ARTICLE : CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH BIRDS

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH BIRDS

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

08/X/2021

It has been some time since I keyed in an article. Not that one didn’t want to but one needed a break. People even asked whether I was unwell. Some of course must have breathed a sigh of relief due to the overdose. Nevertheless, the trigger got pressed today. So here goes.

As we now observe mother nature closely and quietly, we find it has no match. Every leaf is different, every flower is different, every blade of grass is one of its kind. Every bird has its own characteristic. They look alike but actually they are diverse.

As we sipped our tea in the lawn today evening, one could hear different bird calls. Some fluttering away. ‘Water birds’ flying in a V pattern. Some foraging, some just sitting and singing. Some mending their nests, some diving at cats, some enjoying a swing on the branches. They all were busy in their own ways, except us who were enjoying games the birds played.

Yesterday, while photographing the passion flower in the backyard, a very small bird came and sat on a blade of wild grass up close. Grass has grown over six feet tall. It just sat there swaying with the blades enjoying its ride. It could have been a vantage point for it to spot insects and worms in the overgrowth below. I just stood still for a while, though my camera was in my hand. One jerky movement and it would have flown away.

As the enthusiast within me could not resist, I slowly lifted the camera to shoot. As luck would have it, this tiny birdie came in my viewfinder but was out of focus. As I moved the lens, the bird would hop to another blade and my focus would shift. Ultimately it did not give me a chance to shoot. One still pressed the button only to find that blade rocking. The bird had noticed me and vanished in a blink.

That bird would definitely return to the same place sooner or later and that’s the time I won’t miss it, I thought. Today, there were people clearing the overgrown grass, so that chance to take a pic also went away.

The sun was setting and the shadows were lengthening, that’s when I heard the calls of my favourite Grey Hornbills in the far distance. Probably it was telepathy that they knew a fan of theirs was waiting to greet them. Down they came fluttering and gliding towards our coconut tree. The Mom and Pop were in the lead. Before they took a halt on our tree they spotted us below and moved on. Their baby who was in tow probably got tired and took a halt and perched overhead, before it heard the parents call and moved on. Watching it was so satisfying.

It was time now for our evening walk. Weather was sultry. This could not deter us from taking our stroll. Dusk it was as the street lights had come up, though there was some natural light left still.

As we were nearing the far end of the road when I saw a large grasshopper take off from the road. Generally it becomes our street dog Oreo’s toy. Today he was not with us. This being a little larger than the normal grasshopper, my inquisitiveness took me to where it had gone and perched on the hedge on the side of the road.

It was a big surprise for us. It was the baby of the small bird I was talking about earlier. Just about equal to two digits of my finger, it sat crying for help. As I closed in, I found another sibling also perched on the same hedge. The parents sat on the ‘curry leaf’ tree chirping away to shoo me away.

My first instinct was to pick them up and bring them home. My wife told me not to touch them as then the parents may not accept them back. Good sense prevailed and we left them to fend for themselves. They were on their maiden flight, out from their nests learning the ropes.

Before the commotion could attract cats we moved away to a safe distance. The parents called again and the chicks obeyed and went to them. The parents took flight to the bushes . Within no time the little ones followed the calls of their parents and vanished.

One felt so happy as if a wish was fulfilled. If one had gone to fetch the camera, we would have lost those moments the birds shared with us. We wish those tiny tots God Speed. May you grow up and raise your family next season. Will they? I wonder!!!!!!!!