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The Green Ogre

The Green Ogre

Nature’s Layers Unravelled – Encounters with birds, beasts, and relatives

Category: Beej

All posts authored by Beej

TL;DR – Why did the wintering Grey Wagtail sing?

TL;DR – Why did the wintering Grey Wagtail sing?

Bijoy VenugopalFebruary 9, 2025February 16, 2025

A migratory Grey Wagtail singing in winter is an oddity. So, why was this one singing?

Pranayama with Bar-headed Geese – A Pilgrimage in Gadag

Pranayama with Bar-headed Geese – A Pilgrimage in Gadag

Bijoy VenugopalJanuary 10, 2025January 10, 2025

Bar-headed Geese are masters of pranayama, making use of atmospheric oxygen like few other birds can. In that sense, they are true yogis, and making a journey to see them is akin to a pilgrimage.

2024 – The Year The Green Ogre Breathed Again!

2024 – The Year The Green Ogre Breathed Again!

Bijoy VenugopalDecember 29, 2024January 10, 2025

2024 was a stellar year for us at The Green Ogre. Two new travelogue series, a few spectacular photo-essays, and some brilliant one-offs. Not to forget what most people visit the site for—the quizzes and games! So here’s looking back and hearing from our contributors, and awaiting what 2025 brings…

Let Nature Guide You – Inspiration For Naturalists

Let Nature Guide You – Inspiration For Naturalists

Bijoy VenugopalDecember 28, 2024January 10, 2025

Nature Guides are guardians of a deeper truth — that Nature is not something to fear, conquer, or tame but cherish, respect, and protect

Rain In The Desert – On The Frankincense Trail In Oman

Rain In The Desert – On The Frankincense Trail In Oman

Bijoy VenugopalDecember 26, 2024January 10, 2025

Tis the season. With Christmas just behind us and as the New Year sees the Middle East plunged in crisis, our thoughts wander to the meaning of the Magi’s gifts to the holy infant — gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In August 2014, I had the opportunity to visit southern Oman to discover the fascinating origins of frankincense. Here’s the story.

Romancing a Taiga Flycatcher in a tangle of pronouns

Romancing a Taiga Flycatcher in a tangle of pronouns

Bijoy VenugopalNovember 26, 2024January 10, 2025

Walking by the woods on a wintry morning, I romanced a Taiga Flycatcher. We began a relationship. Two roads diverged – which would I choose?

Are you being stalked by a stork? Play a game!

Are you being stalked by a stork? Play a game!

Bijoy VenugopalNovember 18, 2024November 19, 2024

Love storks? Excellent! Here’s some entertainment for you bird nerds. We have a whole new stack of stork-themed Bird Games

Reclaiming the Nature Fix – In Pursuit of Biophilia

Reclaiming the Nature Fix – In Pursuit of Biophilia

Bijoy VenugopalSeptember 11, 2024December 28, 2024

The human craving for a “Nature Fix” is an ancient instinct blunted by generations of abuse. Biophilia is the word for it…

TL;DR – Death Stalks Like A Marabou Stork

TL;DR – Death Stalks Like A Marabou Stork

Bijoy VenugopalJuly 24, 2024July 24, 2024

Meet Africa’s Marabou Stork. Its unfeathered head and neck give this scavenger a calm and patient mien of morbidity.

Dimorphic Egret – Meet this East African mystery bird

Dimorphic Egret – Meet this East African mystery bird

Bijoy VenugopalJune 8, 2024November 20, 2024

East Africa’s Dimorphic Egret closely resembles the Western Reef-Egret, until you look for the differences. Easy, huh? You wish!

Encounter: Northern Treeshrew in Arunachal Pradesh

Encounter: Northern Treeshrew in Arunachal Pradesh

Bijoy VenugopalMay 19, 2024May 21, 2024

Running into a Northern Treeshrew in Arunachal Pradesh can be exhilarating. This tiny mammal, resembling a pointy-nosed squirrel, is more closely related to primates.

Indian Nightjar, Sweet Child O’Mine

Indian Nightjar, Sweet Child O’Mine

Bijoy VenugopalFebruary 21, 2024February 20, 2024

Nightjars own the dark. To spy one by daylight is a gift from the night. An Indian Nightjar with a baby by its side is a vision

TL;DR – What colour are a Black-winged Kite’s eyes?

TL;DR – What colour are a Black-winged Kite’s eyes?

Bijoy VenugopalFebruary 13, 2024February 15, 2024

Look closely at the eyes of a Black-winged Kite. Are they red? Or orange? Or yellow? The eyes will tell you if you are looking at an adult or a juvenile bird.

TL;DR – White-naped Woodpecker Double Bill

TL;DR – White-naped Woodpecker Double Bill

Bijoy VenugopalNovember 16, 2023November 16, 2023

Seeing one White-naped Woodpecker is exciting. Seeing a pair at work in the woodland is a bonus. And here’s a fun fact about the bird’s Latin name.

TL;DR – No Ugly Ducklings

TL;DR – No Ugly Ducklings

Bijoy VenugopalSeptember 18, 2023September 14, 2023

There are no ugly ducklings. And here’s proof! Just one look at these adorable young Indian Spot-billed Ducks and you’ll want to adopt them

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