2020

EDITOR’S NOTE

“As the lockdown was lifted in a phased manner, we gradually resumed our field activities with restrictions. Our birders were able to sight and photograph several species that were new to Salem. We sincerely thank our Salem Forest Department for their amazing support to launch the Birds of Salem pocket guide. We also received a fantastic response to the ongoing nature webinar series, the SOF Sunday Talkies, a pioneering initiative to bring all women birders and nature enthusiasts of Tamil Nadu on a same platform. In each of the bird walks that we organized in these three months, all the mandatory safety protocols and guidelines issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu were strictly followed. All of us are still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and it isn’t over yet. Please continue to take precautions and don’t hesitate to get vaccinated when vaccines become available. We wish each of you to have a great and healthy New Year 2021. Sightings and records entered in eBird are only taken into account towards the writing of this e-magazine.”—Ganeshwar S V.

FIRST RECORD (1)

On October 11, 2020, Senthil Kumar S (Vasen Suli) recorded and photographed WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus for the first time in Salem at Pannavadi, Mettur. To see the complete checklist of birds, please click here.

WHIMBREL photographed by Senthil Kumar S (Vasen Suli)

WILD BIRD DAY

On October 17, 2020, SOF organized Wild Bird Day bird walk at Pannavadi, Mettur. Angeline Mano M, Dr Ananth T, Geetha Ananth, Dr Sakthi Chinnakannu, Santhosh, Senthil Kumar S, Subramania Siva S, Vadivukkarasi A along with young birders Mithran, Manoj, Sathish and Manoj Kumar took part in the event.

FIRST RECORD (2)

On October 17, 2020, the team of Angeline Mano M, Dr Ananth T, Geetha Ananth, Mithran A, Dr Sakthi Chinnakannu, Senthil Kumar S (Vasen Suli), Vadivukkarasi A, Subramania Siva recorded EURASIAN WRYNECK Jynx torquilla for the first time in Salem. To see the complete checklist of birds, please click here.

EURASIAN WRYNECK by Angeline Mano

FIRST RECORD (3)

On October 17, 2020, Angeline Mano M, Senthil Kumar S (Vasen Suli), Vadivukkarasi A, Subramania Siva recorded PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER Pluvialis fulva for the first time in Salem at Pannavadi, Mettur. To see the complete checklist of birds, please click here.

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER photographed by Angeline Mano

FIRST RECORD (4)

On November 1, 2020, the team of Angeline Mano M, Govindarajan, Kalaiselvan V, Senthil Kumar S (Vasen Suli), Subramania Siva S, Tamil Selvan, Vadivukkarasi A, Venkatraman R sighted and photographed EURASIAN HOBBY Falco subbuteo for the first time in Salem at Jamboothumalai Area. To see the complete checklist of birds, please click here.

EURASIAN HOBBY photographed by Angeline Mano

SÁLIM ALI BIRD COUNT

As a part of Sálim Ali Birthday Celebrations, bird walks and counts were organized from November 5 – 12, 2020, in which Dr Ananth T, Angeline Mano, Ajitha Sellappan, Elavarasan M, Ganeshwar S V, Geetha Ananth, Gowshikha, Mithran A.G, Monica Sri, Pradeep, Swathi and Yuvaraj Anandhan participated.

BIRDS OF SALEM POCKET GUIDE LAUNCHED

On the birth anniversary (November 12) of Dr Sálim Ali, the Salem Forest Department in association with Salem Ornithological Foundation, launched the Birds of Salem pocket guide, which is the first foldable pocket guide for a district in India. Salem District Collector Thiru. S.A. Raman, I.A.S, released the guide and Conservator of Forests Thiru. A. Periasamy, I.F.S and District Forest Officer Dr. R. Murugan, I.F.S received the first copies.
The pocket guide was created by Early Bird and the text was written by Ganeshwar SV and Dr P Jeganathan. It covers 165 familiar bird species in Salem, sorted into 6 categories for the ease of identification and includes migratory and endemic birds as well. To purchase the Birds of Salem pocket guide, please click here.

FIRST CALL RECORD

On November 16, 2020, Angeline Mano M and Thileepan V recorded the call of PAINTED SPURFOWL Galloperdix lunulata for the first time in Salem. To listen to the call and for the complete checklist of birds, please click here.

TAMIL BIRDERS’ VIRTUAL MEET

Due to the pandemic, the Tamil Birders Meet by TamilBirds network was conducted virtually this year. Angeline Mano from our team gave two talks: one on the SOF Sunday Talkies and the other on the Asian Waterbird Census 2020. To listen to the rest of the talks, please click here.

