Parents – Children’s – Wildlife

We have lived in a time frame where we are able to witness changes in almost everything, be it the climate or the environment around us, be it the cities or forest, or be it the revolution of evolution that is constantly taking part from shifting the earlier world to a world that was never thought of, its time for us to educate the future generations that is spreading amongst us for making a better future.

The steps firstly to be taken is by the parents in educating their children’s about the changes that is taking place and how they could protect or conserve the Mother Nature. The basic of conservation is protecting and saving it for the future. Parents must root the plant for the future in their children’s mind, regardless of the regular educations that is taught in the school, parents plays a great role in the future development of their children’s.

Some steps for the parents to teach their children’s about the wildlife:

1. Most of the Children’s love pets around their house. Small children’s are seem most playful with the house pets, be it your dog, cat or the parrot in the cage. Let them feel the wildlife in form of your pets.
2. If they are exposed to the lively Mother Nature at a tender age, they might get a scope of developing a love for the nature.
3. Besides their regular studies, subscribe some wildlife, nature, travel tour magazines, those contains beautiful images of the wildlife, nature, places which will give them some interest and which will in turn give them positive results in their studies too. Because a clear mind in always in the accepting mood.
4. Surfing the net and going through the wildlife, nature, travel magazines, gives them a wider scope to know more of what they want.
5. Gift them something special, such as binoculars, a small camera etc. to let see more of this beautiful world.
6. Take them to places where they may get some fresh air and see the beautiful world.
7. Give them some knowledge of the things that they see all around. Suppose if they see a Dragonfly – try to relate it with the helicopter, (which gives them fun in learning) and they will in turn pass the necessary knowledge to the world that they are in touch of.
8. In return ask them some questions of what they have witnessed and learnt, this will improve their thinking and answering skills.

Learn to capture

The run for the best photograph is like to capture the best moment one could really capture in his lifetime.

Photographer? In a simple meaning one who takes photograph of anything that one finds in and around himself / herself.

Photographers are recognized by their works, but how will you be able to decide what type of works are you going to choose. Though these days there are many types of photography, the 1^st step of a young and energetic photographer is to know the basics of photo taking. It does not depend on what medium you take the photos of a particular subject, just follow some basic rules that you make by yourself at first.

1^st of all you have chosen this field, it is now you know what you have to do, what type of photographs you want to capture and show this world your creativity. Starting with it start with yourself. The 1^st object/ subject one can start with begins at ones own house. A large number of objects are readily available at your house. When you wake up early in the morning you may see some of the sun rays that peep into your room from the ventilation or the window of your room which makes the room looks beautiful.

Learn to visualize the frame of how the room looks like when the sun rays falls and what can be captured and what can be left out in the frame, take out the camera (whatever you have got) and simply click it regardless of the settings done to the camera.

Learn to frame the picture that you have visualized for that particular room. Remember one thing the framing is the basic boost to your photograph. If your frame is correct you have positively managed to put your visualization into reality. Happy to say that you have passed (passed by your own rules), but don't be too happy with the first test you have passed, it’s just the starting of the day, there is lot more to come.

After you have learned the very basic steps of how to visualize and how to frame your visualization, it’s time for you to move in and around your house to discover many beautiful frames that is readily available in your house. While you may peep into your brother’s room, you may just get an awesome photograph of the bed and your brother still sleeping.

Your drawing room is just your next destination; remember your mother is the greatest interior designer and the 1^st one you have ever met in your life. So check out the drawing room in and around and you will find the neatly kept sofa sets, centre table, flower vase, your fathers most loved arc chair, the magazines on one of the table, the wall clock and many others which will ignite your mind and give your mind the power to visualize the necessary photographs that you have to click. So please don’t stop, start framing your visualization. Remember, capture everything that you see.

Now, when your mother is awake and serves you your morning tea along with some biscuits, eatable food mixtures, the plate looks very colorful, you may take a chance in clicking some outstanding photographs at that moment.

Now, you may take a chance to play with the nature that is always surrounding you, stepping outside your house, you must remember one basic thing- what exactly you want to click? Though you may get a lot of time to roam about, decide where will you go? Or what are you focused of? You may select from the category of street photography to the various others. Street photography gives you a varied option to know what the secrets are that are hidden in it. Peoples, Market place, a park, etc. gives you a much awaited chance to scoop out your talents in the open.

You might find out some small children’s along with their parents who desperately pulls their parents for want of something, if you get a chance you will have to make up your mind about the shot and click it. Though there are many more you should know at that time (what the settings are) you may however take a bold step in making yourself learnt about the chances to take.

Secondly, while moving here and there in the market place you may find some beautiful objects hanging from the shops, it might attract you, and you might take your chances in clicking it too.

