What We Save Saves Us ! Reasons to Protect, Preserve and Conserve Biodiversity Hotspots like the Basai Wetlands in Gurugram

What We Save Saves Us!

I came across the above statement on a paper bag that went on to mention the need to reduce, reuse and recycle our natural resources. The statement, however, also fits in very well with the need to preserve our wetlands. In many ways, the disappearance of wetlands, forests and other biodiversity resources can only spell an environmental catastrophe that we will witness in our lifetimes. We need to protect and preserve our environment for the sake of our future generations. We simply cannot afford to be narrow-minded and greedy enough to consume everything leaving nothing for our children to cherish. What is happening at the Basai Wetland is a classic case of wanton destruction of an important biodiversity resource which also happens to be the pride of the state, a major magnet for wildlife photographers, naturalists, scientists and even those who appreciate nature in all its grace and beauty.

There is an urgent need for us to preserve, protect and nurture our wetlands before they disappear. Wetlands in rural areas should be preserved and developed as they would have great potential for tourism. Unfortunately, our greed for instant earning has made us destroy our wetlands in favour of the real estate sector. Our wetlands, forests and lakes are more precious than the amount that a few would gain from selling the land to build apartments.

I was literally amazed to see a large number of waterbirds at the Basai Wetland in Gurugram recently. The birds included Spot-billed ducks, Knob-billed ducks, Purple Herons, Darters, and numerous Grebes. The Basai wetland located on the outskirts of Gurugram on the Gurugram Jajjhar highway is a bird-watcher's paradise! Lying adjacent to the Gurugram water-treatment plant, the wetland which has been in existence ever since I have seen it is also a waypoint for migratory birds like the Bar-headed Geese and Starlings.

Recently when I visited the wetland I told a student of mine to expect the unexpected while at the wetland, upon which we spotted a huge flock of ducks, spot-billed, shovellers, gadwalls and the like. One might spot anything, from the tiniest exotic birds like a Red Adavat, the European Starling to the largest flying birds like the Sarus Cranes.

The Basai wetland is spread over a wide area and its waterbody has been cut into many slices thanks to the construction activity taking place in the area. Thankfully, there is a waterbody that is cut off from the entry point on the Jajjhar-Gurugram highway. Instead, one might enter from the under-construction Dwarka Expressway, which would require a good deal of off-roading as the mounds of fine sand and dust would swallow a normal vehicle up to its axles.

I used a Canon USM 70-300 mm lens on a Canon 1500D body for these photographs. Taking a zoom lens with you would be sensible. Some of the funnier photographs have been posted below. The first one is of Purple Heron using its long feet to scratch itself. The second one is of a Spot-billed duck that spent most of its time standing on one leg.

Of course one will find the White-throated Kingfisher flitting around with a piece of fish in its beak, or for that matter, even the Pied Kingfisher might be found hovering in the air aiming to strike at its prey luring in the water. The Purple Heron in the third photograph simply doesn't seem to know what to do. I saw it perch on a thorny Acacia tree moving around with uncertainty, though probably getting on the to the tree to get a better view of the fish.

Drafting Letters to the Principal and Informal Letters

Letters to the Principal

Learning Targets

1. I can write a letter addressed to the head of the institution in which I study.

2. I can use a tone that is respectful.

3. I can use accepted formats while drafting a letter to the Principal.

4. I can convey thoughts, requests and observations effectively.

Format:

Name of student

Class and section

Date

or

Name of student

Personal Address

Date

Designation (ThePrincipal)

School's Name

Address

Subject:

Salutation

Body of the Letter_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Complimentary Close

Model Question:

You are Manisha/Mohit, a student of grade twelve studying in the Humanities section at the New Era Public School, Sector 56, Chandigarh. Write a letter to the Principal requesting him to restock the school library with the latest books. You believe that a good school should have not only a well-stocked library but also one that has the latest books.

Mohit Kumar

Class 12-A

14th of October, 2020

The Principal

New Era Public School

Sector 56

Chandigarh

Subject: Request for restocking  the school library with new books

Respected Sir                                                                                                                                                

I am Mohit Kumar a student of grade 12-A (Humanities section). Being an avid reader and a regular at the school library, I would like to bring to your notice the fact that most of the books in the library are outdated and in bad condition.

