Elephants Show at Dehiwala Zoo

                              
The Dehiwala Zoo is one of the finest in Asia and its sprawling ares are host to a variety of animals and birds. Drive 6 miles from Colombo, south along the Galle Road. Turn left at Allen Avenue, Dehiwala, and follow the signposta.

It is pleasing to see many animals in their natural habitat. Whether it be lions, bears, tigers, rhinos, giraffes or gorillas, there is a greater freedom here than in many zoos around the world. The sight of painted storks fishing in the pond or screeching macaws ruffling their bright feathers immediately puts any visitor at ease.

The highlight of the zoo is the elephant circus which comes on daily at 5.15 pm, withextra shows on Sunday and holidays at 3.15pm. The huge pachyderms perform all sorts of antics like standing on their heads, wiggling their backs to music, hopping on one foot and standing up on their hind legs.

When the biggest of the elephants begins to play a soundless mouth organ, the older elephants start skipping and trooping behind. There is an exciting moment when an elephant places a foot on the mahout's stomach and lifts him by the head using its mouth. The end of the performance signals a mass exodus from the zoo. It's best to get your bearings to the exit so that you can quickly make your way out and catch a taxi back to Colombo.

National zoo in Sri Lanka, one of the largest in Asia

Sri Lanka's premier zoo at Dehiwela, which is located 11km from Capital Colombo. The National Zoo in Sri lanka is one of the finest and largest in Asia. It may not be the best but is being developed to modern standards. Well laid out gardens give the visitor an opportunity to relax forget the busy schedules back at home or at the office and to get away from the polluted and noisy atmosphere.

 
Leopard                                                                     Deer Cage

Dehiwala zoo, its gardens , now 24 acres in extent are best experiences early morning as soon as the zoo opens. The animals about 350 species are naturally arose active in the mornings going through feeding and cleaning rituals. It is cooler and not crowded as yet. Zoo really gets overcrowded during weekends , holidays and remains open 8 am to 6pm.

You will see different species of animals brought from various countries of the world at the Dehiwala zoo, lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, wolves, cheetahs, bears, rhinos etc. Even huge animals like elephants, giraffes are also kept in the zoo. As there is greater freedom here than in the many zoos around the world, thousands of visitors visit the zoo every year. The sight of colourful storks at the screaming macaws ruffling mix bright places soon make any visitor quite at ease.

Diversity of the zoo is indicated by the presence of an aquarium walk through aviary, reptile louse, butterfly house and many cages and enclosures. There are more than 500 varies of marine life at the aquarium – Min Medura- built especially with the children in mind. Colourful fish brought from different countries of the world could be viewed here inside the zoo and is regarded as the only aquarium of its kind in Asia.

In the reptile house, there is a rare albino cobra and an enormous python. Children are fascinated to watch the little tortoises riding on backs of fierce crocodiles. Creatures like owls and bats in during natural habitant are allowed to be viewed by the visitors. The zoo has an excellent collection of primates, anthropoids chime apes, monkeys and lions.

Aviary up with a variety of beautiful feathered friends is an interesting sight to see . You also can visit the butterfly house that of various hues fluttering here and there.

Large lake at the centre of the zoo is a playing ground of many species of aquatics birds that r own accord. It is really a breeding ground for egrets, pelicans, cormorants etc..

Group of jackals penguins focussed at the zoo is a symbol of its progress. They are the results of an partnership with other zoos. They had originally come from the Tokyo sea life Park. These birds you could find in an air conditioned section but also could be seen in outdoor fields and also in glaze fronted tanks. They are a good sight to see their feeding time. The chick this colony is housing now is really is a result of his zoo had successfully breed these species in captivity.

The elephant circus is one of best attarctions of the National Zoo in Sri Lanka

The crowding moment of a visit to the zoo is the elephant circus which commences at 5:15 pm. With extra shows on Sundays and holidays at 3:15 pm. These huge animals performing all kind of tricks such as standing up on their heads wiggling their backs to music, standing up on their hind legs or hopping on one foot. When the largest elephant starts playing a second legs mouth organ, the other elephants starts start skipping and trooping behind. The most existing moment is when an elephant keeps its foot on the stomach of the mahout and raise him by the head using its mouth.

