BIRDS OF PEACE

 BIRDS OF PEACE

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

14/V/2022

 

Doves are considered to be a symbol of peace. Biblically, the dove is considered a ‘bird of hope’ as it was released by ‘Noah’ from his ‘Ark’ during the ‘great floods’. It came back with a ‘Olive’ branch which indicated she had spotted land and this branch was a confirmation of that. Today, one saw doves behaving unlike what they are known for.

 

This brought memories flowing down. Half a century back we used to shoot ‘Ghuggi-Kabootar’ (Doves & Pigeons) with an air gun. Besides, at home we would make a trap to catch & play with them. Dad won’t allow shooting a bird at home but would encourage us to make traps with a bamboo basket.

 

Birds would congregate in our backyard to feed on the left overs grains we used to feed the hens with, under the huge lemon tree. Their coup was close by.

 

Grains for the hens were brought from the local ‘Dhaan Mandi’ and spread generously for the hens. Water was always there in earthen containers for them. Hens would be left open for a while to exercise and feed. We used to wonder, they ate less but buried the grains in the sand more, which they churned scratching with their feet. Many of them would sit in the water container and dirty the whole water. Wild birds didn’t mind drinking the same.

 

Leftover grains would become feast for many doves, pigeons, partridges and sparrows. These girls would fly down to the parapet of the boundary walls and wait for their turn patiently. The ‘cocks’ were very possessive and won’t let anyone else feed while their ‘darlings’ enjoyed a meal. They attacked any intruder.

 

Those birds would fly into the lemon tree keeping an eye on the roosters. New birds used to get scared but the regular ones used to show the cocks a ‘thenga’. Once the ‘flock’ were in their pen, it used to be party time for the wild ones. We would sit on a charpoy basking in the winter sun, listening to the radio and observe all this.

 

Bamboo baskets were converted into bird traps. A small stick used to be tied with a rope (seba) till a safe distance, then wait for the birds to take the bait. That stick was made to balance on the rim of an upside-down basket. Birds would walk under the basket where the grains were displayed prominently. A jerky pull on the string and a bird or two would be caught.

 

Partridges & sparrows were swift & agile and quick to fly away.  Pigeons could wriggle out from under the basket. Doves were dopes. They would just sit there.

 

Partridges would snap and mind you they had sharp claws and beaks. Pigeons would struggle a bit but then calm down. Sparrows were too small. Out of fear not to harm them, one kept a loose grip. One fleeting opportunity and off they flew away.

 

Our cats & dogs were very attentive during all this commotion. They would sit quietly and wait. Moment, you pulled the string, before you, they were at the basket begging for the bird in hand.

 

Dogs never troubled these birds. Cats would lie in wait, tip toe & pounce to catch one. If one was not careful, cats could snatch a bird from your hand. Dad would never let us harm the birds which came home. They were treated as guests. He ensured we released them.

 

White doves used to be released on Republic Day. We used to wonder why only doves.

 

Be that as it may. This morning one came across a pair of doves in the common garden in front of our house. They ‘coo’ non-stop but today they were behaving a little differently, unlike what they symbolise.

 

One had never seen the ‘birds of peace’ fighting. The fight was so fierce that one of them had a few tail feathers pulled out from their sockets. Must have been painful. It was difficult to say whether both of them were males or females but their rivalry was evident. Courtship period being over, what was their reason to be loggerheads, intrigued me?

 

They descended onto the grassy lawn. Instead of foraging, they were challenging each other to a duel, like wrestlers on a mat. Once the referee said ‘box’, they pounced and clawed each other mercilessly. One would jump a few feet in the air and pin down the other like they do in WWE. Once down they would peck each other violently as if saying, ‘Kutte main tera khoon pee jaunga’.

 

That duel lasted till a morning walker happened to pass close to them. They panicked and made a quick exit. Are birds of peace really so violent? I wonder!!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© NOEL ELLIS