NATURE'S GAME
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
22/VI/2024
The weather in Sun City has eased out a little bit. The torturous 50°s have reduced by 10° giving some relief. Monsoon, which is hardly a monsoon here, makes a deadly combination of heat and humidity. Sweat and more sweat would be in store in the coming weeks.
Be that as it may. Heat has brought about new activity in and around the Ellis’ Garden. Neem is flowering and fruiting and so are the Almond trees. Suddenly, bird and insect activity has intensified to a different level.
The ‘grain eaters’ are on their own trip. The nectar seekers aren’t bothered for the rest. The insect killers are on a feeding frenzy and so are the ‘maukatarians’ who enjoy both.
Chameleons which hang around the champa tree are also having a ball. They slither down quietly and lay an ambush for whatever insect comes their way. It is none other than our Mr TikTok and family.
The other day, I was settling my grow bags with fresh saplings when I came across a rotten coconut shell that ‘proxied’ as a pot for almost two years. The outer cover was intact but its insides had been composted. I lifted it up but had to drop it immediately or else I was in trouble.
An army of big sized black ants started to crawl out. Many of them had wings. This was an indication that rains were round the bend. Before they could pierce their claws into my skin, I dropped it on the road. This agitated that huge group of black ants hiding inside. Slowly, they crawled out onto the tarmac.
A couple of Bulbuls who were enjoying roti came into action. Two of the inquisitive ones dived down to a couple of feet from where I was standing and observed that commotion of black ants and got super excited. This was an unexpected ‘Bara Khana’ for them. A typical call was sent out to their peers announcing a new meal. They must be fed up eating ‘lays chips’ all these days. ‘Kurkure’ would be a welcome change, that too fresh from the ‘oven’.
One by one they started picking on them. A few ants climbed the Bulbul’s feet which made them jerk their feet vigorously, jettisoning the ants a few feet away. By this time Mr TikTok quietly made his way to the ledge of the road. All those ants which were trying to climb up were picked up by his long sticky tongue. A few munches and they were gone. Yummy, I suppose.
Within minutes all ants which dared to venture out of the coconut shell were gone. To do the ‘shikari’s’ a favour, I rolled the coconut shell with my foot again. Out came another group of ants. By then, many bulbuls had joined the feeding frenzy and enjoyed the refreshing taste.
I was too late to get my camera, as all this happened too fast. But then I decided to catch a few ‘Bee Eaters’ in action.
Surprisingly, Bees which congregated on the water bowls in large numbers had drastically reduced. They could drink the complete bowl of water by the end of the day. Now, there was enough water left for the birds. I did not have to refill their bowls at mid day.
Could the reason for the fall in numbers be the bee eaters? Not only the bee eaters, Mr TikTok was enjoying eating bees at the watering point too. Had the bees changed their place of water collection? Do they have a warning system to sensitize each other not to visit particular places as shikari’s were in wait? Had they found an alternate source of water? These were some questions in my mind.
With flowering in the trees at its peak, bees had to be inviting themselves to tons of nectar and loads of pollen. They then are picked up by our well camouflaged friends lurking in those trees.
Bees are agile and can change course mid air quite fast. But once the bee eaters zero on, how hard that bee manoeuvres mid air, it will be caught. Dare a bee sit on a flower, picking it is cake walk. Once in the beak of the bird you hear a sound of ‘snap’, probably the bee's spine breaks once in their jaws.
This is nature's way of balancing things. Man doesn’t realise it. We are taking away their habitat. What a pity! Can’t we just sit back and enjoy this beautiful game being played in nature? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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