EgrN7I/AAAAAAAAASE/j0h2ZQHjRSI/s400/River+Lapwing+flight+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr87EgrN7I/AAAAAAAAASE/j0h2ZQHjRSI/s400/River+Lapwing+flight+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357872798463899570" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Previously ap</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">t</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly n</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">amed the "Spur-winged Plover", the River Lapwing is a striking species with real spurs on its wings (see above) used during duels with fellow River Lapwings. These distinct more-or-less black-and-white birds share the riverside at Chambal with two other resident lapwing species - the Red- and Yellow-wattled Lapwings.</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9FlakEaI/AAAAAAAAASM/6gVHUNsX7jI/s400/River+Lapwing+Chambal5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9FlakEaI/AAAAAAAAASM/6gVHUNsX7jI/s400/River+Lapwing+Chambal5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357872979095327138" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >River Lapwings, as their name suggests, are found primari</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly a</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >long rivers. They find their food - insects, and other creepy-craw</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lies - in the sand and on vegetation a</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >long</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > the rivers.</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9QfTuzsI/AAAAAAAAASU/fvWMQsQfAvU/s400/River+Lapwing+incubating+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9QfTuzsI/AAAAAAAAASU/fvWMQsQfAvU/s400/River+Lapwing+incubating+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357873166434619074" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >This species is adapted very we</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l to river systems. They </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lay and incubate their eggs in a sha</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >low scoop in the sand on river-banks and is</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lands, much </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >like their neighbours the terns and skimmers. Above, a </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lapwing incubates eggs beside a s</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >leeping Comb Duck.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9X8Z1JhI/AAAAAAAAASc/qnXlZevG844/s400/River+Lapwing+alert+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr9X8Z1JhI/AAAAAAAAASc/qnXlZevG844/s400/River+Lapwing+alert+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357873294503912978" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >They are watchfu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l parents. Here, one adu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lt watches </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >cautious</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly after ensuring that its chicks are we</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l hidden among the scattered rocks on the is</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >land.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr_UQRqaJI/AAAAAAAAASs/3IjxFSZDvMk/s400/River+Lapwing+incubating+Chambal5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Slr_UQRqaJI/AAAAAAAAASs/3IjxFSZDvMk/s400/River+Lapwing+incubating+Chambal5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357875430142142610" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >3-4 eggs are </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >laid in the simp</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >le scoop - above a </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lapwing adjusts the eggs in the nest. Eggs are cryptica</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly co</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >loured: if the incubating bird were to wa</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lk away, it is exceeding</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly difficu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lt to spot them on the sand.<br /><br />(A</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l photos taken in the Nationa</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l Chamba</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh on 9 Apr 2009.)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-16552099147445646192009-07-05T09:41:00.031+05:302009-08-09T08:11:33.130+05:30Chambal diary: 5. Little Tern<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5309iFwI/AAAAAAAAAR8/F0n4jEmNvVA/s400/Little+Tern+on-wing+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5309iFwI/AAAAAAAAAR8/F0n4jEmNvVA/s400/Little+Tern+on-wing+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354843588215838466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Little Tern is the smallest of the resident terns in the Chambal - tiny compared to the much larger skimmers and river terns. Instead of a neat full black cap, they have a white forehead, and a streak of black serving as eye-patches. Their legs are also much less colourful compared to their fellow terns and skimmers. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In this entry, I describe the nesting behaviour of this species of terns. Most of this behaviour is common with the other terns and the skimmer. This blog entry gives a snapshot into the part-ritual and part-politics that is an inherent part of the terns' lives.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA4U55zEuI/AAAAAAAAARE/NvzuWpQLaFw/s400/Little+Tern+courting+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA4U55zEuI/AAAAAAAAARE/NvzuWpQLaFw/s400/Little+Tern+courting+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354841888735302370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">T<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">he first thing to do for the males is to find a female who does not chase them away. A gift of a fish is mandatory to beginning the courtship ritual. Birds paired initially like this spend a long time - sometimes hours - standing in the position showed above calling to each other. The male ensures that the female does not snatch the fish away, but keeps it as tantalising bait until the female is ready to mate.