रुबाई - Rubaai: Bird

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Birds colony at Rajamunda

A small colony of about 500+ Asian Openbill stork birds is established at a small village of Rjaamunda, near Rourkela. These storks migrate to this very place somewhere near June and fly back in October once the new-borns are mature enough.

Openbills can be characterised by the gap between the bill. These storks are known to habitat near the paddy fields, from where they can gather 'snails.' Openbill stork is a large bird with the wingspan more than 5 feet. Storks built a big, almost 5 feet wide nest with the help of twigs of Saal or Mango tree. Either parent looks after the babies while other make rounds and bring the food.

Stork in flight carrying the flowers of Saal tree.

Stork is trying to break a thick twig.

Occasional fight

A pair of stork feeding and taking care of the newborns.

काही कथा - भाग ७

दांडी सत्याग्रहाची घोषणा केल्यानंतर महात्मा गांधी यांना मोतीलाल नेहरू (राहुल गांधी यांचे खापर पणजोबा) यांनी लांबलचक पत्र लिहिले. त्यात दांडी सत्याग्रहामुळे काहीही साध्य होणार नाही; तो कसा फसेल आदी मुद्दय़ांचा ऊहापोह केला.

गांधीजींनी पत्राचे उत्तर दिले- 'कर के देखो, तुम्हारा बापू.'

नेहरू नाराज झाले. पण नेत्याची इच्छा ही आज्ञा मानून त्यांनी दांडी सत्याग्रहाच्या स्थान व वेळेची घोषणा केली. सत्याग्रहाच्या दिवशीच रेल्वे स्थानकावर मोतीलाल नेहरू यांना ब्रिटिश अधिकाऱ्यांनी अटक केली.

तुरुंगात जाण्यापूर्वी नेहरू यांनी गांधीजींना तार पाठवली.

त्यात म्हटले होते- 'प्रिय बापू, बिना किये ही देख लिया!'

गांधीजींना जनमानसाची नाडी माहिती होती. कारण ते लोकांमध्ये मिसळत होते.

लेबनीज लेखक खलील जिब्रानची रूपककथा आहे.

सुरूपता आणि कुरूपता या दोन बहिणी, स्नानासाठी तलावात उतरल्या. वस्त्रं तळ्याच्या काठावर ठेवली होती. पाण्यात त्या मनसोक्त डुंबत होत्या. इतक्यात कुरूपतेला काहीसं आठवलं.....

ती लगबगीने तळ्याबाहेर आली. तिने सुरूपतेची वस्त्रं अंगावर चढवली आणि निघून गेली.

सुरूपता अजूनही पाण्यात डुंबतच होती. यथावकाश तीही पाण्याबाहेर आली; तर तिला दिसलं... की, कुरूपतेची वस्त्रं काठावर आहेत. ती घालून बाहेर पडण्याशिवाय तिला गत्यंतर उरले नाही.

तेव्हापासून भलंबुरं ओळखण्यात माणसाची गल्लत होऊ लागली.

साऱ्या सरोवरांचा मान असलेल्या मानसरोवरात विहरणारा हंस आणि तळ्यात व समुद्राच्या काठाकाठाने फिरणारा बगळा यांचा हा संवाद.

बगळा विचारतो. 'तू कोण आहेस ?' इतका शुभ्र... माझ्यापेक्षा कणभर अधिकच शुभ्र असा तू कोण? कोठला?

हंस उतरतो, 'मी तो आहे.... ज्याचे डोळे पाय आणि चोच लाल आहेत'

हंसाच्या उत्तरावर बगळ्याचा पुढचा प्रश्न. 'तू कोठून आलास?'

हंस म्हणाला 'मानसरोवरातून!'

बगळ्याने ते कधी ऐकलंच नव्हतं. तो म्हणाला, 'काय आहे हे'

हंस म्हणाला, 'तेथे सुवर्णकमळे डुलतात पाण्यावर, आणि पाणी इतकं गोड आहे की अमृतच. आणि सर्वत्र मोतीच मोती विखुरलेले. तो मोत्यांचा चारा मी खातो,'

बगळ्याने असे कधी ऐकलेले नव्हते.

तो म्हणाला, ...ते ठीक आहे हो! पण त्या सरोवरात कीटक आणि मासे असतात का? खाण्यासाठी माशांसारखं काय काय मिळतं?

Note: Stories are collected from internet pages and edited. Stories are published on the blog merely to inspire people. No copyright violation intended.

Wandering Destination: Indira Gandhi Park, Rourkela

Indira Gandhi Park, Rourkela (Odisha)

Condition of the bear tells it all !

Wandering Destination: Indira Gandhi Park (IGP), Rourkela

IGP is one of the three recreation parks Rourkela has, developed and maintained by Rourkela Steel Plant.

Spread, location, and approach:

Park is spread over 50 acres of land.
The location of the said park is adjacent to Ring Road and Main road leads to Traffic Chowk from Sector – 2 and Sector – 4 respectively. It is located near to sector-2 bus stand.
From railway station, share auto can drop right in the front of the IGP gate for 10 rupees. Private buses also run on the same route.