SPECIAL VISIT BY A SPECIAL PERSON

On November 24, 2020, eminent media personality Anu Hasan with her friend and renowned psychologist Aarti C Rajaratnam had a memorable birding experience at Salem guided by Ganeshwar SV. We sincerely thank Anu Hasan for her kind words of appreciation and support to our team.

OUTREACH

On November 27, 2020, Ganeshwar SV, Angeline Mano and Senthil Kumar S gave a presentation on the importance of bird watching and the need to take it to the students. It was organized by the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET), Salem. We thank Dr M Selvam, Principal, DIET, Salem and his associates for the opportunity and wonderful hospitality.  We also extend our thanks to Franklin from ETV Bharat for the news coverage.

SECOND RECORD

On December 26, 2020, Angeline Mano M and Ganeshwar S V recorded LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO Hierococcyx sparverioides for the second time in Salem at Jamboothumalai Area. To see the complete checklist of birds, please click here. The previous and first record we know is from a Facebook post by Kailas Thiyagarajan who photographed the bird at Yercaud in April 2019.

LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO photographed by Angeline Mano

SOF SUNDAY TALKIES

Since August 23, 2020, we have been conducting nature webinars every Sunday at 11 AM in association with Bird Count India. In this series, women would present their experiences, challenges, interesting observations, activities, etc. and in the last quarter of the year, Vadivukkarasi A, Indira S, Sahithya Selvaraj, Kavitha Ramkumar, Ishani Vivek, Rathika Ramasamy, Vidhya Sundar, Sri Sowmiya M, Divya Barathi Ramamuthi, Geethanjali Raghunathan, Vinithashri Gautham, Gomathi N, and Gowshikha R gave insightful and inspiring presentations. There are no eligibility criteria such as educational qualification, experience on field, experience in public speaking, etc. to speak in the webinars; if you are a woman interested in nature, you are most welcome to speak. Please contact us at [email protected]. For more details about the upcoming webinars, do check out Salem Ornithological Foundation’s facebook page.

BIODIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION

ACSEN Tex Pvt. Ltd. invited SOF to document the biodiversity at Manivilundhan Old Tank, which they are trying to restore with the support of likeminded individuals and the local community. In a very short period of time, we documented 84 species of birds, 40 species of butterflies, 10 species of dragonflies and damselflies, 5 species of frogs and 30 species of medicinal plants and trees. This preliminary documentation was done by Dr Ananth T, Angeline Mano, Elavarasan M, Ganeshwar SV, Paramasivam P and Venkatesh S. Regular monitoring will give us detailed insights to the biodiversity of the wetland.

In the picture: Large Grey Babbler, Alpine Swift, Ashy Prinia, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (male), Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Indian Roller photographed by Venkatesh S.

எழுத்து: வை. கலைச்செல்வன், தலைமை ஆசிரியர் (மற்றும் பறவை ஆர்வலர்), ஊராட்சி ஒன்றிய தொடக்கப்பள்ளி, ஜம்பூத்துமலை, சேலம்.

“எல்லாப் பறவைகளிலுமே ஆண் பறவைகளை சேவல் என்றும் பெண் பறவைகளை பெட்டை என்றும் சொல்றீங்களே? இதை உறுதிப்படுத்திகிட்டீங்களா?” என்று கேட்டார் சகோதரியொருவர். “அட! இவ்வளவு நாளா நமக்கு இது தோணலையே? முன்னோர் சொன்னதை அப்படியே சொல்வது மரபென்றாலும் அதனை உறுதிப்படுத்திக் கொள்வது தவறில்லையே” என்றெண்ணியது மனது.

தூங்கா இரவில் தொல்காப்பியம்

அப்படி எண்ணியபோது நள்ளிரவு மணி ஒன்று. நமக்குத்தான் எதாச்சும் கேள்வி தோணுச்சுன்னாவே தூக்கம் வராதே! தொல்காப்பியம் எடுத்தேன். நம்பத்தகுந்த பழமையான இலக்கண நூல். நிச்சயம் இதில் பதில் இருக்கும். இனி தொல்காப்பியர் சொல்வதை அப்படியே உங்களுக்கு வழங்கியிருக்கிறேன். இங்கு நான் சொல்லியிருக்கும் கருத்துகள் அனைத்தும் பறவைகள் பற்றியே சொல்லியிருக்கிறேன்.

இளமைப்பெயர்கள்

இளமைப்பெயர்களாக பார்ப்பு, பறழ், குட்டி, குருளை, கன்று, பிள்ளை, மகவு, மறி, குழவி என்னும் ஒன்பது பெயர்கள். இதில் பார்ப்பு, பிள்ளை என்பவை இரண்டும் பறவைகளுக்குப் பொருந்தும்.