Museum and a live reef tank have been established at the zoo recently.

Dehiwala zoo has trails with signposts and paths so that a visitor can find their way with ease. It required guides could be arranged at the office but wheelchairs access along the paths is really limited. Snacks and drinks are available through out the day and the restaurant caters to special needs of the visitors.

Finally it should be stated that a trip to the Dehiwala zoo with its well laid gardens and a variety of fanua give the visitor an opportunity to relax and to get away from the noisy atmosphere of the city and to keep in touch with nature.

You'll find a day trip to the zoo and the nearby beach at Mount Lavinia makes for a pleasant outing

Entrance fees:

US $ 2

Video Cameras: US $ 5

Open hours: 8.00 am - 6.00 pm everyday

Timings of special shows:

Chimpanzee feeding time: 3.30 pm daily

Sea lion feeding time: 4.00 pm daily

Elephant show: 5.15 pm daily

Adam's Peak

                                                    
                                                                       Adam's Peak

Sri Pada Mountain is situated in the South West corner of the central mountain region. This corn shaped mountain is 2243 meters high. Devotes from all 4 major religion believe that the sacred foot print belongs to their religion. Buddhists believe that Load Buddha during his third visit to Sri Lanka has placed his foot print on the summit of this sacred mountain, hence this is called “Sripada”. Muslims believe that this is the sacred foot print of Adam and call Adam’s peak. Hindu’s believe that this is the sacred foot print of god Sive where Christians claim it is St. Thomas’s. People from all fore religions climb this mountain with many faiths. Adams peak is also called as “Samanala Kanda” as name is taken from a Buddhist god “Saman”

There are two ways to reach to the top of mountain, one is the easer path which is going through Hatton and Maskeliya passing “Seetha gangula”. You have to travel 4 miles if you take this path. The second one is more difficult path but it is the most beautiful way to Sripada. This path is located from Kuruwita (which is a small town closer to Ratnapura). If you take this rout you have to walk 10 mils to reach to the top of the mountain.

The pilgrim season starts from the full moon of Poya day of December and it continues to the Wesak full moon poya day in the month of May. During the other times this region get heavy rain and the road is very wet to climb and it is dangerous to climb this time.

When climbing Sripada there are some traditions followed by the devotes. It is bad to ask “how far is to the top” instead people exchange greetings for each other such as “peace” (“Karunawi”). The first time climbers may take a bath from the stream called “Seetha gangula”. At the “indikatu pana” (place of needles) people used to hang threaded needles.

The mount samanala is the best place to view the magnificent scenic views of the central highlands. In the morning the foot of the mountain is surrounded by mist giving the feeling that you are floating. On a clear day you can even see Colombo, Beruwala foul point and the lighthouses. In the morning you can view the beautiful sunrise from East of the mountain this is called “Ira Seewaya”. Early morning devotes gather to see the beautiful sunrise from here. This is treated as one of the spectacular view of all and must see incident even it is so cold in the morning.

                                                   

                                             Watch the sunrise from the peak

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

                                               
                                                                       Sigiriya Rock



Sigiriya is an archelological site in North Central Sri Lanka. It contains the ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the regin of King Kasyapa (477AD - 495 AD). It is one of the 7 world heritage sites in Sri Lanka and is one of it's most popular tourist destinations.

                                               
Layout
The Sigiriya site consistes of a 180m tall granite rock, whose sides are so steep that at some points the top overhangs the base. At the top of the site there is a palace complex. The ruines of various chambers, stairways and pools can be seen at the top. There is a stone stairway leading from the base to the top of the mountain. About half way to the top, there is a pair giant pair of lions paws which is infact the ruind of a huge head of a lion whose open mouth served as the entrance to the royal palace. Surrounding the palace complex are the ruins of a garden complex consisting of two moats, various pools.

                                         
                                                          Lion Entance 

 The History of Sigiriya
Sigiriya may have been inhabited through Pre-Historic times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 3rd century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha. The garden and the palace was built by Kasyapa 477 - 495 AD. Then after Kasyapa's death it was a monastery complex upto about the 14th century after which it was abandoned. The ruins were discovered in 1907 by British Explorer John Still.


