Celebrating Nativity Sunday

Nativity Sunday was celebrated at the Church of the Epiphany today. The Sunday School students wowed the congregation with their Nativity Play. Today's service truly marked the beginning of the Advent season.

The spirit of Christmas was encapsulated in the Nativity play today. It was a joy to see all the Sunday school children dressed as angels and important figures, such as Joseph, Mary, and the three wise men. The Hard work put in by Mrs Jyoti Sannoo and the Sunday school teachers, including Mrs Neelima Thomas, was evident in the flawless execution of the event. The support of the members of the Pastorate Committee, led by the Presbyter in charge, Revd. Prateek Pillai ensured that the nativity play segued smoothly with the rest of the service.

It goes without saying that the church choir and musicians did a great job in creating the atmosphere of the Advent season. The Choir, led by brother Timothy, left the congregation spell-bound!

Bar-headed Geese finally arrive in Gurgaon; Why do they have a discolouration around their beaks?

It was a welcome treat to spot Bar-headed Geese finally at the Chandu Budhera wetland. They seem to have been a bit late in arriving in Gurgaon, probably because of the weather conditions, smog, and pollution. Bar-headed Geese are known to travel long distances to winter in the northern plains of India. Earlier, they could be spotted at the now defunct Basai Wetland but now seem to be moving further and further away from the city due to urbanization and human activities.

Incidentally, Bar-headed Geese are known to travel at great altitudes where Oxygen levels drop in rarified atmosphere. It is said that Bar-headed Geese travel from Central Asia and Tibet and that they navigate accurately, landing on the same patch of land year after year. Bar-headed Geese follow important flyways utilizing important natural features, landmarks like rivers, mountains, relying on the position of the Sun, stars and magnetic fields to navigate. Bar-headed Geese are marvels of nature in terms of navigational abilities, resilience, and the ability to fly at great altitudes often over the peaks of the Himalayan mountains.

The movement of migratory birds, their appearance, and non-appearance are important indicators of the adverse conditions of the environment and ecosystems of each biodiversity hotspot. The movements of migratory birds also provide important information on food availability patterns. A study of migratory patterns of birds is an important indicator of changing climate patterns, deterioration of ecosystems, and perhaps, even important warning signs of the adverse impact of human development activities.  

I have been photographing Bar-headed Geese for the past ten years and have noticed how they have been shifting their wintering spots. Earlier, they would land and the now-defunct Basai Wetland, closer to the city, but now they are moving on. The Sultanpur National Park, the so-called Ramsar site, doesn't even attract them. It is high time that the powers did some research to understand the actual situation on site.

It is high time that environmentalists and authorities took cognizance of the environmental degradation that is taking place in Gurgaon due to development activities.

Please note that the reddish-brown colour around the beaks and the sides of the heads of the Geese is because of staining caused by an iron-rich mineral in the water. Some of the wetlands might also contain abnormally large amounts of industrial waste. 

Bar-headed Geese are graceful birds. They are aerodynamic, powerful, versatile and scientifically enigmatic. They defy logic, they have some of the best navigational systems and their migratory patterns are a subject of research. I have been obsessed with photographing these amazing birds because there is so much to learn from them.

Rare Gulls Spotted at the Chandu Budhera Wetland-Gurgaon

Just today, when I visited the Chandu Budhera Wetland, I was in for a surprise! There in front of me was the largest flock of gulls I have ever seen! Truth be told, I have rarely spotted more than one gull. The problem however is identifying the correct species. The gulls spotted by me are probably the world's smallest gulls also known as the little gull or Hydrocoloeus minutus. These birds migrate along the coast of the Mediterranean, Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Could these be Chinese Gulls known as Saunders Gulls or black headed Gulls (although they don't have the black patch on their heads)?

It is indeed surprising to spot these gulls so far away from their native habitats. The spotting of these gulls is probably very significant as it is probably an indicator of the impact of climate change, changes in migratory patterns and also change in food patterns. 

However, spotted a whole cloud of gulls that too far inland from any sea shore was indeed an amazing experience! To see the birds wheeling as one unit all around the area was indeed a surreal experience. Though I was quite far away from the birds, I did try to take a few snaps of this 'cloud of gulls'!

At The Diocesan Fete (Ekta Utsav)

This year, as every year past, the annual pilgrimage to the Diocesan Fete at the Cathedral Church of Redemption took place on November 30. This year, the Diocese of Delhi was celebrating its 55th anniversary since its inception.  It was a time of catching up with one another, enjoying exotic food, and ushering in the Advent Season! The approach of Christmas was evident in the decorations, souvenirs, and memorabilia on sale everywhere.

It was a joy to see the Clergy decked up in spotless white, a symbol of purity, serenity and peacefulness. The whites and the reds seemed to bring out the approach of Christmas, snow, Santaclause and reindeer!

The exotic scents of freshly cooked food, the bright splash of colours of the decorative plants, Poinsettias, were a treat for the eyes, especially after the bleak bout of greys brought in by the ubiquitous NCR smog! For many, the Ekta Ekta divas is all about trying out new attire, bringing new looks, and, of course, for many students, a welcome break from studies.