Little Monu peeped out of the hole in that huge banyan tree.

It has been drizzling from the morning.

The mama bird left early when the streaks of dawn started to arise in the horizon. Before leaving
she asked the little parrot and her siblings not to come out of their nest. While the rest of the brood
kept to their corner relishing comfort of being safe, Monu peeped outside. Its young beaks stiffened
in the cold breeze and the young feathers did not protect it from the chillness.

Usually the mother parrot brought more nuts so that they will not starve till the parent birds
return. Little Monu wanted to try her luck on that day. She wanted to hop out and see how the
world looked. Her curious young eyes watched everything with wonder. She slowly climbed out of
the hole and perched on a near-by branch. The thick foliage protected her young feathers from the
drizzle. She tapped on the bark of the tree and tested the strength of her beaks.

Slowly she walked till the end of the branch and returned safely to their nest. She kept on walking
till her legs pained. Monu stretched her young feathers and flapped them slowly. Her mother has
already told that her wings are not strong enough for flying and it may take another week.
Monu stretched her young wings and tried to fly from one branch to the other. She did not succeed
in the initial attempts but flied successfully after awhile. The drizzle suddenly started into a
downpour and the rain drops hit her like pellets with force. This dampened her young feathers and
made her stumble down. Before she could realize what happened to her, she fell down. The rain
soaked her feathers and she struggled to get up from the muddy water that ran around the tree.
“Monu, Monu” her siblings continued to call her. Their feeble voice did not reach her ears and she
looked around her. For the first time, her brains realized the dangers of the world. The distance
from the ground to her nest looked longer.
Monu dragged her way through the muddy water. The drizzling rain blurred her eyes and she
could not clearly see what moved before her.
Suddenly someone lifted her from the mud. Two angry eyes of her mother stared at her. Luck
helped her out of danger on that day. The mother parrot helped her stay safe from the rain. They
moved into an abandoned nest at the bottom of a tree and stayed there till her feathers dried.
“Please don't take chances. Next time I may not be near to save you” her mother warned her the
next day before she left home to bring them food. A week went off without any events. Monu never
missed a chance to peep out of their nest and examined their surroundings. She would rush in if
she listened to any sound that warned her safety.
The little parrots were all grown up. Their wings were stronger and they were ready to fly. The
mother parrot helped them to collect food from the nearby places and they returned immediately
without staying longer.
One weekend her siblings hopped together in a garden nearby picking up walnuts. Monu felt bored.
She wanted to explore the sky and see the space beyond their living place.
“Mom, shall I fly till that fence and come back” Monu asked.
“Be safe. I saw some hawks flying in the morning sky” Her mother warned.
“Thanks, Mom. I will be safe.” The freedom thrilled her. Monu flapped her wings and started to fly
high in the sky. In the fence, she saw red colored fruits. She landed in the middle of the heavily
grown climber and started to eat heartfull. Those fruits are their favorite. Next to walnuts, Monu
loved to eat those fruits.
In the morning light, Monu watched a shadow that lingered for a while above her. A hawk. A shock
went through her. Her mom warned her about hawks and now she could see one right above her.
Monu hid herself in the thick foliage of the climber. The shadow slowly moved away. Monu hurried
through the remaining fruits.
“I will come and eat tomorrow” Monu hopped out of the foliage and started to fly. Moving her
wings fast, she hurried forward.
Half-way through before she reached their home tree, a shadow lingered once again above her.
Monu looked around. No birds were there. Flocks of birds seen eating on the ground, bushes and
on tree branches disappeared suddenly. Not even a single bird.
“Oh, my god” Monu started to flap her wings wildly.
“I must escape from that hawk.” But the hawk was keen on getting her prey for the day. Monu, the
little parrot looked to be an easy target for her. The hawk followed her stubbornly with the speed
of a heavy wind. Monu desperately wished she would escape from the thick talons of the hawk. In
the grip of those tough talons that day may turn to be her last day.
Monu rushed her way to reach the safety of her nest. But things took a bad turn. The hawk
persistently chased her and Monu deviated from the way that took her home. She moved far away
from the thickly grown trees and reached the highway that bustled with traffic. Monu saw the
moving traffic that congested the highway. In her attempt to escape from the hawk, she decided to
get into one of the vehicles that moved on the road. She entered through the entrance of a moving
bus and landed literally on Vel's lap.