                                                                 
                            The Boulder gardens                                   Royal Pool at the top of the rock


Ruins of the Royal CourtThe Mahavamsa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. who murdered his father by walling him alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallan. Mogallan fled to India to escape being assasinated by Kasyapa but vowed revenge. In India he raised an army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne of Sri Lanka which was rightfully his. Knowing the inevitable return of Mogallan, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace. Mogallana finally arrived and in the battlefield Kasyapa's armies abandoned him and he committed suicide by falling on his sward. Mogalan returned the capital back to Anuradapura and turned Sigiriya to a Moastory complex.


            


FrescosJohn Still in 1907 had observed that; "The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery... the largest picture in the world perhaps".The paintings would have covered most of the western face of the rock, covering an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. There are references in the Graffiti to 500 ladies in these paintings.


           
                      Sigiriya Frescos                                           Mirror wall   


                     
              Nai Pena (Cobra Headed) rock                               A rock cut pool on the top of Sigiriya 


          
                 views from Sigiriya rock fortress                     Opposite the Sigiriya rock  
                                                

Jaffna Keerimalai Naguleswaram Sivan Kovil

             RESTORING NAGULESWARAM – A SACRED DUTY

                                               

Of the five hallowed Siva temples (pancha ishwarams) in Srilanka Naguleswaram once stood supreme in the Jaffna peninsula. Hindu shrines attain a unique status when blessed with three special attributes moorthy (deity), thalam (temple and its precincts) and theertham (source of water). Endowed with all three, Naguleswaram has been regarded from ancient times a pre-eminent place of worship.


                                     

Curative properties of Keerimalai

Popularly called Keerimalai (nagulam - keeri - mongoose), the place has its name wonderfully preserved in numerous legends. Previously it had been called Tiruthambaleswaram. The curative value of its waters is the theme around which many legends have emanated. Ancient texts refer to the confluence of fresh water from the springs on the coast, with brackish water from the sea, ganga samudra sangamam, as the union of the powers of Siva and Sakthi. The sage Nagulamuni found a cave nearby a haven for meditating and “faced the rising and setting suns with equal facility and had the summer and winter solstices directly overhead, when they occurred” (Dr.R.Vigneswaran in Naguleswaram, 2003). In his treatise, Tamil Culture in Ceylon (1950), MD Raghavan refers to the “sacred spring of Keerimalai –its very name signifies the hill of Nagula muni, the sage who was shrunken with austerities, that was likened to the Kiri (mongoose)”. Maruthapuraveehavalli, a Pandiyan princess, cured of her equine facial features by the waters, built Maviddapuram Kandaswamy temple nearby.


                                     
The late Dr.Arumugam, an Irrigation engineer by background and Hindu scholar, in his book More Hindu Temples in Srilanka, quotes scientific evidence relating to the mineral content of the waters of Keerimalai and that being the likely reason for the curative properties.

There are numerous puranic references to the historic temple, notably in Dhakshina Kailaya puranam. Suta Samhita, a Sanskrit work on Saivaism and part of Skanda Purana, refers to Naguleswaram among ancient sites of pilgrimage, an indication of the antiquity of Saivaism in Jaffna. (A Short History of Hinduism in Ceylon, CS Navaratnam 1964). There are also stories from the epics Mahabaratha and Ramayana which relate to this ancient temple.

Temple buildings

The Yalpana Vaipava Maalai, credits Prince Vijaya as the one who restored the Siva temple. However the historian and Cambridge scholar, Paul Pieris asserts, “ Long before the arrival of Prince Vijaya, there were in Srilanka five recognised Iswarams of Siva which claimed and received the adoration of all India. These were Tiruketheeswaram near Mahtitha; Munneswaram dominating Salwatte and the pearl fishery; Tondeswaram near Mantota; Tirukoneswaram near the great bay of Kottiyar and Naguleswaram near Kankesanturai. The situation of the shrines close to these ports cannot be the result of accident or caprice and was probably determined by the concourse of a wealthy mercantile population whose religious wants called for attention…”.


