Nature corner | Citizen Matters, Blogs

Nature corner

Flying tigers in Bengaluru

April 24, 2011 Vikram Nanjappa

The colourfully Striped Tiger Butterfly is easy to spot. They make fanciful study subjects for those into butterfly study.

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The preying praying insect

March 28, 2011 Vikram Nanjappa

The Poinsettia bush at Hosur Road cemetery had a surprise in store. My prayers however were for the prey rather than the praying mantis, for I am sure they needed them more.

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Gods like this weed

March 8, 2011 Vikram Nanjappa

Food for the Plain Tiger butterfly, this beautiful and easy to grow ‘weed’, Bili Yekka is in demand during Ganesha Chaturthi.

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The Govinda of our skies

February 16, 2011 Vikram Nanjappa

The most easily recognizable bird in our urban landscape is the Black Kite, which thrives, thanks to Bengaluru’s inefficient waste disposal.

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Helpful ghosts on pavement stones

November 22, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

These dragonflies can help you keep chikungunya and dengue at bay.

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Spectacled Cobra, not all fearsome

October 24, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

Urbanisation hasn’t left Bengaluru completely bereft of wildlife. Snakes are one of the few who’ve made this city their home. But not all of them are poisonous and not all of them come back to take revenge.

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Leisurely flight of the colourful wings

October 19, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

The Common Jezebel loves the Rain trees and Gulmohurs. But comes to feed on bushes down below. Its unhurried and confident flight is the result of the strong defence mechanism it possesses.

The tree that never perishes

October 12, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

A symbol of immortality, the Temple tree or the Champa tree, continues to bloom even after it is uprooted. Vikram Nanjappa tells you more.

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They are no harbingers of bad luck

October 6, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

Unlike what owls are believed to be. Vikram Nanjappa unravels myths surrounding the spotted owlet, commonly found in Bengaluru.

Look out for that ‘cute’ rodent

September 29, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

Confused? We aren’t talking about mice or rats. The ‘cute’ rodent in question is what we commonly refer to as the squirrel, with its unmistakable three stripes. Vikram Nanjappa tells you more.

The call of the Indian Bull Frog

September 20, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

Their voice marks the arrival of life-giving rain. The Indian Bull Frog, the largest of the species, is facing an unprecedented danger to its survival. Vikram Nanjappa tells you more about this amphibian.

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A ‘bloodsucker’ in your backyard

September 13, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

The next time you see a colour-changing reptile in your garden, don’t mistake it to always be a chameleon. Lurking in your gardens are also the Common Garden Lizards, termed as ‘bloodsuckers’.

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Skippers in your garden

September 7, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

One of the strongest and swiftest of butterflies, the Common Banded Awl belonging to the Skipper family, is a common sight in Bangalore, thanks to the honge tree.

The Ice Cream Cone Bird

August 27, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

It’s commonly seen dotting the Bangalore sky. Vikram Nanjappa tells you more about the magnificent Brahminy Kite, a bird that’s constantly under threat in the city.

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Spotting wildlife in Bengaluru

August 23, 2010 Vikram Nanjappa

Surprised? Don’t be, because our city is home to a number of species of ‘wild’ animals, birds, insects and reptiles. What’s important is for us to document these creatures and live with them harmoniously.