Vikram applied the brake suddenly and it jerked everyone in the bus. Vel looked at the little parrot
on his lap. Monu struggled to move away from him but slipped and fell down at his feet.
Vel picked the parrot and examined her feathers. The parrot trembled at his touch. The beady eyes
helplessly looked at him. To pacify the trembling parrot Vel cuddled it to his chest. He tried to
comfort the bird with his warm touch. He stroked the bird with his fingers.
Though Monu struggled initially she slowly gained confidence. She relaxed for a while with her
eyes closed. The racing heart beats retold the chase of the hawk and how she luckily managed to
escape from the hawk’s cruel talons.

Human Touch is Powerful

There is nothing that compares to the feeling of holding hands, a soft cheek against your own or the
power of a warm embrace. Human touch is extremely important to our mental, physical and spiritual
well-being as it offers us the opportunity to feel love, care, affection, warmth, kindness and compassion
from others. Not many of us know this, but our skin is our largest organ and it is very responsive and
sensitive. Human touch can offer us reassurance when we feel lost and confused and it can be healing
when we are experiencing mental or physical pain. The touch between humans is something so
powerful and it can help in a variety of situations. Discussed below are five major benefits of human
touch. What has human touch done for you?

Reassures and Comforts

The need for human touch does not fade as we grow older. Babies and the elderly appreciate human
touch, as does everyone in between these age groups. By simply holding someone’s hand or cuddling,
you can give the gift of love and nurturing. People who are given cuddles, hugs and kisses on a regular
basis feel reassured and comfortable. They tend to be more at ease and feel as though things will be
okay.

Aids in Relaxation and Stress Relief

Human touch relaxes us and relieves stress. Anyone who has ever had a massage knows this. If you’ve
had a hard day at work, asking your partner to rub your shoulders will make you feel better. You can
literally feel the stress and tension melting away.

Builds Confidence
When someone touches you in an affectionate way, it makes you feel good about yourself. A pat on the
back for a job well done lets you know that someone’s proud of you. A lover’s embrace means someone
finds you attractive. Human touch builds confidence.

Shows Love

Some people are not good at expressing how they feel about someone. They can’t say they love them,
but they use human touch to show them. Whether it’s holding hands, kissing or making love, human
touch is a way to physically express love without having to talk about it.

Promotes Healing

Human touch promotes healing. It increases the number of immune cells in the body which promotes
the healing of various physical and mental ailments. Human touch also improves behavior.
Human touch is something that everyone needs. It has phenomenal healing properties and can deeply
affect an individual’s experience of life in a positive way. When in doubt, reach out and touch someone
you love.

Vikram smiled at Vel. “Buddy, you got a new friend”

“Yes. I am planning to take it home.” Vel loved birds. He already has some love birds at home. He
loved listening to their continuous love talk. Though his mother did not like him rearing birds at
home, they relieved her monotony of being alone. After every one left for work, she stayed alone at
home. Those love birds gave her the company. Cleaning their cages, feeding grains and changing
their bowls with clean water became one of her routine work but she enjoyed doing it every day.

Everyone at home welcomed Monu with a smile. Yet, Monu missed her family and the dense trees
that made her original home.

Vel never encouraged having birds in cages at home. He felt that it curtailed their freedom and
forced them live in a prison. Though the walls provided them safety and food without dearth, the
lack of freedom made everything a big zero.

“Be at home till you are grown. Then I will let you go and explore the wide sky. Now you are so
small and you need my protection.” Every day Vel spent his leisure time with Monu. Though the
love birds were kept in a cage, Vel allowed Monu to roam around the home after he closed all the
windows and doors. He did not want to let him accidentally into the open space and risk her life.
So many stray cats and dogs roamed around his home, and any day Monu could end up as their
food.

“Don’t let me feel guilty.” Vel kissed Monu before going to bed. Monu always slept near his bed and
he wanted to provide her a secure home. But when moon rays peeped through the open windows,

Monu always wanted to go out and see how the world looked during day and at night. Every
month, Vel took her to the pet doctor and provided all the luxury a bird would love.

Vel taught Monu to speak small words. Gradually, she learnt to talk small sentences. Whenever Vel
arrived home after work, Monu would flap her wings and would welcome him with a loud “I love
you da.” The words cheered him always and he felt elated every time Monu spoke those words.
The little children who visited his house looked at the parrot with wonder. Monu loved their
company. Vel never allowed any one to touch her for he felt someone might hurt her. Monu
became so much attached to Vel that she started to be so possessive of him. She never allowed
anyone to come near him or even put a hand on his shoulder. Vel’s friends laughed at this
possessiveness and they sometimes mocked at him saying that Monu may turn out to be her love
mate.

