Making everyday, Earth Day

The first time we celebrated Earth Day was in 2010, to publicize the revival of our Puttakere among  residents in the area. At that point, we had no idea that we were in for a long haul. 

Earth Day 2010 at South City Apartments, Bangalore (Pic: Ashok Das)

In fact, even when we registered PNLIT in June that year, we did so to assist BBMP and ensure that the lake doesn't relapse. Signing an agreement with them in May 2011 and becoming official custodians of the lake meant no turning, or looking, back for us, trustees. Since then, the lake, and we, have come a long way. 

A serene morning at the lake, Apr 2022 (Pic: Nithya)

Folk concert at the lake on 24th Apr 2022 (Pic: Nupur Jain)

Thanks to all who have been a part of this wonderful journey. We look forward to your continued support. Here is a glimpse of life at the lake this April 2022, but there's nothing like visiting it and seeing the wonders for yourself!

Removing litter from the water (Pic: Nupur Jain)

Juvenile Great Cormorant (Pic: Madhurima Das)

Spot-billed Duck family (Pic: Jayashree Govind)

Water lilies abuzz with bees (Pic: Jayashree Govind)

Nesting box in water (Pic: Nupur Jain)

Nesting box occupied by squirrel (Pic: Ramu) 

It does indeed take a community to protect and nurture not just a lake but all natural resources. Wherever we are, let's do our bit to make the world a better place for our children to grow and flourish. Let them not have to fight the battles that we should have fought to make life on earth easier, cleaner, greener. 

Let's celebrate each day as Earth Day! 

Greetings to all. 

PNLIT team

Bird watch update - Mother duck, stilts, storks!

This seems to be a good season for birds. Several lake groups have reported sighting flocks of Pelicans and Storks. Our Puttakere is too small for such big species and numbers. Nevertheless, we are delighted to tell you that for the first time a Spot-billed duck laid eggs and hatched them at the lake! And to think we had no clue till last week when our gardeners sent photos and videos of the mother duck tagged by eight little fluffy balls! 

Spot-billed duck and ducklings 

Pic: Muktha Baliga, 29-Mar-2022

When the lake was closed due to the pandemic last year, the chicks of the White-breasted waterhen used to wander off on their own, much to the obvious panic of the mother.  

White-breasted waterhen chicks

Pic: Ramu, 22-Oct-2021

These little ducklings are more obedient. They swim behind their mother in a line, looking pretty much like the wavy tail of a kite.  Only when she stops, do they scatter but never too far. In spite of this, two fell prey to a Brahminy kite who herself has a chick to feed. Such is the way of nature. We can only be observers. However, we plan to make the lake safer by planting more reeds where the duck (and other species) can nest, hatch and protect their young ones. As of now, there are six ducklings left. Heartbreaking. 

On a happier note, we have had at least seven Painted storks at one time, four Black-winged stilts, Wood and Green Sandpipers. These migratory birds are still around and blending well with the resident ones. 

Black-winged stilt 

Pic.: Madhurima Das, 27-Mar-2022

Do visit the lake, see the birds and share their photographs. Who knows, you may get to see a visitor that we missed or has just arrived? 

To know more about the birds spotted at the lake, please see the Puttakere hotspot on eBird here.

- Usha Rajagopalan

Lake Update

The monsoon this year has receded and the top of the stakes we'd planted in the water are showing already. This means the level is falling  but hopefully come summer, there will still be enough water for the fish to survive unlike the summer of 2013. It is indeed gratifying to see more birds at the lake. The Spot-billed Ducks are five now. You can see their exquisite close up photo featured for the month of March in our calendar. 

Spot-billed Ducks

We managed to "rescue" a drift wood plant display stand from being burnt and bought it off a maid for Rs. 100. It is now placed on the lake bed awaiting the birds to perch on it. Several egrets feed around but we haven't seen one of them sit on the drift wood yet. The birds in the photograph are not too clear to be identified but we hope they are Lesser Whistling Ducks (featured for May in the PNLIT calendar). 

Drift-wood perch

Purple Heron in the centre

Our trees, shrubs and other plants have grown well in the past few months. See a pic of the garden near the Gazebo. 

Garden 

The water lilies we'd planted at various places are blooming and one such patch has become a nesting place for a Common Coot! It chases away other birds that come near the water with angry splashing of the water. As for the lily blooms themselves, strangely enough, the common comment we hear from regular visitors to the lake is that the sight is "calming"!!  

Water lilies

With greetings for Christmas from all of us at PNLIT. 

Usha

Ducklings!

Spot-billed ducklings (left, in the water), Coot (right, in the water), parents (right, on the grass), 

25-Jun-2013 Pic: Usha Rajagopalan

It has been just over a month (after the first heavy rains in May) since we noticed several birds, including a pair of Indian Spot-billed ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha), back at Puttenahalli Lake. 

The Spot-billed Duck likes freshwater lakes and marshes. It feeds by dabbling in shallow waters and marshland, mainly on plant food like seeds, grasses and aquatic vegetation. It also looks for aquatic insects and their larvae, snails and other molluscs, worms and other small creatures.

The ducks must have been waiting to lay their eggs! With an incubation period of about four weeks, the ducks did not lose any time. "PNLIT now grandparents!", said Usha as she spotted two little ducklings on 25th June. And despite being under the watchful eyes of the adults, one of the Coots was chasing them! .   

Volunteers needed for planting on 25th May 2013

Tomorrow we will begin the first phase of planting shrubs chosen specially for their ability to attract butterflies and small birds. We intend to plant Vitex Negundo along the fence on the Brigade Millennium-Arekere Road. We are planting Vitex to also block out the traffic noise on this busy road! :-) 

One of our regular volunteer gardeners, Vinay, has kindly agreed to coordinate the planting which will begin at 7 a.m. sharp. The pits are already dug and ready to receive the plants. FYI, only 57 saplings are to be planted tomorrow.

Give Vinay a helping hand and use the opportunity to see the fresh water in the lake! You may also spot the Spot-billed Ducks and Pied Wagtail in the photos taken yesterday evening by Nirupama Sriram.

Spot-billed Ducks

Wagtail