Articles by Prerna Jain
Freaky, friendly and flamboyant; my friend the grey heron
While herons symbolise strength, purity and long life in Chinese culture, the ancient Greeks believed they were messengers of gods and Japanese folklore sees them as divine. A meditation on the bird
Published on Sep 05, 2024 08:38 PM IST
Essay: Love at first bite
On brown headed barbets double dating on electricity wires, exchanging gifts of love, and nesting in Delhi gardens
Published on Aug 08, 2024 06:37 PM IST
Essay: Respect my boundaries, dear peepal
The peepal provides refuge for humans and animals in the scorching summer and is considered a sacred tree in India. A meditation on this magnificent shade tree that can be both useful and destructive
Published on May 31, 2024 05:33 PM IST
An ode to the chinaberry
The flowers of this close cousin of the neem are the most fragrant harbingers of good weather in the capital and its branches are the venue for many conferences of the birds
Published on Apr 19, 2024 03:39 PM IST
The speaking stump
An ode to a jungle jalebi tree that continues to attract a host of birds including parakeets, woodpeckers, and squirrels even after it’s been cut down
Updated on Feb 01, 2024 06:24 PM IST
Essay: First roti to the cow; first bite to the dog
A middle-aged man in a village in western Uttar Pradesh feeds stray dogs, a normal practice in his community. Dogs are an integral part of our culture.
Updated on Sep 08, 2023 09:13 PM IST
Essay: Titahri Tales
The discovery of a red-wattled lapwing’s nest provokes a rumination on the many folk beliefs about this high strung bird with a hysterical shriek
Published on Aug 04, 2023 10:12 PM IST
Essay: The lost monkey swings of Tughlaqabad
The author reminisces about swings in the month of sawan, but also reflects on the disappearance of swings for monkeys in the Tughlaqabad area.
Updated on Jul 13, 2023 08:28 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: Following the white squirrel
The appearance of a squirrel sets off a meditation on our feelings for the creatures that provide hours of entertainment in gardens
Updated on May 31, 2023 10:03 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: On the animal instinct of mothering
While mothers of all species are protective, birds and animals are better than humans at setting their children free
Updated on May 15, 2023 08:45 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: Of avian romance in the Capital
From the loud anthem of the brown-headed barbet to the frenetic dance of the purple sunbird, love is in the air for Delhi’s birds
Updated on Mar 21, 2023 06:18 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: Hit by a semal flower
A meditation on the appearance of these magnificent blooms that signal spring in Delhi
Updated on Feb 28, 2023 05:25 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: Leaving mulch to be desired
Manure, vegetable waste and dry leaves are precious materials much sought after by every avid gardener. Author and photographer Prerna Jain writes about the enduring passion for composting that she developed during the lockdown
Updated on Jan 04, 2023 07:01 PM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: My feathered friends are homeless
On the sad loss of a green spot that has pushed out numerous birds and small animals from a Delhi neighbourhood
Updated on Nov 25, 2022 04:12 AM IST
Prerna Jain
Essay: On my feathered friends
Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you
Updated on May 07, 2022 06:22 PM IST
Prerna Jain