The Bird Democracy

In our neighbourhood, there are some birds with incredible nest-building skills. It includes Mr. Ashy Prinia. His gravity-defining nests are quite strong in addition to being cool to look at. We are in awe of his finished works. He is a master at everything, including material purchasing and spot selecting. Many of us consult him for advice on nest design, construction methods, and placement. Mr. Ashy Prinia is a great architect! He has been really busy lately. He has been moving quickly from place to place. We know! He is onto another build. As expected, he has done it again. This time, he has chosen to build his nest right in the front of the garden, on the top most leaf of the plant. It is visible yet invisible. Absolutely magical! We observed him skillfully combining the collected feathers and linen with the leaves. When he was satisfied with the stitching, he began to pile extra soft things into the centre. When asked, the master architect shared his thoughts about his

Humans and other animals are not like us. What sets us apart? It is our ability to fly. Our greatest gifts are our wings, without which we feel powerless. We can cover enormous distances, avoid danger, and enjoy our freedom while we fly. The ability to fly is essential to a bird's existence. Once parents feel their children are ready to start their own adventure, they will encourage their children to fly. This is one such parent's story. Mr. Black Kite can be seen soaring in the skies these days. Three further little kites can be seen trailing behind him and attempting to keep up with him at a distance. These young ones belong to Mr. Black Kite. From behind, Mrs. Black Kite is observing them. Observing the magnificent Kite family during flying training is always a joy. Mr. Kite is pretty strict. He sees to it that the kids understand the full potential of their wings. His lesson plan for flying covers everything a kite could possibly need to know, including lifting off,

Good morning! Hope you are had a great week. As you have already read, July marks the beginning of a new season with fresh visitors. A new couple has entered our bird community.  It's the Common Mynas.  Mr. and Mrs. Mynas narrowed their search for a new home in our neighbourhood. The Myna couple is quite private moving and doing things together. They have yet to interact with the rest of the members of the community. We, the birds, are also curious but keep our distance. "We don't want to turn them away, but we need to be cautious. Have you ever looked into their eyes? "Ms. Sparrow remarked. Mr. Bulbul, ever cheerful, chimed in, "Yes, their eyes are beautiful, but they are also sharp and piercing. They seem to be constantly observing and watching us. But it's their call that bothers me." "Yes, indeed. They appear to be making fun of our activities. It's their chuckle-like call that gives this impression "Ms. Sparrow agreed. She

Finally, it's here! Rains.  Our prayers and songs were answered. Last week, the heavens opened up and showered us with raindrops. The thirsty and dry plants could replenish their resources leading them to refresh and revive their green and vibrant foliage. The smell of fresh new leaves and flowers spread an intoxicating aroma in the surroundings. Water holes filled up and delicious, fat insects ventured out of their holes. The earth is moist and not dry. Nature's bounty is on full display during monsoons. We absolutely love the rains.  Mr. and Ms. Red-Vented Bulbul enjoying the first 'real' showers of the season. No longer do we have spend the day hiding from the heat. Play time extends from dawn to night. The happy-go-lucky Bulbul family can't stop showing their enthusiasm. The couple can be seen hopping, jumping, and chatting at the same time.  When asked the cause for their excitement? Ms. Bulbul replied, "We had to wait half-a-year to get some r

Greetings, birds! How was your week? We have been struggling as the monsoon season continues to play hide and seek with us. It is so hot and humid. But we remain optimistic and continue to sing our monsoon songs to please the Rain Gods. We love monsoons not only because it lowers the temperature, but also because it means it's time to meet new birds. These birds are fascinating to encounter since they fly across continents and oceans. And there is one in particular that we all watch out for, especially the ladies. The dashing Mr. Pied Cuckoo.  Mr. Pied Cuckoo is extremely attractive with his blackish-blue coat that contrasts beautifully with his white underbelly. His tail is long and black with slight white spots. Mr. Cuckoo's hair isn't cut, so his crest has spiky ruffles that sway with his delicate movements. His dark, melancholy eyes pierce your soul. The highlight, however, is when he serenades everyone, young and old, male and female, with his shrill call. He i

Most birds are dozing off in their nests at night. One bird, nevertheless, starts to move around. It keeps an eye on all of the community's nighttime activities. The Indian Scops Owl lives by himself. He doesn't spend much time interacting with the other birds because he is most active at night. He also never shows up for morning meetings. Many birds had recently voiced their displeasure over the nighttime barking coming from the streets. This happened more than once. Only one person could explain it because it was happening at night. Therefore, Mr. Indian Scops Owl was invited to the following community meeting, which was conducted late at night. Here is what Mr. Indian Scops Owl had to say- "Good morning to all! It is fantastic to finally catch up with the other birds. What appears to be going on? Why did everyone come here late at night? ", asked Mr. Indian Scops Owl after his customary gruff welcome. The Babbler sisters spoke in unison "Oh! Mr. In

