Birding Near Peerancheru Lake APPA Junction

Birdwatching with GHAC near PBEL city

As the city develops more and more water bodies are getting under pressure from encroachment and silting. We at GHAC Nature regularly organize bird watching trips with  our members to various places in and outside city. A few days ago we visited the Peerancheru lake near APPA Junction for a early morning birdwatching session. I have been visiting Peerancheru Lake earlier many times as the last few years a lot of development has happened around the Peerancheru lake so the birds are used to humans, giving a good opportunity to  observe them.

We reached the lake around 6:30 in the morning and climbed down the lake bank opposite to PBEL city. It was appalling to see all kind of garbage thrown around by people and also a Ganesha Idol from the earlier Ganapati festival lying on the bank.

A Ganesha Idol on the lake bank: Pic by Raj Kumar Chabra

This is the irony of our society, once the festival is over we through the idols of the Gods in the lakes and not only pollute the waters, but also are not bothered about the very idols that we worshipped. Any ways our trip was about bird watching and after planning to come again specially to clean the lake we started looking for the birds. Initially we could not see any birds and were very disappointed. But soon the birds started making a comeback, after realizing we mean no harm to them.

First to show were some common pigeons, who were enjoying the water on a  hot day by dipping their beaks in water and occasionally even stepping in shallow waters near a rock.

Pigeons were the first to arrive

The pigeons were soon followed by Little Egrets, Bee eater, Indian Robin, white browed wagtail, grey heron, little egret, pond heron, painted stork, ashy prinia, rock dove, little ringed plover, river tern, stilt, common swallow. As more birds became visible the members became silent as to not scare away the birds and started talking in hush tones and sign language.

As we became silent, suddenly we could hear the bird sounds from every bush, tree and from the water where now the birds were looking for food without a worry in the world.

Egrets and Grey Herons : All want the same spot/ Pic by Santosh Kumar

A Purple sunbird was checking some flowers for nectar, an Oriental Magpie was slowly moving towards water, took a sip and flew away. The egrets were not happy to see a Grey Heron and showed their displeasure by making some threatening sounds. But the Grey Heron double the size of the egrets, did not even bothered and was more focused on challenging a cormorant for right to stand on a rock.

Grey Heron Challenges a Cormorant/ Santosh Kumar

               

A Red Wattled Lapwing was circling above us, making noises, only later we realized that there was a nest somewhere close by.

A Red Wattled Lapwing was circling above us: Pic by Santosh

                                                           

In the rocks nearby we found some Peninsular Rock Agama, basking in the sun some little frogs trying to blend with the drying mud on the lake bank.

An Agama Enjoying Sun/ Santosh Kumar

A Female Sunbird, looking for nectar

As the sun was getting hotter we decided to call it a day but not before we all posed for this group shot

GHAC Nature birdwatchers at Peerancheru Lake

If you would like to join a GHAC Nature event like Bird Watching, Nature Walk etc. then you can join our meetup group to be informed of future events.

About the Author: Prasad Np is a volunteer for GHAC Nature you can check his travel and wildlife articles and pictures on his blog desi Traveler. 

Pictures: The pictures were clicked by various GHAC members as mentioned above. We want to thank them for sharing the pictures clicked by them.

Botanical Garden Kondapur : Some obeservations

An old man was planting a mango seedling. A passer-by was surprised to see it and enquired from him as to why he is planting mango seedlings in old age. He will not be there to relish its fruits. He smiled and said he is doing it for his grandchildren. He was not aware that in the coming years there will be a drastic change in the socioeconomic environment. Grandsons will not be interested in eating mangoes. They will use tree as timber and land for building concrete jungle. 

A visit to the Botanical Garden Kondapur in Hyderabad reminds one of this story. One can practically feel the efforts of the grand old man who planed this garden and planted trees in a systematic way. On some of the trees plates depicting genus and family are still visible. The dying teak tree in the very beginning of the garden near the toddlers play area is visible. 

The tree trunk is still doing its duty and supports an electric wire and a chord. Weeping Indian gum tree nearby is attacked by an insect Inderbella. Sandalwood tree has lost its glory and died. Ill kept roses forgot to bloom. Evan the Triumph variety has been overpowered by diseases, pests and weeds. Trees are doing their best to survive by producing new shoots from dried trunks but in the absence of support from human beings they will not be able to live.

