Two birds at the lake

The dead tree which our volunteers had placed on the lake bed in June this year has always had some bird or the other perching on it. 

Volunteers helped shift the dead tree to the lakebed (June 2013)

Today it was the turn of a Little Cormorant. The sight of these cormorants is heartening since they are predominantly fish eaters. From June to now, it is not only the birds that are new to the lake but also the water level as you can see around the dead tree in the photographs.  

Little Cormorant

Another lovely bird spotted today was a Pheasant-tailed Jacana in breeding plumage. They typically breed in the monsoon, laying eggs in floating nests. We didn't spot any nest today but will be on the lookout for them. 

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

What is more conspicuous, indeed at several places in the lake are the nests of the Common Coot. The coots are hatching or swimming with chicks of various sizes everywhere. They are converting the lake into a veritable nursery! 

Usha

Report on Volunteers' work at the lake, Sunday 9th June 2013

It was one hectic morning for the twenty or more volunteers who came to the lake today morning. Coming from South City, Brigade Millennium, Brigade Gardenia, Ramaiah Apartments (behind Sobha Tulip), J.P. Nagar 7th Phase, 24th Main, etc., they reinforced the meaning of the "Neighbourhood" in our Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust. Meera coming from Banashankari extended the "neighourhood" some more! It is indeed incredible how concern about and involvement with the Puttenahalli Lake is bringing everybody together. Transporting the dead tree from South City to the lake bed proved this amply.

Four or five men volunteers walked down to South City to size up the tree. It was a little too heavy for them to carry. Fortunately though, just as we were returning to the lake, we saw a tractor unloading soil at the entrance. The driver very kindly brought the tree in the tractor to the lake thus saving us a great deal of trouble. Our volunteers carried it from the tractor along the walking path and, at the assigned spot, heaved it over the grill and down the slope. The tree tumbled and landed neatly at the lake bed still intact. From there to the waterline was another short stretch but it still took some effort all right. Within 15 minutes we'd accomplished our mission - provided aquatic birds with a beautiful perch. According to veteran ornithologist, Dr. S. Subramanya, it is like giving rich chocolate cake to children. :-)

While this set of volunteers was busy with the dead tree, others were busy sprucing up the space on either side of the new picket gate. By 9 a.m., the ground was cleared of plastic to the extent possible and rich red soil spread. Gardener Kumar began putting in stakes and by evening he will cordon the area. Next weekend, we'll complete planting here and move on to the next step towards transforming our neighbourhood, people's lake. We are looking to plant a flower border with three plant species in different colours and heights - Rasna (Alpinia calcarata Rox), a medicinal herb which grows up to 1.8 to 2.5 m in height, Tincture plant (Collinsia tinctoria), a low level plant in gorgeous shades of purple and multi-coloured Lantana.

 

A big thanks to all especially to teenager Kanha who cleared the dirtiest part of the area, right behind the garbage dump showing not the least trace of revulsion. As long as there are children like him and volunteers like all those who slaved today, there's hope that our neighbourhood will soon be a better, cleaner place!

Usha