</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA4cBKAqzI/AAAAAAAAARM/BlnyFG4tHRU/s400/Little+Tern+courting+dispute+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA4cBKAqzI/AAAAAAAAARM/BlnyFG4tHRU/s400/Little+Tern+courting+dispute+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354842010941434674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Competition for mates is common! Here, a male with a much larger fish tries to break up the courtship, but the male and the female bird that have bonded scare away the interloper. Clearly, size of the bait-fish is not everything!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA43MN0gOI/AAAAAAAAARU/3KPyp-Ugfww/s400/Little+Terns+mating+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA43MN0gOI/AAAAAAAAARU/3KPyp-Ugfww/s400/Little+Terns+mating+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354842477766672610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After much posturing and courtship, the female finally allows the male to mate with her, and the male relinquishes the fish. </span> </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5bebI70I/AAAAAAAAARk/Bah4Re3qBBs/s400/Little+Terns+mating+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5bebI70I/AAAAAAAAARk/Bah4Re3qBBs/s400/Little+Terns+mating+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354843101129666370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mating itself lasts a very short time.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5mMn48dI/AAAAAAAAARs/SC00TucnLvM/s400/Little+Tern+nest-making+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5mMn48dI/AAAAAAAAARs/SC00TucnLvM/s400/Little+Tern+nest-making+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354843285329867218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It appears to be the males' job to choose the spot where the female will lay their eggs. It is also his job to create the depression in the sand that will serve as the nest. The bird uses its belly, wriggles around in a circle until a depression is formed. The female watches over the whole exercise carefully.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5u9MmJnI/AAAAAAAAAR0/lmjifCCa_qI/s400/Little+Tern+nests+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA5u9MmJnI/AAAAAAAAAR0/lmjifCCa_qI/s400/Little+Tern+nests+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354843435807680114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nests are located some distance from each other, and pairs are fiercely protective. There is a lot of jousting for space - both on the sand and in the air.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Observing birds that nest in riverine islands is very rewarding. There is seldom a boring m<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">oment. Obsevers need to be very carefu</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l not to disturb the birds. It is less important to get full-frame photographs, for example, than it is to ensure that the birds are not disturbed. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Islands in the Chambal are exceedingly important for populations of a range of species, and here is to wishing that it continues to be do!</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />(All photos were taken on Apr 10, 2009 at the National Chambal Sanctuary, Etawah.)</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-34393777443852270812009-07-02T11:16:00.014+05:302009-07-05T08:50:04.244+05:30Chambal diary: 4. Indian River Tern<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLcmQxxtI/AAAAAAAAAQc/QJ3MMwzp6ek/s400/River+Tern+fly+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLcmQxxtI/AAAAAAAAAQc/QJ3MMwzp6ek/s400/River+Tern+fly+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353737011716015826" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gracefu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >y proportioned with </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >long wings, a fish-shaped tai</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l, bright </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >legs and ye</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >low bi</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l, the Indian River Tern is a sight for sore eyes</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >.<br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLQ677wSI/AAAAAAAAAQM/CdB7ycYGfP0/s400/River+Tern+Chambal3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLQ677wSI/AAAAAAAAAQM/CdB7ycYGfP0/s400/River+Tern+Chambal3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353736811107303714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLJcGkv7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/T6jG4XAK5ec/s400/River+Tern+Chambal4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLJcGkv7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/T6jG4XAK5ec/s400/River+Tern+Chambal4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353736682571349938" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >It resemb</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >les the B</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lack-be</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lied Tern, but is </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >larger with a conspicuous white be</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ly that a</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lows easy differentiation of the two species. The habits of the River Tern are very simi</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lar to that of the other terns in the Chamb</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >a</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l and the Indian Skimmer - it is a</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >so evo</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lved for a </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >life in c</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lean rivers with p</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lenty of fish and is</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lands to breed on</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLXsI3tRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/MXf8hB7YkZI/s400/River+Tern+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkxLXsI3tRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/MXf8hB7YkZI/s400/River+Tern+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353736927394116882" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Human use of the river does not appear to affect the tern popu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lation in the Chamba</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l suggesting that the is</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lands are undisturbed during the breeding season, and that the fish popu</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >lations are adequate</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br />(P</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >hotos were taken on Jan 18 and Apr 09, 2009 at the Nationa</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l Chamba</span><span style=""><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >l Sanctuary, Etawah.)</span><br /></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-16684891977204276212009-07-02T07:55:00.025+05:302009-07-03T08:26:39.224+05:30Chambal diary: 3. Indian Skimmer<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwih44aiII/AAAAAAAAAPE/Fyhs6mmRLj0/s400/Indian+Skimmer+portrait+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwih44aiII/AAAAAAAAAPE/Fyhs6mmRLj0/s400/Indian+Skimmer+portrait+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353692022636710018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Skimmers are unique in having a longer lower mandible relative to the upper - a bird with a permanent pout if you will. They use this amazing "device" to literally skim the water surface (photo be</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ow) snapping the beak shut when they come into contact with a fish. The Indian Skimmer is therefore very easy to identify being the only skimmer species in India.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> They, like the Gharial, are exclusive fish-eaters.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwnOrimh7I/AAAAAAAAAP0/2L9FbnuCT6s/s400/Indian+Skimmer+skimming+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwnOrimh7I/AAAAAAAAAP0/2L9FbnuCT6s/s400/Indian+Skimmer+skimming+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697190196185010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the largest known populations of the Indian Skimmer is located in the National Chambal Sanctuary. They, like the other terns, use the islands to nest in. This charismatic, attractive species is a superb indicator of undisturbed rivers. Here are some Skimmer photos showcasing its habits.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwmxe6M4OI/AAAAAAAAAPk/RuwT00W37hI/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+bathing+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwmxe6M4OI/AAAAAAAAAPk/RuwT00W37hI/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+bathing+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353696688589299938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Skimmers, fortunate</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y, never have to go far to bathe!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwmk7jRUYI/AAAAAAAAAPc/1ljQAOPFUXM/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+pair+%26+fish.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwmk7jRUYI/AAAAAAAAAPc/1ljQAOPFUXM/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+pair+%26+fish.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353696472939450754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pair-bonding prior to mating and egg<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">laying</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">is very important. Above, a male (larger bird on the left) gives the smaller female a gift of a fish before they set up their family for the year.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwmV474o5I/AAAAAAAAAPU/AtHe1rYE9Sc/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+nest+change+Chambal4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwl_llCV1I/AAAAAAAAAPM/nroRGEwGIyk/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+nest+change+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353695831386117970" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwmV474o5I/AAAAAAAAAPU/AtHe1rYE9Sc/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+nest+change+Chambal4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353696214539346834" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Both parents take turns to incubate eggs, and feed chicks. The two pictures above show a nest-change - one bird settles in on the eggs after feeding, and the other takes a break.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The bird coming in </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">wets its breast and belly feathers before restarting incubation duties to ensure that the summer heat does not bake the eggs.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Small </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pratincoles a</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lso i</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ncubate eggs of their own beside the skimmer's nest.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwm_t1LTEI/AAAAAAAAAPs/yCqoqEaJRMA/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+%26+tractor.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwm_t1LTEI/AAAAAAAAAPs/yCqoqEaJRMA/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+%26+tractor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353696933112925250" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the absence of directed persecution, Indian Skimmers appear to be able to persist in the presence of some human disturbance. The National Chambal Sanctuary is bounded by villages along its entire length whose peop</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e use the river in various ways. So far, this use does not seem to be affecting the skimmer population.