Lost but alive somewhere

As you know House Sparrows are speedily disappearing from the earth and esp. in cities like Chennai the House sparrows almost lost their little foots. Though the reasons for disappear of sparrows are apparent, but still the continues rise of radiations, and modern architecture and lack of fodder pushing them to the brim. But glad I was able to grow up enjoy watching the little sparrows forage on the balconies and portico and mostly perching on the wires frequent the doorstep and sometimes into the home. I don’t remember when I last saw the House sparrows twittering and leaping off the balcony and attempts to enter our home but sparrows continued to live at our grandparent's home until lately.

It used to wonder when most of the places turn down to sparrows, my grandparent's house (at the neighbourhood) continued to be their abode. Though they shut down their milk business and rearing cows in early 20s, with the help of stalks and hay what the sparrows used to build nests within the barn and the corners of drainage pipes, and used to their noisy twitter's, there stay continued the same way even after things turn difficult is really amazing. I supported my grandmother providing feeder to the sparrows but they are forced to clear their space to build a cosy house for my grandfather. Hope the sparrow stay somewhere at peace.

Relevant to March 20, the World Sparrow day, a day that was designated to raise awareness of the House sparrows whose populations is on threats, I like to share few photos on the House sparrows that we shot at a remote village in Kodaikanal. During my travel to Western Ghats, and mostly to Kodaikanal I see sparrows continue to rattle close to the human habitations. But I was really amused to watch a bunch of House sparrows enjoying close to a spring off the road and through there were many we couldn’t focus on the all and you see a male House sparrow in the images except the last one that has both genders. 

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Kallar Steel Bridge

During my visit to Ooty in 2014, I come across the steel bridge at Kallar on the foothills of Nilgiri. The Kallar Steel Bridge on the Mettupalayam-Ooty main road was built in 1925 by Jessop and Company, following a wooden bridge that was earlier washed away in 1891 floods. In 1894 a masonry bridge was constructed but in 1925, the steel bridge with a capacity of 10-tonnes was built alongside to accommodate more vehicles. 

The ruined masonry bridge was demolished lately and to give more way to vehicles an addition bridge is come up right beside the steel bridge, but I am not sure will it be attentive like the steel bridge. I loved taking photos on the steel bridge from the moving car and in the morning light the bridge was delight to watch and the Kallar River passes beneath. Having plan for visiting Nilgiri in about a month, i hope to explore  more on Kallar area while staying at Mettupalayam. 

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Yellow carpet

A post shared by Jeevan Kumar (@jeevan.grp) on Mar 5, 2017 at 8:49am PST

Corporation road 

turns yellow carpet, as spring
 started to flourish.

Though its few ten feet 

a pleasure to walk past since

summer isn’t away 

While dry leaves make way

the cheerful yellow blossom 

draw wither season.

Ps. The haiku is an inspiration from the photo i shot during a evening walk (in wheelchair) last week.

Peacock practicing dance steps

During a visit to Thiruvannamalai, popular for the Annamalai temple and hill, couple of year back, we come around the Girivalam Pathai (the road round the hill, where devotees take one full round during the full moon day, alike today) to have our lunch that we brought from home. Parking the car aside the road and shadow of the trees, we find many sadhus lying here and there on the footpaths and benches that rest alongside the road (to help devotees on the walk) and while relaxing after the lunch I get to see few beautiful peacocks and following one I got the pictures below.

It was wonderful to see them wandering freely and crossing the road round the hill which is almost empty except the festival days and they aren’t hurry or intend to hideaway rather move along the people and sadhus lied by. The entire road is quiet enough and almost greenish and could listen to birds chirrup and monkeys leaping around and some sadhus walkabout whom we provide food brought from home. Back home I found the photos shot on the peacock has nice foot movements that almost look alike few steps at dance. Hope u like the photos J

Look at the steps he put front (above 'n' below)

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Gate and Yellow Bells

Last year during the visit to Kumbakonam and while coming from Ariyalur we stopped at a village and I just came close to this yellow flowering shrub grew in front of a house. And the gate came into the image without an intention of shooting it and it gives a neat look to the house and I also liked the design.

The yellow flowers, named as yellow bells aka yellow trumpet bush has become a trend in Tamil Nadu and many people has been planting this shrub esp. in front of the houses. Apart for the ornamental use, people started to grow these mainly for the purpose of Vastu (a traditional belief of bringing harmony into the home and Vastu means dwelling) but I like this plant for its charming and bright yellow blossoms. I really want to have this plant for me and will try to get one soon.

Yellow Bells are a perennial shrub in the trumpet vine family that is native to the Americas and it is heat and drought tolerance, vigor and pest resistance. The yellow flowers are 2” long with trumpet shape and hangs in showy clusters at the branch tips and forks, bending the wigs into arches give the name Yellow Bells. It has a very long flowering season, from early summer to late fall; the shrub reaches 15-20 feet height and attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds for its flowers. 

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