Have you noticed this butterfly which is seen almost everywhere in Bangalore? They are fluttering all over the city - these butterflies are a part of the migratory swarm. Hundreds of butterflies are found roosting on trees and plants, it is magical indeed to observe this visual treat.
Lepidoptera migration is a biological phenomenon whereby populations of butterflies or moths migrate over long distances to areas where they cannot settle for long periods of time.
T G Halli – Water level is going more down with time and there is no sign of rain in Bangalore. Most of the lakes are completely changed into grassland.
Some pictures to just enjoy birding.
Male Kestrel with its habitat
Oriental white ibis
Indian Spotted Eagle – A very different morph
Indian Roller
Male Kestrel
Ashy Crowned Sparrowlark – Female
Siberian Stonechat
What is the difference between UID and Aadhar?
Both are same, UID project is known as AADHAAR which means ‘support’ or ‘foundation’.
What is Aadhar?
Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. This number will serve as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India. Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, who is a resident in India and satisfies the verification process laid down by the UIDAI can enroll for Aadhaar.
Each individual needs to enroll only once which is free of cost.
Each Aadhaar number will be unique to an individual and will remain valid for life. Aadhaar number will help you provide access to services like banking, mobile phone connections and other Govt and Non-Govt services in due course.
How to Apply for Aadhar?
If you want to get this UID (I am planning to apply for one, as I hear UID is being made mandatory for certain services like, gas connection, EPF etc.) then here’s what you need to do:
Aadhaar enrollment is free so you need not pay anyone for this. You need to go to one of the authorized Aadhaar enrollment center anywhere in India with your identity and address proof.
UIDAI process accepts 18 PoI (Proof of Identity) and 33 PoA (Proof of Address) documents and below is the list of nationally valid list of documents:
Supported PoI Documents Containing Name and Photo:
Supported PoA Documents Containing Name and Address
Supported PoR Documents containing Relationship details to Head of Family
Supported Proof of DoB Documents
When you are going to apply for Aadhaar then make sure that you must have below stuff ready,
1.ID Proof (Your ID Proof can be Pan Card, Driving Licence, Passport etc).
2.Address Proof (It could be Telephone Bill, Electricity Bill etc).
Common proofs of identity and address are election photo ID card, Ration card, passport and driving license. Photo ID cards like PAN card and Govt ID cards are permissible for identity proof. Address proof documents also include water – electricity – telephone bills from the last three months.
In case you do not have above common proofs, Certificate of Identify having photo issued by Gazetted Officer/Tehsildar on letterhead is also accepted as PoI. Certificate of Address having photo issued by MP or MLA /Gazetted Officer/Tehsildar on letterhead or by Village Panchayat head or its equivalent authority (for rural areas) is accepted as valid PoA.
Where to apply for Aadhaar?
You need to go to one of the official Aadhaar enrollment center in India to get your Aadhaar number.
Use the link below to find out your nearest Aadhaar enrollment center details based on your location:
http://appointments.uidai.gov.in/easearch.aspx
At the enrollment center you need to fill the Aadhaar application form. At the center fingerprints, photograph and iris scan will be done to feed into database. A temporary slip with enrollment number will be provided as an acknowledgement.
Based on your documents your details will be verified and in case if all comes right an Aadhaar number will be send to your address.
Here you can look up the sample Aadhaar enrollment form:
http://uidai.gov.in/images/FrontPageUpdates/uid_download/enrolmentform.pdf
You can also download the enrollment form here
http://uidai.gov.in/download.html
Apply Online and get Appointment for Aadhaar Enrollment:
If you want you can apply online and take an appointment. Below is the link for online Appointment for Aadhaar enrollment at your nearest aadhaar enrollment center
http://appointments.uidai.gov.in/
Note: Online Booking of Appointment for Aadhaar Enrollments has been started on a trial basis at selected Enrollment Centers.
