Amena Bal is a GEN Ambassador that lives in the TI Ecovillage, on the outskirts of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The project started in 1995 as an experiment in eco-friendly development. Amena brings us the story of her life at TI Ecovillage and their particular relationship with birds.
My role as GEN Ambassador and counsel representative in GENOA is guiding me to support the more subtle aspects of our earth care work and nurture and connect consciously with wild life and their aspirations.
During these surreal, shelter at home times, birds have become my new family. I watch them patiently making nests, drinking and celebrating in community baths; woodpeckers pecking with perseverance, kingfishers darting purposefully around ponds. Observing them has grown wings of deeper awareness and gratitude for their environmental services and role in our whole ecosystem.
TI Eco Village, is a haven for birds. Manjunath Prabhu, a community resident has photographed over 75 birds in their diverse moods and hues. Sharing his words-
“Due to rampant urbanisation around us, the campus has become a ‘safe’ place for the feathered friends.’’ With abundant green cover and water bodies – they thrive here.” “To me, watching these beauties is akin to meditation. It teaches you patience and perseverance. Once you learn more about them, your experiences with nature become so much richer. May their tribe increase!”
Cultivating connection through Manjunath’s photos, I eagerly look forward to encounters with my new friends whose mesmerising eyes and healing sounds is a window to another world of natural wisdom. Bird calls have become my morning alarm.
As I listen to chirping bulbuls, singing koels, cawing crows, chattering parakeets and hooting peacocks, their orchestra is joined by playful barking squirrels.
I look forward to few silent pauses in a day to tune into their melody – which is a reminder that – birds do not sing because they have an answer, it is because they have a song.
Lets all sing freely, like no one is watching!
