The Terrifying Birds

If anyone knows me well, they know I love animals and have a special place in my heart for birds. I love birds so much that I even did my thesis on "Population Change of Ground Nesting, Migrating Bird in Northeast Ohio", I was told it was a stupid thesis topic. Bird enthusiasts will disagree, birds are an amazing natural indicator of what is happening in our world.

I have loved birds (and animals) since I was very young. I began bird watching, which i was teased about later in life, when I was in 5 or 6th grade, going out on excursions to very exotic bird sanctuaries in tropical southern India. I was so lucky, all the birds I saw. I am yet to get my hands on really good binoculars though I still bird watch. I hope to get a telephoto lens to capture these loves of mine in flight, nesting, up on their high perches, and gracefully gliding over the lake... *sigh*

Birds are amazing we learned how to fly from them, and have so much more to study and learn. They are a big part of our eco system even though they may migrate, or just eat bugs. Birds rock! Near me we have a regularly nesting pair of Bald Eagles, many a Great Blue Heron rookeries. One bird that has eluded me time and time again is the Cerulean warbler, which is also on the endangered species list. It travels from South American Peruvian Alps, to Ohio every year! What a trooper!

Hard to spot this pretty fella

One bird I am in love with is the Indigo bunting, I saw it first when running, in Florida, the painted bunting is a sight to see. If you go to the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge near Boynton Beach, there are apparently tonnes by the visitor center early in the morning.

Everyone thinks birders are weird, but we share a passion for passively observing animals. Yes the movie "A Big Year" is very very accurate in portraying birders, however with added humor and drama. We just love looking for birds, the thrill is in seeing what you have studied about, seeing this creature who sees no countries, but the skies, trees, and two very different places are its home. This creature is a true traveler, traveling light, solo or with family, through many a peril, it gets home to the same branch with no street address or mail box... What a wonder.

Now you know I love birds, however I am sad to say I accidentally killed one, a turkey vulture. I was going 80 mph on the highway through West Virginia, and this bird decided to just land in the middle of my lane, and I could not change lanes because a car was in close proximity in that lane behind me. It got hit.

With a wingspan of 160–183 cm (63–72 in), a length of 62–81 cm (24–32 in), and weight of 0.8 to 2.3 kg (1.8 to 5.1 lb), this is no small bird... but a predatory raptor.

It's not a pretty bird but it didn't deserve to die. I have been reading the Mahabharata and learned that things happen for a reason, maybe it had killed a baby bunny. Who knows. I still mourn this bird. You might think - "Oh silly girl." It was a life, a friend, a creature that I love and now it's mush. The bird did jump in the middle of the road though, and I was as helpless as the bird. There were two other people in the car, so I had to do what was safe for the humans, cause that is what normal people do.

When I drive alone, I do break for birds, squirrels, and other creatures that decided to cross the road. Recently a lot of birds have been "suicide flying" or "suicide landing" ie. landing in the middle of the road, or flyign really low in front of on coming traffic, or walking across the road! Yes birds have been doing this more often, especially its spring now so they are all in heat, so maybe they are a little nuttier than usual. It's made my driving terrifying. I do not wan tto kill another one!

I really appreciate when people break for animals... because it is their world too, we built the roads through their habitats, their homes. So even though it takes maybe 5 minutes or less for the squirrel to cross or the duck and her brood to cross, then its 5 minutes. We live so rushed these days, so wrapped up in our lives, and what we do, we forget there are other people and animals going about their lives as well. Slowing down every now and then, and more often too, does not hurt. Someone once told me, nothing is worth rushing and putting other people's lives at risk due to your rush! Especially your own.

So yes the birds will land in front of me, and wherever they want and I will breathe, break and wait. Patience, ahimsa, and kindness, just small things we need to remember, remember when you are wondering why the car in front of you slowed down or braked.





Breathe!!!!