We had previously learned that Ms. Shikra was dissatisfied with her portrait. She had asked the human to redo her drawing because she was dissatisfied. The human agreed and promised to create a coloured portrait of Ms. Shikra. An unfortunate series of events, such as illness, prevented the human from delivering the portrait sooner. But Ms. Shikra's constant reminders were effective, and it is now here. Let us now see how Ms. Shikra feels. Good news, friends! "It is finally here. My patience has been rewarded. The human has completed my coloured portrait. I've been waiting for this drawing for almost a month. What do you think? Isn't it good?" "Overall, I like it. Of all the features, I love the eyes. Doesn't it look scary yet wise. I also love how my feathers have been drawn. When I showed this drawing of mine to the rest of the birds, they were in awe as well. The babbler sisters approved as well. I could sense their jealousy." "If

Greetings everyone!  How did your week go? Actually, ours was quite drab. Days begin in a predictable pattern for us. We are jolted awake by each other's calls. Someone else, like us, gets up at the crack of dawn and comes outside to greet us. The human being. She comes in and greets us. Ensures that all water pots are filled with fresh water and that the feeding bowls are clean. She just lets us be, no matter what we're up to. Occasionally, she appears in the afternoon to check on the water pots. She comes up to play in the evenings. But she's been missing for a week. One day led to the next, and there was still no sign of the human. We saw the others, but she didn't appear. Her disappearance has been noticed by all of the birds. No one had seen her, not even the sparrow family, collared and laughing doves, pigeons, or babbler sisters. She has also not been seen on her balcony. Mynas speculated that she might have left. How can she do so without saying good

Ms. Shikra is displeased. It all started when she overheard the babbler sisters gossiping last month. They were discussing how someone was drawing bird portraits. She approached them, curious, to learn more. They told Ms. Shikra about the human who was drawing bird portraits. Ms. Shikra was directed to the portrait artist by the sisters. She dashed off to see her drawing, hoping to hang it in her home. When she arrived, she asked the human to show her her picture. But what caused her to be so unhappy and dissatisfied? Read on to know Ms. Shikra's story.  Here is what Ms. Shikra saw. 'It was ugly,' Ms. Shikra added. 'It didn't look anything like me,' she continued. I am known for my petite yet strong frame. And my sharp eyes. My beautiful white-brown front and silver wings were also not seen because the portrait was in black and white. I was furious, and I squawked my dissatisfaction at the human.' 'What made it much worse was that I wasn'

Everyone within a certain radius (birds, humans, animals) is rudely awakened at 5:30 AM. by a series of continuous loud and piercing sounds. Unlike man-made clocks, there is no off switch for this sound. The constant 'ti-tri-te-teri' lasts about 30 - 40 minutes. The intensity of the alarm call varies with distance from the sound source. So, who is the culprit? It's Mr. Red-wattled Lapwing himself! Here's what Mr. Asian Lapwing has to say about the commotion he causes. "I don't see why it's such a big deal," Mr. Lapwing says. "It's a regular part of my summer routine. The morning is my favourite time of day. The sun gradually spreads its light and warmth to everything it comes into contact with. The dew on the grass in the early morning is still keeping the ground cool. The light breeze has yet to dry and heat up. The morning light also reminds you that it is a new day with limitless possibilities." Mr. Lapwing went on, "M

Everyone deserves a true friend. A friend who will except them as they are. Someone to play, share secrets, get advice, and laugh with. As easy as it sounds, finding a true friend in this world is often challenging, especially as an outsider. But it is possible. Mr. Crow and Ms. Dove's friendship is an example of this. Continue reading this short for a birds eye view on friendship.  Can a Crow be Friends with a Dove? They certainly can. Mr. Crow describes how he became friends with Ms. Dove in this short. Who am I? 'Hello to everyone. My name is Mr. Crow. In my neighbourhood, I am a young, misunderstood bird. I enjoy making new friends, but other birds will not play with me no matter how hard I try. They are afraid of me and run away when I approach. Until I met Ms. Dove, that is.' Who is Ms. Dove? 'Ms. Dove is a delicate and beautiful bird in our colony. She has a lovely and soothing laugh. Ms. Dove is a loner who spends her days minding her own business.'

Kabutars (rock pigeons) elicit two opposing feelings in Indians: 'Aaa' or 'Hhat' (come or go). The rock pigeons have thrived in the busiest, most crowded, and human-dominated regions on the planet, despite the love and abuse they have received. With their concrete landscapes, cities have limited green spaces. Rock pigeons, for example, have mastered the art of adapting to urban environments. These medium-sized greyish-blue pigeons are probably the most frequent in cities today. Have you ever pondered how they were able to accomplish such a feat? 5 Rock Pigeon Mantras for Resilience and Survival In this exclusive interview, Ms. Pigeon shares her family's mantras for successfully coexisting with humans in cities.  Seize Opportunities  'In the city, there are those who look after us and those who do not. So, we might get grain and water today, but not tomorrow. Knowing this, we pigeons have learned to stay positive and adapt to our surroundings. If we are unable to