ஆண்பால் பெயர்கள்

ஏறு, ஏற்றை, ஒருத்தல், களிறு, சே, சேவல், இரலை, கலை, மோத்தை, தகர், உதள், அப்பர், போத்து, கண்டி, கடுவன் என்ற பதினைந்தும் ஆண்பால் பெயர்கள்.

பெண்பால் பெயர்கள் 

பேடை, பெடை, பெட்டை, பெண், மூடு, நாகு, கடமை, அளகு, மந்தி, பாட்டி, பிணை, பிணவு, பிடி என்ற பதின்மூன்றும் பெண்பால் பெயர்கள்.

விலங்கினங்கள் அனைத்தும், மனிதர்களில் விலங்கின் இயல்பைக் கொண்டிருப்பவரும் ஐந்தறிவு உடையவர்கள். ஐந்தறிவு என்பது உடம்பு, நா, மூக்கு, கண், காது இவற்றால் நாம் பெறுவது. இப்படிப் பார்க்கும்போது பறவைகளுக்கு ஐந்தறிவு என்பது தெளிவாகிறது.

சங்க இலக்கியக் குறிப்புகள் 

சிறகுடைய பறவை இனங்கள் எல்லாவற்றிலும் ஆண் பறவையை சேவல் எனலாம். ஆனால் மயிலுக்கு இது பொருந்தாது. ஆண் மயிலை ‘போத்து’ என்று கூற வேண்டும். ‘எழால்’ பறவையிலும் ஆண் இனம் ‘போத்து’ என அழைக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

‘வங்காக் கடந்த செங்காற் பேடை எழாலுற வீழ்ந்தென’ என்னும் குறுந்தொகைப் பாடல் (151) , ‘நிழலறு நனந்தலை யெழாலேறு குறித்த கதிர்த்த சென்னி’ என்னும் அகநானூற்றுப் பாடல் (103) ஆகிய சங்க இலக்கியக் குறிப்புகளைக் கொண்டு ‘எழால்’ என்பதனை ‘FALCON’ என்று வரையறுக்கிறார் முனைவர் க.ரத்னம் ஐயா அவர்கள். எனவே மயிலுக்கும், எழால் இனத்தின் ஆண்பறவையையும் ‘போத்து’ என்று சொல்லலாம்.

எல்லா பறவை இனங்களிலும் உள்ள பெண் பறவைகளைப் பெட்டை எனலாம். ஒட்டகம் , குதிரை, கழுதை, மரைமான் ஆகிவற்றின் பெண்ணினைப் பெட்டை என்று கூறலாம் என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு தொடர்ந்து “புள்ளும் உரிய அப்பெயர்க்கு என்ப” என்று சொல்வதன் மூலம் பெண் பறவைகளுக்கு பெட்டை என்று கூறலாம் என அறிய முடிகிறது. தொடர்ந்து அடுத்த பாடலில் பேடை, பெடை என்னும் சொற்களும் பறவைகளில் பெட்டை என்பதைக் குறிக்கும் என்கிறார்.

அடுத்தடுத்த பாடல்களில் கோழி, கூகை, மயில் ஆகிய மூன்று பெண் பறவைகளுக்கு மட்டும் பெட்டை என்னும் சொல்லுக்குப் பதிலாக ‘அளகு’ என்னும் சொல்லைப் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்கிறார். அதாவது, பெண் மயில் — மயில் அளகு, பெண் கூகை – கூகை அளகு, பெண் கோழி – கோழி அளகு. கோழிக்கே இத்தனை நாளா பாருங்க நாம பெட்டைக் கோழின்னு தவறுதலா சொல்லிக்கிட்டிருக்கோம்! இப்படி சொல்லலாம்.

இதில் கோழி, மயில் எல்லோரும் அறிந்தது. கூகை என்பது வெண் ஆந்தையைக் (Barn Owl) குறிக்கும். இதுவரை தொல்காப்பியர் பறவைகளில் சேவல், பெட்டை என்று எவற்றைச் சொல்லலாம், எவற்றிற்கு விலக்களித்துள்ளார் என்பதைத் தொகுத்துக் கூறியுள்ளேன்.

மயில், எழால் இவை இரண்டைத் தவிர மற்ற எல்லாப் பறவை இனங்களிலும் ஆண் பறவையை ‘சேவல்’ என்றும் கூகை, மயில், கோழி இம்மூன்றைத் தவிர மற்ற பறவை இனங்களில் உள்ள பெண் பறவைகளை ‘பெட்டை’ எனவும் கூறலாம்.

BE Rajendran, former Associate Vice President (Human Resources), JSW Steel, Salem.