More details about this online Appointment for Aadhaar Enrollment please visit below link,
http://uidai.gov.in/images/FrontPageUpdates/press_note_25th_nov_v2_hq.pdf
How to Check your Aadhaar Enrollment Status
You can check the status of your Aadhaar enrollment online. To check your Aadhaar status, you need the enrollment number, date and time. You can find these details on the acknowledgement copy issued at the Aadhaar enrollment center.
https://portal.uidai.gov.in/ResidentPortal/statusLink
Hope you find this information useful and get your UID soon 
I went to Mekedaatu in 2006-07 and all of a sudden after so many years I went back in the memory lane and revisited Mekedaatu. Mekedaatu is a very nice weekend gateway along Kaveri river in Kanakapura.
Mekedaatu is about 90 km from Bangalore. Its close to another lovely spot called Sangama. Sangama is the place where Arkavati river meets Kaveri river.
One can go to Sangama in car or there are many buses available too. From Sangama, you need to cross the river either on coracle or by walking if the water level is low, followed by a 4 Km trail to Mekedaatu. There is a ferry bus from the river side to Mekedaatu or you can walk through the nice greenery.
When we went to Mekedaatu, we took a nice walk after crossing the river by foot. Its a very beautiful stretch. There are many versions of why this place is called Mekedaatu.
Mekedata in Kannada means Goat’s Leap. After few Kms from Sangama the river Kaveri flows through a deep gorge. The gorge is so narrow that one would think that a goat can leap across it. The reality is that no goat can cross the gorge in one leap. The name comes from an incident that a goat crossed the gorge and managed to cross the river in order to save its life from a tiger. It seems the gorge was too wide for the tiger to cross and the tiger backed off. The point where the goat leapt has widened since then from erosion caused by the river Cauvery.
This story has a mythological significance as well. The goat (meke in kannada) that is believed to have crossed the gorge is supposed to be Lord Shiva. On both the sides of the gorge, one can find strange holes, whose shapes resemble goats’ hooves.
The current at the gorge is ferocious and one has to be careful as the rocks can be slippery. There are many accidents reported here.
While we went to Mekedatu it was summer and the water was less. We after crossing Sangama we walked for 4 Km to reach Mekedatu and had some very peaceful time there. While coming back we took the bus as all of us were too exhausted due to heat to come back on our own. Since the bus was full inside, we sat on the roof of the bus which was good fun. After coming back to Sangama we spent some nice time in the river rejuvenating ourselves.
There are many places on the way to have breakfast and dinner, but carry enough food and water with you as you may not find anything once you cross Sangama.
Although there are many tourist spots on Kaveri river, Mekedaatu is worth visiting and is a nice one day trip from Bangalore.
Hoskote Lake was a bit in discussion. So, we decide to have a 4-5 hours of Sunday birding. This is one of the marvelous grassland, i have seen around Bangalore. For those who want to do birding, please go in group. I heard a lot of community problem. This place is THE land of stork, ibis, sandpiper, snipe, raptors and worth to watch their habitats. I tried to put all the pictures here, so that we can see the habitat as well for the birds.
white stork – Family
Oriental Honey Buzzard
northern shoveler – Flocks at flight
northern shoveler
northern shoveler
northern shoveler – float show
I guess combination of some more ducks
Blyth Reed Warbler
Blyth Reed Warbler
Green Sandpiper – Pair
Flock of Garganey at fight
Glossy ibis
Flock of Sandpiper and Little Stint
Flock of Sandpiper and Little Stint
Glossy ibis with Purple Heron
Common Kestrel
Common Hawk Cuckoo
Marsh Harrier get attacked by Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Short toed Snake Eagle
Indian Spotted Eagle – I believe
Indian Spotted Eagle – I believe
Kannan – Down for shot
ID required
Barn Swallow Family
Yellow Wagtail
Black eared Kite
Oriental White IBIS – Family
Brahminy Kite
Flock of Baya Weaver
Flock of Baya Weaver
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
ID required
Sykes Lark
Spot Billed Duck
White eye buzzard
Short toed Snake Eagle
Skyes Lark
Poornima with camouflage to the grassland
Common Snipe – Sorry for the quality
Wooly Necked Stork
Marsh Harrier attack to the flock of garganery
Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, also known as T G Halli Dam or Chamarajsagar, is located at the confluence of the Arkavathy River and Kumudavathi River, 35 km west of Bangalore, India.