Good place for morning walk

Not very well maintained

The grand old man must have thought of water shortage in Hyderabad and had provided huge water ponds which can collect rain water and this water reservoir can provide water to the plants in summer months. Still sign boards lying on the ground warn parents of the depth of the pond. But alas no one cared to keep them in proper shape. Still some water and birds are visible in the deeper tank. The shallow tank is now playground for the dogs.

The Pond

One part of the garden has been devoted to the cultivation of cacti. Very good collection and arrangement is visible. But probably there is a misconception that cacti do not require attention. 

Cacti with flowers

Some have died and the others are struggling. Their worth can be guessed from the fact that even in this neglect they are producing flowers. A beautiful glass house in the shape of a tortoise looks magnificent nearby. But please see it only from a distance. Inside there are only empty glass jars and boxes.

Tortoise shape glass house

Indian Gum Tree

 Indian Gum Tree attacked by Inderbella an insect

Dying Teak Tree

Some citizens are trying to save Botanical Garden

Succulent plants

Botanical garden is still serving its purpose. Visitors come here daily to breathe fresh air, do exercises, play badminton or escape from the city noise. An effort is being made to save the garden by hanging a signboard in one corner of the garden and collecting some money from the morning walkers for fighting court cases to save botanical garden. But is anyone worried about the upkeep of the trees and the garden? Someone should respect the dream of the man who planned and build this beautiful garden. 

About the author: Dr.H.S.Rewal Plant is Pathologist by profession retired as Head, Department of Plant Pathology from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He is fellow Indian Phytopathological Society and Indian Society of Plant Pathologists. He is recipient of Narasimhan Academic Award conferred by Indian Phytopathological Society and Best Extension Scientist Award conferred by Punjab Agricultural University. He did research on the diseases of cereals, fruits and vegetables and gave recommendations for their management. He successfully transferred technologies developed in the university to the fields of the farmers . Many plant disease epidemics were thus kept under control in the state. At present he is working as consultant agriculture for the improvement of hill agriculture.  The views expressed are his personal 

GHAC Glimpses of Nature

A Unique Nature Photo Exhibition in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is blessed with a lot of nature around it, it is one of the few cities in India that can boast of 100s of lakes big and small. From the huge Hussain Sagar that is now more used for recreation to the Gandipet  which is  home to many residents as well as migrant birds like Flamingos etc. In order to encourage a more closer interaction between nature and citizens of Hyderabad, we recently conducted a one of its kind exhibition where not just professional photographers but also common citizens who are concerned about nature submitted their pictures. 

There were some very unique things about the exhibition first of all it was not hosted in a art gallery, but in the office of GHAC which is surrounded by greenery. 

Pictures were exhibited in the office as well as on tree trunks, in the bushes, and it was a site to behold. You could see a picture of butterfly hanging on a  small branch with some real butterflies hovering on it. While looking at the pictures you could hear the sounds of sunbirds chirping from the canopy of the trees above. 

Well known photographer Mr. Chandrasekhar Singh inaugurated the exhibition and on last day Mr. Saurabh Chatterjee conducted a workshop on taking better pictures. We had more than 25 photographers from Hyderabad and surrounding areas participating in the exhibition that was well attended by people from the twin cities. 

A Kingfisher (pic by Bobz Chowdhary)

The best part of the exhibition is that it was totally conceptualized and executed by GHAC volunteers who helped at every stage of the exhibition.  Indeed GHAC volunteers are the strength of GHAC and we must be the largest volunteer based adventure club anywhere in India. Although originally the plan was to keep the exhibition for three days, but considering the good response received we have extended the exhibition for another week so that more people can come and enjoy the pictures exhibited.  You will find pictures of  Tigers cubs birds like Ashy Prinia, Bulbul, butterflies, jewel bugs  etc in the exhibition.  Below are some of the pictures from the exhibition.

Pictures exhibited in Garden

Mr. Chandrasekhar Singh Checking Pictures

A Macro Shot from Exhibition

Wonderful  GHAC Volunteers

The Bugs in the Garden

The exhibition has a Facebook page that can be checked here. We hope to continue to conduct more such exhibition and activities that will bring people closer to nature, and encourage them to work towards protecting all aspects of nature from lakes to wild animals.