Naturalists Information II - In Praise of Crows

Do you know what do the House Crow that we complain as nuisance contributes to the environment upkeep?

Just read this fantastic post by Sumeet after which you may in fact start appreciating the crow for the job it does!

Birds of India: In Praise of Crows: Note: This is not a researched scholarly article based on accepted statistical measurement or scientific data. It examines possibilities and...

"It is an understatement to say that they are not much loved. The House Crow, or Corvus splendens is a bird almost everyone loves to hate. 'Splendens' is Latin translates to brilliant - a difficult adjective to use when talking about crows. That it is dark, big, and black is not enough – it is singularly noisy and also a source of urban defilement. It is, therefore, not a surprise that Corvus splendens is regarded as a public nuisance in many countries!"

"House Crows are omnivorous scavengers with a wide-ranging and opportunistic diet. They eat absolutely everything that is edible, and some that may not even be so. The crow feeds largely on refuse around human habitations, carrion, small reptiles, insects, small invertebrates, eggs, nestlings, plants, grain and fruits etc... If the studies on corvids are used as a guide, then the House Crow needs about 300g of food daily. Much of what the average House Crow eats is garbage or human waste – but not all."

"total of 34 million crows in the country"

"So total garbage cleared by crows is:

Urban crows [1,91,00,000 x 165g] = 3,150 tons/day = 11,50,000tons/year

Rural crows [1,50,00,000 x 110g] = 1,650 tons/day = 6,00,000tons/year"

"and the final contribution by House Crows can easily cross Rs 400crores (about US$ 90mn) annually – and this is citizen tax savings!"

Learn to appreciate the lesser beings around you! You never know what and how they contribute!

(Note: Images from the web)

Simha farms - Monsoons, Macros, Western Ghats

So far, it has been a quite year for us with fewer adventures and more work and this seems to be continuing into the 2nd half of the year too... After the NTP, I should confess with pride I no longer venture into the field looking out for either birds or mammals only, its every life form that now enthuses me and everything looks interesting :)

With new work and new responsibilities, my Saturdays are a little jeopardized with a couple of hours work to be done and that reflects wherever I travel. Instantly we decided on visiting my friend Adithya's Simha farms for the weekend that is located at Madodi village at the foothills of Kodachadri very close to Hosanagara and Kollur. We needed a break and we were well aware, it would be raining and we were happy about it! (What else do lazy bums need...) Rains in the western ghats is different - it rains, it rains and it only rains. Just when you think the rains have stopped, it starts again, its not a heavy downpour but a slow steady drizzle for hours together and this is the story every day for couple of months when the monsoon is at its peak. Seeing the sun is uncommon and he may not be visible for a couple of days together and all that you get to see is dark clouds hovering above threatening to open up anytime... and with it comes lots of mosquitoes and mosquito bites!

The whole place turns green and you get to see a lot of shades of green all around, the amphibians, reptiles, bugs, beetles, insects are all out and its a macro world out there for the people interested. The little drops of water on the flowers, on the rich green leaves, the moths and caterpillars, centipedes and millipedes, bugs and beetles, frogs and toads, lizards and snakes, you just cant stop smiling. Shooting macros is not an easy job, you need to get wet, dirty and slushy and suffer zillions of insect bites to get close to the subject. Of the lot, frogs are the friendliest who do pose for you diligently, the bugs and beetles are the ones that make you run around, but are good posers once they are tired and realize you are still behind them! I'm still in the infancy of macro photography and now I have started venturing into manual focusing and different exposure combinations with my Tamron multipurpose lens. 

(not sure whether it is the Common Green Forest Lizard?)

With the KSRTC Rajahamsa service running full, we had to choose the Durgamba travels to Madodi and we were bed bugged the whole night :( As we landed early in the day, the rains had just stopped and the fantastic weather was so rejuvenating for our tired limbs. Probably for the first time ever, my Canon camera was in the bag for more than a couple of hours since I landed there. My eyes were scanning all around for something interesting and a couple of hours passed by waiting for the rains to recede and in finishing my work. Stuffing ourselves with breakfast, lunch and snacks and with continuous rains and our continuous bouts of sleep, it was evening time before we even realized. Briefly for about an hour or so, the sun was out  and all of a sudden the place was brimming with bird activity in a hurried manner. In a span of less time I sighted the Racquet tailed drongo, Malabar Grey hornbill, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Small Minivets, Asian fairy Bluebird, Verdited flycatcher, Purple rumped Sunbird, Golden Oriole, Vernal hanging Parrot, Golden flameback Woodpecker and many more that I could only hear but not see that finally brought out my Canon zoom lens into action. The evenings were colder and the day ended with a bachelors party for Raja and with rains, rains and more rains! (Well Nag aka Nagaraj Gaitonde had a very long night and a night to remember for sure :)).