                                  


The impressive Hindu temple on the northern coast did not escape the envy of Portuguese invaders in the early 17th century. In 1621 Naguleswaram was razed to the ground by marauding forces. Yalpana Vaipava Malai refers to a Brahmin priest fleeing the temple but ensuring that at least some of the valuables were preserved, by hiding them in a near by well.

Srilasri Arumuga Navalar

It was not any easier under subsequent rulers. In 1878, the savant Sri Arumuga Navalar who led the revival of public interest in Saivaism, campaigned for the restoration of the temple, urging every one to donate in kind or cash for this work. Seventeen years later a consecration ceremony took place. However in 1918 the temple suffered severe damage due to an accidental fire.

Aadi Amavaasai

The new moon or amavasai is a significant day in any calendar. According to Hindu astrologers, in the month of Aadi, the moon is in the ascendant in Kataka rasi, which is occupied by Sun, and this concurrence is reminiscent of Siva and Sakthi. Hence the special significance of Aadi Amavaasai as a day when children remember their departed parents, notably their late father. It is customary for them to perform ablutions, offer prayers to the departed souls with the help of a priest (dharpanam) and attend a temple of Siva. In Srilanka, Keerimalai continues as the foremost shrine for Aadi amavaasai.

Sri K Naguleswara Kurukkal

The present Chief Priest Sri Naguleswara Kurukkal took over the mantle when only 22 years of age, after the passing away of his father in 1947. Hence, for an unbroken period of nearly six decades he has carried out this function with great dedication and devotion. Many of his children are abroad as leading priests in their respective countries, returning home to help their father during important festivals.

Sri Naguleswara Kurukkal himself has visited the UK five times, the last one following an invitation to officiate in the consecration ceremony of the London Murugan Temple. He has been afforded this honour in several other countries including India, Australia and South Africa. Instead of choosing a comfortable existence in an affluent abode, he toils with singularity of purpose for the restoration of Naguleswaram.

Despite the trying circumstances under which he works, he has slowly but surely rebuilt the temple with donations received, to an extent where nearly 70% of the work is complete. The political situation permitting a Maha Kumabhishekam is being mooted within a couple of years. A pre-requisite for this is a raja gopuram or temple tower.

NATIONAL SANCTUARY/SHRINE AND BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF LANKA

                                    Tewatta, Ragama - Sri Lanka


                        

The origins of this shrine date back to the beginning of this Century, when a little shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes (a little Chapel) was erected by a few Catholic laymen and Father A. Kieger OMI, in 1911, the area being then a part of the parish of Ragama. On 11 November 1917 Father A. Collorec OMI built a small Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes assisted by some Catholic workers from Colombo. The Chapel was later enlarged to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, and in the 1930's the side of the Church built a large Grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes. The Church and Shrine with the "Holy Well" by its side gradually became a place of pilgrimage to the Catholics of Colombo Archdiocese.

                                             

When the War was declared in 1939, this Shrine gained prominence because of a Vow that the then Archbishop of Colombo, Mgr. Jean Marie Masson OMI, made to Our Lady (26 may 1940), that if Ceylon was spared the horrors of War, he would build a Votive Shrine in her honour under the title of Our Lady of Lanka. The mantle of fulfilling this vow and building the votive Shrine (later declared a Minor Basilica by the Holy Father), fell on this shoulders of his successor, Archbishop Cooray, (later His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray OMI). The construction of the edifice was completed in 1974. The Holy Father Pope Paul VI endowed the Church with the title of a Minor Basilica in 1973. The Basilica was consecrated on 6 February 1974 and Our Lady crowned as Our Lady of Lanka the same day.

The new Grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes, quarried into a huge rock was completed in 1959, and blessed by the Most Rev. James R. Knox, the Apostolic Delegate for Ceylon, on 11 February 1959 (later Cardinal Knox)

  

                                  

                                                

For bird watching, Sri Lanka is the best country in the world

For bird watching, Sri Lanka

                                                

                                                         Little Green Bee eater

For bird watching, Sri Lanka is the best country in the world for it is indeed a birds’ paradise. You could view birds throughout the year because of its favourable climatic conditions being a tropical island and throughout the country in forests, jungles, lakes lagoons, streams, villas etc..

