A dusty box of oil-pastels in the cupboard reads mixing ka magic – richer and intermixable: 15 shades. There is no paper or pencil around. There is an abandoned file on the shelf. It becomes my canvas… the oil-pastels, my medium. A black ball point pen, my highlighter and a bottle of whitener (thanks to ‘sarkaari naukri’), my enhancer.
With the love of birds on my mind, my ‘colourful’ journey begins. A white flicker passes by the window. A Paradise Flycatcher, its tail swaying gleefully as it flies to the small waterhole in my garden. It is a sweltering May afternoon and thick mango canopies impart a certain flavour to the setting. Pleasant memories of bygone years come to mind. School summer vacations, papers and crayons…
The central Indian hilly landscapes of Melghat where I am posted are full of dense deciduous forests and wonderful birding stations. A fortuitous few get a chance to see these avian wonders up close. If I could have my way, I would go out in the forests for birding all the time. However, strict medical advice of rest at this stage of my pregnancy has turned me into a ‘window birder’.
FROM MY WINDOW
Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.
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Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
On my very first day in India, I encountered many marvelous new customs not practiced in the United States, my home country. But the most curious by far involved trees. Here and there, alongside the roaring streets of Mumbai were rings of marigold wreathed around twisting banyan trunks like dried rays of afternoon sunlight…
Who's Who?
Fact: all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads! Let’s unpack this...
The Sea Raptor
The White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is one of the most common raptors along the Indian coastline. Nevertheless, the sight of this soaring, broad-winged, white and black bird of prey is nothing less than majestic
Bringing Up Bob Hoots.
While we were visiting a friend’s farm in the village of Yelachetty, near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we found Spotted Owlets nesting on the tiled roof… and one of the chicks on the kitchen floor!
Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.
The Wizards Of Oz!
Australia is not only a country, but also a continent. The land down under, cut-off from the rest of the world has an abundance of unique species of native animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.
Scales & Tails
I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.
Big, Brilliant And Endangered
When one thinks of elephants, the first word that probably comes to mind is BIG! But elephants, while they may be the largest creatures on land, are not just big and powerful, they’re wise and sensitive as well. Recent scientific studies have established that they are among the most intelligent animals in the world.
Earth Manners
Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!
World Scan
CHINA’S IVORY TOWNAn explosive investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency has revealed how criminal gangs originating from an obscure town in southern China have come to dominate the smuggling of ivory tusks poached from African elephants.