Day 2 started of with less rains and sun was more prominent than the day before and it sure was an interesting day for all of us. Snails, Centipedes, Caterpillars were all around the place and there were varied life forms all around. When it rains the Cicadas and the Crickets are the most noisiest around but hardly visible, got a single view shot of a Cicada luckily. The massive bull sized Indian Bull Frog was very co-operative and didn't move an inch letting us close by and a couple of other frogs too. The Cicada, mating Grasshoppers, the tiny yet beautiful Blue banded bee kept me occupied till the time we departed from the place. The session of badminton that we played made us realize where it hurts the most if you are playing after a long gap. The most interesting happening was the Cicada kill by the Praying Mantis and the after events.

(@ about 2:30PM)

After lunch, as were were gearing up for a team photo shoot, we were attracted by the shrills of a cicada close by but a little unusual and off sound. Closely inspecting the surroundings, finally we found the cicada firmly in the grasp of the spiked forelegs of the mantis on the bark of the nearby tree. The shrill from the cicada continued as the grasp of the mantis became stronger.

(@ about 2:45PM)

What amazed us all was the manner the mantis was holding on to its prey firmly standing upside down on the bark of a tree and the prey being heavier than itself. As the cicada was still moaning, the mantis was on its job chewing of its prey from the top and it was a sore sight for us observing all the action. The life in cicada was not out completely as it still tried to wriggle away even as the mantis kept on munching on its prey.

We could not get too close as the position of the mantis on the bark was not conducive but all of us sat observing the game of life and death through the binox and our naked eyes and somewhere in our hearts we felt sorrow for the cicada. Half an hour later, the boys went for a nap and I went around chasing the bees and the grasshoppers around.

(@ about 3:40 PM)

The action went on for more than an hour with the mantis enjoying the feast and the cicada now only half visible. I left the mantis to feed further on its pray without causing further disturbance to chase the insects and the bees. I could not find the mantis after an hour or so past 5PM nor could find the shell of the dead cicada. Amazing nature and amazed to see such instances live!

We bid goodbye to Adithya and proceeded towards Shimoga town from where our reservations on the KSRTC Mercedes Benz was confirmed to Bangalore. Somewhat, we were not happy with the Merc ride and felt the Volvo's are much better in comfort.


Personally for me, a good beginning into the macro world and I know for sure this will linger on for some time to come :)


You can contact Adithya Biloor @ www.simhafarms.com
and @
9449652173 / 9379535738 / 08185253738

Naturalists Information I

Some Interesting information a keen Naturalist should be aware of...


We may have come across this, but never know how to differentiate them. Karthik, the all-rounder and highly knowledged person threw some light on this enlightening us people at the NTP camp held by him.


Let me see if I can add some pictorial representations to this so that it becomes all the more easier deciphering and dissolving these in to our minds.


Here, I'm highlighting differences between closely related species. Suggestions, Inputs and Knowledge sharing are welcome :)


1. Hares and Rabbits

• Hares do not burrow, while Rabbits do
• Newborn hares can immediately move around while newborn Rabbits cannot
• Rabbits are not found in India.

2. Macaque and Langur

• Macaque's stuff their food in cheek pouches while Langur's don't
• Langur's are only leaf eating animals.

3. Centipedes and Millipedes

• Centipedes are poisonous, non vegetarian and a little flat in appearance
• Centipedes have 1 pair of legs per segment
• Millipedes coil like a circle when threatened
• Millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per segment.

4. Butterfly and Moth

• Butterflies have antenna which is a little fat at the tip only
• Moths have flat antenna or feathered antenna.

5. Deers and Antelopes

• Deers have solid antlers and they are shed yearly.
• Deers are found in forests.
• Antelopes have horns that are connected to the skull and permanent.
• Antelopes survive in open country / grasslands.

6. Toads and Frogs

• Frogs are very slimy and wet to feel
• Toads are dry creatures.

7. Bugs and Beetles

• Bugs have piercing and sucking parts
• Beetles have chewing and biting mouth parts. Beetles have 1 pair of wings modified as Elytra that forms a hard cove around it.

8. Pigeons and Doves

• Pigeons have longer wings
• Doves have short wings.

9. Parrots and Parakeets

• Parrots do not have long tapering tails
• Parakeets have long tapering tails.

10. Cheetahs and Leopards

• Leopards have retracting claws
• Leopards are bulkier, have no tear mark and have rosettes
• Cheetahs do not have retracting claws
• Cheetahs have a leaner body, spots and a tear mark.

11. Tortoises and Turtles

• Tortoises are land living forms
• Turtles are fresh water animals.

