The Pride of Gir

As we all know that Lion Census 2010, at Gir is just finished and awaiting for its Final Count, glad to share "The Pride of Gir" which is etched in my mind.

I was able to see The King of the Jungle, 1st time in January 2010.

Thankful to all those individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in my unforgettable experience to watch this King and an impressive visit to Gir.

Purple Sunbird Male - Female

First time, able to see Purple Sunbird at Pawapuri, Rajasthan.

Taking Flight...

Arrival of Purple Sunbird - Female...


Wish, can see one day in Breeding Plumage...

Black Beauty_Black Drongo

This bird always fascinated me whenever I came across on the internet to see him and never seen in the wild. His Seating Position, Fork Tail and His White Spot near the bill can attract anyone…

Once he came near to my house and along with that he brought, Golden Orioles Male – Female, Coppersmith Barbets, Purple Rumped Sunbirds Male – Female, Rose-Ringed Parakeets Male - Female and Tailor Birds. Never seen all these birds all together. And from that day I started liking, Black Drongo more.

Also when was traveling from Baroda to Una, saw around +75, at regular distance on the wire. I can say at every farm and on every electric pole one can see the Black Drongo, and can just keep on counting so as I.

At Nathdwara, Rajasthan also seen 30-35 Drongo at one place. Was amazing to see them together.

All these were happy moments to see the Drongo but always wanted to capture him. And at last, this Month got the opportunity to capture this fellow in Pawapuri, Rajasthan. Group of Drongo where eating something from the grass at the cowshed when care takers were transforming the grass from one place to another. This Drongo was not scared either of him or me but busy in capturing the insects or his food... Don't know what he was picking as were so quick that was not able to capture them flying. Nice flying pattern as well...But of course he gave me a very nice poses for around 15-20 mins.

Felt Blessed…

Right to Fly…Bird or Kite?

I always loved the Kite Festival. Colorful Sky... Always wanted to learn, How to fly the kite but was afraid of the pain, when glass coated thread will cut my finger while flying. However when I realized the Bird’s World and their pain on this day, I thanked God that it’s great that I never learned and never flew any kite.

Also it was my dream to attend a very famous Kite Festival of Ahmedabad but NOW I don’t want to see this festival as I don’t like to see the sky during Makar Sankranti when I see the kites more than the birds. And above all, the pain which I seen in these photographs.

It made me think that one day of joy, harms a lot many birds which have the Right to Fly, Right to Live in the Sky. Why we humans are entering in their world for one day also, to make them injured!! For What; Just Fun!!

I apologize on this platform for buying Glass Coated Threads, in the past, for my friend whenever I visited Surat during this festival.

Below are the pictures which opened my eyes and changed my mind towards Birds. I hope the same will happen with you as well.

Let’s have the Colorful Sky with the Birds…

I wish the Kite Flying should be stopped from every where...

If ever, U see an injured bird in contact the Number’s given below-
MUMBAI
Karuna(Andheri)- 26701413
Karuna(Malad)- 9820319842

PAWS (Plant & Animals Welfare Society) (Thane / Kalyan / Dombivli / Ulhasnagar) - 982016111

Photographs by: Vipul Ramanuj

Once in a Blue Moon

It always happened with me so far that whenever I came closer to the Nature, 1st one to be in touch with is Moon. This time as well, when I thought to start a blog, was thinking to go back in Jan’09 and share the experience of Birds I met 1st time but this celestial event changed my mind and posting here the Blue Moon Experience which happened on 31st December, 2009 and Shots which I tried 1st time.

Firstly, would like to share something related to Blue Moon Day which I read in the News Paper…

On New Year's eve, look skywards for that ‘once-in-a-Blue-Moon’ feeling. An eclipse is predicted and may block the view for many around the world but astronomers say India will have this rare sighting.

There are 12 full moons most years but every two or three years there’s an extra full moon which is called a ‘Blue Moon’. We’ve already had a full moon on December 2 and the next one is on New Year’s Eve. But what makes this Blue Moon special is the juxtaposition of a lunar eclipse. This is arguably the perfect end to the International Year of Astronomy, as designated by the United Nations to commemorate 400 years of Galileo’s theory about the solar system.
During the partial lunar eclipse from 12.22 am to 1.22 am, only 7% of the moon’s disc will be covered by the earth’s shadow and it will be visible from Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.

‘‘A Blue Moon is a full moon that is not timed to the regular monthly pattern. Most years have 12 full moons which occur approximately monthly. But in addition to these full lunar cycles, each calendar year contains an excess of around 11 days. The extra days accumulate, so every two or three years, there is an additional full moon,’’ explained Kolkata’s Birla Planetarium director Debiprosad Duari.

The most literal meaning of Blue Moon is when a casual observer regards it as unusually bluish. This effect can be triggered by smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere, as happened after forest fires in Sweden and Canada in 1950. In 1883, the Krakatoa volcanic eruption in Java left the moon looking blue for nearly two years.