Friday, November 14, 2014

These birds





The point of attraction in the above picture is surely not the rose. There are three of our avian friends over there (if you look closely there are four) but then if you look at the picture below you may have trouble counting them.


Every year during monsoon they flock to this balcony for the bird feed that they get. In fact this housing complex has got about 110 flats, but these birds like to visit only this balcony (probably they know where the bird feed is available in plenty) 


Its amazing how nature works. This year the rains were late but the Munias were here (at the dot on the onset of the monsoon as per the calendar)


They are extremely shy. So they don’t come directly to the balcony. Their first stop is this tree close to the balcony 


Once they know that the coast is clear, they move on to the next stop – the balcony.   


Then they take turns hoping on to the floor where the bird feed is spread.   



The slightest sound or movement from inside the house makes them scamper back to the first base. (as can be seen in the video)
I remember a pair had made a nest at my place exactly four years ago on which I had written a blog.

Incidentally this is the balcony of the house where our 93 year old friend keeps herself busy by painting and knitting.  While I was there clicking the Munia, I saw her painting a bird on a fabric. 



The video  below is the result of clicking and shooting for three consecutive days by hiding, stalking, peeping and sometimes even using camouflage.
Enjoy . . . . . (if you are watching it on YouTube, keep the setting to 720pHD for clarity)


35 comments:

joeh said...

I'd be cautious if I were that small too.
I've got to get some bird feed this Winter.

anilkurup59 said...

Wonderful that you took time and effort to video graph this beautiful mele.

Indeed a vanishing sight these days.I wonder if posterity would see such things or would they be fated to bracket these birds that are common around human dwellings along with the dodo .

Connie said...

They are pretty little birds. Nice photos and the video is done well too.

Joanne Noragon said...

Three kinds of finches come to my feeders, American goldfinch, purple finch and house finch. All my feeders hang in a great oak tree, for fast escape for the birds. I call the finch my flying pigs, they share the feeders. Many other kinds of birds come to the feeders, but seem to spend a good deal of time arguing over the many feeding stations. Silly.

Sandee said...

We feed our birds. We have sparrows, lots of them and in the summer we have hundreds of hummingbirds. We feel them year around. They are most fun to watch.

Have a fabulous day. ☺

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
What delightful visitors!!! At the moment all I ever get to see is Gulls and Magpies... YAM xx

Unknown said...

What a treat and an honour to have those delightful little birds on your balcony!

Anonymous said...

The video is very well done. They are such sweet little birds.

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful little birds!

Jim and Sandie said...

Nature is truly amazing. How do they know when and where to return to. What a wonderful thing. And I love your pictures of these beautiful tiny miracles.

hamaarethoughts.com said...

beautifu;l bird .. I haven't seen it before..very cute.!!

Rama Ananth said...

It is so beautiful. The birds are so cute, and you have managed to capture them so well. And the lady, she is really something, can't believe she is 93. I loved the painted dhuppata by her.

Anonymous said...

Thanks a ton Joe! Though I have seen these birds at Lata's place but I have not been able to appreciate their beauty at close quarters as they are so tiny. Your close up shots have brought out so clearly the Lords beautiful creation and the back ground music is simply divine!!! - Vijayalakshmi Menon

Indrani said...

Lucky that they come visiting you :)

Julia Thorley said...

Beautiful.

Renuka said...

These pictures look SO gorgeous! The birds look so cute. :-)

Jeannette said...

I was so enjoying the birds...and then your friend entered the picture and I was over the top...how lovely and encouraging she is and I hope you will tell her so!. I think I will link this post on Face Book so others can see what sweet birds flock in your land.

This N That said...

They are so cute..Great pictures.. Love their " freckles"..We have golden and house finches..purple finches..Sometimes I don't know where they all come from..Thanks for sharing..Well done..

A Cuban In London said...

Amazing photos and beautiful clip. Thanks.

Greetings from London.

Red Rose Alley said...

What a delightful video, Haddock. And I liked your pictures of the finch, especially the fifth one where they were all together. Of course, I noticed the rose first. Your neighbor sounds like such a talented lady. I always wished that I could draw or paint, but no such luck haha.

Have a wonderful week.

~Sheri

ETT RÖTT MONOGRAM said...

Hello on other side of our globe,
it was a plessure to visit you
Wish you a happy week
AnnaMaria

Things and Thoughts said...

So pleased to find your comment on my blog! Thank you!
Beautiful photos and video and I also admire the "old" lady!
Wish you a happy week!
Olympia

Linda said...

I love finches! Your photos are lovely, and the video is great...and the music is very nice, too!

awadhut said...

your blogs have generated lot of interest for me in this subject

Geli said...

Bravo ....you have a little paradis with all these flowers and birds on your balcony ...
Happy week for you!
Geli

Shesha Chaturvedi said...

This is heaven , the photographs (each and every photograph) are so beautiful. My mom keeps water and food outside our home for birds and I spend good time sometimes watching them eating and playing around. Loved it and loved your description.
Btw ur friend draws wonderful. Pass my compliments to her! :-)

Locomente said...

Aww... These are cuties!!!!

Peaches Ledwidge said...

Love the pics and the video (I wrote a comment.)

sandy said...

Love your blog - this post - ...those birds look like "society" finches which i usually see in pet stores. What beautiful birds - ....

Anonymous said...

great pictures and videos can u send me these to my mail abid@q8living.com

Unknown said...

My niece had finches as pets, and I love these shy birds. Of course, living in an urban jungle means we hardly ever get to see them. In fact, I have never seen them in Mumbai.

Caryn Caldwell said...

Wow! This is so cool! LOVE all the adorable bird photos, too! Aren't birds simply amazing?

walk2write said...

So nice to see that life is treating you with blessings. Be generous to the birds, and somehow they spread the word of your generosity and repay you. The pictures of them and your artistic neighbor are priceless.

Pooja Mahimkar said...

Lovely pictures :)

D.Nambiar said...

:)