You have to retire one day if you are employed. It is therefore imperative that you plan for it. While you concentrate on planning for financial security, social security, health, etc. you invariably neglect on how to plan your time after retirement.

MISSED JOYS

I spent a lot of time, musing on what I should do when I retire. I did not want to take up any further employment. I decided that after retirement, I should do things that my busy office schedule did not allow me to do for the last 38 years!  So, what did I miss during my working days?  I concluded that they were gardening, photography, nature trips, reading and travelling. I discovered that among the above all can be started impromptu photography. I felt photography needed more preparation as it was a costly hobby!

PREPARATORY PHASE

I always had a keen interest in photography, what with digital cameras making it so affordable. But thumbing through the National Geographic magazines, which I could afford during my employment, I felt I must concentrate on Nature Photography. And it was my dream to own a DSLR! I started acquiring my equipment a year before my retirement. But I relied on my own understanding through reviews (which proved to be costly on hind sight) and an eye on my budget. A year’s extension of my retirement date by the management was a bonus and I started practicing to do bird watching and learning the nuances of photography.

FIRST TRIP TO THE SHEVAROYS  

I was introduced to one of my colleagues in the office, Thirumalai RT Venkataraman who had already established himself as a bird photographer. He took me on my first birding trip in October 2017 to Yercaud in the Shevaroy Hills. He also introduced me to another young seasoned birder who readily added me to the WhatsApp group of the Salem Ornithological Foundation.

I shall never forget that day! It launched me into a world of birds!  When you get immersed into bird watching, you forget your sense of time and space. I discovered the beauty of a male Indian Peafowl sitting majestically on tree top! We spotted few Red-rumped Swallows. I never knew swallows has red rumps. The photograph revealed it all. We saw a Shikra, but before I could get ready with my camera, it had flown away. We were more lucky with the Jungle Owlet and with the Crested Serpent Eagle. These two birds loved to pose for the photograph till they lost confidence (as you greedily came closer) and flew away. To me it was a taste of better things to come!

The first thing I did was to buy myself a couple of books to help me identify the birds. The Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp, was the standard book that everyone recommended. This book had drawings of almost all the birds of the subcontinent. The other was ‘A Pictorial Field Guide to Birds of India’ by Bikram Grewal et. al. which had wonderful photographs. A cursory glance of the book indicated that the Himalayas and the North East had the most variety  and because of the climate, the most beautiful birds. I made a mental note to visit these areas, which is yet to happen!

MARSHLANDS OF CHENNAI

I discovered that my daughter’s flat in Perungudi, Chennai overlooked a barren private land which was a neglected swamp. The few coconut trees there attracted Asian Openbills and Painted Stork to rest in the afternoons. The swamp below attracted Indian Spot-billed Ducks and a variety of Egrets and Herons. My daughter introduced me to the Perungudi  Lake, Pallikaranai swamp and later to the Perumbakkam Lake. The myriads of bird there left me speechless and overwhelmed me by their numbers. I just concentrated on getting good pictures of the birds closer to me. The Grey-headed Swamphen (formerly Purple Swamphen) was always a very colorful subject which was not very shy. The Black-winged Stilts and the Purple Heron were other steady subjects which let you have multiple shots for a good picture. Each outing lasted between two to four hours. And still I was reluctant to leave until my daughter called to chide me for not coming in for breakfast! I discovered that the camera with the 400 mm lens was heavy and became heavier as the time went by. I was past sixty and my hand shook spoiling a lot of shots.

I was new to the field and trial and error was the mode. On advice from fellow bird watchers and camera-savvy friends, I bought a tripod and a 2X lens. The tripod was okay for the birds on the lake, but for flying birds or fast movements, the tripod restricted you. The 2X lens was a disaster. However I started improving over time. I lost many sightings because of my inability with the camera. But that did not take away the joy of having sighted the bird!

DIVERSITY OF TRIPS 

My brother saw a couple of my photographs and informed me that Dr Arulvelan Thillainayagam, his classmate was very active in birding in the Coimbatore region. I knew Dr Arul from his college days, so getting across to him was no problem. He arranged a trip for me to Valparai with Selvaganesh K. Then we went on a trip to Pondicherry, where I met Dr P Jeganathan and a variety of Harriers for the first time. There was also this unforgettable trip to Kozhikode where I first encountered the Western Reef Egret and the Stork-billed Kingfisher. My cousin from Madurai was a great help in accompanying me to sites around Madurai. It then became customary to pack my photography gear into the car whenever I travelled.

