sparrow box nest occupied

I had cleaned the wooden sparrow box next after three cycles. I was amazed to see that it was absolutely clean inside the nest. There was no left over of the egg shell, no droppings and i could find only the dry leaves, and twigs. I understood that the sparrows cleans the nest and maintain a very hygiene way of life.

Also I observed that during the winter there was no nesting activity. Now Summer has just begun and sparrows starts visiting again.

Now the sparrows starts builing its nest in the second home made box made of card-board.( actually it was an empty washing powder box). I could observe it brings dried leaves, cotton, feathers, and threads to built its nest.

Also the top nest box was under continous attack and disturbances by puras (Pigeons). I tried many ways but could not get ride of it from sitting over the top the sparrow nest box. Ultimately, last week I decided to put an end to this menance. I brough a box of paper pins and punched over a card board and made a spike - kind of thing and pasted over the sparrow nest box. Ah, ha.. what a magic, it completely prevents pigeons fom sitting over the sparrow box. Now-a-days, the pigeons are not at all coming over the nest box. It is a great relief. I am not against pigeons but it is not clean and makes the place dirty.

I hope now both the boxes would be occupied by Sparrows... Eagely awaiting for such a thing to happen, and I will post a picture when it materialises!!!

first in the morning

One of the must for South Indian is a hot coffee in the morning. Typically they prefer filter coffee and not the instant coffee. Intitially when I came to Baroda, I dont know from where to get the filter coffee, but I found in the bye-lanes of Dandia Bazaar., near to the famous Canara Coffee House Hotel.

After founding this shop, the problem of morning coffee is solved. You may also enjoy a hot sip of coffee...

Try this next time

Canara coffe house is a famous South Indian resturant at Vadodara.  You will get, Tasty South Indian dishes like Idly, Medhu Vada, Masala Dosa, Uttappam, uppumma and Coffee and Tea are some of the menus. All the items are sold at a very nominal rate. You may get stumptous breakfast at a cost of a single Masala dosa in any other hotels in Vadodara. (Rs. 50/-). It is located at the  Main Road, Dandia Bazar, Near Fire Brigade, Dandia Bazar Vadodara, Gujarat 390001. The Hotel look is traditional and the table and chair also looks old and gives a feel of ancient type feel, and you will be pleased by the courteous services of the hotel staff. Try next time when you read this article!  I used to visit frequently ahd have breakfast for full family, for less than Rs. 100/- with a lingering taste of vada...inviting you for the next visit....

kite festival

Clear sky, chillness in the air, sunny, perfect for flying kites.. Barodians enjoy and celebrate flyign kites during Uttarayan. Uttarayan or makarshankranthi wherein the days are longer, and the skies are clear and sunny, the Sun is moving northern direction giving way to winter, decline of chillness and arrival of heat. Herein Baroda the kite flying is not only limited to children, full family is participating in the event. On 14th Jan, full family comes to the terrace with bedsheets, table, chairs, music system, chats, water bootles, juices, with family and friends. Each terrace is having atleast 50 or more kites with plenty of threads. At some point of time, the whole sky is dotted with colorful and variety of kites, it is a delight to watch. When one kite, cuts other the full terrace enjoys it and celebrate by shouting, clapping and whizziling.. even uses some cacophony - a funnel shapped instrument to vent sound!!! At the evenings, all the members enjoy snacks and dance to the music. It is a sort of community get-together, enjoyment, fun and frolic on the name of kite festival. It is delighted to watch the harmony and festive atmosphere here.

Some pictures from my terrace...

Sparrow story cycle 3 continues

Dec 20, 2011

Today morning, in the new sparrow box with the round entry, the sparrow couple inspected and planning to start next nesting cycle. I dont know whether they had started building nest inside, as till today evening, no signs of spillage of twigs. But I could observe one thing:- The nest box hole should be round, as only after making the hole from square to round, the sparrows showing atleast some interest to occupy it. Some snaps from my mobile camera.

sparrow nesting 3rd cycle

18th Dec 2011-  Begining of Sparrow nesting season - 3rd cycle.

In my sparrow nest, after a lull period of around 15days I could see some activity; for the past two days some sparrows comes and inspecting the site!!! Infact there was a fight between two male sparrow, may be for occupying the nest space.

Today ie 18th Dec 2011, Sunday.

Since morning a male and female sparrow, occupied the old sparrow house. Ofcourse, the old house was not cleaned, but I could see some activity of new twigs and tweets. The renovation of the nest is going on. The sparrows themselves, cleaning the old nest for their next nesting cycle.

Also I could see the female sparrow, exploring the possibilities of occupying the new sparrow box developed by me using card board. As an experimental measure I made the entry hole in square shapped. But so far no sparrow ventured into it. Today for the first time, the sparrow tried to enter into it. So I modified the entry point from square to semi round, as I could make a perfect round.

