Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The market entanglement

So cities have become gas chambers, air quality is severely compromised as more numbers of Indians die of air pollution related ailments than anywhere else in the world. Common people are in serious bother, in an already bleak scenario where apathy driven policy makers, habituated through sanctum traditions of moral vacuum, look for easy excuses or manipulation to hide their incompetence. So what does the market media, which is meanwhile elevated as fourth estate –torchbearer of free speech so on, do? Continuing with tradition of amazing levels of immunity to surroundings they work it out through sponsors from vehicle manufacturers in a bid to increase sale! So we have carbon fuelled cars and bikes being tempted through advertisements, very much helped by media exaggerated icons arising out of murky world of movie business and cricket industry, as agents of superior life on every conceivable occasion as people grapple for dear life. 
It seems some live in alternate reality, in a market entangled paradox. It is alright to peddle vehicles while people gasp for breath as automobiles are established as major source of air pollution in already congested societies with limited infrastructure. This in a country where majority of people don’t own vehicles and use public transport despite the risks and discomfort as also the system heavily skewed towards private vehicles (must add metro trains are significant step towards MRTS). But the irresponsible elite section wallowing in greed and pathological insecurity live in market entanglement. Carbon spewing vehicles with fancier looks are, not very ironically, being propositioned with deeper understanding on marketer’s limited philosophies on life meanwhile bringing the bacon home for wage slave journalists as they pitch as guardians of common people. The disconnect is amazing.       

Monday, November 13, 2017

Birding report from Adichunchanagiri Peacock sanctuary

Today being birth anniversary of Salim Ali, as usual birding was on the itinerary, indeed this day should be declared as a birding day. This time around rather than going for birding to the nearby lake I decided on Adichunchanagiri peacock sanctuary, something that was on the anvil for a long time. It’s on a rocky hillock, a scrubby terrain, that is occupied by a big temple with smaller ones scattered around like the one you have at Tirupati. There should be strict law regarding declaring a site as wildlife sanctuary, and anything near religious sites shouldn’t be considered as these are highly disturbed.  There seems to be a desire to declare these places as wildlife sanctuaries as an indication that the vicinity of religious sites are oasis of calmness with diversity of lives. To some extend taboos related to religions and superstitions tends to conserve the place but as things get commercialised they get seriously disturbed with large number of people, vehicles, constructions, and ofcourse human waste. There is also amazing level of noise pollution, not to forget the cringe worthy shrill drum beats. To be fair this site is sparse most days except on Sundays and Mondays.  As expected you find ‘R species’ avian (the opportune species that thrive along human habitat) like mynas, crows, rock pigeons towards the temple site. Though it is named Peacock sanctuary there aren’t many Peafowls around. But away from the temple you could have some wonderful sightings of ‘K species’ including the Vulnerable (IUCN) Yellow-throated Bulbul. Terrific.

Checklist of birdwatching
In and around Adichunchanagiri Peacock sanctuary
Date: 12 November
Time: 6am to 8.30am
Weather: partly cloudy sky

1.      Yellow-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus)*
2.      Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
3.      Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica)
4.      Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)
5.      Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
6.      Little Minivet (Pericrocotus lansbergei)
7.      White-naped Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus) 
8.      Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
9.      Black-headed Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
10.  Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura)
11.  Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
12.  White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
13.  Indian golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo)
14.  Indian robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)
15.  White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus)
16.  Red-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica)
17.  Little swift (Apus affinis)
18.  Yellow-billed Babbler (Turdoides affinis)
19.  Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
20.  Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica)
21.  Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
22.  Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
23.  Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
24.  Green Bee eater (Merops orientalis)
25.  Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)
26.  Dusky crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor)
27.  Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) 
28.  Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
29.  Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)
30.  White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis)
31.  Jungle bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)
32.  Black kite  (Milvus migrans) 
33.  Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
34.  Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
35.  Jungle Myna  (Acridotheres fuscus)
36.  Common Crow (Corvus splendens)
37.  Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 

*lifer