not forever...

Red-vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer | Kathmandu, Nepal | May 18 2015

“Not forever does the bulbul sing

In balmy shades of bowers,

Not forever lasts the spring

Nor ever blossom the flowers.

Not forever reigneth joy,

Sets the sun on days of bliss,

Friendships not forever last,

They know not life, who know not this.”

- Khushwant Singh, Train to Pakistan

give today your owl.... :)

A wise old owl lived in an oak

The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard.

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

A Wise Old Owl

- Anon

Athena the Spotted owlet Athene brama | Maharajgunj, Kathmandu | 10:00 am May 6 2015

Meet Athena.
...and yes I named her just now after checking the scientific name ;). I'm assuming she's a she. Her roost is an electric pole behind my home where she has been living for some years now. After several failed attempt to get a good photo (thanks to her super sensitive sight and hearing) I finally managed to get this shot with my 250mm canon zoom lens.

Ever so alert my little neighbour observes my behaviour from the safety of her urban home | 12:48 pm May 8 2015

Edit: May 21, 2015

After several observation during the past week I found out that Athena is raising a family. I noticed four different individuals in a single sighting (though I strongly suspect there is a fifth one). It seems like Athena and her mate are raising 2-3 fledglings.

Suspecting no foul play this curious fledgling allowed me within few meters of itself...the edge of my roof | 12:51 pm May 21 2015

Other observations:

a) May 17 - Saw an owlet chasing a mongoose (probably Indian grey mongoose) out of their territory. The frightened mongoose was running and hiding all the way as the owlet swept threateningly close to the ground to warn the trespasser.

Run, Forrest, Run! | 10:21 am

b) May 21 - Athena and her mate chased three common mynas that were flocking close to their nest.

.....later discovered the common myna nest on the top floor | May 22 2015

c) May 21 - A red-vented bulbul was sharing the branch in which Athena was perching and she was cool with it.

...it's cool bro | 4:32 pm

d) May 21 - Athena brought a fresh kill for her young fledgling which was on ground hiding behind a drainage pipe (see photo). Though I could not identify the prey species it appears to be a small/young bird.

peek-a-boo | 4:48 pm

Some other birds sharing their territory:

1. House crow

2. House sparrow

3. Common myna

4. Jungle myna

5. Rock pigeon

6. Oriental magpie robin (Male and Female)

7. Spotted dove (Pair)

8. Cattle egret (seasonal migration for breeding)

9. Black-crowned night heron (seasonal migration for breeding)

10. Red-vented bulbul

Home territory

External Links

http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Athene&species=brama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_owlet

http://www.thejaps.org.pk/docs/18_1_2008/07-732-Mahmood-Final.pdf
http://www.zoosprint.org/zooprintjournal/2003/august/1163-1165.pdf