I already written a post about T G Halli, here goes another. The interesting sighting was Small Pratincole and a family of river tern taking rest. Enjoy pictures.. !!
Woolly necked stork
Ashy crowned SparrowLark
Brahminy Kite – Juv
Brahminy Kite took off
Small Pratincole
Yellow Wagtail
Little Cormorant in flight
River Tern
Birders
Small Pratincole
Small Pratincole
Small Pratincole
Family of river terns
Spot billed ducks
Asian Openbill – You can see the open bill
Family of Asian opnebill
Jungle Myna
common greenshank
Red Rumped Swallow
Yellow Wagtail
Asian Openbill + White headed stork
Grey Francolin
I had written this article originally for The Alternative. Reblogging it here.
For all those who are not aware there was the demolition of EWS quarters of around 1000 families at Ejipura just opposite the National Games Village, Kormangala in Bangalore last week. This demolition has happened for building up another mall by the builders of Garuda Mall. Even the Garuda Mall at MG Road is not legally built. The land was given for a multilevel car parking but the mall has come up instead of the parking. The residents of Ejipura whose houses have been demolished are out in the open in the cold without water, power, food and shelter.
“My 8 months old child is suffering from jaundice and fever. My husband is not there and I have lost my job. “says one on the residents of Ejipura whose house has been demolished. In spite of all these challenges she has been helping the volunteers in distributing food and clothes to the right people.
Pic Courtesy: Mayank Rungta
Can we who live in our comfortable houses with food and snuggled into warm blankets be so strong? I am really amazed by these people who are greeting us with a smile even in the difficult times when they have lost their shelter. They have not forgotten to care for their neighbors checking if they received the food and blankets. Apart from that they are also taking care of their pets, mostly dogs and cats.
They are out in the open, on the footpaths on both sides of the road with their minimal belongings with nowhere to go. What was their crime that the houses of 1000 families have been demolished? Even a criminal has a roof over his head in the jail. The toilets have been destroyed. The first day itself water supply and power supply was cut off. And in just 2-3 days the ground where once these people used to live has been grounded and the area has been fenced. I really should appreciate BBMP for the efficient work they have been doing in demolishing the houses. They have carried out this eviction very strategically in phases, first the houses were demolished, then people were pressurized to vacate the place, then they started leveling the ground without looking at what’s on the ground and this debris was piled on all the sides to block various entrance so that supply of food, water and other essentials arranged by volunteers can be ruptured and finally fencing the whole area with very high tin sheets. If they channelize this efficiency towards the grappling problems of our city, I am sure Bangalore would be a much better and a cleaner place in no time.
With no access to power supply, water supply, toilets, food and shelter the government has left them out in the open to suffer and not even taking the responsibility of providing them an alternative shelter. To add to it yesterday they demolished more houses in the area. It is only because of the continuous efforts of few people and volunteers that these victims are able to get food, water and blankets regularly. Even we volunteers faced resistance by the police in distributing food and blankets. The vehicles carrying food was not allowed to enter the area. We had to walk with the food cans to find people among the rubbles in the dark and distribute food to them. It is really unbelievable how much callousness exist around us.
My emotions have been overwhelming to put everything in words. I feel angry. I feel helpless not able to fight for them. I am sure after all this my conscience will never ever allow me to step into the mall which would be standing here in next few months or years or rather any mall. How many malls do Bangaloreans need? I and my husband rarely visit a mall and our life goes on smoothly.
