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LESSONS IN SURVIVAL

 


LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

25/IV/2025

 

Our rooftop garden is doing well. Water lilies have started blooming. The other water plants are doing well too. It is unbelievable for people to fathom that a beautiful space can be created on the roof under the direct sun in the desert.

 

Most of you would be aware that our water lilies are in tubs. However, the floating plants are growing in shallow terracotta troughs. They are called “chatas” in Rajasthan and generally used to set curds. The ones which lived their lives after performing their basic duty are now giving service for growing these plants.

 

The summer you know is terrible in the Sun City. Scorching sun can burn anything. The ‘Loo’ or hot summer winds can crisp and dry everything they pass over. At the end of the day, water evaporates from the tubs and these earthen troughs lose most of the water. Only moist soil remains as these troughs do not have bottom holes. In the evening, they have to be topped up or else plants will die. This I do without fail.

 

Now comes what I observed today. It was a learning experience and I was not aware at all of this phenomenon.

 

This is about the birds which visit in the evening, especially while I am filling water in the tubs and feeding the fish. Two types of doves, two types of bulbuls and a pair of hummingbirds are regular visitors. Some come to have a drink before settling down for the evening, some to catch an insect or two and some to sit and enjoy the rooftop garden and steal a kiss before wishing me good night.

 

Birds which come for a drink are choosy. They have fixed spots from which they enjoy their drink. It is like one has a favourite bar in a pub. The drink made by the bartender is exactly to your liking and the ambience is what you enjoy. Now that one has been watching these birds over a period of time, one can understand their behaviour.

 

Like us the birds too must be getting thirsty, especially when they stay in the open. Instead of looking for water around the place they are, they head for our rooftop. They don’t land directly on the water bowl or trough but come and take a halt on the neighbour’s roof. Like mom used to tell us not to drink water the moment you finish a run, similarly they too adhere to such instructions.

 

Then they observe for any threats. I am not one, but my presence is a little challenging for them. I retreat to a corner of the roof to let them enjoy their drink. I respect their need and discomfort.

 

A quick sip or two depending on how thirsty they are or how long would be the gap between two drinks. must be their consideration. Then they are off, till we meet the next day.

 

I had just reached the roof and was feeding the fish when Ms Dovey landed near the trough. She was thirsty like hell. I was standing near her favourite place so she went to an alternate site. That trough had no water but the soil was quite moist. This bird had a look around as she walked around the berm of the trough looking for a pocket of water.

 

There is another trough next to it but she didn’t hop on to it, instead dug her beak in the wet soil and then shed it by shaking its head. What I reckoned was that she sucked out the moisture from the soil and threw out the rest back into the trough. I think they know how to keep themselves hydrated in harsh conditions.

 

This amount of water was definitely not enough. She flew off and then returned when I had moved a little away. She did a cat walk on the parapet to her favourite bowl and then without bothering about me and enjoyed her drink. The dip in the soil would have moistened her mouth and now she drank to her fill.

 

Then I waited for a little black bird who came at a fixed time. She did not disappoint me. The water in that trough is quite murky, but she will not drink from any other tub or bowl. Her table is always reserved.

 

The dove sucking out water from moist soil was something new for me. This was taught to us during our commando course on how to extract water out from moist soil. Of course, we boiled it or added KMNO4 to sterilise it. For birds living in nature there is no requirement to be that elaborate.

 

Nature teaches many lessons in survival. I learnt one today. Did you? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS




 

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