Worker feeding fish to crocodiles

Attractions:

1. Zoo:

It has its own small zoo.

Common animals: Bear, Neelgai, Spotted dear, Crocodile, Rabbit etc.

Common birds: Peacock, Variety of parrots, Fowls, Ibis, storks etc.

Hand of steel

Peacock - prime attraction of the zoo

2. "Hand-of-steel" sculpture

"The Hands of Steel" or the "Ten Million Monument" was designed by Vijay Acquilla and made at the initiative of Dr. P L Agarwal.

Pond inside the park, surrounded by the pathway and the toy train. Pond has boating facility.

Musical fountain,board shows the timing of the show

3. Indira Gandhi pond:

A small lake inside the park with a boating facility.

4. Toy trains:

This train meant for children runs around the pond.

5. Musical Fountains:

Every day musical fountains are switched on in the evening. The show runs for half an hour. It can be enjoyed sitting in the lawns nearby.

Top of Doll museum building

6. Doll museum:

Collection of variety of dolls. It is situated in one of the corner of the park. Timing of the doll museum is still a mystery for me, as I failed to catch it open on two occasions.

7. Rose garden:

It is a season attraction. Roses are planted in November and flowers January onward to last for next two months.

Rose Garden being prepared for the next cultivation

Spectacularly backlit tree photographed on a late morning in October

Lawns inside the park

Facilities:

Lawns are well maintained.
Enough benches to sit
Two food courts for snacks, mostly packed food and beverages.

Timings and Entry fees:

Visitors at the park watching birds

Negatives:

Zoo is not properly maintained. Strong feeling to liberate the animals arises after looking at the conditions. Small, untidy and unprofessionally designed cabins must be replaced by better ones.
No drinking water facility apart from the food court.
Doll museum timings depends upon the worker there, he has his own way to do so.
Park opens at 8 AM in the morning, too late for exercise and summer days in Rourkela.

Bridge on ring road out side the main entrance of the the IG park is the landmark

Main entrance to the IG park

Flowers in IG park

Birds at Central park, Jaipur !

Indian Roller

Common Hoopoe

Indian Robin

Black and white photos - II

More black and white photos - II

See set of black and white photos posted earlier here.

Prolonged exposure of small streams Place: Rajmachi, Raigad (Maharashtra)

Hindu marriages are full of rituals. In this photo, father-in-law washes the legs of bride-groom.

Powai lake on the banks of which IIT Bombay is located. Hiranandani can be seen on the backdrops !

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Courtship of doves behind bathroom window !

Splashing waves !

Flowering Trees: Red Silk Cotton Tree (शाल्मली / शेवर)

Flower of Red cotton silk tree

A large dark red/ magenta colored flower of "silk cotton tree" attracts every nature wanderer during summer trails. There exists a very similar species, white flowers is the sole difference. Flower with five petals blooms during spring months (January to March), while tree losses all its leaves as many other tree do. Many birds like drongo, jungle babbler, common crow etc. feed on the flowers.

This native tree can grow up-to 30 m. Thorns on the stem and branches is its characteristic ID. Tree is largely famous as it bears its relation with a famous festival of Holi. In Konkan region, the decorated tree, decorated with Mango leaves and flowers, is worshiped. Tree is then burnt in the night and Holi is celebrated. The availability of this tree is larger and confidently its leafless during the same month when Holi is celebrated. The fruits appear in the month of April may and has fiber inside. Often seen them flying with the hot summer winds. Fibers are used in the pillows by villagers. Wood is light and makes it use in building structures used in water.

Quick Facts:

Common Name: Red Silk Cotton Tree (Sanskrit: शाल्मली / Marathi: शेवर)

Botanical Name: Bombax ceiba

Family: Baobab

Flowers: Large, red/magenta colored with 5 petals

Location on campus: All over academic area and hill side, a common tree.

Jungle Babbler feeding on Red Cotton Silk Tree

Wandering destination: Tungareshwar WLS

Cool water streams at Tungar WLS

Plum Judy is a commoner butterfly

Stunning destination for nature lovers. IT has something in every season. water falls and flowers in monsoon, butterflies in pre and post monsoon season, charming birds in winter season. Racket tailed drango, Around 100+ species of butterflies can be seen around. Winter season is best for birding. Asian Paradise flycatcher, Verditor are few attractive species of birds found here in appropriate season.

To reach Tungar, take bus from Main gate to Andheri railway station. Frequent locals from Andheri drops u at Vasai road. Take share auto to "Tungar Phata" and then start walking towards WLS. Entrance is at about kilometer inside from the main road. No ticket is charged presently and no permission required for nature walk. One can either follow the water streams or the road. Another part of Tungar WLS is Chinchoti waterfall. Alight at Naygaon station, catch share auto to reach Chicnhoti fata.

Tungareshwar is famous for the Shiva Temple, which is around 3-4 kilometers from Tungar phata. Fairly good road for vehicles to go till the temple. It is jot advisable to take bikes, specially in and after monsoon season.