We have been watching our ‘Red Vented’ Bulbul’s nest in the garage with great enthusiasm since the last two weeks. The desperate wait for the babies to hatch and the eagerness to see them taking flight is increasing by the day.
It all must have started with an idea to build a nest in one of our hanging pots. I shall leave the criteria for selection and its tactical placement for the time being. Granting the Bulbul her wisdom and acumen and above all confidence in making it there needs an applause.
These birds are friendly but always keep their distance especially when feeding on roti we keep for them. They remain watchful and sharp. Moment, they feel threatened, they vanish into the bushes. Once the coast is clear, they return but with utmost caution to feed again.
I say friendly because they get after me to disturb the foliage in the garden. Maybe, the bushes get shaken by my movement amongst pots or when I sprinkle water on the leaves. This disturbs a lot of insects. As they say, the early bird catches the worm. Here the smart bird catches moths and grasshoppers.
We saw the pair romancing on our Champa tree. Their love talks were continuous and never ending. Reminded me of my younger days.
Then they must have started the exercise of ‘nest building’. One silken thread still hangs in the pot half woven in her nest reminding me to be careful while watering. I promised myself to keep the pot dry even at the peril of losing that plant. It has gone without watering for two weeks. It was only once when mom was not there, I poured half a mug that too inadvertently when she had just started to build her nest.
The excitement to see her spotted eggs was always there. But then if nature is disturbed, she could have left the nest and her eggs. That we didn’t want at all. We wanted her to feel safe and looked after in our garage so that year after year she comes back and we see more bulbul chicks in our garden.
It is a fact that birds are not only stress busters but are insect killers. The insect may be hiding behind leaves but she can chase them out. They ate all the ‘aphids’ which attacked my water lily plants. Though those leaves still remain ‘pock marked’ but they polished off every insect which otherwise could have harmed the waterlily plant.
We used to get worried as the nest used to remain absolutely silent. Mama Bulbul’s tail used to jut out from in between the leaves. That was an encouraging sign and it meant that she was still hatching her eggs. She would leave off and on to relieve herself and fetch some food. But like a dedicated mother she would sit night and day keeping the eggs warm with her body heat.
As days passed, she started leaving the nest frequently. This was a sign that she was going out looking for food. Not only for herself but her little chicks too. How many there were was not known but as a wild guess there had to be at least two.
I spotted her carrying black ants for the little ones. Moment I would come under the pot for watering the other plants in the garage she would raise a ruckus. That would attract papa Bulbul and they would talk to each other or probably me to stay away as their babies were very small. I used to quickly finish the job and maintain my distance.
This evening as I was standing in the veranda, I saw mama bulbul clutching the hanging pots supports and peeping into her nest. Moment, she chirped, we saw two small little heads bobbing up and down begging for food. She fed them quickly and flew away for another round.
I called my wife to show the commotion in the nest and that is the time I took the liberty to take a small video of these little beings. Their eyes still have not opened fully. The vibrations when I touched the pot were a signal for them to open their mouths wide and ask for a morsel to be stuffed.
Before mama bulbul came back, I had what I wanted and moved to the roof. It was fun to see mama bulbul come for a drink in one of the troughs. Moment, she left a male Hummingbird landed at the same place for the same thing.
A quick click and it was time to get down to pen my thoughts. I wish I could photograph the bulbul babies more clearly and deliberately. Will mama bulbul allow me? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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