It was the last week of June of 2016. Though it had not started raining yet, the clouds that had gathered in the sky suggested they were eager to pour. We had headed to the East of Pune early in the morning for some birding. After a few serpentine bends, we reached the plateau overlooking Pune. The gain in height made the atmosphere windy. Purandar- the historical fort to our right had surrendered its existence to the thick dark clouds; so had the Sun.
As we moved ahead, we were forced to halt by a flock of sheep that had left their pen for grazing. They were in no hurry to cross the road. The adults in the flock seemed to be confident, the younger ones - confused. They ran here and there. The barefooted shepherd with a traditional white cap and a stick in his hand, who wore khaki shorts and a full shirt [that I suspect was once white in colour] had to show all his acrobatic skills to clear the road and keep the flock together. A couple of adamant sheep tested his patience. I, sitting behind the wheel, keenly observed the behaviour of the sheep and the shepherd for a moment or two. All of a sudden, I saw a herd of cattle approaching the road and pressed the accelerator. After all, we were on a different mission altogether.
We had got the information that on the neem tree located in a field near Jejuri, the Golden Oriole had laid the eggs. I was accompanied by the ornithologists who were on their mission to photograph the birds for research purpose and to study the bird behaviour while raising their young ones.
On reaching the spot, the ornithologists concentrated on the Oriole. After clicking a few pictures of the Oriole, I started wandering in the nearby fields. I saw a good number of bulbuls, silver billed munias and brahminy mynhas [starlings] in the vicinity. I shot them too [pun intended]. Roaming in the surroundings and through the fields brought me to a small water body. I settled down under a huge tree near the reservoir. I picked up and threw a stone in the water and enjoyed that typical sound made by the stone when it touches the surface of the water and sinks. I enjoyed watching the ripples caused on the surface of water. I repeated my action a few more times, probably disturbing the otherwise quiet setting. Suddenly I realised I was doing all the stupid things that I did some forty years back as a child. Nostalgia gripped me.
I sat silent for some time, motionless. My passive vision picked up some activity near the water body. I was least aware that the nature is going to showcase one of the most engrossing moments of my life. A pair of white breasted kingfishers landed near the reservoir. This beautiful bird adorning white, black, brown, blue colours all over the body with sharp, long reddish brown beak has captured the attention of many a lens-men all around the globe. I was not an exception either. I silently grabbed my camera and took the position.
Freshwater fish in the water body had attracted the birds here. One of the kingfishers took off and sat on the electric wire a short distance away. The other partner sat on a branch of a shrub besides the reservoir. The kingfishers took an aerial view of the surroundings. The body language of the birds suggested they were cautious in their approach. They were, probably, gauging the presence of the raptor in the neighbourhood. On ensuring that the place was free of raptors, one of the kingfishers took off a few times and surveyed the area before landing on the same shrub. It was a kind of reconnaissance flight before attacking the enemy. This was necessary to ensure the success of the mission for which the birds had set off.
All this time, the other kingfisher sat on the electric wire keeping an eye over the surroundings.
The kingfisher after sitting still for a few moments left the shrub and dived in the water. I got excited and watched the action without a blink. But the bird came out without the kill. The bird had, possibly, missed the target narrowly. It must have been disappointed; so was I. The fish that disappointed the kingfisher got another lease of life though.
The wet kingfisher landed on the same branch and basked in Sun for some time. It used the opportunity to preen its feathers before the next attempt. I got curious about the next move of the bird. After some moments of inactivity, this time the kingfisher took off and instead of diving straight into the water, hovered over the water with its sight firmly focused on some object in the water. The three of us were perhaps in different states of mind - the hovering bird, confident; myself, curious; and the bird on the wire, anxious. Object in the water swam happily. Ignorance is bliss. It was not aware of the danger hovering overhead.
Suddenly, the kingfisher dropped itself in the reservoir and came out with a splash of water and a frog in its long beak. Satisfied with its performance, the bird headed straight away in the direction of its friend on the wire to celebrate the success. Both seemed to be excited…… and why not ? After all they had got enough food for their lunch. Showing the spirit of camaraderie, the kingfisher passed on the frog to its friend.
While my friends were busy studying the behaviour of the Orioles, I got to know a bit about the World of Kingfishers.
- Nishad Umranikar
Nice and Minute observations.
ReplyDeleteStone throwing recollection wonderful...child in me awakened...
The management lesson seems grounded.
Best Regards
Abhijeet