You can see the modified semi round hole. I hope sparrow will occupy the new nest box in future..

second cycle of sparrows

After clearing the pigeon debris, the sparrows again started the second nesting cycle.

It appears that the sparrows are undaunted by the disturbances caused by the pigeons and perhaps layed its eggs in the nest box. The second nesting cycle started around October end.

on November 10th, our maid servant shown a small still born chick in the balcony. how it came out and when it was thrown out, nobody knowns.

By then, we could see the chirping sound from the sparrow box.

From november 12th onwards, the parent sparrows start continous feeding. we should learn a thing or other from them, as it tirelessly caring for its young ones. I could see continous shuttling of both father and mother sparrows to feed the young. I could say per hour atleast 15 trips, this stars from morning 6.00am to evening 6.00pm. Some times, if I put the balcony light, the mother sparrow used to come out and pick from the feeder and feed to the young ones.

Around November 18th could see the young one peeping out of the hole to receive the feedings. Wonder.. this time, two healthy baby birds inside...

Around Nov 25th.. both the young birds compete each other to poke their beaks and face outside to receive the feeds!!! And some times almost the full body outside the hole.. and the mother bird finds itself in a precarious position, as it did not find a place to balance for feeding!!!

Over the past three week, I could enjoy the chirping sound of the sparrows, from morning to night continous chirping, it becomes a habit and felt like nice vibration and some life or movement in the home..

I was looking for good opportunity to click those pictures of mother feeding the young birds.. On monday i.e 28th Nov.. I was gearing to take an ideal shot as; by then both the chicks are grown... but alas... before clicking both the young birds taken its maiden flight and never to return...

yes ofcourse, the parent sparrows, comes to feeder.. but now the sparrow nest is empty...

but.. now i could feel some thing missing, those nice chirping sound of the young ones.. awaiting for the third cycle...

pigeon surprise!!!

10th Nov 2011,

Pigeon laid eggs even without nest in the waterhole !!!!

I had arranged waterhole for birds, particularly pigeons in the balcony of our home.

During summer months many pigeons used to frequent this to quench their thirst. Some pigeons even used to  have small shower in the waterhole.

I used to refill the mud vessel for every alternate days or once in two days. But for the past two days, i did not refill the vessel as this is start of the winter,  and to my surprise, I found a pigeon sitting in the vessel in the evening.

I went near and checked the pot.. oh.. my God, to my surprise, I found.....!!!!

oh.. A beautiful white egg in it!!!  Another egg was broken and laid nearby. I was surprised because, how come the pegions lay their eggs without any nest?  I was under dilemma whether to allow the pigeon to continue its nesting or not?  I could observe that pigeons lays their eggs even without building the nests, if they could find convenient place to hatch. The next day, after laying the eggs, i could see the mother & father pigeons brought some twigs and feathers to make a temporary nest?

Anyhow this was quite strange, Isn't?

waterhole for birds

I had arranged to place a waterhole ( a mud vessel with water capacity of 5 lts) in the compound wall. It is frequented by sparrows, pigeons, and myynahs. Yesterday, at around 8.50am while starting from home to company, a pair of mynahs using that for not only drinking water, but also for a "relaxed" bath!!!! a pic

sparrow nest & pigeon shelter

Nov 2nd 2011.

As the young pigeons grown and started flying independently, got a sense of relief, as there is an end to the nuisance of pigeons droppings.

But the worst thing you may not aware, pigeons are worst infringers!!! There was terrific fight for the nest, to occupy the nesting place for new pigeons, in the commotion the whole place around the nest becomes even dirty because of spillage of the twigs, tweets and the feathers.

Atlast, I thought to putting an end to this non-sense. I dismantled the whole pigeon nest and cleared the entire area. It took more than two hours for me to clean the mess. The pigeons for quite some time came back and forth, and now it realised it must look for some other place for shelter.

On Oct 30th, Sunday... refurnished the Sparrow nest box by adding one more new sparrow shelter made of card board. Also cleaned and refilled the sparrow food, brought 500 gms of half cut rice and 500gms of bajira ( millet). A pic.. but as on date the new sparrow shelter was not occupied by any sparrows... waiting..

The baby pigeons started moving here and there, and it appears they are impatient and wants to take it wings. Yesterday 20th Oct 2011, one of the pigeon took a dangerous manoeuver for its first flight and in the process stumbled upon the shoe rack in the balcony and it settled itself for the whole night as it could not flight upto the nest and the next day early morning, with the support of its parents could get back to its nest. ( I also not tried to put-it back in the nest as I heard that if humans touches the young birds, then its parents and the bird community will not accept the contaminated bird ( may be identified by the smell???)  and the little one would be perished till its end or needs to be survived by its own strength ( if, my memory is correct, in Malayalam, this kind of outcast is called " BRIST"). A happy reunion picture...