Mr. and Mrs. Robin are extremely busy these days. They are preparing to welcome new members to their family. But first, they must find a safe and secure nesting location. It is unquestionably not an easy task. What they have to say about the process is as follows. Ms Robin, 'I am worried. There aren't many good spots left. We need to find a location that ensures protection from the elements. Mr Robin has been hunting for a space and me too.' Mrs. Robin 'I'm concerned. There aren't many suitable locations left. We need to find a location that will keep us safe from the elements. Mr Robin, like me, has been looking for a place.' Finally, the day came when the two found the perfect home. 'It's a tiny birdhouse in the middle of a garden.' It is spacious and comfortable on the inside. 'There is no danger of the nest getting wet or being blown away by the wind,' says Mr Robin. 'The house looks nice from the outside because the h

We all look forward to summer after a long, cold winter. The warmth provides much needed respite from the chill. However, as summers proceed, the sun becomes potent. It dries up the water holes and plants. Hunting for food and water becomes a challenge. So, all of us look forward to monsoon.  Unfortunately, over the years, summers have become longer. And rains sparse. It is problematic because most of us are getting ready to raise our offsprings. Unavailability or limited availability of food and water makes it super hard to raise our young. Luckily, among us there is a rainy fairy. Her presence and calls alert of us the incoming rain showers. She is the one and only Ms Peahen. Whenever we hear the calls or site her along with her partner, the flamboyant Mr Peacock we get readyyyy!  And right on cue, we are blessed with the first rain of the monsoon season. And just like the water holes are filled again, plants are green, and flowers are blooming. This is the magic of monso

Things have been crazy in our neighbourhood lately. All the birds have been gossiping about the new development. The crows and babblers have been put on guard duty. The kites are monitoring the situation from above. Birds have been advised to hide their offspring and stay alert. Humans are also being careful. Boiling heat and lack of good and water aren't the only problems that summers bring. It heralds the visit of an intruder or intruders (which is worse!). Monkeys.  They come in search for water sources. And park themselves on the water tanks to cool their bodies. They are super destructive as well. Some even break the tanks and uproot trees when agitated. If possible they enter homes and steal food. Humans try to shoo them in order to avoid damage.  Like humans, we keep away as far as possible. We take turns to keep an eye on its movements and squirrels chip in. All of us are patiently waiting for Mr. Monkey to leave for peace to prevail. 

We urban birds only have so many corners on which to build our homes. Some build nests in small holes behind pipes or above air conditioners, while the brave will still seek out an unusual tree in the hopes that humans will not cut down their home. Our open spaces are suffocated by dust and grime. Community meetings are held on power lines, and meals are provided by generous humans. The harsh summers and winters make survival extremely difficult. But there are some privileged birds among us. Their house is a lush green paradise. They live in large open gardens that are filled with old trees, shrubs, and even small ponds. There are no buildings, no tree felling, and no noisy humans in their paradise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner include fresh fruits and flowers. The weather is never too hot or too cold, so they can roam around freely all day without getting tired. How incredible would it be if we could all be privileged birds?

I'm Mr Robin, and I was going about my business and living a carefree life until I met a stranger. It was just another ordinary day in my life. Because the sun was bright and hot, all humans were confined to their homes. The majority of my friends were also sleeping in their nests. But I wasn't in the mood for a nap today. So I went out on my own. As I flew past human homes, I decided to take a rest on one of the porches. I sat there for quite some time, unbothered. I began rummaging in the planted pots, feeling slightly hungry, in search of delicacies such as spiders or ants. This is when something strange occurred. I noticed another Robin out looking for insects, just like me. This stranger was mimicking what I was doing. I was irritated and tried to teach this guy a lesson, but I couldn't get through to him. What was strange was that he looked eerily similar to me, despite the fact that I had never seen him before. He kept mimicking my movements; when I pecke

Hello, my name is Little Babbler and I am the youngest member of the Babbler family. We are a group of seven sisters who enjoy running around and having fun with one another. But one day, the games got the best of me. This is what occurred. It was just another ordinary day. We were having a good time bickering and playing in our favourite garden. Because it was spring, the garden was in full bloom. It was ideal for a game of hide and seek due to the dense green bushes. We were all hiding from my elder sister. I discovered an ideal location underneath a bougainvillaea creeper. Unfortunately, when I went inside, I didn't realise the humans were growing some plants beneath the creeper. A net was used to keep the plants safe. As I went inside, I got caught! I attempted to free myself, but the more I moved, the more I became entangled. I began to panic and cried out for help. My sisters heard my cry and tried to assist, but my wings were badly entwined by this point. I was b

Hello, our names are Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow. In our family, we are the third generation. Our forefathers discovered a safe little hole to build our nest in about ten years ago. Today, we're staying at home with our children. In the building where we live, there is a human family. There is a terrace garden with many plants at the house. Humans are friendly, providing us with water and food. When she comes to visit, the sweet lady also greets us, and we return the greeting. Winter has arrived, and it has been cold and harsh. This is not our favourite season. It's difficult to find food. The trees are barren, and the insects have gone underground. It's extremely difficult. But we are fortunate. Every morning, the human comes to visit and feeds us. It's very tasty. We all wait for her in the same spot, greet her with songs as she says hello, and patiently wait for the cups to be filled. There is enough for everyone, including the silver munia family, the babbler s