THE MYNAHS OF THE URBAN JUNGLE - II

THE JUNGLE MYNAHS

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THE MYNAHS OF THE URBAN JUNGLE - I

THE JUNGLE MYNAHS

Small yet feisty, the Jungle Mynah or Acridotheres fuscus is one species that you can commonly spot in most parts of Bangalore. They can be easily identified by the shrieking sounds that they make, usually in the mornings or just prior to the sunset when they seem to be most active. Placed in the family Sturnidae, under the Order Passeriformes, these little creatures are natives to southern Asia. They can be distinguished from their relatives, the Hill Mynah from the tuft of feathers on the top of their beaks which is in the form of spikes. Generally found in group of up to four individuals, they build their nests in tree holes in the countryside and in cracks and crevices in buildings in the cities that they inhabit. They are grey in color with distinct white markings and tail tips that are visible when they fly. The beak, legs and the iris are bright yellow. The South Indian race however has whitish blue iris. Presently classified as Least Concern in the IUCN list, they are omnivores which feed on grains, fruits and insects.

The pictures in this post were clicked on a Sunday morning in August in NGV, Kormangala.

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MORE BIRDS AT GOA VELHA

GOA DIARIES: BIRDING AT GOA VELHA - PART 2

April is that time of the year when most species of birds in Goa breed. Since my visit coincided with the breeding season, I did get a few snaps of the avians as they were occupied in various activities relating to passing on their genes. Bhabi's mom spotted an Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) from the kitchen. I followed this beautiful bird as she went to the road, collecting small twigs and deposited them into a tree hollow right at the entrance of the home. After reading about them on Wikipedia, I concluded that it was a female and she would lay her eggs within a week. Besides, I also saw a pair of Jungle Mynahs (Acridotheres fuscus) catching insects and feeding it to their young who were holed up, quite literally in a coconut tree. In every 15 minutes, one of the two parents would fly back to the nest with some food - usually an insect in their beak for the chicks to eat. Unlike the Robins, both the male and the female Jungle Mynah chip in while raising the young ones.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Jungle Mynah

Aaar - Paar: A hole in the coconut tree

For more on the Goa trip:
(1) Life is a Beach (Link)
(2) Birds at Goa Velha (Link)

THE FIRST BIRDING EXPERIENCE IN NGV

SIGHTINGS FROM THE TERRACE: KITES, PIGEONS ET ALL

With dad being allocated a bank quarters in National Games Village (NGV) - Kormangala after a long wait of three years, we moved out of Devarachikanahalli in the end week of June. Though the last house is the twelfth that I had stayed in, I was particularly fond of this place. The bungalow which we had rented belonged to the Shenoys whom my parents had known for quite some time. The ground floor which we had occupied had been renovated last year and looked fabulous thanks to the walls painted in contrasting colours - cream and orange, white vitrified tiles, Plaster of Paris ceilings and the masterpiece - a wooden carving of the Dhasa avatars adoring the entrance to the altar. The house was huge - 1,600 sq ft to be precise, with three spacious bedroom and the rent that we paid was much less than the market price. Amongst the things that I thought I would miss in NGV were the birds that I would spot on my weekend walks in the Bannerghatta Road area. Unlike southern Bengaluru which still has a substantial amount of green cover (thankfully), my impression of Kormangala was that of a concrete jungle full of people, traffic, pollution, chaos and cacophony.

While my assessment of Koramangala was pretty correct, the Games Village seems to be an oasis midst a desert. Built after draining off the erstwhile tank (What the Hell?), the Games Village is a well-maintained residential area with all amenities within the premises, well laid roads and 24 X 7 security. The best part, however, is the fact that the locality has lots of trees. With so much greenery around, I guess staying here will be fun. As far as the quarters is concerned, it is a 2 bedroom house which unfortunately, is not in the best of conditions. However, I am sure that in some time, we will end up liking this place too. Since it is on the top floor, we have easy access to the terrace which provides a spectacular view of the city. Luckily for us, our block is situated close to the NGV back gate and so we can also see the swimming pool and the tennis court of the NGV Builder's Club. The day after we shifted here, I happened to go to the terrace at 11:00 am in the morning with my camera so as to see if I could click some birds and I was not disappointed. Some of the photos that were clicked in my first birding experience at the Games Village are posted below.

Ek Main Aur Ek Tu: A pair of Brahminy Kites

On the Edge: Rock Pigeon

Portrait: Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia)

Power Nap

For more on Birding at National Games Village, Koramanagala:
(1) The Pleasant Pandemonium (Link) 
(2) Whrisky, Frisky, Hippity Hop (Link)