GRANDPA AGAIN

GRANDPA AGAIN

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

12/V/2024

It was just the other day when the Hummingbird pair of Blackie & Brownie fell in love and made their nest. Chicks have hatched. I can proudly claim that I am ‘grandfather’ again.

As a child, I used to watch Dad hatching hen eggs or duck eggs under a ‘Koodak’ hen. It took about twenty-one odd days for chicks to emerge. With the same analogy, I thought the Hummingbirds too would take that much time. But, to our surprise, they took just 12-14 days to hatch.

The chicks have lovely yellow beaks and stay absolutely silent in the nest. Some bird chicks make such a ruckus when parents arrive with food at the nest. Besides begging for food with their beaks wide open, they keep screeching till the time they are fed or till the parent moves away.

However, our Hummingbird chicks neither squeak or squeal at all. That is a way to stay safe by not disclosing their location to other birds of prey. Plus, B&B would have laid a strict ‘finger on your beak’ policy. Even when they come to feed the chicks, pin drop silence is maintained.

This morning, I sat down to observe the nest a little more deliberately after having finished with chores in the garden. I took a few pictures. I thought it would be prudent before the brood flies away.

The speed at which they were growing is quite unbelievable. Within a week they should try getting adventurous and learn to fly. I am not sure if they have ‘sibling rivalry’. I have to watch out for a fallen chick and save it from ‘Maano Aunty’, the cat who knows that there is a bird's nest & sits under the car.

These chicks need to be fed frequently throughout the day. Both B&B take turns and return within a ten-to-twenty-minute gap with a protein filled diet of insects and caterpillars. This nourishment is needed for the chick’s fast growth & good health. I am not sure if they bring something to hydrate the chicks in the form of nectar. How do they carry water/nectar? Do they have pouches in their throats?

These chicks have now grown from the ‘hatchling stage’ to ‘fledgling stage’. Meaning they have gained in body weight & strength and shall soon be ready to take their maiden flight.

Generally, these birds lay two to three eggs. It means that our nest has at least two chicks. How I confirmed this was by a little common sense. I sat with my camera, waiting for B&B to feed them. They brought a beak full of insects and left with some ‘white stuff’ in the shape of a ‘pea sized ball’.

What could it be? It was ‘chick poo’. It was the Papa Hummingbird who did the honours. Not once but twice. So, this is how they do nappy change of both their chicks.

My experience said that after a full stomach baby birds poo. This is what my baby Mynah used to do. Of course, her papa was yours truly and many times papa had a smeared hand or a botched shirt as she would sit on my shoulder after her meal. I still miss her.

Blackie extracted two globules in two visits and flew away carrying them in his mouth. In that way the nest is kept hygienic, infection free and sans obnoxious smells. Secondly, predators cannot smell them out. Thirdly, the contents are disposed far away which may cause a kind of distraction, even if any other bird or cat got that scent. How intelligent, I must say!

It was time to say goodbye to B&B and the chicks as they continued to feed their young ones with all things juicy. I was looking forward to paratha & sabzi but got oats and a boiled egg for breakfast. When shall grandpa see the chicks emerge from the nest and fly away? I wonder!!!!!!!

JAI HIND