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwna5_HwpI/AAAAAAAAAP8/5SWwvj0y1vQ/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+%26+gharial+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Skwna5_HwpI/AAAAAAAAAP8/5SWwvj0y1vQ/s400/S+Indian+Skimmer+%26+gharial+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353697400232329874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Indian Skimmer and The Gharial - two species entirely reliant on unpolluted rivers with good fish populations and islands in the summer months to breed on. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(All photos were taken in the National Chambal Sanctuary, Etawah on Apr 9 and 10, 2009.)</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-48042189554276654172009-07-02T07:37:00.009+05:302009-07-05T10:46:54.524+05:30Chambal diary: 2. Black-bellied Tern<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwXn3HfsuI/AAAAAAAAAOk/McQQkWJHtVU/s400/BBT+Black-bellied+Tern+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwXn3HfsuI/AAAAAAAAAOk/McQQkWJHtVU/s400/BBT+Black-bellied+Tern+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353680030614401762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Terns and Gulls are closely related and are usually associated with coastal areas. Indian inland rivers have breeding populations of a few species of terns that are specialized to reside and live off these rivers. The Black-bellied Tern is one such species. Good numbers of this species are found in the Chambal suggesting that conditions for breeding and feeding (mostly fish!) are currently good.<br /><br />These birds breed in early summer on islands formed due to the reduction of the water levels. Dams, increased agriculture, and excessive accumulation of sand in the rivers can limit the formation of islands leading to reduction of breeding activity of birds like the Black-belled Terns. But enough lecturing - here are a couple more photos of this beautiful bird.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwX1JMBdeI/AAAAAAAAAOs/Sb06eE35UPM/s400/BBT+Black-bellied+Tern+mating+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SkwX1JMBdeI/AAAAAAAAAOs/Sb06eE35UPM/s400/BBT+Black-bellied+Tern+mating+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353680258803529186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Two Black-bellied Terns mate on an island. Eggs will be laid on a small scrape on the sand, and both parents take turns to incubate eggs and to raise the chicks.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA3EMJ58oI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/d2IAlmyupR0/s1600-h/Black-bellied+Tern+attacking+egret1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/SlA3EMJ58oI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/d2IAlmyupR0/s400/Black-bellied+Tern+attacking+egret1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354840502065296002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Black-bellied Terns are aggressive parents. Here one bird attacks a much </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">larger </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">egret - successfu</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lly -</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> which strayed a little too close to the nest. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Photos were taken on Apr 9, 2009 at the National Chambal Sanctuary, Etawah.)</span></span><br /></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889900130467190333.post-41662158107471279042009-06-19T11:50:00.039+05:302009-06-22T18:09:54.981+05:30Chambal diary: 1. The Gharial<div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Chambal river is the border between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for a bit, and remains one of India's cleanest rivers. The National Chambal Sanctuary has succeeded in preserving very good populations of several truly bizarre yet incredible</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> animals. The river is not strict<span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">ly part of my PhD study area, but is very much part of the Sarus scape, and is one of my favourite </span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">locations in Uttar Pradesh. It therefore qua</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">lifies to be inc</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">luded in this b</span><span dir="ltr"></span><span dir="ltr">log!</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> This small series of entries is a celebration of some of these denizens!<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gharial">Gharial</a> is found only in south Asia. It is closely related to crocodiles, and has been around on Earth for a very long time.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6pbe5UXI/AAAAAAAAAOY/qZWyMnm_nwE/s400/Gharial+%26+turtles+Chambal1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6pbe5UXI/AAAAAAAAAOY/qZWyMnm_nwE/s400/Gharial+%26+turtles+Chambal1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348933465858986354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is an exclusive fish-eater - something that the turtles in the Chambal seem to know quite well! </span></span> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6iQh07PI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/D8P21PumVZA/s400/Gharial+juv+%26+River+Lapwing+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6iQh07PI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/D8P21PumVZA/s400/Gharial+juv+%26+River+Lapwing+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348933342659407090" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6bD5ASrI/AAAAAAAAAOI/gwgwRwEihQc/s400/Gharial+pair+basking+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6bD5ASrI/AAAAAAAAAOI/gwgwRwEihQc/s400/Gharial+pair+basking+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348933219007875762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Nationa</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chambal Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh