I hear a coppersmith barbet emitting its metallic call, even as a jet black koel flies across my window. All this, while I'm frantically trying to concentrate on the work at hand. It's November, and my team is gearing up for our annual nature festival, Earth Mela. Our volunteers and interns are busy preparing clay curios and sending out invites to schools, colleges and corporate houses; some designing posters of various lectures, workshops and competitions; while a few are struggling through the schedule. Some are having fun sorting out fossils, rocks and other terracotta artefacts. But, the best task is that of sorting through photos, poems and paintings we received for display in the exhibition.

I respond to the humdrum and chaos around by focusing on some bird song in the distance, be it a tailor bird, black kite or a fantail flycatcher courting its mate. This is my urban symphony, my Bach and Beethoven. Within seconds my mind blocks out all the traffic sound, honking and even fights that may be occurring on the road below. The songs of these birds have such magical powers.