MY BIRDIE FRIENDS
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
09/VII/2022
Previous evening, we were discussing something with our contractor as ‘Rim-Jhim’ was the speed of the falling rain. With his experience he said sir, Jodhpur main ‘saavan’ mein barish hove koni, jab ‘Bhadon’ laage hai tab ‘jhirmir jhadi’ lagti hai. We laughed as he explained in ‘thet’ Marwari. My wife and I chipped in and said see we pulled the rains from Alibaug.
It was a lovely morning as the rain God had blessed us abundantly. The sun was partially visible. Black clouds were losing their colour to white. Clear skies and humid weather were to follow.
Not a leaf moved. Sweat appeared from nowhere on my forehead. One realised it only when a trickle came down from behind the ear. Pots needed no watering today. The birds too were in a kind of hibernation. I am not sure if they sweat too.
Out of the blue Ms Bulbul appeared. Before I realised, she came and sat on the stilts erected for our pepper vine. Had I extended my hand she would have sat on it. That’s how much they trust us now. They had different priorities, so they flew away and I followed them.
Their next perch was the ‘Drumstick’ tree at the neighbour’s place. They recently got it trimmed. After the rains fresh branches with tender leaves were sprouting. Generally, the colour of old leaves varies from dark green to olive green but these were translucent light green leaves.
Bulbuls eat grains and insects which I have seen first-hand. Hordes of white ants and ants with wings are their favourite snack. An odd earthworm and a grasshopper are delicacies but today I saw them picking on the ‘tenderest’ of leaves of the drumstick plant. This was another revelation for me.
Before the neighbours came out and objected, I walked up and tasted that leaf. Besides its distinct odour it had a ‘sourish-citrusy’ taste. It tasted really good and instead of munching on tender neem leaves in the morning this change of taste is better.
It was time for our ritualistic cuppa tea in our veranda when another activity caught my eye, this time again it was the neighbour’s veranda. ‘Brownie’ the Hummingbird, whom we have known for quite some time, came to roost on the ‘moodha’s’ lying outside. Initially, I thought she must be sunning herself but then she took off and whizzed past my head at breakneck speed.
Before even I could remove the lens cover this whole activity was over. Then I again heard a frurrrrrrrrrrr kind of sound and there she was back again to the moodha. Blackie & her partner could not have been far behind. All this while he sat on the neem tree as an ‘early warning detachment ‘keeping a close watch, while brownie went about her job.
This time something strange caught my eye. Brownie was pulling out plastic threads from the rim of the moodha. Oh! I see, it is nesting time for them. Last few days shadow and brownie have not been visiting our garden as often as they did. Only sometimes to have a dip or a sip in the flat water container while flying past. Otherwise, it has been very quiet on the western front.
Twigs, leaves, grass etc one can understand but plastic was a little unfamiliar. Well, if we humans can use plastic like hell, why can’t they. She was pulling out plastic strings and carrying them to her nest, probably to make it waterproof. They have also learnt ways to use plastic. I do see those black and blue plastic covers appear in the rainy season. These birds would have taken a cue.
The Bulbuls were eco-friendly. While making their nests as they ripped my ‘coir stick’ apart for making their nests. However, use of plastic for making or repairing was the next level of adaptation in the bird kingdom.
Humans are so fond of plastic. Even if they don’t need one, they would ask for an extra ‘thaili’. Not because the polythene isn’t strong enough but for double safety as it has to be hung on the rear-view mirror and take wares home.
Ladies ask for extra for a different reason. The one in which they carry stuff gets dirty. They need a clean one to wrap something at home. The bigger the plastic bag, the broader her smile.
I wish all the birds well. May you nest well and bring your babies once they are ready to fly. May the rains not harm your nests is my prayer. You can be rest assured that I would keep refilling your morning snack and container of water without fail.
Why are we forcing birds to use plastic? Will we humans stop using it? I wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© NOEL ELLIS
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