One evening on a Sunday every one sat watching a movie in the television. Monu sat cracking some
nuts from her dish. A company of parrots flew and sat on the top of the guava tree in their
neighbor’s house. The screeching sound of parrots reached Monu through the windows. The
natural instinct triggered her curiosity and within seconds she flew out of the window. Monu
perched on a branch of the guava tree and looked at the parrots. Their shiny red beaks made her
feel at home and she reached them with her brisk walk. The evening breeze caressed her shining
feathers and she yearned to be one among them.

“Come with us.” One of the parrots invited her. “We will explore the world. It is exciting to fly in
the sky.” Monu accepted their invitation. But before she flew away, she flew into the house through
the windows. She perched on Vel’s shoulder for a while and looked at him. With her beaks she
kissed on his cheek and flew away to join her company.

“Why did you let it go?” Vel's mother questioned.

“Ma, she must be with her company only. Don't worry, she will come back” Vel replied calmly

In the evening, the rain started with a drizzle. But it gradually increased and when Vel returned
home he had to wade through flooded streets. Her mother sat at the door for him.

“Ma, how many times I have asked you not to wait. Why are you standing here in the rain?” Vel
parked the bike and ran on the steps to escape from the rain.

“Hmm, Get married. Then I will not worry you.”

Vel finished eating quickly to avoid further conversation. Such a conversation always ended with
her mother crying silently and she will not sleep till late night. To avoid such scenes, he sat near the
window reading a weekly magazine. The street light burned brightly and lit the street like day. He
preferred to read in that light for everyone at home were deep asleep.

Suddenly he could hear ruffling sound of feathers. In the dark he could not see any birds. But he
could hear the sound. Monu always ruffled her feathers after her morning bath in the round tub at
the balcony.

“It is raining so heavily. Where will she be?” Vel could not read more. The love birds in the cage
cuddled together in a corner and slept peacefully. Birds once they started to live with the humans,
they are made to live a comfortable life and there was never a moment of struggle to get their food.

Though the birds in captivity lacked the real life skills, why men continued to rear them as their
pets? To his knowledge, ornithologists always encouraged silent bird watching and Vel doesn't
know in particular if they encouraged having birds as pets at homes. Birds always fascinated Vel
and he loved to go for bird watching along with his friends during summer vacation. He enjoyed
going for trekking with the local club friends and till now has enriched memories of those
wonderful days.

After he came to Chennai, he could not think about trekking and birds. Work occupied most of his
time and he spent his leisure time with colleagues who always preferred to go for a film during
weekends. His mother insisted having birds at home for she felt lonely after everyone went for
work. Birds were a better company to her for she didn't like watching television throughout the
day.

Next day Vel had a tough time traveling in water logged roads. The road congested with snarling
traffic tested his patience and when his shift ended he felt drained and exhausted. He just wanted
to go home and sleep.

“Hi, do you mind coming with us for trekking next week?” Balaji inquired. “Ok, ok” without waiting
for his reply, he left the place in a hurry.

Suddenly thoughts about Monu preoccupied him, and he wished Monu would come back to him. He
wanted to know how safe Monu was and where he stayed. Vel did not fail to remember that the
world is a vast place and definitely Monu will have a safe place to sleep at night. As a modern man
we may not know the comfort of sleeping on a tree protected by its leaves and branches. But early
man lived on trees and caves only. Nature as a mother has its own way of protecting all living
things in this world. Let it be a cat or a dog or a bird, nature provided a safer place where they can
sleep at night.

Deep thinking always brought in numerous thoughts into his mind. A small thought precariously
branched into too many thoughts and they pressed his brain bringing in numbness. Though he
meditated every day before starting for the day, sometimes he could not escape from feeling so
isolated and depressed. As his mother tells him getting married could be a solution for all these
types of useless thoughts. To escape from all these mishaps Vel decided to take a break and go for
trekking along with his friends.

Till they boarded the train to Coimbatore, Vel did not know where they will be going for trekking.
Usually his friends preferred to go to some places where they can take bath in the water falls and
have good food and rest. They never wanted to strain much by trekking or enjoy some feats of real
adventures.

This time it was quite a surprise for him for they decided to go for trekking. But the plans changed
as usual.

“Anna, we are all going to theosophical society at Adyar today. Will you please drop me?”

When Swetha asked him, he decided to spend the day with her.

Around 8 am they reached Theosophical Society at Adyar. Swetha’s friends greeted her in chorus.

“Hi, Swetha! Is this your brother? Will you please introduce him?” A bold voice requested Swetha
with a giggle.

