Birds captured after the rains

Thanks to the rain and the treated water, the level has gone up at the lake. Unfortunately though, the notoriously difficult to control alligator weed is also growing lushly. We hope when the level increases even more, the weeds will be submerged and rot. Well, we may be unhappy about the weed spreading but the birds are very happy about it. The number of birds frequently the lake has increased. 
 
For the past few months, Madhurima Das, a “resident birder” from the neighbourhood has been regularly doing a weekend census of the birds at the lake, and taking pictures as well. Today she was happy to have captured a few candid moments. Pictures below.
 
Pheasant-tailed Jacana in breeding plumage
 
Little Cormorant 
 
Great Cormorants that flew past for a recce perhaps!
 
White-throated Kingfisher with catch
 
Spot the two Purple Herons? 
 
Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in a mating dance perhaps …. 
 
Little Grebes – they had laid three eggs but lost two to predators. Way of the wild!
 
A first time visitor to our lake – Jacobin Cuckoo, considered to be a harbinger of the monsoon! 
 
Pics: Madhurima Das
Captions: Usha Rajagopalan 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Building on a floodplain: Why residents and experts are warning against Chennai’s Sports City

The ₹261-crore project, being built on a wetland basin could worsen monsoon flooding for hundreds of Chennai residents.

For Dhanasekaran, a resident of Ezhilmuga Nagar, an area adjacent to the proposed Global Sports City project site, the vast stretch of land in Semmencheri is more than an empty plot waiting to be developed. Every monsoon, he watches it transform into a sheet of water, carrying runoff from surrounding neighbourhoods towards the Pallikaranai Marshland. "We are the poorvakudi (original inhabitants) of this place. Even though we were relocated here years ago, this has become our home," says Dhanasekaran, standing beside the 112-acre site where the project is set to come up. "Officials may not know how much water will…

Similar Story

Citizen Clinic: Cooling solutions for home and neighbourhood

Here are FAQs and answers from the Citizen Clinic on sustainable cooling solutions, where experts discussed greening measures, natural ventilation and more.

As summer temperatures reach record highs across India, our homes are increasingly turning into heat traps. While air conditioning offers immediate relief, relying heavily on high energy-consuming cooling methods cannot be a long-term solution. These are not sustainable and contribute to carbon emissions. On the other hand, many quick DIY fixes may not work, and heavy architectural changes may not be an option for those living in rented homes or in budget-conscious households. So, how can we make our homes more liveable as cities heat up? What are some sustainable, affordable yet durable options available for cooling? To answer some…