Florida April 2013

Day 1 - Delray Beach and Cuban dinner in Boynton Beach
Day 2 - Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Pool, and dinner at Johnny Long Boat, celebrating Ryan's birthday, and walk on the beach at night
Day 3 - Seaquarium Miami, Beach, and dinner at Versailles
Day 4 - Kayaking at Loxahatchee Riverbend Park, Pool, and dinner at Delray Beach, Deck 84 second birthday celebration, Kilwin's Ice Cream, and adventures in Delray
Day 5 - Butterfly World, Fort Lauderdale, dinner at Mellow Mushroom in City Place - West Palm Beach, adventures on Clematis Ave.
Day 6 - Beach day - Boynton Beach, movie, and dinner at Two Georges
Day 7 - Sunrise at Delray Beach, Brunch at Tropical Smoothie, and back home




Trip 2 Plans:

1 - snorkel the reef

2 - open airboat ride through the everglades
3 - taste more florida beer (it's truly yummy)
4 - see the keys (key largo to key west) and camp there
5 - camp in the everglades national park
6 - see more Miami city
7 - eat more seafood (not fried)
8 - see more gators and sharks 
9 - see the painted bunting/ more birdwatching 
10 - more time with friends
11 - see a better sunrise, and maybe even a sunset in the keys
12 - scuba diving
13 - Go to - Royal Palm, Long Pine Key, Pinelands, Flamingo Recreation Area
14- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site - snorkeling, kayaking, birding
15 - National Key Deer Refuge- Big Pine Key - Blue hole, Watson Trail
16 - Dry Tortugas National Park - wildlife, and interesting place in general
17 - Big Cypress National Preserve - National Scenic Trail, Tree Snail Hammock Nature Trail, 15 mile loop road scenic drive (camping)
18 - Biscayne National PArk
19 - Bahia Honda State Park


I like parks, it comes naturally!

Turtle Walks

"My Experience in conservation, and environmental activism includes turtle walks"

"What?"

This was the reaction, I most often received when I told professors and employers about my experiences in environmental stewardship. My school would organize nights walk, for which we would, walk about 10 miles along the coast in Madras (Chennai), during the Olive Ridley nesting season. This was usually during November to January. Why would we do this? The Olive Ridleys were attacked on the beaches when they would come up to nest. The nesting process (digging the hole, laying the eggs, covering it up, could take a while). Each nest could hold up to 200 eggs. Sometimes, stray dogs, poachers would come and hurt the turtle, or destroy the eggs. Our job would be to protect the turtle, and relocate the nest after the mother made it back to see. This relocation process was done very precisely (distance from shore, depth of hole, width of hole, etc). In the 90's in India the Olive Ridley was considered an endangered species. Now when I google "Olive Ridley", the facts seem to have changed; according to NOAA they are plentiful. What I knew then no longer stands? Research? I am not sure, however perhaps our efforts then are reflected on their now "plentiful" status.

There is nothing more lovely than walking on a beach all night trying to save turtles. Breeze, the moon, the ocean, changing of tides, and creatures of the sea that only come out at night. Stories would come to mind; how the ocean requires a human sacrifice of one human a day. I wondered who it would be that night, maybe a poacher.

These were the days when some of the major organization in conservation of wildlife seemed so great and good, but as we grow, we do get jaded by the truths. However the truths about the turtle walks and other efforts to help save our planet, hasn't be tarnished. I mean honest efforts, the ones where people don't go seeking money by overpriced cards, or something of the sort. I'm glad the Olive Ridley is still around, now let's help the tigers, although dangerous, the Florida Panther, the bald eagles (their numbers are on the rise)... It is wishful thinking, that even with all the problems in the world right now, someone (me) is still worried about animals, but they do, eventually, play a large role in our circle, although we might never see it until we feel it.