“I wish you should not get slapped by him.” Swetha mocked at her.
“Don’t think too much about him. Ask him to take off the helmet. Let us see how handsome he
looks.” One more girl teased Swetha.

“Hmm. A beautiful sister will have a handsome brother only.” Swetha replied.

But he was not in a mood to flirt with those young girls.

Vel called her sister around noon.

“Come for lunch at Nadhinee Sweets.”

“No, we will have some sandwich and milk shake at Aavin parlor. It will be good there.” Swetha
replied.

“You saved my money. Come home yourself after lunch.” He left the place immediately.

“Anna, anna” Swetha screamed at the phone but he didn’t answer anymore.

When Swetha roamed around the vast space inside the campus, Vel was also there. But he was on
the other side of the campus. The place looked to be the right choice to spend time alone.

The meditation hall inside the campus looked cool and solacing. Vel could see some foreigners
doing meditation. The vast library with the good collection of books opened every day for public.
Yet, a very few came over there to ponder over the wealth of books.

To his surprise Vel noted many species of birds inside the campus that could not be seen anywhere
in the traffic congested areas of the city. He saw many green colored parrots at the banyan tree.
They reminded him of Monu. Vel decided to spend the entire evening over there until the security
guard asked him to move out.

In the library he came across so many interesting books about life. There were so many books on
philosophy written by scholars. He sat there reading for more than one hour. Vel decided to come
there at least once in a month.

While walking back to the entrance, he saw many kinds of birds that cheered him with their
dialogues. He once again remembered Monu and his eyes literally searched for her among the
green trees over there.

More than 1250 species of birds live in India and can be called as a kingdom of birds. Around the
world 27 orders and 155 families of birds species have been noted down by many bird enthusiasts and
India has 20 orders and 77 families. Yet, we are not aware of all kinds of birds that live in our locality.
We are less aware of our biodiversity and we rarely spend time in knowing about it. Bird watching
activity will help us to know the richness of our biodiversity.

Bird watching one of the refreshing and blissful recreational activities is usually done with binoculars,
telescope and even with our naked eyes. Bird watching has been in practice as a hobby since 1968.
Bird watching activity is not only a refreshing activity, but it also paves way for identifying and
knowing birds that live along with us in our locality.
Here are some steps to have a fruitful bird-watching:
1. Get an up to date bird guide of the locality
2. Get a pair of light-weight binoculars
3. Get in touch with friends with the same interest in bird-watching
4. Get up early morning to watch birds as they may become busy in search of food or building
nests in the later part of the day
5. Start bird-watching from your kitchen windows that open to a vacant land or at the backyard
6. Learn to be quite and alert to hear bird chirps or songs to locate birds
7. When you spot a bird, check it in the bird guide. Look for similar features and characteristics
for colors may vary at times
8. Write down all findings in the notebook
9. Learn to maintain distance so that birds will not fly away or they may attack if near their
nests.
10. Learn not to disturb their privacy.
11. Have some bird feeders in your garden or balcony to invite different birds to your door
12. Don’t scare the birds with their presence while you try to capture some pictures of their
activities

Chennai acts as a heaven for more than 200 species of birds. As Chennai is located at the
coromandel coast of South India, the geographical features of Chennai plays a vital role in
attracting many birds. Most of the birds visit Chennai during the seasons from October to March.

Birdwatching can be done in the following places in Chennai :

 Adyar Eco Park/Tholkappia Poonga (Situated on the banks of Adyar Estuary),
 Chembarambakkam Lake,
 Guindy National Park,
 Indian Institute of Technology( IIT ) campus, Madras
 Kelambakkam Muttukadu Backwaters (best time to visit : November to February),
 Karikili Bird Sanctuary (located 6 km away from Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary ),
 Madhavaram and Manali Lakes (best time to visit during NorthEast Monsoon),
 Mudaliarkuppam Backwaters,
 Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary,
 Nanmangalam Reserve Forest,
 Pallikaranai Marsh (best time to visit : November to May),
 Pulicat Lake/Shar Road and Annamalaichery Backwaters,
 Siruthavur Lake,
 Theosophical Society Gardens,
 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (best time to visit : November to February) and
 Vedanthangal scrub and reed bed.

Apart from all these places, there are other places where more native birds can be found apart from
migratory birds. Still there may be many unknown places for bird watching in Chennai. The place
located between Tiruporur and Tirukazhukundram, a reserve forest area, where a lot of native birds
can be seen.

After he came back from trekking, Vel was surprised to know about the places in and around Chennai
that promoted bird watching.

