What JAIN Says: September 2010

1. Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)

The golden pheasant of Asia is a brilliantly colored game bird. It is native to forests in mountainous areas of western China but feral populations have been established in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

2. Birds of Paradise (Paradisaeidae)

The greater bird of paradise found in New Guinea has elongated flank feathers that form ornamental plumes. Bird of Paradise is a tropical bird known for the brilliant plumage of the male. They live mostly in New Guinea and neighbouring islands. The brilliantly colored feathers of the male were once widely sought as decorations for women's hat.

3. Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)

Hyacinth Macaws are native to central and eastern South America . It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species in the world, though the flightless Kakapo of New Zealand can outweigh it at up to 3.5kg. In terms of length it is larger than any other species of parrot. Their popularity as pets has taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild. Birds in captivity fetch a price of around $9,000-$12,000 US.

4. Flamingo (Phoenicopteridae)

Flamingos are found in both the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere . Flamingos frequently stand on one leg. The reason for this behavior is not fully known. Flamingo tongues were considered a delicacy in Ancient Rome. Also, Andean miners have killed flamingos for their fat, believed to be a cure for tuberculosis

5. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Adult males are bright red with black wings and tail; females are yellowish on the underpants and olive on top, with olive-brown wings and tail.

6. Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Northern oriole is formerly known as Baltimore oriole in the east and Bullock's oriole in the west. This is a small icterid blackbird which is 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. It is one of the brightest local birds and has a voice to match its distinctive plumage.

7. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)

The bluebirds are medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the genus Sialia of the thrush family Turdidae. These are attractive birds with blue, or blue and red, plumage. Female birds are less brightly colored than males.

8. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

The northern cardinal is also known as the Redbird and the Virginia nightingale. The Northern Cardinal is a mid-sized songbird with a body length of 21-23 cm (8.3 to 9 inches). It has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face which is black in the male and gray in the female.

9. American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

The American goldfinch is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. The courtship rituals of the American Goldfinch include aerial manoeuvres and singing by males.

10. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is about 19 inches in length with an average wingspan of 29 inches. The adult male has distinctive multi-colored iridescent plumage and red eyes. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat.

11. Kingfisher (Halcyonidae)

There are about 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are found throughout the world.

12. Green Wing Macaw Parrot (Ara chloroptera)

The superficially similar Scarlet Macaw has no eye lines and a yellow bar on each wing. Some macaw owners and experts call the Green-winged Macaw the "gentle giant", as it is larger in size than the Scarlet Macaw and Blue-and-yellow Macaw, but have a more docile, sweet nature which often makes it a more desirable pet or companion parrot.

13. Troupial (Icterus icterus)

Troupial or trupial is the national bird of Venezuela . The Troupial is fairly large in size, with a long tail and a bulky bill. It has a black head and upper breast. Troupials are obligate nest pirates, meaning they make no nest of their own, and are thus required to steal or occupy a vacant nest in order to survive. Troupials are capable of violent attacks against native nesters, and once they possess these territories they defend them fiercely against intruders. They may even ingest the eggs or young hatchlings of a newly acquired nest.

14. Blue Throated Bee-Eater (Merops viridis)

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. It is a species of bird in the Meropidae family. It is found in Hong Kong , Taiwan , China and countries in Southeast Asia .

15. Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

The male Painted Bunting is often described as the most beautiful bird in North America . Its beautiful colors, dark blue head, green back, red rump and underparts, make it easy to identify.

16. Keel-billed Toucans (Ramphastos sulfuratus)

This bird is the national bird of Belize . Toucans belong to family Ramphastidae They are brightly marked and have large, colorful bills. It is also known as Sulfur-breasted Toucan, Rainbow-billed Toucan, and colloquially "the bill bird" (though this might refer to any toucan). It is a colorful South American bird with a large bill.

17. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

The Rainbow Lorikeet is very colorful as its name suggests. Almost every color of the rainbow is found on the feathers of the rainbow lorikeet. Captive lorikeets have a long lifespan, often in excess of 20 years.

18. Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao )

The Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful parrot. It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics, from extreme eastern Mexico locally to Amazonian Peru and Brazil . It's the national bird of Honduras .

19. Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

This is a stork-billed kingfisher from South India . Stork-billed kingfisher is a tree kingfisher which is widely but sparsely distributed in tropical south Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia .

20. Peafowl or Peacock (Pavo)

Peafowl, a large bird of the pheasant family, is among the most colorful of birds. Asian peacocks have long been domesticated. The males are noted for their display of brilliant plumage. To attract attention, during courtship and at other times, the male lifts the train and spreads it out in a fan that arches over the bird's back and touches the ground on either side.

It Happens!!

I was in flight, was going to onsite once again. and as usual i was very happy… plane took me to the sky. i looked outside the window, nice evening scene, feels like heaven.

i just lost myself in that beauty.

Someone's voice disturbed me "excuse me sir, would you like to have something?" i turned back, and was surprise to see my beautiful old schoolmate, Saakshi.

"Hey Saakshi, is that you, how come you... wow, you looks still the same, pretty.. in this Air-hostess suit"

"Saurabh, wo.....w, I cant believe this is you.. ohh sorry I am on my job, will talk to you later"

She left smile on my face.

I couldn't believe in my eyes, It reminded me my school days memories. How crazy i was about her, always followed her after the school, wrote love letters, but never dared to give one of them. Always looking at her in the class, from last bench. she was the queen of our class. I fought with 2-3 other guys for her, how stupid I was. I couldn't stop myself, looking at her again, I was amazed to see that, she became more beautiful then she were at school. she too looked at me and smile, then she said something to her fellow air-hostess, then they both started smiling.

I was clueless that what happened. her colleague was also damn pretty. Oh my god, today you fulfil one of my dream. I thought of going there and having chat with her, but i knew that, its her job, so I stopped myself.

again started looking outside the window. we were above the clouds making an awesome scene outside, also inside, because of her smile.

I got some courage, and pretended that I am going towards toilet. I looked at her, she understood what I desired. she came toward me and said : "extremely sorry yaar, I couldn't talk to you much, so say how are you, where have you been these many years, and what's your success story? for what purpose you are going?"

"hmmm... i was always there, it was you who left everything after school, i searched you, so many places wherever i could, but no existence of you. then i completed my college, got a job in such a nice company, i didn't know, my company will give me this much, still i m going for an onsite job, don't know when will return back. you know, i got everything in my life except someone, with whom i can actually share my world, my success.

Someone..."

I looked straight into her eyes.. those blue eyes, i think she got the answer, who is that 'someone'

with some pain in her eyes, she said, "sorry got to go,will give you my number"

I again, sat back to my seat,very silent, looking outside, and hoping some answer.

it was dark outside by that time, some thunder in cloud, just like inside my heart. then suddenly, plane started getting hiccups.. everyone got scared.. i saw Saakshi running towards mic, she made an announcement, that don't be panic as they are facing a storm outside. but plane started shaking badly, everyone started feeling its the last moment of their lives...

I keep on watching Saakshi, and she to me...

Then something hit my back hard.. and there was a complete darkness in front of me..

deep silent, but i could still feel the shaking plane, and people's scream..

then someone shouted... 'Saaaauuuuraaabhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!'

"Saurabh, wake up you are again sleeping in office, wake up, i need that report urgently"

Damn.. I looked here-there, same ODC, no Onsite, no plane.. no Saakshi..

I stared at my PM in anger.. Because of you only, that plane crashed!!

I STILL DONT KNOW, WHY IT HAPPENS DAILY BETWEEN 2PM TO 3PM!!!.