KAL KYA HOGA

 KAL KYA HOGA

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

15/V/2022

 

Birds have caught my attention in Jodhpur. The colony horticulture department have created a unique eco system. The greenery has attracted many birds. My heart has fallen for the Sunbirds who are regular visitors to our home.

 

My favourite are a ‘Brownish greenish female’ (Brownie) and a ‘Black shiny male’(Shadow). They have adopted us. We don’t scare them anymore but they maintain their distance. Every afternoon, the male is at our window trying to peep in. Both enjoy swinging on our hanging pots. Once we leave the veranda, after our morning cup of tea, the veranda is theirs. One can watch them all day through our blackened windows. We can see them, they can’t.

 

In one corner of the veranda, we have kept an old ‘matka’ to make ‘compost’ from garden & kitchen waste. One day instead of keeping its lid ‘seedha’, I kept it ‘ulta’. While watering the plants that shallow ‘dhakkan’ got filled up to the brim. This has now become the birds watering & bathing point, an improvised sauna, if it can be called.

 

With heat touching 49 degrees plus, it is terrible in the sun. We refrain from even opening our doors for fear of catching ‘Loo’. Imagine all beings who are exposed to this torturous sun. Birds, even in shade breathe with their beaks open. Is it the heat? Or is it something else for their beaks to remain ajar.

 

‘Shadow’ likes to hang around shady spots, sip a few drops, look to the skies and chirp away to glory. Probably thanking God for his bounties.

 

‘Brownie’ displayed something unique today. After watering the pots, one sprayed the Champa tree with water generously. The ‘dust’ which blows gets stuck to the surface of its leaves and has changed ‘green leaves’ to a ‘sandy brown’. A pressure wash makes them look fresh and rejuvenated.

 

‘Brownie’ loves to play hide and seek with ‘Shadow’ on the Champa. It made those foot long leaves a ‘Fissal Patti’ (in Marwari), ‘Ghasar Ghundi’ (in Marathi) or simply a ‘slide’. Initially, it wet herself with droplets of water sticking to the leaf, flapping her wings and gathering them. Probably she would carry water for her babies or was enjoying a body wash.

 

Then she started slipping down the leaf. She would fly up and slide down as the droplets made the leaf surface slippery. Thereafter there was no stopping her. One leaf, hop to another, Shiiiiuuuunnn, slide, hop to a fresh leaf and repeat.

 

One thing that made me ponder was, how lively this little bird is! Till yesterday those trees were never sprinkled and today she is having so much fun. This bird has adapted very well to this hot weather and must be knowing the worst is yet to come, but still…. lives life king size.

 

Next thing which mused me was the nature of this bird. She didn’t go for other water sources, like leaky pipes, lawn sprinklers, garden taps etc which keep dripping. She enjoyed the natural surroundings. This ‘lady’ has enough privacy amongst the leaves. A few drops were sufficient to wash away her dirt. It was done quickly as droplets due to gravity join together and make a beeline for earth. Once done, she would leave that leaf for others to enjoy. How considerate!

 

We couldn’t stop ourselves to visit the ‘potter’ for their sake. A small earthen ‘tawa’, which is shallow enough, for this bird not to drown, would hold enough water for them to drink and bathe. Some more earthenware was also picked up and shall be modified as a bird feeder and hung on the same Champa tree. S&B would love to romp & have a pool side party. Eat drink and be merry. Walk out of the pool, dry yourself, rest a while, jump in again and repeat. Bulbuls and Sparrows should also take the cue.

 

Grains we picked up for the other birds were bajra, wheat and rice. They can pick and choose from the spread. Eating ‘Bajri’ is their favourite. Now they have a multigrain buffet. One has never seen a bird ‘over feeding’. For S&B there is an abundance of insects in the cluster of pots. My next project for them would be a ‘nectar’ hanger.

 

Lessons to take away from the birds are many. 1. Don’t be a glutton. 2. Share and invite your friends. 3. Care and compassion. 4. Always stay alert. 5.Camouflage is the best defence. 6. Stay fit, it is survival of the fittest. 7. Above all stay happy and 8. Sing all day, whatever be the circumstances, etc. They live for and in today.

 

Kal kya hoga kis ko pata, abhi zindagi ka le lo maza. Will humans ever understand? I wonder!!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© NOEL ELLIS