Guindy National Park is the ‘green lung’ of Chennai. About 132 bird species have been recorded,
which include terrestrial, woodland and wetland birds. Throughout the year birding is possible but
prior permission is essential to visit the park.

Adayar Estuary is a brackish ecosystem that makes a fertile breeding and feeding ground for resident
birds. While migratory water birds congregate during the winter months, huge number of waders,
egrets and herons can also be sighted.

Pallikaranai Marsh is a wonderful swamp with bio-shield reeds that saves Chennai from floods. It
has been declared a Reserve Forest and approximately 114 bird species have been recorded. About
100 Pied avocets arrived in the wetland as the first migrants of this season. The Greater flamingo has
been spotted for the first time in this ecosystem.

Nanmangalam Reserve Forest is a forest inside the city. The flagship species here is the Indian Great
Horned Owl. About 83 bird species have been recorded here. To enter this reserve forest, situated near
Medavakkam (Santoshpuram), you will need permission from the Forest Department.

Muttukadu Lake is also a brackish water ecosystem. It’s a place for migratory birds like waders, gulls,
terns, huge flocks of pelicans and Painted storks. Birding area stretches from the Muttukadu Lake to
the Kelambakkam-Kovalam bridge.

Simpson Industrial Estate at Sembium is a forest situated inside the factory premises. This estate
provides a safe place for the birds to breed. About 80 to 90 numbers of birds have been recorded. In
winter, the local migrant pittas from Northern India are sighted. The factory needs to give permission
to visit the place. Due to habitat degradation and human encroachment in adjacent wetlands the
population of egrets and night herons has reduced from 10, 000 to 1000.

Madhavaram and Manali Lakes is a twin-lake ecosystem. Due to anthropogenic activities, Manali
wetland has almost become dead. During the North-eastern monsoon, the lakes would be flooded.
About 56 species of wetland and woodland birds have been recorded in this ecosystem. It’s the only
breeding ground for the Pheasant-tailed Jacana.

Kalivelli Wetlands near Marakanam is the second largest brackish water ecosystem in South India
and is located at a distance if about 130 km from Chennai. It’s a haven for 180 species of birds, which
includes migratory ducks like Northern pintail, garginey, waders, terns, raptors and wetland birds.
The migratory period extends between October and March depending on the availability of water. In
winter, huge flocks of Lesser flamingos are sighted.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in India and is at a distance of 60 km from
Chennai. In peak season, from November to February, about 75, 000 birds have been recorded. It’s a
place where the maximum number of wetland species is recorded.

Karikili Bird Sanctuary is located at a distance of six km from the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.
Public transport facility is very minimal. During the migratory season, more number of migratory
ducks congregate here than in Vedanthangal.

Pulicat Lake, Sullurpet, Andhra Pradesh is the second largest lagoon on the Coromandel Coast. The
lake supports 150 species of terrestrial and wetland (resident migratory) birds. In the migratory
season from November to February, about 15, 000 flamingos and wetland (resident migratory) birds
can be seen on the Atakanithipa road, which leads to Sriharikota, AP, 90 km from Chennai.
Annamalaichery lies near Pulicat Lake. It’s a wonderful bird spot in summer from April to July. One
can sight the flamingos from a close range by hiring a boat from the fishermen nearby. It’s also close
to the Pazhaverkadu Lake, 60 km from Chennai.

Nellapattu Pelican Sanctuary, Sullurpet, Andhra Pradesh is the only place that supports the pelicans
in huge numbers by providing the ideal feeding and breeding ground. This is said to be one of the
largest pelicanries in South-east Asia. About 117 species, inclusive of breeding, wintering water birds,
land birds and raptors have been recorded. It falls under the AP Forest Department and is located at a
distance of 95 km from Chennai.

Learn the nuances…

 Early mornings and afternoons are good times for bird-watching.
 Wear dull-colored clothes that blend with the surroundings.
 Try to get a good , affordable field guide to accompany you to help you identify the birds.
 Try to spot the bird and observe its movement, call, color, size, shape of the beak and behavior.
 Carry a good pair of binoculars that will help locate the birds; preferable the 8×36 or 8×40
roof prism one.
 A field notebook is necessary to make a list of birds. Repeated visits only help to find the
turnover population of birds.

(http://www.go-nxg.com/?p=2657

One morning Monu suddenly appeared at the drawing room window. She sat at the window sill for
a while and flew into the room and sat near Vel who was reading a newspaper. From that day
onwards Vel could see a change in the behavior of Monu. When he came home, she constantly
talked to him.

