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A NEW COLONY

 


 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

02/VII/2025

 

We have a bridge on the main highway over river Jojhri which flows adjoining our colony. It is about seventy meters long. All traffic to and fro from Gujrat travels over it. On the surface it is busy and noisy with speeding vehicles but down under it is a different world.

 

That world is calm, in no hurry but in constant worry of someone trespassing. A man-made structure would turn into a living space in this concrete jungle is quite unimaginable. But these guys have adapted to it so well. This colony is definitely not of humans.

 

They have about seven to eight ‘floors’ out of which only five of them are occupied. If you halt a while and understand their logic, it doesn’t take time to understand why they occupy higher floors. The lower ones are taken only if they do not have any alternative.

 

I am talking of a colony of Mynahs, who are occupants of drainage holes of the retaining walls of the bridge. They have made their nests deep within. The chicks are not visible, even if you stand close.

 

The good thing in Rajasthan is that humans do not hurt birds. It is a different issue that their habitats get destroyed due to urbanisation but living beings are not harmed, rather they are cared for.

 

Unlike Nagaland, where I happened to serve. Two birds could make a good family lunch.

 

We had unloaded our military special at Dimapur and were waiting for transport to take us to our unit location. A few Naga boys sat on the edge of the platform awkwardly.

 

Mynahs came to forage once the train passed and would sit on the electric and telephone lines which run along. These boys carried catapults tucked in behind in their pants. Moment a bird would be in striking range, a quick aim, and a stone the size of a marble would be flung towards the bird. They were marksmen and had practiced the skill of using a “gulail”. Two birds and it would be a feast.

 

Be that as it may. Coming back to their present abode, a few motorcyclists are common passers by as this is a shortcut to go to the other side from under this bridge. Except for the rainy season, it is functional most of the year. Only a few of them halt to talk on their phones. Moment a bike would halt, the parent birds would fly away.

 

Then an odd tractor trolly would go by. They were of no concern for the birds as they never halted under the bridge unless the driver sat for a Biri break. A few cars also use this underpass. Rest of the time the birds are undisturbed.

 

Another observation was that even if a dog or a cat stood on its hind legs, they could reach only the second or the third tier of holes. That was the main reason for them to build their nests higher. There is another danger which lurks called the mongoose and the monitor lizards. I am not sure if their defensive tactics work against them.

 

There were parrots nesting in the highest holes last season. They were not there now.

 

The irony is that this river is full of both waste water and plastic of all sorts. People dump thermos col in tons. However, these birds find buntings and threads in that milieu to pick and decorate their nests. I found them fetching strings called ‘Jhallar’ for their nests. Plus, they forage in the waste for food.

 

Soon they realised that I am another visitor who means no harm, they started returning to their coves. Some with grass, some with strings, some with twigs and some with food. One could hear the commotion inside the nests when the little chicks start making ruckus when the parents arrive and sit at the mouth of their nests.

 

Suddenly, there was a lot of screeching and chirping. It was a passing stray dog. The alarm had been raised by a pair sitting on a kikar tree nearby. All of them got alerted and abandoned their nests before the dog could even get a whiff. Moment, it walked away, these birds returned.

 

A pair even came and sat overhead. As if discussing or rather trying to offer me help. I thanked them for asking and told them I am going to leave shortly. If you pose and give me a few shots, I shall move on, I told them.

 

It was some nice time spent with them. Maybe, before the rains, I will spend more time understanding their nature and behaviour, if they allow me.

 

https://youtu.be/7IMCx-GT8mo

 

Are all birds intelligent like them? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS

 

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