ONE WITH NATURE 

The question everyone in the family and friends circle kept asking was what is in it for you? Well, the first most satisfying thing about bird watching is that it makes you spend more and more time with Nature. I will drive down to the remote corners of Yercaud early in the morning only to find the birds are earlier than you. It is, I discovered the least disturbed part of the day for the birds and they went about their business of finding food, courtship, territorial squabbles etc. without really being disturbed by the presence of man. The color of the forest changes from the misty grey of the early morning to various hues of yellow and green, as the sun rises and pierces the canopy of tall trees to reach the ground. It’s a place and time when you hear only Nature’s sounds! The breeze in the trees, the numerous bird sounds, the rubbing of bamboo in the wind, the rustle of a falling leaf. You have visited the fringe of paradise! Just witnessing this you become a better person wanting to be part of this harmony. You discover an inner peace!

LIVE DOCUMENTARY & RARITIES

You just sit in a selected spot and keep still and watch. It is like sitting before your TV and watch the drama as a variety of actors enter and exit. The Bulbuls, which I find are the most daring, will be first to get used to your presence. Then you will find the Mynas. Then, the Drongos. You can watch the whole parade if you can sit still longer. The Minivets, Orioles, Leafbirds, White-eyes, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, the melodious Shama, etc. I keep clicking at every visitor.

The next most satisfying thing for me is the joy of spotting a rare bird for the first time! To me the definition of ‘rare’ is different from that of a seasoned birder. To me any bird which I am seeing for the first time is rare! The Red-rumped Swallow, Jungle Owlet, Crested Serpent Eagle were some of the rare birds I spotted on my first birding trip. There were many birds I have seen before but did not know their name. I spent hours going through the photographs trying to find their names. Some of the Lapwings, Waders, Babblers and Warblers fell in this category. I would sometimes land birds I have never seen or heard about. I just post the pictures in the SOF WhatsApp group and help pours in! Some of my great moments were taking pictures of the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Greater Painted-Snipe and of course the Blyth’s Reed Warbler which is always heard but eludes the camera.

LIFE LESSONS

The third great benefit for me is the enormous amount of exercise you get! In each session of two to four hours you walk quite a bit, easily four to five kilometers. And don’t forget that you walk about carrying about three to four kilos of camera equipment!

Bird watching has taught me a few things in life:

1. Always be alert! You develop a wide angled vision and be sensitive to any slight movement in the surrounding
2. You have to develop an acute hearing. To tune yourself to bird sounds over the omnipresent jungle sounds
3. Immeasurable patience. You have to wait and wait for things to happen. To get a good photograph. Any sudden movement alerts the bird.
4. A fundamental to bird photography is ‘Who spots the other first?’. If the bird spots you first, you lost the game. Of course some birds are used to you, but believe me, they wouldn’t be rare. They also ignore you or lesser bothered if you are far away. Then the zoomand your photographic ability come into play.
5. You have to be quick on the draw without alerting the bird. Easier said than done! Your camouflage and your equipment’s camouflage helps but you have to be quick to get your camera going. Many times I have discovered the camera has gone to sleep mode! The process of focusing and zooming in are loss of precious milliseconds. If the bird is in a hurry, you lost him and no one would believe you if you had spotted a rare bird.

Practicing the above made me a fitter person. Many times I used to feel like a hunter on the prowl!

DWINDLING TREASURES 

Bird watching has also made me aware of how much we (my generation) have degraded our environment. The ubiquitous House Sparrow, which used to build and raise its young ones in my house in Anna Nagar, Chennai has all but disappeared in urban areas. The lakes and water bodies have been encroached upon without any qualms. In the three years that I have been birding in Salem, encroachment in the Kannankurichi Mookaneri Lake has been so rampant that the habitat of the several migratory birds including the Baillon’s Crake has disappeared. In Perungudi, Chennai I reached the rear side of the Pallikaranai swamp on foot. You have to pass through narrow streets to reach the water edge. I was approached by many if I wanted to purchase a plot of land there. They promised to get me patta in three years! Lorries after lorries are dumping all kinds of solid demolition debris into the lake and reclaiming land. The birds are going about their business at a safe distance. I was amused to see a large compound built in the middle of the lake. But for how long before the Pallikaranai swamp and other water bodies disappear.

RAY OF HOPE

In these difficult times you are made aware of the struggle the birds are waging trying to find suitable spots to feed. It is a great lesson for us that so many varieties of birds, from the small Prinias and Warblers to the bigger Storks and Herons and even Flamingos share the same limited space and coexist in harmony. Each species went about their business, not stepping on each others’ toes. The occasional squabbles settled in a spirit of give and take. There is not much that we can say about ourselves on sharing space with each other.