My friend Adhith Swaminathan took the following pictures. This is some information from him:

"I work as a research assistant on a leatherback project in the andaman and nicobar islands. We basically stay in an island called little andaman and camp for like 5 months recording data with regard to turtle nesting etc..track them using satellite trackers to get an idea where they go after nesting..post nesting migratory route.
anyway...
all the sea turtles including olive ridley are still endangered. Only reason you see so much in one place is cause they practice a phenomenon called arribada..i.e mass nesting / synchronized nesting. SO this basically happens only in 3 places in Orissa, India and i was fortunate enough to work in one of the beaches "

The turtles come ashore during mass nesting, called arribada

she travels a long way to dig a hole

Just keep digging

she doesn't posses opposable thumbs so she gets a little covered in sand!

she lays the eggs, they fall a foot or so, but they don't crack!

here are the eggs!

Adith and a turtle while she's laying!

she covers up the hole and heads back to sea

Back to her element

The babies hatch and are guided back to the ocean where they will have to fend for themselves.

grow into a big turtle, travel the seas to find a mate, and make her own babies!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Ridley
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/olive-ridley-sea-turtle.htm

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/marine_turtles/olive_ridley_turtle/

http://world-turtle-trust.org/project07.html
http://sstcn.org/

A Day in the Valley

History, so much history to a place!

My history with the towpath, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park began in 2003 when I moved to Ohio, and began exploring parks. I had no idea there was a National Park in our backyard (not literally, but a few miles off). I finally began going there knowing it was the National Park in 2005, till then I just thought it was a nice forested area (Brecksville portion of the park). I began biking the towpath in 2005, and then got my first serious bicycle in 2009. I also had my first serious bicycle crash in 2009 in the park! I worked at CVNP from 2007 to 2008 as an Interpretive Seasonal Ranger. It the most amazing experience and amazing to serve the country in that way, in a peaceful yet protective way. Yes, we get to protect and inform the visitors and the natural resource.

I visit the park as often as I can, we climb near there, job, hike, bicycle. There is tonnes to see and do, so much wildlife, and the culture in the valley is amazing. (Below are links for planning your visit, and information, history etc.).

Yesterday Ryan and I biked the towpath, about 40 miles, and the interesting things we saw. Earlier that week we went to an event called "Music in the Meadow" which is a free concert by a local band, at Howe Meadow. There is nothing like listening to reggae, Celtic, folk, blues, while sitting in the nature and enjoying a snack, or tossing a frisbee.

The bike ride: starting at Botzum Trail head, we headed north, through Peninsula, to Canal-way Visitor Center 36 miles round trip. However we did take a few side tours to outhouses, and picnic areas, snacking areas, so it took longer than if we kept at it.
The wild life: we saw turtles, great blue heron, doggies on leashes, chipmunk, fish, duck, geese, the great bald eagle etc.
Other things to do: We spun poi, and relaxed, watched people, biked hard, and stopped by at trail mix for a snack or two. We got ice cream and some granola bars, which were yum! There was a live Owl, Falcon, and Red Tailed Hawk display at Hunt Farm. It was really cool, lots of rangers and volunteers, being seriosuly close to some awesome birds of prey!

The towpath was ridiculously crowded, it was a Sunday! There were people with their families, little children winding around the towpath on their little bicycles, casual riders, first time riders, so many different types of bicycles and people. Lots of joggers, dog walkers, and families with strollers. Lots of traffic, and serious bikers like us needed to be careful. We did not go above 15 mph.

Weirdest moment: So I sing when I bike, its better than having a radio, which annoys the wilderness as well as fellow journeymen, but nothing like live music, right? Well I was singing "Colors of the Wind" from Disney's Pocahontas. "come run the hidden pine trails of the forest, come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth, come roll in all the riches all around you, and for once, never wonder what their worth! the rainstorm and the river are my brothers, the heron and the otter are my friends, and we are all connected to each other... in a circle in a hoop that never ends... " etc.
My mouth opens wide as I sing loudly and peddle ferociously so, and lo and behold, something from above falls into my mouth. I am usually used to bugs and such, good source of protein. However this texture was wrong, not buggy at all. I know it was bird poop. How it found its way into my mouth could only have been an act of god, or nature herself! Cruel cruel joke! Luckily and unfortunately I only had my camelbak, and 18 more miles to go. So Ryan and I had to come up with a strange adult bird feeding the baby bird method of rinsing my mouth out, without getting the camelbak mouth piece dirty.

