Kaw Valley Eagles Day

The annual Kaw Valley Eagles Day, sponsored by the Jayhawk Audubon Society, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Unified School District 497, is held annually in Lawrence. This event celebrates the return of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) to the area. Part of this event is a short field trip to Clinton Lake to see some of the Bald Eagles and their young ones (immature). Bald Eagle has special importance because it is Nationa Bird of United States of America and it is also depicted on the Presidential seal.

Clinton lake is always a beautiful place to visit. Being a warm January day, there were several Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in the lake.

Photo Toshita Barve

There was a very good turnout.

Photo Toshita Barve

It was a nice sunny day.

Several telescopes were set to watch the Eagles and there were experts to help people get their questions answered.

The eagles were far off, but the telescopes were really useful.

A silhouette frame of an Eagle on a treetop. 

Canada Geese enjoying a swim.

There was an Eagle sitting on the frozen lake bed.

And there were two juvenile Eagles near bye.

A lone Canada Geese walking on frozen lake bed.

Super zoom photograph of three Eagles in single frame. 

Photo Credit Wikipedia Yathin S Krishnappa

If you have not seen this bird, it is a majestic bird.

Photo Credit Wikipidia Saffron Blaze

Links:
Official Kaw Vally Eagels Day

Indian Classical Music Performance : Pushkar Lele

SPIC-MACAY Kansas University Chapter again brought us an opportunity to witness a performance by a renowned Indian vocalist Shri. Pushkar Lele along with Shri. Sanjay Deshpande on Tabla and Shri. Vyasmurti Katti on Harmonium.

 

Shri Udayan Apte introducing the artists.

Shri Vyasmurti Katti accepting the inaugural greetings

Introductory explanation of the music style.

Shri Sanjay Deshpande

Music in progress

Musical conversation

Singing was full of expressions and emotions

Conversations after the program

Some autograph sighing too

Indian Classical Performance : Kalapini Komakali

SPICMACAY@KU brought a concert of Kalapini Komkali a Indian Classical vocalist of the younger generation with wholly original music which is melodious and extremely rich. She is daughter and student of the legendary vocalist late Kumar Gandharva.

Artists tuning the instruments before the concert.

 Prof. Hamsa Stainton introduced the artists before program.

The program being lecture demonstration Kalapini ji introduced the format of the concert.

The concert began with a Shivastuti.

Chinmay Ratnaparkhi a freshman in University of Kansas was on Tanpura.

Shri Raya Korgaonkar was with Kalapiniji on Harmonium. Hw is a leading Harmonium player for Goa, India. He has received training from Gurus like Late Shri Laxman Mandrekar, Pandit Madhav Ghatwal and Late Shri Nirmal Pai Kakode.

On tabla was Shri Sanjay Deshpande, a leading table player form Pune, India. He has been trained under two great table Maestros Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and Ustad Alla Rakha Khan saheb.

Shrikrishna and Durgamata idols were gracing the occasion.

Nataraja is the god of Dance and Music.

There was a Madhyalaya khayal type composition.

Audience members were encouraged to chat with artists.

SPICMACAY@KU volunteers with artists.