Sometimes you just get a hen that is determined to mate. The hen chooses you to be this “mate.”
You are now the recipient of nasty bites whenever you get too close to another human being.
Basically, your roommate, spouse, or other family member becomes a threat. The jealous little hen
will bite you to make you move away from them. Sometimes the hen will become aggressive toward
the family member and suddenly lunge out to bite them when they stand or sit next to you.
Obviously this is a serious problem and can make everyone in the home miserable.

The first step is to re-set boundaries and dominance. Generally, hens need a very strong-willed
owner. Lovebird hens are very territorial when hormones are raging and they will attack if they feel
their “nest” or “mate” is threatened. It isn’t pleasant to have their little beaks sink into your flesh.

Sometimes this problem can be managed by having the “threats” handle the bird more often when
the “mate” is not home. You will often find that when a lovebird hen overly bonds to one person,
they are only aggressive when they are in the presence of that person. By spending time with the
bird when they do not have to focus on protecting their mate, the other family members can forge a
stronger bond with the bird.

When we talk about parrot puberty we are talking about when the animal becomes sexually
mature. The age that this transition takes place varies from species to species and can vary
according to the animal’s gender as well.

Most parrots go through a significant personality change as they become sexually mature, some of
these changes are temporary and only occur during breeding season (which also varies from
species to species). In the wild, parrots who want to breed will have to find and defend their nesting
spots. In captivity they may become aggressive and territorial.

Parrots pair up with a mate during breeding season and if your bird doesn’t have another parrot to
fall in love with, he just might fall in love with you. Parrots that are never exposed to other parrots
during childhood can become sexually imprinted to humans which means that they will think they
are supposed to mate with people and can actually reject other parrots as potential mates.

If your bird falls in love you, he (or she) may become extremely aggressive toward other people and
may do strange things with you. Love struck parrots regurgitate food and offer it for you to eat, they
may also try making love with your hand or pressing their back up against you inviting you to mate.

Be careful not to sexually stimulate your parrot by touching your bird around the vent and lower
back, encouraging your bird to regurgitate food for your, or letting your bird rub itself on you. If you
stimulate your bird, the bird’s attraction to you will solidify and things can get really strange really
quick. Can you say awkward?

If a female is over stimulated she can lay eggs which can be a horrible health risk. The eggs won’t be
fertile but they still take a lot of energy to produce and your parrot can suffer and even die from
malnutrition.

Sex is confusing for a captive bird and sexual frustration can cause your parrot to display a wide
range of behavior problems from screaming to feather plucking. Be patient with your poor little
bird. He’s confused and you would be too if you were taken away from your kind at birth without
ever truly understanding what type of animal you were.

Sexually related behavior problems can be fixed with careful training or by simply waiting them
out. Parrots tend to calm down when breeding season ends. If you keep your bird active and well
socialized with a large group of people, he or she can be mentally healthy and fairly friendly even
through these difficult times.

Adult parrots, those who have been sexually mature for several seasons, tend to calm down as they
age. Many people report that their adult birds don’t like to travel or try new things the way they
used to when they were young. If they have been properly socialized they can become very docile
and loving. Old and well tamed parrots can still be a bit unpredictable but tend make fairly good
family pets or visitors to schools and hospices.

In captivity some species of parrot can live to be 80 or 90 years old. In the wild a bird will almost
never reach this age, as soon as they become slow they will be picked off by a predator. In captivity
that risk is usually not around so make sure you are prepared for a lifelong pet before you take a
parrot into your home. Many birds will outlive their owners so make sure to have a second care
taker inline for the day that your body returns to dust of this good earth. Enjoy your time with your
little feathered friend. You and your parrot will have your ups and downs, your frustrations and
your laughs, your times of peace and your battle wounds. It’s all a part of parrot keeping. If you
hang on tight you’ll eventually learn to love it all!
(Source: http://www.featherme.com/index.php/parrots-101/introduction-to-parrots/the-life-
stages-of-a-parrot/)
 Body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we use to communicate. According to experts, these
nonverbal signals make up a huge part of daily communication. From our facial expressions to our
body movements, the things we don't say can still convey volumes of information. According to
various researchers, body language is thought to account for between 50 to 70 percent of all
communication. Understanding body language is important, but it is also essential to remember to
note other cues such as context and to look at signals as a group rather than focusing on a single
action. Learn more about some of the things to look for when you are trying to interpret body
language.

Facial expressions are also among the most universal forms of body language. The expressions used to
convey fear, anger, sadness, and happiness are similar throughout the world. Researcher Paul Ekman
has found support for the universality of a variety of facial expressions tied to particular emotions
including joy, anger, fear, surprise, and sadness.

The eyes are frequently referred to as the "windows to the soul" since they are capable of revealing a
great deal about what a person if feeling or thinking. As you engage in conversation with another
person, taking note of eye movements is a natural and important part of the communication process.
Some common things you may note is whether people are making direct eye contact or averting their
gaze, how much they are blinking, or if their pupils are dilated.

When evaluating body language, pay attention to the follow eye signals:

 Eye gaze
When a person looks directly into your eyes when having a conversion, it indicates that they are
interested and paying attention. However, prolonged eye contact can feel threatening. On the other
hand, breaking eye contact and frequently looking away may indicate that the person is distracted,
uncomfortable, or trying to conceal his or her real feelings.
 Blinking
Blinking is natural, but you should also pay attention to whether a person is blinking too much
or too little. People often blink more rapidly when they are feeling distressed or
uncomfortable. Infrequent blinking may indicate that a person is intentionally trying to
control his or her eye movements. For example, a poker player might blink less frequently
because he is purposely trying to appear unexcited about the hand he was dealt.
 Pupil size
One of the most subtle cues that eyes provide is through the size of the pupils. While light levels
in the environment control pupil dilation, sometimes emotions can also cause small changes in
pupil size. For example, you may have heard the phase "bedroom eyes" used to describe the
look someone gives when they are attracted to another person.
 How To Flirt With Your Eyes
 Holding eye contact with someone you find appealing for approximately five seconds is well-
used flirt tactic, mostly because it is highly effective, although its ease and simplicity of use
doesn't hurt. According to the book, "The Definitive Guide of Body Language," by Alan and
Barbara Pease, the person initiating the flirt will - on average - need to lock eyes three times
before the flirt recipient catches on.

How To Flirt By Preening

There are many, many ways one groom themselves in public in a flattering yet flirty way, depending
on your gender. Ladies can try some hair stroking, posture enhancing, neck exposing, hip tilting (if
standing), clothes straightening or lip licking - all with the intention of calling attention to her
attractiveness. Men can also straighten their clothing, lick their lips or fix their hair, but they should
also include things like hooking their fingers into their pants (if standing), suck in their stomach, or
take deep breaths to increase the size of their chest. For both men and women, try to use preening
body language that shows off your best features while enhancing what makes you, you.

How To Flirt With A Smile

There are few things better than receiving a genuine, radiant smile from a stranger, yet many people
don't respond to them as a flirt tactic. Therefore, use your smile in conjunction with the other body
language ideas listed in this article to ensure whomever you've got your eye on realizes a flirt is your
intention.

How To Flirt By Pointing

No, not by using your finger silly. Instead, try to 'point' at the person you want to flirt with by moving
your body towards them. Take your feet and make sure they are facing your flirt target, and use your
shoulders to lean into them - even if you aren't speaking with them. Other ideas include facing your
shoulders towards them or 'closing off' a space just for the two of you (such as crossing your legs
towards each other).

How To Flirt Using Touch

Look for opportunities where you can touch the person you want to flirt with, either 'accidentally' or
otherwise. Shaking hands is an excellent flirt tactic, because not only does it place your hands together
(which conveys a "higher level of intimacy" according to Alan and Barbara Pease), but it is easy way
to combine flirting with an introduction. You could also try carefully and casually placing your hands
on the person's arms to very gently 'move' them so you can pass by on your way to the bathroom, or
lightly tap their arm while sharing a laugh. And if you aren't quite comfortable touching the person
you want to flirt with quite yet, you can try mimicking their movements for a short period of time

A long whistle set the motion. A group of young girls and boys took their position and they all
started to dance.

For five minutes the place vibrated with music that made other young girls and boys to join the
team. Someone pushed him from behind. Before he turned to see who pushed him, he was among
the team of dancers. Initially he felt awkward to dance with his uniform but the tempo of the steps
carried him further and he joined the rhythm of steps along with others.

Next day dawned with a surprise. A photo showing him dance along with the flash mob appeared
in the front page of all newspapers. The video showing him dance along with the flash mob
appeared in the news channels and brought him into the lime light.

“You are such a wonderful dancer” Vel blushed at the compliments he received from every one.

Till he left the terminus at night, Vel encountered with greetings from known and unknown people.
Young girls who take the bus to their school or college pointed at him and giggled making direct
comments at him. Now-a-days girls are not shy to tell what they think about their male members in
the society. With education and the growing confidence, the girls never missed a chance to pass a
remark if anyone caught their attention. Be it a girl or a boy, no one escape from their daring
remarks.