Most of the bird watchers I know are registered with the international citizen science initiative called eBird. Professionals and volunteers collate and analyse the data and come up  with all kinds of interesting data about the number of species, habitats and migration routes of birds in different locations to enable or suggest to policy makers the conservation measures needed to protect the avian habitats. I was always confused whether I was a bird watcher or I was a photographer! I have become reasonably active on the eBird since December 2019. It really improves your accuracy of reporting. Even if you report it wrong, there are volunteer friends who check your list and report back that you may have got it wrong!

The funny thing about bird photography that you may be clicking the same bird at different places in different poses! The place is different. The light is different and the feel is different. Just as every individual human being is different, every bird is different. When you edit the picture with good details, showing the color and majesty of the bird you want to reach out and touch it and feel its softness. That is the beauty of God’s creation. Yes, the picture definitely brings you closer to the creations of God!

Happy Birding!

Dr Neethu Asokan, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur.

A bright new day! It was a usual day. I woke up to the noise of woodcutters at my neighbourhood. They were still cutting down their trees. The woodcutter’s third son was getting married; probably a new nest was planned. I climbed downstairs and found my parents busy talking with the milkman. I warmed my tea and walked out of my doorstep.

The cool breeze, birds chirping and flower blossoms made the start of the day perfect. I started to feed the birds around me with the tea biscuits that I had grabbed on the way out. However! Something felt unnatural. A flock of Common Myna were flying around, squawking bizarrely. I tried feeding them. But in vain!

Soon, I found an Eagle hover around along with the Crows. This was not usual. I kept my tea aside and started exploring the area in the hope of finding the reason. The Mynas flew down sat on the walls chirping. Were they conveying something? I never knew. I looked around. Among the bushes near our doorstep, I found a heap of dry sticks, what could this be? Not far I found a stranded, broken nest. I could hear the Mynas give harsh cacophony as I went closer to the nest. Not heeding to their chatter I slowly lifted the nest to find three beautiful turquoise eggs, royal, glowing except for one which was broken.

They had lost their only home, which the woodcutter had taken down. Maybe he threw the nest out ignorantly or it could have fallen accidently, all such thoughts were creeping unto my mind. The nest was also broken. I held the broken nest in my arms. I have heard that bird nest survive even the wildest storms. They had in fact built a cosy, strong one. I noticed some familiar strands of thread in it. Ah! That’s from my old woollen sweater I threw out few days ago.

I found the Mynas fly away as I removed the broken egg and started to follow their path. They had found a new place already, the hole in one of our coconut tree. I placed the nest at a height. Not knowing what else to do. I left the place. The Mynas chirruped all long until I disappeared indoors. Were they thanking me? Will they take away the eggs? Thoughtfully, I walked back to where I had left my tea. It had turned cold. I looked back at them. Again, a flock of Mynas sat in a line on the algae cladded brick walls. I noticed that the Eagle had left; Crows flew back to where the crumb of biscuits lay and a lucky bird (Coucal) was roaming around in search of his prey.

I waited for the day to pass and slowly forgot about it all. Doing the house chores and being with parents for the only vacation I get in a year, I didn’t have much time to think about anything else. Two days passed when one morning I heard a Myna chirp at the open ventilation of my room. I suddenly remembered the turquoise eggs. How un-thoughtful of 2 me? I went out to look for the nest; nest was there but not the eggs. There was no squawks, no chatters everything looked calm. I gazed at the coconut tree until my neck sprained. With a glimpse of hope I returned back.

A week or so later, I heard loud chatter and chirping of Mynas at my ventilation, I woke up to find them flying in my room. I gazed for long! Was that a dream or did they dare to fly in? I closed my eyes; I could hear a flap of wings and then a great silence. I got up just accepting the fact it was an illusion and went downstairs. As usual I warmed the tea, grabbed few biscuits and went out. I found my parents near the coconut tree straining their heads looking at something, talking fascinatingly among themselves.

I couldn’t hold back my inquisitive mind. I kept away my tea, fed the biscuits to the birds that surrounded me and walked towards them. “What is so fascinating here, mom?” I asked. “It seems like there are fledglings in the holes of this tree. We thought to get some coconuts but looks like we can’t! Let’s look out in the other tree”. She left with my dad to the next tree, looking forward to getting some coconuts. I kept staring at the hole, I could hear tiny chirps. I waited for some more time. Few moments later, a Myna came unto the nest and started to feed the fledglings. Gleams of happiness fill inside me as I walked away. The tea I left had turned cold, somehow I didn’t feel the need of energy. I could feel it all. I gazed back and found two Mynas at the tree, must be the parents.

Time flew rather reckless. However, daily I woke to the sweet chirps of fellow Mynas. I could watch them fly around my room and sometimes all the four Mynas jumping around in the backyard. Two months passed and I had to leave home for work. Somewhere I seemed to miss everything.

