DAY THIRTY SIX
Tim tells me that there is a research station here to study the Anopheles (malaria) mosquito. Although its brackish water, apparently the mosquitoes don’t mind. Obviously, plenty of them around. Two bites on the end of my nose attest to this. Not very flattering.
An early morning boat ride out on the lake this morning, to view some of the migratory and resident birds. This is the largest area of wetland in the whole of Asia, so very important for migratory birds. Our guide is a local tribal lad who knows the birds and all their characteristics like the back of his hand. We spot open bill stork, grey heron, black headed ibis, giant egret (lots of these), and my favourite, the godwit.
We watched as one heron caught a snake and grappled with it as the clever snake wound itself round the heron’s bill, making it impossible for the heron to get it’s bill open to eat the snake. I’m not sure how this checkmate was resolved but eventually the heron got the upper hand and the snake was finally consumed.
The birding guide tells us about the small miracle that occurred at this lake. In the past all the tribal villagers would poach the birds, catching them in nets or with a noose, for food. Somehow the villagers have been transformed into eco warriors, protecting rather than eating the birds. Many of them are now guides for tourists especially bird photographers. Our guide is sleeping tonight by the lake, not in his village, to protect and guard the birds. The birds, naturally have benefitted too, increasing vastly in numbers over the last ten years.
We’ve moved next door from the shabby cottage to an eco-community venture. Our cottage is similar, made of adobe with a thatched roof, but less shabby and we have the luxury of a mud bed tonight. It’s as hard as a brick.
