Akshaya Gowda (my wife’s cousin) and her family recently experienced the wonders of nature at their lovely home in Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. The house, nestled in abundant flora, is beside a stunning lake. There is an abundance of snakes, reptiles, peacocks, bulbuls, parrots, and waterfowl. As the sun rises, the birdsong fills the area.
A tree at the house’s edge recently experienced a flurry of activity. Two bulbuls were hard at work making a nest of dry twigs and grass. They reinforced the base with a plastic rag. Finishing the birdhouse, which sat between two sturdy branches, took four days. Preparing for the soon-to-arrive baby was a labour of love. We were fortunate to see the grand creation from the terrace.
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It astonished us when we spotted a single, pinkish-white egg with dark spots three days after. The birds had started a family! The mother bird cared for the precious egg and kept it safe from predators and the elements. When it rained, she would turn the egg around regularly and spread her wings to shield it. Besides protecting her, the male worked overtime to get food for his partner.
The swift birds launched a sortie whenever we peered out on the balcony, so we had to rush back inside. Every day, the mother bird would stretch her wings and leave the nest briefly. But she never strayed too far and always kept a watchful eye on her precious egg. We couldn’t take our eyes off the birds, so we shot them in the only way we knew—with our camera.
You can never stop being in awe of nature, and after a fourteen-day wait, a miracle appeared. The egg cracked open, and out popped twins! The exuberant parents received the double blessings with elation, expressing their joy with sounds of jubilation. Next, they removed the broken shells to add cosiness to the place. At first, the chicks were nearly featherless and looked terrible. But they grew a stunning coat of feathers over time and became attractive young adults.
Each of the parents took turns feeding the young their nourishing food, and the fresh additions became the centre of their lives. Their chirping sounded like a conversation in their language, and it was a beautiful experience! The chicks enjoyed selfless and unconditional love from their parents. The senior bulbuls enjoyed the food we provided them, but their intimidating demeanour caused us to stay away.
Two weeks breezed by quickly, and the nestlings began taking baby steps. Before long, they were flapping their wings in anticipation of the plunge. They explored the house while the parents searched for feed. We cupped the duo in our hands and took turns hugging them. The siblings would joyfully prance around, and we enjoyed their playfulness.
Our bond with the baby birds deepened, and we kept giving them what they required during the day. Whenever they were there, they could always make things entertaining. But the good times can come to an unexpected end! We awoke one morning to find that our feathered friends had flown away. From the wild, they came, and back to the wild, they disappeared! We never saw these winged marvels again. With most of us not taking the time to appreciate nature, I’m reminded of the famous words of Welsh poet WH Davies: ‘What is this life if, full of care,/ We have no time to stand and stare.’
