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A THINKING BIRD

 

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

09/III/2025

 

As I opened the door to pick up the newspaper, it felt unusually chilly. It was only yesterday that we had packed our woollens. There was no choice but to pull them out again.

 

The dawn was breaking and the bird activity around the feeder started with it. It is the sparrows, followed by the bulbuls and then the doves. An odd finch, Taylor bird or a Sunbird may also join, but today it was not that hectic.

 

Birds had perched on branches warming up with the first rays of sunlight. Most of them were all fluffed up like small balloons. I rushed inside to find my jacket and shoes, before I caught a cold.

 

I was looking forward to a conversation with Greeny the Green Pigeon. She and her family arrive and sit high above on the Drumstick tree everyday. Greeny arrived, sat for a minute and off she flew away. I thought she would return but she didn’t. I was hoping that Greeny would pose for me which was not to be.

 

It was time to take a walk around the common garden. Sometimes, you do come across an old pal like the Shikra. There could be a possibility of crossing paths with some new acquaintances. Lady luck was avoiding me, so I decided to walk back home.

 

Just then there was frantic activity in one of the neem trees. I spotted a bird but could not make who she was. It appeared like a dove but before I could use my lens, she was off into a nearby ficus tree with very dense foliage. One could only see the branches shake by the movement of this bird.

 

I stood still and waited for her to come out of that tree. Today, there was no breeze, so any movement up there was easy to pick up. Then everything went still again. A thought passed my mind that she could have flown off from the other side. But my gut feeling said that she would give me an appearance.

 

Just then there was movement on another branch quite low from where I had seen the movement first. A bird dashed out of it to a tree right infront of me. A short halt and it entered the Blackboard tree also called the Devil’s tree adjacent to it. Who else could it be? It was none other than ‘Greeny’.

 

I tiptoed close to that tree to watch what she was up to. I heard her whistle and I whistled back to her. “What are you up to”, I asked? Silence. Are you annoyed? Silence again. I moved right under that tree. Greeny had disappeared mysteriously.

 

Then I heard her faint call. “Waz up sweetheart”, I said. In a muffled voice she told me that she was building a nest in that tree. The evidence was visible as she had a twig in her mouth. Had she spoken, it would have fallen down and she would have to go over the procedure of fetching it all over again.

 

Congratulations, I said. When is the due date to lay your eggs? “In a week or so,” she said? “Come over to my place I would give you nice threads of coconut coir”. “No” she said, "one has to make a strong foundation first and cosmetics would follow subsequently”.

 

“This twig is from the same tree but from another location, " she​ said. Camouflage is our only way to survive and the twigs for the nest have to match the colour of the bark of the tree we nest in”. It was food for thought for me.

 

“Why did you go to the ficus tree and this tree close by”. “That is deception, she said. If I move straight to the nesting tree, there could be a predator lurking somewhere and would follow me to pinpoint the location of my nest. Those birds return to eat our eggs or even eat us while we nestle”.

 

“That is some hard work you people do”. “Yes "​, she said and besides, this location is next to a human settlement. Vehicles and people pass by frequently. That gives us added protection, as predators are scared to stay long in such places. Plus, if I sit still, it is very difficult to spot me both from the ground and the air. I agreed. Moment, I took my eyes off from where she was sitting, I could not relocate her.

 

How is your family doing? They are well and busy making nests. I bid Greeny goodbye. Do let me know if I can be of any help. Thank you for showing me your nest.

 

Their logic to make a nest is unique. How can a bird think so much? I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS 




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