Remember if you want to do some wildlife photography, it’s not only the birds that attract you every time. If you move to some parks nearby you, you may get a chance to see some beautiful angels that constantly keeps flying, the Butterflies. Butterflies play an important role in photography. Here you get a chance to develop your acute focus and have to take the right decision of clicking. Remember the zoo is the one place with an access to the rest of the wildlife that you may want to see. Step into it and there you may find from the common to some of the endangered species.

In the parks you may find at one side some peoples eating. Food is always mouthwatering, but here you are not going to taste it with your tongue, but with your eyes. Eyes at one end of the eye piece and on the other end the food and you have to taste it in means of photography. Go dear just click the best of it.  You may take it from the close-ups or from a distant, but you will have to visualize, create a frame and then click it.

It is just a matter of fact here how you may choose the best for your shots, together with all the factors coming into force there is always a scope of accelerating in the field you have chosen.

Happy photographing to you.

‘So we have fixed 7th January’ a call from Asif Da – The date was fixed, its 7th January, 2015 for a 4 (four) day trip to Kaziranga National Park, Assam ;  and so at around 7 a.m on 7th the journey began.

Day One began early on the morning of 8th January, 2015, when we stepped into our Maruti Gypsy and the driver took us to the Kohora Range, also known as the Central Range of Kaziranga National Park, where we were welcomed with the sight of elephants and deers. It was a good start, and it took quite a few hours to round up the trip at Kohora. Accompanied by Asif Ahmed, who himself has been the guide in the trip has travelled to Kaziranga for the last 10 years is well known to each and every locations out there. Lucky that my first trip to Kaziranga has started well. We have witnessed wildlife closer than ever. The Grey Headed Fish Eagle was making itself ready for the day. The Indian Roller was on the same course, and also the Monitor lizard in search of his prey.

We stayed at Gogoi da’s house. Gogoi da took us to the mastered field where we were surprised to see the huge amount of cultivation, done by two young boys of the local area,aged about 20 – 22 years. There at the field we stayed till 1’O clock at night sharing the experience of the cultivators and also were very excited to know about their encounters with the wild elephants, tigers, rhinos and many other wild animals that cross the small water bodies and comes to the eat the cultivation.

The next day i.e. on the 9th January, we choose to take the afternoon ride, and we were taken to the most famous Agoratoli Range, the timing for entry was at 2’O Clock, we generated the necessary passes for entry into the range.  Targeting in for the tigers, we made our start. We started our trip and had just moved some kilometers where suddenly Gogoi da stopped his car, signaling to us about the specific alarm calls made by the deer and sambars, it was a moment where we all were ready with our cameras to take a shot of the tiger. But unfortunately at that particular time the moment was very short, and the tiger has hidden himself in the elephant grasses that came along the way. We although waited for sometimes there gogoi da (who acted as the guide at that particular trip) signaled us that we should move ahead and come back soon. So we moved on to some other locations. Soon we returned at the particular spot where we earlier spotted the tiger. It was at around 4.00 p.m, we turned the engine off and waited for the tiger to come out, as the experts say – ‘it will soon come out and cross the road, look at the Rhino and deer’s they have fixed their eyes at that particular spot’. And yes soon enough, the mighty Royal Bengal appeared in front of us. The shutters goes on, the situation at that moment was the one which we had planned (spot the tiger today), and it came true at last. My first tiger sighting on my first visit to Kaziranga National Park, nothing else is special for me at that moment. The party followed.

The next day we moved again to the Agoratoli Range, there we have spotted a mother elephant, Bar Headed Goose, Crested Serpent Eagle, Kaleej pheasant and many others. Though the list continues, it was already dark and we moved back to our residence. And on 11th January, we moved back to Guwahati, ending the trip successfully.

GARBHANGA RESERVE FOREST, ASSAM, INDIA.

It is not only the sound of the Basistha River that makes a soothing effect in the minds of the people but also you are welcomed by the myriad musical notes of the hundreds of species of birds, butterflies and animals that co-exist in the magical Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam, India.

Oriental White Eye

Blue Napped Monarch

Garbhanga Reserve Forest, is a hilly area in merger to the hilly ranges of the Meghalaya in its eastern and northern sides, southern sides are covered up by the city of Guwahati and Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary, and to its western side it is the Rani Reserve Forest.

The other two entrances known for entry into the Garbhanga Reserve Forest is from Lokhra and one from the Bhima Shanka Jyotir Linga entered through Gorchuk. The continuous flow of the water comes down from the Meghalaya. The big forest which is home to birds butterflies and animals provide sufficient food for all .Et al, it is an undisturbed place to live in. But some recent mining activities being conducted in the nearby areas of Meghalaya which in the long term could affect the entire ecological balance of Garbhanga Reserve Forests.