Out of a total of about 450 species of birds, nearly 250 are resident and 23 are endemic of which the majority are found in the lowland wet zone and the rainforests of the hill country and others are migratory. According to the booklet recently published by one of Sri Lankans leading wild life companies there are 33 birds endemic to the country. Most of the endemic birds could be viewed at Sinharaja rain forests Horton plains National park and in the peal wilderness sanctuary.

Quite a number of species of birds about 150 or so are migrants from the Temperate zone. They come during the Northern winter and some even from areas as North as Siberia. Bundala in the south, 246 sq kms South east of Colombo is very famous for migratory birds especially flocks of flamingo in the jungle and in the scrubland. Thus Bundala is a paradise for Birds watchers and this area seems to be the Southern most point of bird migration. Lagoons and swampy marshes found here are really the safe places for birds for feeding and nesting. These migratory birds such as flamingo, Heroes, Storks etc are creating a colourful blend in the environs of Bundala. This is close to Kataragama and could be reaches along the coastline from Colombo.

                                             

                                                            Frogmouth

Sinharaja rain forests is the peal wilderness sanctuary for bird watching in Sri Lanka

                                

                                          Blue Magpie

There are special locations famous for bird watching in Sri Lanka. Firstly, the Sinharaja forest reserve in the Sabaragamuwa province and consisting parts of the districts of Galle, Matara and Ratnapura. From the bio-diversity and climatic conditions prevailing here, it had been become one of the best areas for bird life. There is such an abundance and variety of birds here, you would not be able to discover all the secrets of these elegant erotic creatures even for a life time. Large number of endemic birds have made their home here like the SL Jungle Fowl (Lanka Valikaluwa), Black-crested Bulbul ( Kalu kondaya), SL Whistling Thrush (Lanka Arongaya), SL White –eye (Lanka Sithasiya), SL Blue Magpie (Lanka Kahibella), Ashy – headed laughing thrush (Aludemalicca), Red faced malkoha (Vata Kalu Malkoha), SL Housing Parrot (Lanka Goiramallitha), SL Spur fowl (Lanka Haban kukula) etc.

This area declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988 and as required bio-diversity, this is the most important site for bird watching in Sri Lanka and there is still undisturbed natural primary forest tracks. You could reach Sinharaja from Colombo through Ratnapura or from Galle, Matara and through Deniyaya.

                                        

                                                           Gray-Hornbill

Many beautiful places to watch best Birds in the world

                              

                                        Loriculus beryllinus

Other interesting locations in the South to view these beautiful birds are the Yala Sanctuary, Lahugala (Bundala), Kalametiya, Wirawila, Kumana, Uda Walawe and the two tanks Tissamahara and Deberawewa. Out of these, Karapitiya, Bundala, Wirawila etc consist of salty lagoons, mangrove swamps and open parkland with intermittent scrub jungle and as such are favourable spots for those birds. Egrets, white Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Green Shank are some of the bird – life associated with these. Tissa & Debana tanks depending on the level of water as they are in the Arid zone of Sri Lanka you could yet view some of the birds as the purple loot ‘Painted’ stork, Little Cormorant, Purple heron etc during the short rainy season Nov – Feb.

Yala and Lahugala are two other very good areas for bird watchers; Yala 309 kms from Colombo extends to an area of 1260 sq kms and share the Northern boundary with Lahugala elephant sanctuary. Dense jungle & open parklands a major hypes of vegetation here. The whole area consists of water – hole, small lakes, lagoons, house to a variety of birds. This is the only reliable place to view the endangered black Necked stork. Sri-Lanka’s largest bird as marshy swamps and lakes. Some of the other birds present here are the Bittern families of shos birds, Brown – capped babbler (Green bee – eater) etc.

Lahugala, to the North East of Yala, an elephant corridor is famous for a variety of bird life inclusive of the migrants especially in the forested areas and in villas. Aquatic birds such as Damil kitala, Pasthuduwa, Karawel koka, Indian Diya Kawa, Sudu Maha Koka, and more associated forested areas such as Muhudu Wevu Eagle, Pilihuduwa, Wana rathu mal koha, Wali kukula etc.

Kalanitiya birds habitant in the Southern Province is to the north of Bundala, consist of two salty lagoons, mangrove swamps and open parklands with intermittent scrub jungle and is an important site for shore birds.