The library needs to be restocked with the latest books while the older and damaged ones are discarded. The students need to have the latest books not just fiction, but also books on history, science, and other relevant topics. A well-stocked library is the heart and soul of any school.

Kindly accept my suggestions for upgrading the school library. The restocked library will prove to be an even more valuable asset to the student community.

Thanking you 

Yours obediently

Mohit Kumar

(Class 12-A)

Model letter to the Principal-Request for permission to leave school early due to an important family function.

 

Ramesh Chand

Class 12-E

12^th of April, 2021

 

The Principal

Shakti Nagar Government School Number 1

Shakti Nagar

New Delhi

 

Subject: Request for permission to leave school early

 

Respected Sir

I would like to request you to kindly give me permission to leave school early today as I have to attend an important family function, namely the engagement ceremony of my elder brother. I would like to leave school early by 11:00 a.m. I will complete all the work given in class after taking the same from my classmates.

Kindly grant me permission for the same.

 

Yours obediently

Ramesh Chand

 

Questions for revision:

1. You are Rekha/Rohit, a student of grade twelve at the Golden Lion Public school, Pusa Road, New Delhi. Write a letter to the Principal of your school requesting her to give you permission to use the main school auditorium after school hours so that a group of students led by you can rehearse for a play that will be hosted during the Annual Day of the school. Assure her that you will take good care of the safety measures. Supply your own details.

2. Draft a letter to the Principal of your school informing him or her about problems faced by students in getting their orders at the school canteen during recess. Most of them have to return empty-handed because they run out of time.

3. Draft a letter to the Principal of your school requesting her to organise remedial classes after school hours for all students of grade twelve so that they can prepare for the board exams. Furnish you own details. You are Deetika/Dheeraj, a student of grade twelve.

 Informal Letters

Learning Targets

1. I can write an informal letter addressed to family members, relatives and friends.

2. I can use accepted formats while drafting an informal letter.

3. I can convey messages, stories, thoughts and information in a clear manner.

Format:

Writer's Address

Date

Salutation

Body of the letter___________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Complimentary Close

Yours lovingly/With lots of love/With best wishes

Name

Marks Distribution

Format ( writer's address, date, salutation, complimentary close): 1 Mark

Content ( Value point): 2 Marks

Coherence ( Grammar and expression): 2 Marks

Question: Write a letter to your friend Ashish wishing him all the best in the coming board exams for grade twelve. Supply your own details.

Suggested answer:

B 26/12

Kamla Nagar

New Delhi

 

14^th of October, 2020

 

Dear Ashish

I hope my letter finds you and the whole family in good health. I am writing this letter to wish you all the best in the forthcoming board exams. I know you are a conscientious and a very hard-working student. However, since I have already gone through the board exams, I would like to offer you some advice on how to ace the same.

First and foremost, I suggest that you keep all your class notes updated. Your class notes will give you an insight into all the important aspects of the unit you are learning. Also, it would be a good idea to look into the previous year papers so that you are aware of the trends in the exams. It would be a good idea to go through your NCERT textbook questions as they form the backbone of whatever is asked in the exams. You should also take care of your diet and the number of hours you sleep. Ensure that you spare time to relax. Taking part in outdoor activities will help you beat the stress. Last but not least, remember to take time to introspect and meditate.

I hope my suggestions will be of help to you. I am sure that you will ace the exams and do your parents proud. Please give my regards to Uncle and Aunty and your younger brother, Aniket.

 

With best wishes,                                                                                                                      

Yours lovingly

Namit                                                                                                                                        

Questions for practice

1. You are Manish, a resident of A-56, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. Write a letter to your Cousin Sister, Rimpy, a resident of B-56, Krishi Appartments, Shimla informing her that you will be visiting her on the 15th of June for the summer vacations. You will be staying for a week and would like to visit the places of tourist importance.

2. You are Reena, a resident of  Sector  62, Gurugram. Write a letter to your friend in Mumbai to enquire about her mother's health. She has been suffering from high blood pressure. Supply all the relevant details.