has a great record of breeding Gharials - it is common to see young babies (top), and teens of all sizes (below) basking on the sands! </span></span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6A3gygRI/AAAAAAAAAOA/YCCBFd0DFIc/s400/Gharial+male+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs6A3gygRI/AAAAAAAAAOA/YCCBFd0DFIc/s400/Gharial+male+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348932769008484626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The crocodilian gets its name from the inverted pot-like mound on the end of the adult male's snout - a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >ghada</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> in Hindi, if you will. </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Gharial has its set of problems even in the protected Chambal. I must underscore that these have diminished greatly thanks to an active forest department staff, and a force of dedicated conservationists and scientists. One of the more horrible things that used to happen a lot in the past was due to illegal fishing in the river. Gharials used to get stuck in fishing nets trying to get at the captured fish. Fisherfolk, in their hurry to escape, and to save the nets and fish, slashed at the captured Gharial with knives sometimes cutting off part of the snout. </span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs53mvLOrI/AAAAAAAAAN4/BHi625IjAf0/s400/Gharial+cut+snout+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs53mvLOrI/AAAAAAAAAN4/BHi625IjAf0/s400/Gharial+cut+snout+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348932609886599858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some of these Gharials lived (above), though not for long. They are probab</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ly not able to catch fish with their reduced snouts</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">! </span></span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs5upKcw-I/AAAAAAAAANw/J082ur_7MI0/s400/Gharial+snout+with+fishnet+Chambal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs5upKcw-I/AAAAAAAAANw/J082ur_7MI0/s400/Gharial+snout+with+fishnet+Chambal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348932455919043554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Many Gharials, however, are lucky to escape with part of the net sticking out of their snouts </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">like forgotten floss</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (above). </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs5oQ322ZI/AAAAAAAAANo/kzmOiXIPt1g/s400/Gharial+basking+Chambal2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gtA9bTRTE4U/Sjs5oQ322ZI/AAAAAAAAANo/kzmOiXIPt1g/s400/Gharial+basking+Chambal2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348932346319395218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fishing has reduced greatly as a threat, and Gharials now seem to be able to live to ripe old ages (notwithstanding catastrophic and unpredictable events like a recent </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.gharials.com/PDF/GharialInvestigationJan18.08.pdf">die-off</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - which has completely stopped, thankfully)!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I owe a great debt to the Uttar Pradelsh forest department for inviting me several times to participate in their Gharial and bird censuses in the Nationa</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chambal Sanctuary. Despite exceedingly limited resources, staff are very active to ensure that illegal fishing is reduced, and wildlife is as undisturbed as possible. A great resounding ovation to these folk, and to a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l the scientists and conservationists </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">working to conserve these tota</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">y fab anima</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">!<br /><br />(A</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l photos were taken between Aug 2008 and Feb 2009 in the Uttar Pradesh portion of the Nationa</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l Chamba</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l Sanctuary. For those interested in Gharia</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l conservation and eco</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">logy, be sure to check out</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> this fabu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lous website dedicated to these amazing anima</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls:</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.gharials.com. Two fabu</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lous fi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lms have been made on the Gharia</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ls</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - one c</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lassic is <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ganges Gharia</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">l</span> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">by the Bedi Brothers, and a more recent </span></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.iconfilms.co.uk/gharial/blues"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Crocodi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">le </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">B</span></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.iconfilms.co.uk/gharial/blues">lues</a> by Icon Fi</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lms: both must-sees for Gharia</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">l and nature b</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">uffs!</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">)<br /></span></span></div>Gopi Sundarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551113415137201765noreply@blogger.com4