What is a good day in the great outdoors, without strange experiences and adventures such as this?



It is such things that make life interesting, and gives you stories to tell, and makes us more innovative.


We took a potty break by Ira trail head, where I decided to break out the flag poi. I began spinning, and had a lot of spectators, and encouraging comments, curious passer by's who wanted to try it too! It was my pleasure to explain to them and tell them about it. A Chinese family, remarked it was much like the Chinese art of dancing with the ribbon. Kind of true, except Poi is usually done with fire. I can't wait to try fire.


We ended the bike ride, sore, lactic acid consuming our muscles, badly needing of hot showers, and massages! Oh and maybe some dinner, to replenish some of the lost calories. Despite the pain, the how hard it was to walk later, it was well worth it. To more, and longer bike rides in the valley!

Looking to the horizon

Rest Stop

Grub

Birds at Hunt Farm

Flag Poi

Game of Frisbee

Day in the Valley - Website for all events

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Scenic Railroad
The Conservancy for CVNP
A different website for the park
Trailmix Store
Hiking Trails and More
Ohio Erie Canalway
The Towpath

Subha-Shaam

Longing for change
Longing for India


Longing for where the Earth is true
The sky is pure
Where the trees can talk
and the grass sings

Hoping for a place
Where we can be still
and quiet
where possessing is naught

Let's run barefoot
Through the jungle
Meeting all species of bird, beast, and flower
From dawn to dusk

Tango with the Tiger
Shimmy with the Saap
Leaping with the Cheetal
and gliding with the Garudas
Subha se shaam...

Reflections in the River

I remember as a child there was a superstition, that one must never look at their reflection in water.
Yet it is lovely to sit and watch the images of life, and the world reflected in the river. Peaceful and flowing, showing us what we need to see. The green, the growth, the gifts of earth, and the glorious love that it all ignites within us. 

I was sitting on the banks of the East Branch of the Rocky River, with my friend Miles, we were actually looking for the Cerulean Warbler, but we wound up having a deep conversation about childhood, and the things we've been through in life, and how it has all shaped us. The river flowed, and the dragonflies dropped their eggs in the water, life was thriving... I was thriving... yet sometimes all of us feel dead. I looked back on my life, and looked at the world around me... history till now. Love and Hate, Joy and Pain, the Sunshine and the Rain... they have taught us so much over the ages, over time shaped us.


There have been hard times for us all, when we have faced something terrifying, something much larger than us. It humbles us, yet we can either choose to take that as a part of the learning process, or we can give up on ourselves, and be a victim. I do not know what your story is, but I survived, and I have learned. I grew strong; but I may not have the skin of an rhino, but my will is strong. Yet I know that others around me are fighting their own battles in life; some which maybe worse than the ones I have fought.



A new strategy, however, how about instead of fighting, but moving with the change. Let's go with it, of course it is situational, but the more resistance we put into something, the more energy we waste, so lets use these battles and turn them into something good... put positive energy into it and turn the bush into a rose bush. It will still have the thorns, but we will tend to them carefully.


Theoretical, Hypothetical, and Idealistic, yet we can hope. We can love. We can be happy. We can be. Life will then turn right-side-up and not left-side-down. For some reason I feel like I have read this before. However I write it now, from my heart.
I write it for me.
I write it because it is my reflection I saw in the river, without looking into it. I saw the green, I saw the water, I saw life, love, and nature... and in it, was me. I was calm and happy. I felt pain from my past, and the unknown adventures in the future, but in the now I saw me and I was happy just being Pree! 

hiking near the EBRR, Hinckley Reservation

Reflections: Perhaps the concept we know of from the beginning, for in everyone is a little bit of ourselves. However, sometimes we only become aware of it when someone points the very natural phenomenon out to us. Thank you for your reflections, river, mind, friends!






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