12. Dragonflies and Damselflies

• Dragonflies can't retract their wings once open
• Dragonflies are a little fat in appearance
• Damselflies can move their wings back and forth
• Damselflies are slim in appearance.

I hope to add more of these in the near future :)
The credits of this post goes to the NTP and Karthik, because since then, my eyes have opened to a new different world around me!

Mantralayam - A Piligrimage

Pujyaya raghavendraya satyadharmarataya cha bhajatam kalpavrikshaya namatam kamadhenave

ಪುಜ್ಯಾಯ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಾಯ ಸತ್ಯ ಧರ್ಮ ರತಾಯಚ ಭಜತಾಂ ಕಲ್ಪವ್ರಿಕ್ಷಾಯ ನಮತಾಂ ಕಾಮಧೇನವೇ

Well, a path breaking topic on this blog. Driving the 800+ kms in the Figo was an adventure in itself, my liking of the Figo has increased ten fold since. Parents, Chiks and Srinidhi accompanied me on this travel.


Being a staunch brahmin, Mantralayam is an important piligrimage centre for the Madhwa community (followers of saint Madhwacharya and Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy).


We did the Bangalore - Chippagiri - Mantralayam - Panchamukhi - Bichali - Chippagiri - Bangalore over 3 days. The ride on the NH 7 to say the least is just absolute fantasy drive till Guntakal, where the deviation needs to be taken. Being an orthodox family, parents do not consume outside food and are strict in their menu and I too avoid outside stuff on a piligrimage, so no much information on eateries on the way (and that's another reason for Chippagiri getting added to the itinerary both ways).

Route: Bangalore-Ananthpur-Guthi(278)-Guntakal(307)-Chippagiri(320)-Aalur(344)-Mantralayam(423).
Mantralayam-Madhavaram(432)-Gilisugur camp(437)-Panchamukhi(443).
Panchamukhi-Gilisugur camp(449)-Bichali cross(455.5)-Bichali(457)-Gilisugur camp(465)-Madhavaram(470)-Adoni(512)-Aalur(536)-Chippagiri(564)-Bangalore(866).


The route till Guthi is excellent and a real pleasure; from Guthi, its a sort of a bad and bruised, broken single lane highway and takes time to cover up till Aalur, from aalur till mantralayam, the roads are better.
Just heard a direct Volvo Airavat service is started from Bangalore to Mantralayam by KSRTC which is good news.


From Bangalore, our first stop was at Chippagiri, where Vijayadasara katte is located. This is not a brindavana of Vijaya dasaru, but this is the place where he performed pooja of lord Sri Gopala Krishna.

About Vijaya dasaru - Vijaya Dasa (Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಾಸ)(1682-1755) is one of the most renowed scholars and philosophers in Dwaita philosophy as well Dasa Sahitya. He is revered as the spiritual heir of Sri Purandara Dasa. Vijaya means win and he is regarded as the one who knows how to win the heart of Hari and Hari Bhaktas, through his compositions. He was born in Cheekalparvi, a small village in Manvi taluk in Raichur District, Karnataka.


Sri Gopala Dasaru, his chief disciple, constructed a temple for Anjaneya (Sri Mukhya Prana Devaru) in front of the 'Katte'. There is a pond close by called 'Vijaya Thirtha'. It is believed that during his third visit to Kashi, Sri Vijaya Dasaru brought Ganges and installed it in that pond, for the benefit of his disciples.

More links about Vijaya dasaru here -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijaya_Dasa
http://www.dvaita.org/haridasa/dasas/vijaya.html


You can contact Sri Jaganatha Dasa at 9701894189 at Chippagiri.


Mantralaya - Mantralayam is the abode of Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy (1595-1671), a 16th century hindu saint who advocated Vaishnavism and Sri Madhwacharya's Dwaita philosophy. He ascended Brindavanam at Mantralayam in present Andhra Pradesh in 1671.

I'm not getting into the details of the Guru Sarvabowma, as there is a whole lot of info on the net which links I have given below.
http://www.gururaghavendra.org/
http://www.dvaita.org/scholars/raghavendra/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghavendra_Swami

Being a staunch believer in him, this visit of mine was long pending and I was more than happy being there :) It's a special feeling and peace of mind engulfs you that you just cant describe. The evenings are literally colorful with the 'Rathotsavam' or the procession of the Utsava moorthy taken out on the 3 chariots of the mutt - the wooden, silver and the golden chariots. 

Every thursday the procession is carried on the temple elephant around the brindavanam. Its a splurge of people anytime of the year you visit here and participating in these rituals is itself something special.
After this, its the time of Pravachana (disclosures) and "Uyyalle seva" (credil/swing), where the Utsava moorthy is placed on an silver credil/swing and pushed to and froth with hymns and devotional songs being sung. Its a way of putting the lord to sleep by chanting hymns and devotional songs.