Uda Walawe National Park is quite accessible and also family friendly and jeep safaris enable you to seek out the species of birds in the forested areas, open parklands with Mana grass (a favourite food of the elephants) all over – Oriole, Egrets, Robins, Wagtails, Babblers, Black capped purple King fisher, Crested Serpent Eagle, White bellied sea Eagle and the most beautiful bird in the world., the Majestic Peacock which you could find in plenty and seems to be quit fame.

In the central province, Royal Botanical Gardens at Hakgala (Nuwara Eliya), which had been a royal pleasure garden of a Sinhala king and later improved & extended by the British., is favourite by bio – diversity to create favourable habitants for birds such as Magpie Robin, Black headed Oriole, and about a very few endemic birds – Hanging Parrot and Layard Para beet.

Hoton plains National Park, Nuwara Eliya, a wind swept area expanse of marshy grassland with thin scraggy trees here & there and rivers etc, is the house for the Black throated Mumia, Orange – billed Babbler, Sri Lankan Whistling Thrash and Yellow eared Bulbar. Worlds end, which is considered to be the finest view in Sri Lanka could be visited and enjoy the serene beauty of the area. The precipitous escapement goes down to about 4000’ below.

In Kandy, the Udawatte kale forest reserve close to the temple of the Tooth- relic is a rainforest rich in species that have enjoyed protection from the past. Many species of bird life found here are the Blue- winged leaf birds, Oriental Dwait Kingfisher, Layard Para beet etc. You could also make a tour in the city of Kandy and along the Kandy Lake, and which is the last bastion of the Sinhala kings and which is famous for the most colourful pageant of the temple of the Tooth taking place in July every year.

Excellent bird watching site in Sri Lanka, at the Northern end of the Kurunegala range

                                

                                               Hornbill

Excellent bird watching site, at the Northern end of the Kurunegala range and the in the Northern central Province is Kandalama in Dambulla. The envious of the 55 acre forest around the Kandalama Tank, Hotels and the Cricket ground is rich in bird life and one of the best bird watching locations in the North central province. The visitors will get an opportunity to view the birds around the hotels and there are more than 140 species here living in trees (arboreal) on the ground (terrestrial) and water (aquatic) inclusive of the 4 endemic birds Sri Lanka Spur Fowl, Sri Lanka jungle Fowl, Sri Lankan Green Hora Bill, and Brow capped Babbler.

Many aquatic birds such as Lesser whistling Duck, purple Swamphen, White prested Water hen, whiskered Tera, Pin tailed snipe and Little green heron. Others common birds like Brahmin kile and Marsh harrier could also be observed.

Sigiriya Lion Rock, a world famous heritage site is the palatial Rock fortress of the daring Sinhala king, Kasyapa V of the (5th AD). This rises to about 200 metres from the scrub jungle around and had been the innermost stronghold of the fortified town, at the base of which are the ruins of roads, rampart, extensive gardens etc., which circle the rock base. This is an ideal location to watch birds like the Orange breasted green Pigeon, Woolly necked stork, Black headed babul, Emerald Dove etc.

In the low country fresh water marshes such as the Muthurajawela close to the air port and Bellanwila – Attidiya just south of Colombo are famous for an abundance of bird life for these urban wetland consist of marshes, natural and man made canals. You could take a walk along the edge of the swamps or canals and have a good look at the birds like Pied Kingfisher and migrant birds too visit these marshes.

Dry zone lowland tanks are shallow and manmade in the past during the reign of Sinhala kings and these formed very favourable habitant for birds like the Little egret, Cattle egret, Peasant tailed jacna etc. There are good habitants for migrating shore birds such as the migratory Tree wasblers, Thrushes, Cockoos etc., which could be seen in the forest area nearby. Large reservoirs in the Dry zone are sought after by the different species of Ducks, terns and Herons.

A remarkable bird in Sri Lanka is the seven sister birds with a remarkable feature of going about in groups of seven when one is present somewhere another 6 could be found in an immediate neighbourhood. This seems to be a kind of a social group, same kind of bird flocking in sevens which seems to be a rare phoneme in birds all over the world – may be the "polkichcha".