DHOBAN CHIRIYA

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

15/XI/2024

 

The other day we went to a nearby lake to watch the Demoiselles cranes which have started arriving for this winter season. For us, it is a ritual to go and pay our respect to them for their courage & stamina to traverse all the way from Siberia to our ‘desh’.

 

I shall not talk about them today. Instead, out of all the other birds that we saw at the lake, there was one bird which caught my attention called the ‘Dhoban Chiriya’ (DC).

 

As we sat at the steps leading to the lake, right at the water's edge was a stone protruding out. On this sat this beautiful black and white bird not bigger than a house sparrow, flipping its tail up and down at a great pace. It sang and tweeted as if calling me to take her picture.

 

Why was it called the ‘Dhoban Chiriya’? This name is derived from its behaviour and deportment was my conclusion. The way it goes ‘dip-dip-dip-dipping’ its tail up and down resembles a scene at the ‘dhobi ghat’ where rows of washerwomen beat clothes on stones to clean them.

 

My mother-in-law on seeing it immediately said it is called the ‘Dhoban Chiriya’. Why does it flick its tail up and down at great frequency when it is not washing any clothes? I got interested.

 

Its scientific name is Oriental Magpie ‘Copsychus saularis’. ‘Chat’ because it tweets constantly. It is a common Asian bird but sadly, not found so commonly these days. We are blessed to see it surviving and thriving in and around the place where we stay.

 

By the way it is the national bird of BanglaDesh and can be seen on their Taka or currency notes and called Doyel in Bengali.

 

This morning, when I went to water our pots, a small bird was chasing insects in the common lawn infront of the house. The sun being in my eyes it was difficult to identify it. As I continued sipping tea, I realised it was my friend I had met at Guda Lake a few days ago.

 

As this bird went hopping across the common lawn flicking and dipping its tail chasing insects, I brought out my camera. In between, I applied some logic behind the reason for its ‘tail movement’.

 

Ureka…. It took me a few seconds to observe and find out the reason. This bird, as it moved on the grass with its tail bobbing up and down, was scaring and disturbing insects which were hiding in the grass. Moment insects used to dart, our birdie friend would catch them and gobble them up.

 

Insects understand the change of shadows and light falling on them and take evasive action. That is when doom struck them and our ‘DC’ caught them and devoured the juicy little one. Nature has its own ways to provide for everyone. I saw DC doing it at the lake and now right outside our home.

 

Is it a coincidence that once you meet someone in life you keep meeting him or her again? I wonder!!!!!!

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS