I have been so out of touch with Sandy's Backyard...
Actually, I am so enchanted by all the birds, insects, trees and few cats... that are in the backyard around the complex where Allan
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=212711002
resides.
In between baby sitting our little Ayin, I would click a few pictures of hers and the birds/cat and what not that are in the backyard...
There are quite a number of birds around the backyard.
Some common ones I can identify, the rest I have no knowledge of their names...
Nevertheless, the songs these birds sing, especailly early in the morning and during dusk... can bring so much of joy and comfort to the mind.
I love birds, not only for the reason they have wings to fly up in the air ..they are so free while gliding in the breeze , and I love the talents for their melodious singing.... Which reminds me of this interesting link:
http://whyfiles.org/114music/2.html
I found watching birds flying..hoping .. and listening to their songs very de-stressing.
Especially in a nosiy city like Kokalta,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata_/Kolkatas_killer_noise/articleshow/3592220.cms where everyone loves to honk their horns...
the sweet songs form the birds are indeed a rare treat for a change!
Well, do come and share this feeling in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl5PbR1m00A
Though this may not be a very good video but I must say there was thrill while finding myself able to record this bird singing without being disturbed!
(By the way I have no idea which species this bird is, will be very happy if some one can tell me the name of this bird) 
As you know, in Kolkata, crows
http://sandyao.blogspot.com/2007/06/crows-dare-to-stand-up-for-their-rights.html
are the only birds that hate any human holding anything in hand while looking upward!
They are so clever and defensive.. they think we human are holding sling/stick/or even gun to aim at the birds to harm them!
They will make so much of noise and sometimes will swoop down to attack us human.
Aside the crows, the rest of the birds enjoy the space and the harmony in this small backyard.
Sometimes I see a flock of Indian Minah birds picking the red berries ( arecanut)
while the cat taking a nap on the roof with soft sunlight and cool breeze under the leaves and... it has forgotteen to try to catch any birds!
This particular picture of the Indian Minah bird is projected with some beautiful stories by Julie Ardery in her wonderful Humanflowerproject!
http://www.humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the_marriage_of_betel_leaf_and_areca_nut/
I remember the days during my stay in Kohima
http://www.north-east-india.com/nagaland/kohima.html
There is a bird which will sing joyful song all around the hills after the rain... sometimes, when we had weeks and weeks of rain, suddenly, I would hear this bird singing, and I would feel so good to know there would sunny days again.
I do not know the name of this bird, and I have never seen this bird too.
My husband told me that it is a small bird. But the song it sings fills the whole valley...
I can still remember the tune this bird sings... Oh it does make me home sick!
But in the meanwhile, I must say I am not missing too many good feeling around this backyard too, while baby sitting our little darling girl...
and along with her, my fond songs by the birds....