I, along with other volunteers, have been visiting the site for the last one week. I can’t really explain the plight of the people in words; how people have been sitting or sleeping in the cold. I would request that we all to go to the site and see for ourselves what it feels like when you lose your home. At least, the residents would feel that they are not alone. We know how much it matters when someone is there with you just to talk to you in the difficult times. Many of the residents have lost their jobs and it would be good if we can help them find jobs. They are mostly home maids, driver, cook etc.
Appealing all to come out and help the residents of Ejipura in any way – helping them fight for their ‘Right to Shelter’ or help in spreading the awareness or help with the logistics or finding them a home or a job.
You can follow the updates on Ejipura and volunteer for relief work through the Relief for EWS Ejipura Demolition Victims Facebook page or the hashtag #EWSEjipura on Twitter.
Some of the BULBs (Bangalore Urban Lady Birders) decided to meet up for lunch at Halli Mane on Sankranti Day:
The decorations were beautiful…
made of palm fibre:
made of palm fronds:
This is the menu, as displayed on the board:
kharabUjatha rasa (Musk Melon juice)
eLLu–bellA-kabbu (Sesame seeds-jagger-sugar cane)
hesaru beLe pAyasA( Mung dal payasa)
mAvina midi uppinkAyA (Maavadu, small mango pickle)
chOLada kOsambari (Salad with corn and grated carrots)
moLagekkALu, dAdimba kOsambari (Salad with sprouted green gram and pomegranate)
Alu gaddE palyA (potato curry)
dondekkAi, gOdambi palya (ivy gourd, cashewcurry)
mAvina kAyi chutney (mango chutney, not sweet)
sihi pongal (sweet pongal)
khArA pongal (savoury pongal)
avarekkALu usli (preparation with winter beans)
avarekkAlu bAth (rice with avarekkAlu beans)
happaLA-sandigE (appaLAm and vadAm) (the appalam or paapad was made from jackfruit)
avarekkALu gasi
annA (rice)
thOvvE-thuppA (dal , ghee)
thiLi sAru ( clear rasam)
shuntthi thambuLi (ginger paste)
amatikkAyi gojju (hog-plum gojju)
kumbaLakkAyi majjige huLi
guLLa huLi (Udupi brijal sambar)
mosaru (yogurt)
kobbari hOLige (coconut pOLi)
bALe hannina rasAyana (ripe banana custard)
avarekkALu masAla vade
avarekkAyi hayagrIvA ( a thick gravy preparation)
bharathA
bhAvanA shuntthi (digestive; ginger with sour tones)
bALe haNNu (banana)
ele-adike (betel leaf and supAri)
The leaf looked like this, when I had to start eating, as I had to finish some of this before the next few courses:
At this point, 18 of the 30 items were on the leaf. And at the end, the leaf had to look like this:
Here are all of us, kindly clicked by a fellow-luncher:
This is for every fellow-Indian (especially Kannadigas) who cannot have food like this when they feel like it….I thought of each of you!
Ramanagaram – yes, a place famous because once Basanti danced there on the call of Gabbar Singh. Forget the past, this place holds the most critically endangered life of India and Pakistan. This is THE place for those critically endangered Vultures who reduced in 96 percent in their count in last 15 years. In the last few years, we have noticed that vultures count have improved in Ramanagaram. Don’t want to go into the details of Vulture dead. But Diclofenac medicine – the real cause for death has been banned as well.
Don’t know the action of Government but at least they declared the place as Vulture sanctuary.
A closer look of Long billed Vulture or Indian Vulture
Long billed Vulture – a close look
Habitat of Long billed Vulture
Long billed Vulture -Courtship rituals
Long billed Vulture -Courtship rituals. Eye membrane visible
After Courtship they are ready for mating.
A comparative size of kite with Long billed Vulture
Egyptian Vulture constructing home
Egyptian Vulture – Flight shot
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