ANGRY BIRDS

Let me start by wishing you all a very Happy Easter. It was a beautiful and cool morning this Easter Sunday. It was dark when we drove down to attend the Sunrise service. We were served the traditional buttered hot cross buns and boiled eggs. It was fun to meet and greet people.

I was carrying my camera to see if I could catch the rising sun. But by the time we got out of the town, the sun was quite bright. I was looking forward to taking photos of a flock of peafowl in the railway colony on our way back home. But they too moved from their perches by then.

The weather has played up and way below the Suncity normal at this time. The summers may not be that harsh I suppose. Let us keep our fingers crossed.

On our way back, I took a little shortcut from under the bridge to our colony. No, we were not breaking any traffic rules but wanted to meet our dear Mynahs. It being nesting season, they are very active under the bridge. Every year around this time we go and say hello to them and also wish them a Happy Easter.

The retaining wall of the bridge over river Jojri has drain holes for rain water to flow out. Rains are far away and by then every hole has been occupied by a pair of Mynahs. They were fighting with each other for every hole. Now that their numbers have increased, there are more mynahs and lesser holes.

Literal fist fights and wrestling is what they do and we witnessed it live. Had we not stopped for a while to enjoy the ‘Dangal’, one or two mynahs would have got injured. One partner always holds the fort in the drain hole. Moment, it goes empty another pair takes its place. Then the fight begins. Neighbours join in too. Probably, they may not be liking a particular mynah coming to nest next door.

What I missed today is that in this melee a few parakeets take advantage and occupy their space. The parrots must be smart to enter the mynah colony on the quiet. Soon we shall see the little ones with half tails emerging from their nests. The river has no dearth of nestling material.

One of my friends calls most birds ‘angry birds’. It was today that I noticed that they are really angry by nature. They fight for their space and fight for their rights very aggressively. Hostility and aggressiveness were palpable. Their eyes look so piercing that if a human approaches them, they might peck him apart.

It was time to give them space to cool down and find their place in those drain holes. I am not sure if a few of them will be left out. Will those couples go and nest traditionally by making nests in trees or wait for the next season to occupy those holes first. How long does their nesting season last? I am not sure. Could there be some mynahs who wait for nests to be vacated? I don’t know.

My main concern is that they are planning to make a few flyovers and broaden the road. I hope these nests are not destroyed, making way for the new retaining wall. I think they won’t break the bridge.

As we said our goodbyes and drove into our colony, Easter Lilies were waiting to greet us. We made a pitstop to take a few photos and came home.

Would the angry birds have calmed down? I wonder!!!!!!!

https://youtu.be/JE82ocFNZOE

JAI HIND

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