“What a pose anna!” One bold girl remarked at him.

“Will you dance with us for our annual day function?”

“You dance so well. Are you a dancer?”

“Your movements are so graceful. You are a born dancer.” Vel kept smiling at the compliments and
he simply nodded his head for all the questions asked.

After a tiring shift, along with Vikram he was returning home. There was no crowd in the bus and a
very few passengers were there. Most of them returning from office dozed off peacefully in their
seats enjoying the evening breeze from the sea.

“What made you dance like that man?” Vikram chuckled.

“You know I used to dance at college. I love to dance.”

“Yes. I know. How long it had been!!” Vikram started to think about their college days. At the local
college, both of them studied in the same class and as they took History as their main subject, they
enjoyed the college days to the maximum. Vel never missed a chance to participate in the
competitions. He always emerged as the winner and everyone loved his dance.

“Will you participate in any channel program if you are asked?” Vikram shot the next question.

“Hi, what happened to you? You are making this one a very big issue.” Vel laughed at Vikram.

“Did you watch the girl who danced near you? Both of you make a good pair.” Vikram added.

Vel frowned. Without replying he looked at the moving vehicles. Even at 9 pm, Chennai traffic
congested the road. Vikram stopped the bus at the next stop. To their surprise, Ramya boarded the
bus.

Ramya sat at the window seat. She didn't remember Vel dancing along with her at the flash mob
dance event. She asked for the ticket. Vel looked at Vikram. He smiled at him with a mischievous
twinkle in his eyes. After giving her the ticket, Vel moved to the front and stood near Vikram.

“Keep your mouth shut. If you talk anything now, it will be end of your day.” Vel hissed at him.

Vikram let out a loud laugh.

While he stopped the bus at the signal, he turned around and looked at Ramya, “Hi, you danced very
well.” With these words he turned and started the bus. Ramya could not make out who spoke to
her.

“Excuse me” Ramya called Vel.

“Did you ask me anything”? She questioned.

“No” answering her, Vel looked at Ramya. He turned dumb. The bright and beautiful face of Ramya
swept his heart and he fell in love with her at first sight.

Chapter 4

Vel wanted to present Ramya flowers.

The world will not be a beautiful place if it is without flowers. Flowers with their varied colors and
perfume tell the human beings that the life is here to live and enjoy life as it is. Flowers have the
power to make even a shabby place look as a place worth living. A flower can bring along with it
cleanliness, beauty and peace of mind to the place.

According to wikipedia, a flower is a reproductive structure found in flowering plants. The four
main parts of a flower are the calyx, corolla, stamen and pistil. The parts of a flower are arranged in
a circular pattern called a whorl. Calyx is the outer whorl of sepals. Calyx is green in color and in
some plants it looks like a petal. As a collective unit the sepals form a calyx, and the petals form the
Corolla.

The corolla is the inner whorl of petals. The petals are thin, soft and colorful to attract insects for
pollination. A whorl of stamens consists of a bunch of filaments. Each filament is topped by an
anther, in which pollen is produced. The pollen contains the male gametes. The pistil is the female
part of the flower. The pistil has the carpel, which is the female reproductive organ of a flower. The
sticky tip of the pistil is called stigma and it receives the pollen grains.

The floral structure of every plant is different from the other. The main parts of a flower are
described by their position and not by their function. It is surprising to note that all the flowers do
not have all the four main parts of a flower. Some flowers lack some parts or sometimes they are
modified for some specific function.

The floral formula is used by the botanists to represent the structure of a flower. Specific letters,
symbols and numerals are used to describe the structure of a flower. Many flowers are used as
symbols with specific meanings. Red roses are considered as symbols for love, beauty and passion.
Daisies are considered as symbols for innocence. Lilies are considered as symbols for resurrection
and life. Jasmine is also considered as a symbol for love. Orchids are symbols for perfection, and
sunflowers are considered as a symbol for infatuation. In Hindu mythology, Lotus is considered as a
symbol for fertility, purity and creation.

The morning busy hours didn’t allow him to think about anything. Every day when he boarded the
bus, he always wanted to have a glimpse of Ramya at least once. They rarely see each other. Once
in a week she hopped into the bus he was in or he happened to be in the bus which she traveled.
Though hours of duty didn’t coincide with their timings, still he yearned to see her at least once in a
day. But time played the game. Something are other happened at office, either she stayed back or
she left the office early. Though Vel didn’t see her on a particular day, she filled his thoughts and he
hopefully expected to see her the next day.

Every day he bought a rose for her. He never got the chance to give it to her.