Weeks passed and I kept enquiring my parents about the Mynas. She said, ‘the Mynas daily followed the routine of chirping at my ventilation’. Later I even heard that one Myna left and the other stayed back. I felt happy; I had lives waiting for my return. Even to this day, our home is filled with Mynas, Doves, Coucals, Crows, Eagles free and independent. However, letting them enjoy the nature as it is made it even more beautiful.

A home is after all the ultimate destination for all and my home was one!

உலகத்தை அச்சுறுத்திக்கொண்டிருக்கும் கொரோனா வைரசின் தாக்கம் மக்களிடையே மேலும் பரவமால் தடுக்க முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக இந்திய அரசு நாடு முழுவதும் 21 நாட்களுக்கு பிறப்பித்த ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு அமலில் உள்ளது. நோயின் தீவிரத்தன்மையை அறிந்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட இந்த முடிவிற்கு மக்கள் அனைவரும் வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறாமல் முழு ஒத்துழைப்பை நல்க வேண்டும்.

இந்நிலையில் வீட்டிலிருக்கும் 21 நாட்களும் அனைவருக்கும் ஏதேனும் சில பொழுதுபோக்குகள் நிச்சயம் தேவைப்படும். அவற்றுள் ஒன்றாக இயற்கை எழுத்துப் போட்டிகளை சேலம் பறவையியல் கழகம் அறிமுகம் செய்துள்ளது.

இயற்கை மற்றும் பறவைகள் சார்ந்த உங்கள் சுவாரசிய அனுபவங்களை எழுத வேண்டும் என்று நீண்ட நாட்களாக ஆசையா? இதோ உங்களுக்கான வாய்ப்பும் நேரமும் தற்போது உள்ளது.

போட்டியின் விதிமுறைகள்

• இயற்கையின் மீது ஆர்வமுள்ள அனைத்து வயதினரும் (குறிப்பாக சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில்) இதில் கலந்து கொள்ளலாம்.
• இயற்கை மற்றும் பறவைகள் சார்ந்த உங்கள் அனுபவங்களை நான்கு வழிகளில் எழுதலாம். அவை 1. சிறுகதை, 2. கட்டுரை, 3. கவிதை, மற்றும் 4. நாடக வடிவம்.
• படைப்புகள் தமிழ் அல்லது ஆங்கிலத்தில் மட்டுமே இருக்க வேண்டும்.
• ஒருவர் எத்தனை படைப்புகள் வேண்டுமானாலும் எழுதலாம்.
• சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டு தேர்வு செய்யப்படும் அனைத்து படைப்புகளும் சேலம் பறவையியல் கழகத்தின் வலைதளத்தில் வெளியிடப்படும். அதன் பிறகு அவற்றை நீங்கள் எப்போதும் எங்கிருந்து வேண்டுமானாலும் மீண்டும் வாசிக்கலாம். உங்கள் நண்பர்களுக்கும் பகிரலாம். (படைப்புகளில் சில திருத்தங்கள் தேவைபட்டால் அதைச் செய்ய ஆசிரியருக்கு உரிமை உண்டு).
• சிறந்த எழுத்துகள் சில சிறந்த இதழ்களில் பிரசுரிக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்படும்.
• படைப்புகள் அனைத்தும் (கவிதை தவிர) குறைந்தபட்சம் 250 வார்த்தைகளாவது இருக்க வேண்டும்.
• கலந்துகொண்டு படைப்புகளை சமர்ப்பிக்கும் அனைவருக்கும் சான்றிதழ்கள் உண்டு.
• இந்தப் போட்டி குறித்த தகவல்களை ஒருங்கிணைக்க வாட்சப் குழு ஒன்றையும் துவக்கியுள்ளோம். போட்டியில் கலந்து கொள்ள ஆர்வம் உள்ளவர்கள் மட்டும் 7598123614 என்ற எண்ணிற்கு வாட்சாப்பில் தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும்.

இந்தப் போட்டியில் பங்குகொள்ள வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியே வரத் தேவையில்லை. இதைக் காரணமாகக் கொண்டு மக்கள் யாரும் கண்டிப்பாக வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியே வரக்கூடாது என்று அறிவுறுத்தப்படுகிறது. ஒரு வேளை இந்தப் போட்டியை காரணம் காட்டி யாரேனும் வெளியில் வந்தால் அதன் விளைவுகளுக்கு சேலம் பறவையியல் கழகம் பொறுப்பாகாது. 

