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Odisha Part 1 - The Svanir Experience

Odisha is a state I have visited twice . The first time was a sponsored trip, visiting a resort to write about them, as well as some of the more popular places to visit. I wrote the required content, but never got around to writing about the trip on the blog. This May, I visited Odisha for the second time, this time with family. The timing wasn’t great – it was either raining or it was terribly hot; besides, I wasn’t in the best of health and I couldn’t quite do as much as I liked. Despite all the challenges, it was a pleasure to explore the beautiful heritage of this state, and do things I couldn’t, the first time around. There is much I want to write about – the gorgeous temples, the sculptures, the museums, the natural beauty….. and yet, as I sit down and think about where to begin, there is only one place that I want to start with – the place we stayed at, for one part of our visit – Svanir . The story begins long before our trip actually happened. As Samhith and I went back and fo...
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Alexandrine Parakeets

Rose Ringed Parakeets are regular visitors to our home, and, considering that they are so visible, (and also so audible, and thus easily spotted), I have clicked them often. Yet, as the winter shows signs of setting in, and the parakeets come visiting more often, I cannot help sharing some more recent clicks. All these have been clicked in the last week. And it is thanks to Mridula that I realized that what I had clicked weren't the usual Rose Ringed Parakeets I usually see, but Alexandrine Parakeets!


From what I could learn, Alexandrine Parakeets are bigger than the rose ringed ones, and they can be easily identified by the maroon patch on their wing coverts. More interestingly, the species gets its name from Alexander the Great, who is credited with the exporting of numerous specimens of this bird from Punjab into various European and Mediterranean countries, where they were considered prized possessions for nobles and royalty. 



Coming back to the birds I noticed, It is obvious that their breeding season has begun. No wonder I can hear them all the time, screeching away, attracting their mates, fighting away their rivals.. I don't know if I can call them 'expressions'. but the eyes of these birds, especially the males, seem to speak volumes, do they not? 


P.S. Thanks, Mridula for correcting me. I had simply assumed they were the ring necked ones, because they are the ones I see all the time! 

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Comments

  1. MridulaDecember 5, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    Anu these aee alexandrine parrots I think. Lovely images!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarDecember 5, 2013 at 12:27 PM

      Thanks so much, Mridula! Have changed the title as well the text. i simply assumed they were the usual ones :(

      Delete
  2. Shine India TripDecember 5, 2013 at 1:31 PM

    what an interesting and creative work.... really a nice talent... loved your work very much....keep it up and keep sharing your creativity with us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Meghana HassanDecember 5, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    Wow, so many of them, lovely shots.. Happy birdwatching...

    ReplyDelete

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