3. You are Tarun Mehta, a resident of B-267, Mohali, Punjab. Write a letter to your Aunt asking about her family's plans for the winter break. Your family and you would like to invite her to spend the winter break with you. Supply all the details for the same.

4. You are Rakesh/Rekha, a resident of B-26, Sector 62, Gurgaon. Write a letter to your Uncle in Chandigarh informing him about the forthcoming marriage of your brother. You would like to have the whole family for the engagement and then the marriage which will be on different dates in different months.

Common Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris) spotted at the Basai Wetland

Just today when I visited the Basai Wetland I was pleasantly surprised to spot the Common Starling Sturnus Vulgaris in large numbers. I was particularly fascinated by the rather distinct golden markings throughout the body. Its plumage had a rather unique metallic purple colour that shimmered in the sunlight.

A beautiful bird species without any doubt, the bird seems to take its name from the golden starlike spots on its feathers. While the first bird seemed least bothered by my closeness, perhaps it was too busy looking for insects on that branches of a tree, the others, however, fled en masse as soon as they felt my presence.

I have learnt from my research on the internet that the Common Starling-Sturnus Vulgaris is not a very common species in the Northern Plains of India, therefore spotting them at the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon might as well be a rare sighting! The Common Starling is also known as European Starling in the United States or simply Starling in Britain.

Common Starlings are apparently omnivorous as they feed both on insects and seeds. They are known to migrate to warmer regions during the winter season. Common starlings are gregarious by nature and they can be found in bunches of five or six birds as I could see during my visit to the Basai Wetland. People often link the Common Starlings with the Common Myna.

Photographing the birds was a challenge because the rather typical dark metallic colour of their plumage made it difficult for me to get the eyes into focus. Moreover, the birds were hidden deep within the branches of the trees where they had been resting or looking for insects to eat.

This is a beautiful bird species and you need to see it with your own eyes to appreciate it. I at first thought it was a Purple Sunbird because of the iridescent colours of its feathers.

Are Crows Really Smart? I Spotted one at the Basai Wetland!

I have been visiting the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon for quite some time now and though it is more often than not to photograph some of the more exotic variety of birds, I have, however, noticed crows behaving rather strangely. First and foremost I have observed crows deliberately crowding me, chasing the other birds away and deliberately staring me in the 'lens'. At first, I dismissed this behaviour as some kind of a coincidence but then later one day I observed a crow pick up a rounded pebble-like object in its beak and then perch on a fence-post. Now that was really strange! I followed it right up to the fence post and photographed it with the pebble-like object in its beak and that made me wonder what it was up to!

The next I saw what was probably the same crow was that it had a piece of wood in its beak. This was a square piece of wood like the ones that fishermen use to wind a bit of nylon line on. I was curious at first about what the crow had in its beak, thinking that it was probably a fish, but when I got closer, I noticed what it was. 

I had in all probability spotted a very intelligent crow that was using round pebble-like objects and a piece of wood for something or the other. Of course, we have down the ages heard tales about crows that have suggested that they are exceptionally intelligent (like a tale about the thirsty crow that put pebbles into a jar of water so that the level would rise and it could drink from it), but then what I had seen both times was simply amazing. You can judge for yourself by looking at the photographs that I am sharing on this post.

I am curious to know what the crow was doing with a pebble and a piece of wood in its beak! I believe that would require another visit to the Basai Wetland where I get to meet the same crow. The next time I hope to get something interesting to share with you.

Spot-Billed Ducks at Play (At the Basai Wetland)

 

Yesterday while I was on the way back from the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon disappointed that I had not spotted any large birds, I was arrested by the sight of a flock of Spot-Billed ducks alighting on the water to join the rest of the flock. Since I had already packed my kit, I was in a tizzy and struggled to get my camera out. Of course I had been testing the Canon 70-300 mm USM lens so I needed to get something to show!

It was a joy to see such a large flock of ducks playing together. Some of them began chasing each other while others simply stretched their wings, I guess to take out the fatigue from a long flight. Though the ducks were at a great distance, the 70-300 mm USM lens did a great job and I was pleased with the results.

The true size of Spot-Billed Ducks becomes apparent when they stretch their wings out like the one did in the above photographs. If that was not enough, the ducks went around in groups diving in the water, looking for fish I guess.