=============================
Today is 17th Oct 2011, after one month of my previous photo. The pigeon had two little baby bird, which are now sturdy and ready to take its wings.
I could observe the sacrifice of the mother bird. The mother bird during hatching period did not moved anywhere, I wounder when it is moving out for eating? I don't know, whether it is having any food during the hatching period.. After around 15 days, I could hear the chirping sound of young ones. Then a cycle of tireless feeding. Oh.. after a gap of one month, both the eggs hatched and two healthy baby birds are out to start their life. But, giving pigeons in the balcony is not advisable, as unlike sparrows, makes the surrounds ugly by its droppings...I had to bear the brunt of housemaid and my family members for allowing the pigeon nest to continue...because of its droppings.

The Sparrow is ready for its next cycle.. it is still bringing fine feathers to the old nest inside the sparrow box.. but I don't think the next cycle of hatching started... a pic taken today.ie 17th Oct 2011.

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The second cycle of the sparrow nesting started last week ie on 17th Sep 2011 in my home. Both the mother and father sparrow cleaning the nest and start remodelling the house. One more funny thing is that in the upper floor, a pigeon also started nesting. The inbetween Bata box sparrow house is already booked!!! by some sparrow and start visiting. I don't know whether nesting takes places, as the entry point for that Bata box sparrow nest is by the right side entry. This shows the birds, sparrows and pigeons are compatible and would love to live by live and lets live!!!! a pic

I need to refill the bird feeder, as the food got fungal growth due to wet and damp monsoon weather. Anyhow the Sparrow box and bird feeder gives a sense of satisfaction and good time pass, and it is pleasant to hear the chirpings of sparrows in the morning and all the day long activities by the parent sparrows is a treat to watch.

to ponder... achieving peace of mind

PEACE OF MIND

Once when Buddha was walking from one town to another with a few of his followers, they happened to pass a lake.They stopped there and Buddha said to one of his disciples, I am thirsty. Go and get me some water from that lake there.

The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water,and right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy,very turbid. The disciple thought, How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink! So he came back and said to Buddha, The water in the lake is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink.

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own and then you got clear water.

Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down.

IT WILL HAPPEN. IT IS EFFORTLESS

some random snaps

South west monsoon transforms the parched land mass into green canopy with buss of life. The mesmerising effect of monsoon rains cannot be explained but only could be experienced. The above are some snaps of the myraid colours offered by the great Indian South West Monsoon!!!!

that's monsoon...

Yesterday after evening showers, thick dark clouds moving from SW, and suddently the sun peeps out.. a magical moment... some pics. just enjoy the nature in its true colours...

some monsoon magic

monsoon magic, freshness in the air... on Twitpic

monsoon magic, freshness in the air... on Twitpic

for better life

Three things to respect-

Old Age, religion and law.

Three things to love-

Purity, Honesty and hard work.

Three things to cultivate -

Courage, cheerfulness and Contentment.

Three things to control -

Tongue, Temper and Temptation.

Three things to watch-

Speech, behavior and action.

Three things to prevent -

Laziness, falsehood and Slander.

small things

A little boy selling magazines for school walked up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and run down and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did come out he would not say hello to neighbors or passers by but simply just glare at them.

The boy knocked on the door and waited, sweating from fear of the old man. The boy's parents told him to stay away from the house, a lot of the other neighborhood children were told the same from their parents.
As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened. " What do you want?" the old man said. The little boy was very afraid but he had a quota to meet for school with selling the magazines.

"Uh, sir, I uh am selling these magazines and uh I was wondering if you would like to buy one." The old man just stared at the boy. The boy could see inside the old man's house and saw that he had dog figurines on the fireplace mantle. "Do you collect dogs?" the little boy asked. "Yes, I have many collectibles in my house, they are my family here, they are all I have." The boy then felt sorry for the man, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul. "Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors, it is perfect for you, I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much." The old man was ready to close the door on the boy and said, "No boy, I don't need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye."

The little boy was sad that he was not going to make his quota with the sale. He was also sad for the old man being so alone in the big house that he owned. The boy went home and then had an idea. He had a little dog figure that he got some years ago from an aunt. The figurine did not mean nearly as much to him since he had a real live dog and a large family. The boy headed back down to the old man's house with the figurine. He knocked on the door again and this time the old man came right to the door. "Boy, I thought I told you no magazines."

"No, sir I know that, I wanted to bring you a gift." The boy handed him the figurine and the old man's face lit up. "It is a Golden Retriever, I have one at home, this one is for you." The old man was simply stunned; no one had ever given him such a gift and shown him so much kindness. "Boy, you have a big heart, why are you doing this?" The boy smiled at the man and said, "Because you like dogs."
From that day on the old man started coming out of the house and acknowledging people. He and the boy became friends; the boy even brought his dog to see the man weekly.

This simple gesture changed both of their lives forever.

NICE MORAL STORY

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon
for help, but none seemed forthcoming.


Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after
scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'


Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.


The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.