For 2 days, we had a dip in the Tunga river that was quiet (remembering the 2009 floods sends a shiver down the spine and few parts of the temple still bear testimony to that) and calm, multiple darshans of the Guru Sarvabowma and spending as much time in the temple premises offering our seva and prayers.


Also an visit to the "Sri Sushameendra Teertha" brindavanam is a must that is close to the main brindavanam. For people who are unaware, Sri Sushameendraru was the Peetadipathi (head Swamiji) of the mutt for more than 20 years and entered brindavanam just a couple of years back. The charm and prosperity in his face can't be forgotten for those who have been blessed by him. Also interesting fact is that Sri Sushameendraru took over Sanyasa from his predecessor at Bichali.

From here, our next stop was at Panchamukhi temple. Here Panchamukhi Pranadevaru (Pancha=5, Mukhi=faces, Pranadevaru=Lord Hanuman), as the name suggests is in the form that has 5 heads. The five heads are amalgamations of Lord Varaha, Garuda, Anjaneya, Narasimha and Hayagreeva. It is said the Guru Sri Raghavendra swamy did penace here for 12 years in a cave and lord Hanuman gave him darshan in the form of 5 avatars. Also interesting are the natural rock formations around the temple in the form of an aerial vehicle and an bed and a pillow. A must visit place for those visiting Mantralayam.

From here, we proceeded to Bichali (or Bikshalaya or Bichale) village on the banks of Tunga river, which is the place of Sri Appannachari (the staunch devotee of Guru Sarvabowma) and also where is a brindavanam of Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy. Its a place where Rayaru stayed at his disciple Sri Appannachari's house and gave his disciple a chance to serve him. Interesting history of Sri Appannachari can be read here.

The house of Sri Appannachari is still preserved even today and many of the things that were used during that time are still visible as its been preserved by the family of the Sri Appannachari who look after the place even today. This place is on the banks of Tunga river, where Tunga is in full flow and was completely submerged in floods a couple of years back. Reaching this place is difficult as you need to have your own transport or depend on the autorickshaw's that ply and the ride is very bumpy! Still worth a place of historical importance not to miss when visiting Mantralayam.


Brief history and importance of Bichale as narrated by the priest himself-
Bichale village has the house of Sri Appannachari, one among the immense devotee of Rayaru (composer of Raghavendra stotra). Inside the house there are idols of Krishna, Mukyaprana and Shesha devaru of that time. It is also a place where Rayaru lived with Sri Appannachari and took his service. Near the house there is a temple which has in it an Arali tree, and Narasimha devaru installed by Sri Sripadarajaru (the tree was washed away in a flood however). It also has two idols of Mukyaprana installed by Sri Vyasarajaru and Rayaru respectively. The main attraction of the place is the Ekashila brindavanam of Rayaru. The story says that as soon as Sri Appanachari learnt that Rayaru was entering brindavanam, overcome by bhakthi to his guru, he started feeling desperate, isolated and was unable to imagine a life without his respectable and beloved guru. He started chanting out a shloka spontaneously in the praise of his guru. The shloka was so powerful that the full flowing Tunga river gave him way through which he ran to Mantralayam to see his guruvarya. By the time he reached, the brindavana pravesha was over and the shloka he was spelling out was about to see its end. He stopped the shloka seeing the brindavanam of his guru and his eyes filled up and he was aghast with grief. A voice came out from inside the brindavanam – “sakshi hayastotra he” (it means that the proof for everything said in the shloka is lord hayagreeva himself). It was the voice of Rayaru completing the sloka composed by Sri Appannachari. Rayaru blessed his loving devotee and asked him to wait for him in his own village. Sri Appanachari thought he was blessed and accordingly is the brindavanam of Rayaru at Bichale.

Either to reach Panchamukhi or Bichale from Mantralayam, one has to cross the temporary bridge that is constructed over the river Tunga, after Madhavaram village. This bridge gets washed away every time river Tunga floods and the route is cut off completely. Such is the apathy of constructing makeshift bridges, this particular bridge has been washed away numerous times :(. At last, when we were passing by, we could see a new bridge being constructed at a good elevation, hopefully it remains good and bears the fury of river Tunga with calmness and survives.

After this, we proceeded straight to Chippagiri via Madhavaram, Adoni and Aalur and from there to Bangalore by 9pm.


"Nambi kettavarillavo Gurugala, nambade keduvudunto"
"ನಂಬಿ ಕೆಟ್ಟವರಿಲ್ಲವೋ ಗುರುಗಳ, ನಂಬದೆ ಕೆಡುವುದುನ್ತೋ"
(those who have believed in Rayaru has never been let down, and those who do not may go wrong)