This magical forest is also home to a large numbers of Elephants ( Elephus maximus ) however there are many Elephant corridors located internally which give these giants to move through different hunting grounds nearby. The Oriental White-eye ( Zosterops palpebrosus) is always on a playful manner, jumping from one branch to another, and on the other side the  wonderful musical note of the Jungle myna ( Acridotheres fuscus) attracts one’s mind towards it. And somewhere within the bushes and small bamboo trees, you will always witness the beautiful voices of the Pin stripped tit Babbler (Macronous gularis) creeping here and there, whereas up above the trees, the Black – Hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) creates an environment like never before.

The climatic conditions of this forest are very considerable for all the living object living on it, significantly making the climate a humid one, which otherwise help in the rise of insects specially the butterflies. The forest consist of moist deciduous forest, mix forest, evergreen patches and semi evergreen patches found in some of the interior parts of the forest, The climatic conditions of the forest are Pre-monsoon, Monsoon, Post –Monsoon followed by the Winter.

Some of the birds found in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest are as follows:

1. Black Kite ( Milvus migrans).
2. Shikra ( Accipiter badius).
3. Asian Koel ( Endynamys scolopacea).
4. Indian Cuckoo ( Cuculus micropterus).
5. Small Headed Malkhowa ( Phaenicophaeus viridirosris).
6. White –Browned piculet ( Sasia ochracea) .
7. Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja labecula).
8. Large Woodshrike ( Tephrodornis virgatus pelvicus).
9. Yellow-bellied Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris flaviventris).
10. Dark –necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis nitidus).
11. White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus indicus).
12. Whit –bellied Erpornis ( Erpornis zantholeuca zantholeuca).
13. Black –crested Bulbul ((Pycnonotus melanicterus flaviventris).
14. Pin- striped Tit Babbler (Macronous gularis rubricapilla)
15. Rufescent Prinia (Prinia rufescens rufescens).
16. Common Iora ( Aegithina tiphia tiphia).
17. White –browned Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus schisticeps schisticeps).
18. Greater Coucal ( Centropus sinensis).
19. Barn Owl (Tyto alba).
20. Spotted owl ( Athene brama).
21. Brown Fish-Owl( Ketupa zaylonensis).
22. Small Bee –eater (Merops orientalis).
23. Blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philipinus).
24. Lineated barbet ( Megalaima lineate).
25. Blue –throates barbet ( Megalaima asiatica).
26. Coppersmith barbet ( Megalamia haemacephala).
27. Small Blue kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
28. White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyenesis).
29. Lesser Pied Kingfisher ( Ceryle rudus).
30. Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus).
31. Fulvous-breasted Pied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei).
32. Small Yellow-naped Woodpecker (Picus chlorolophus).
33. Large Yellow-naped Woodpecker (Picus flavinucha).
34. Greater Golden-backed Woodpecker(Chrysocolaptes lucidus).
35. Blue Whistling –Thrust (Myiophonus caeruleus).
36. Tickell’s Thrust (Trudus unicolor).
37. Black –backed Forktail (Enicurus immaculatus).
38. Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculates).
39. Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
40. Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrust (Garrulax monilegre).
41. Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus).
42. Small Niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae).
43. Black-naped Monarch –Flycatcher( Culicicapa ceylonensis).
44. Great Tit ( Parus major).
45. Chestnut –bellied Nuthatcha (Sitta castanea).
46. Spotted Munia (Lonchura striata).
47. Grey-headed Starling ( Sturnus malabaricus).
48. Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus).
49. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus).
50. Grey headed Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis ).

The Garbhanga Reserve Forest, is easily reachable from the Airport, Railway Station and the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT). From the  ISBT the Garbhanga Reserve Forest entrance at Lokhra and the Bhima Shanka Jyotir Linga (Gorchuk) is hardly 5 k.m. away.

Entering into the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, on the Lokhra and the Bhima Shanka Jyotir Linga (Gorchuk) entrance, one must keep the following things with himself/ herself:

Please keep in mind

1. Keep a water bottle always with you.
2. You may carry food items, such as Biscuits, Breads, and Chocolates etc. for your ready refreshment.
3. There are no entry fees while entering into the forest.
4. Please check that your camera and its equipments, are ready before entering the forest, as you might not know where you could see the birds/ animals.

Please do not do any one of these

1. Whatever food items you take along with you, please remember not to throw the wastages of any kind out there in the forest.
2. Please do not make the birds/animals etc. found in the forest surprise by your presence, as you may not be able to take a perfect shot while doing so.