முக்கியக் குறிப்பு: அனைத்து எழுத்துகளும் Microsoft Word Documentல் தட்டச்சு செய்யப்பட்டு [email protected] என்ற மின்னஞ்சலுக்கு அனுப்பப்பட வேண்டும். நீங்கள் அனுப்பும் word fileல் கீழுள்ள தகவல்கள் அவசியம் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

1. பெயர் மற்றும் வயது: …………………………………………..
2. தொழில்: ………………………………..
3. மாணவராக இருந்தால் பள்ளி (அ) கல்லூரியின் பெயர்: …………………………
4. உங்கள் தாலுகா & மாவட்டம்: …………………… & சேலம்.
5. எழுத்து வடிவம்: சிறுகதை / கட்டுரை / கவிதை / நாடக வடிவம்
6. தலைப்பு: …………………………………………
7. மின்னஞ்சல்: ……………………………………….
8. அலைபேசி எண்: …………………………………

சேலத்தின் இயற்கை ஆர்வலர்கள் மற்றும் பொதுமக்களுக்கு இந்தப் போட்டி சிறந்த பொழுதுபோக்கு அம்சமாக இருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறோம். அடுத்த 21 நாட்களுக்கு யாரும் வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியே வராமல் இருப்பது மட்டுமே மத்திய, மாநில அரசின் முயற்சிகளுக்கு நாம் தரக்கூடிய மிகப்பெரிய ஒத்துழைப்பாக அமையும். மனிதகுலத்திற்கு ஏற்பட்ட சவால்களை நாம் ஒன்றிணைந்தே வென்றுள்ளோம். அதைப்போலவே ஒன்றுபட்டு கொரோனாவை வீழ்த்துவோம்.

சேலம் பறவையியல் கழகம், தமிழ்நாடு, இந்தியா. 

As a precautionary measure to control the onset of deadly COVID-19, the Government of India has issued a complete lock down for 21 days to the entire country. Considering the welfare of the people, this important decision has been taken and it requires the support of all the citizens of the nation to overcome this crisis.

During this lock down period of 21 days, we will definitely need some hobbies and entertainment to keep boredom at bay. To keep the nature enthusiasts (esp. of Salem district) engaged in a meaningful and safe way, Salem Ornithological Foundation has introduced the Lockdown Nature Writing Challenges.

Have you ever wanted to write and share your memorable experiences with Nature but didn’t find time for that? Now’s the best time and chance to fulfill your wish! Not only you will cherish the memories but will also share your happy moments with everyone!

Instructions to the Challenges

• Nature enthusiasts (esp. in Salem district) of any age can participate.
• You can submit your experiences in any of the four forms namely 1. Short story, 2. Essay, 3. Poetry, 4. Drama or Play.
• Writings should only be in Tamil or English.
• One person can choose to write any number of writings.
• Submitted writings will be published in the website of Salem Ornithological Foundation (Editor of SOF reserves the right to make changes in the writing if needed). Once published, you can view and share your writings to anyone and at anytime.
• Best writings will be helped to get published in some of the leading nature/science magazines.
• Except poetry, rest of the writings should be at least 250 words.
• Participants who submit their writings will be sent a certificate at the end of the lock down period.
• To coordinate this writing challenge, we have created a WhatsApp group. Only those who are interested to participate and write, please send a message to 7598123614 and join the WhatsApp group.

PEOPLE SHOULD STRICTLY NOT GO OUT OF THEIR HOMES CITING THIS NATURE WRITING CHALLENGE AS AN EXCUSE. SALEM ORNITHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION (SOF) DOESN’T ENDORSE PEOPLE GOING OUT OF THEIR HOMES DURING THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD.  SOF INSISTS PEOPLE TO STAY INSIDE THEIR HOMES, BE RESPONSIBLE AND SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT TO THE FULLEST. 

Note: All writings should be typed in Microsoft Word Document and should be mailed to [email protected]. The word file should also contain the following particulars:

1. Name and Age: …………………………………………………
2. Occupation: ……………………………………………………
3. If student, please mention your school/college name:……………………
4. Taluk & District: ……………. & Salem.
5. Type of Writing: Short story / Essay / Poetry / Drama or Play
6. Title of the writing: ……………………………………………..
7. E-mail: …………………………………………..
8. Mobile: …………………………………………..

We hope that this Lockdown Nature Writing Challenges will be a good activity to keep you engaged and make you happy by remembering the memories with Nature. For the next 21 days during the lockdown period, the best cooperation which we can render to the Government is to stay safe at home. All the huge difficulties faced by mankind were overcome by unity. Let us all unite, be responsible to curb the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Salem Ornithological Foundation, India.

Header image: Pachamalai Hills photographed by Angeline Mano.