TIMELY INTERVENTION

 TIMELY INTERVENTION

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

10/V/2024

 

Blackie and Brownie’s (B&B) nest in our garage was the hub centre of activity. Their movement to and fro from the nest caught my attention this morning. One has been keeping a keen eye for any unusual distractions and disturbances to the nest. That’s the least we can do. Aim being to allow B&B to bring their fruits of love to life.

Food is plentiful around the garden. Bees, moths, worms, and Butterflies are abundantly available. New born insects are hatching abundantly. One issue of concern is that flower blooms have reduced drastically due to the onset of summers. With temperatures on the rise on a daily basis, hibiscus buds are yellowing and falling off, reducing one of the sources of nectar for the pair.

As I sat in the veranda observing their nest, Brownie made the first visit, followed by Blackie in quick succession. They would come and sit on a hanging pot or a hanging wire before approaching the nest and tweet quite loudly announcing their arrival.

Was it a warning to me to stop staring at the nest? Or, were they afraid of any predator on the prowl? There were so many questions in my mind. I moved in to let them be. However, their melodious chirp was not sounding melodious anymore. It was a sound of distress that needed immediate investigation.

It just took me a second to understand their cause of concern. A cat, which was a stranger in our lane, was hiding under the car parked in the garage, which made their nest within striking distance. There were paw marks on the windshield and roof too. This meant that the car had to be moved immediately before this cat pounced on the nest.  It didn’t matter if the car had to be parked in the sun. Those lives in the nest mattered more.

Generally, the female hatches the eggs and does not leave the clutch unless there is an emergency or it is her feeding time. Today, both B&B both were visiting the nest at a greater frequency. This looked a bit unusual but then they knew better how to raise a bird family.

That is the time I got in conversation with Blackie, the male who was hanging around watching me, holding an insect in its beak.

“Waz up friend”, I asked? “Nothing much but thank you for moving the car, we were under threat”, Blackie replied. “Brownie was so scared that she almost became a statue”. I smiled, and chuckled, “you have been very naughty going around with other girls. Brownie told me this”. “He-He-He”, he chirped and flew away only to return with two insects in his beak.

“Well. you know that morning and evening time is our feeding time”. “Brownie looks after the nest which is in a crucial stage”. It has been about a week and a half since she laid her eggs and, in another day, or two our babies should crack the eggs open”. “It is my duty to feed my wife”, he chirped.

“So nice of you Blackie”, I said. “But then why does she keep flying away to catch insects on her own”. “Is it”! He tweeted. “That is when I saw Brownie come and sit on the same pot from where Blackie was conversing with me”.

Blackie rolled into laughter with a series of tweets. “This is Beanie, Brownie’s sister”. “She is helping me take turns to feed her”. “Oh, I see, that is a close knit family”! I said. That is when Beanie hung on the entrance of the nest and a beak from inside popped out. Beanie was feeding Brownie.

“So sweet”, I said. But weren’t you flirting with her”, I asked a little sternly”. I was for a while but Beanie is just a girl and will mature next season, then we shall see”. “Lucky you”, I said.

“Brownie will go out to bring insects once the babies have hatched, that’s how we do it”, said Blackie.

Amazing are the ways of nature. More amazing are their relationships.

Blackie reappeared for another turn with a bunch of worms this time and told me. “Our eggs are about to crack”. There is movement inside the eggs, Brownie just told me”. Wow, I exclaimed. “All the best to you both. Take care, raise them well, make them good ‘birdizens’ of our colony. Let me know if we can be of help”. “Sure”, he said and flew away.

Imagine, our car could have been dangerous to their existence. The cat wouldn’t spare them for a snack. My timely intervention saved their lives. What else can I do for them? I wonder!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS