Teetiri protects the grassland - 1 - Teetiri waits for the dawn

1
Teetiri waits for the dawn

Teetiri, the redwattled lapwing, was looking forward to the dawn. Already, the orange rays in the sky were getting brighter. The silence of the night seemed to be louder than the sounds of the day, she thought to herself. She always had to be alert, watchful so that Dhaman, the rat-snake, could not quietly steal up and grab her newly laid clutch of two eggs. Dhaman loved to eat eggs of ground-nesting birds. But, especially eggs of the red-wattled lapwings, yes, especially eggs of the red-wattled lapwings, said Teetiri, to herself, again and again.

She could easily spot Dhaman and Naag, the cobra, in the daytime when, they were quite clumsy in their approach while hunting for food through the grassland. Why, only yesterday, Teetiri had gossiped with Chimini, the house sparrow, and told her that she was certain that Naag was actually blind and was only able to stumble upon food by accident or because his prey was too shocked to run away. Chimini had giggled as always, and immediately flew off to tell her sixty-seven brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts who were feeding nearby on a heap of harvested grain.

Chimini was like that only. Very busy, chattering all the time, and laughing about everything. Teetiri often wondered if Chimini actually ever listened. She never seemed to be paying attention. Kotwal, the black drongo, was not like Chimini. Dark, glossy and handsome, warrior-like with his alert looks and forked sword-like tail, he was a faithful friend. He loved to perch on the low branches of few grassland trees throughout the early morning and late evenings, and listen to Teetiri's constant gossip about everyone. Kotwal always listened attentively but never complained.

Kotwal, the black drongo was a faithful friend to Teetiri

He loved to listen to Teetiri's gossip from a low branch 

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

The orange light in the dawn sky was getting brighter now. Teetiri knew Chimini and her large family would soon wake up from their night-time sleep in the large babool tree. This was a moment that Teetiri dreaded and looked forward to, at the same time. All the peaceful stillness of the night would be gone, but, it also was an indication to her that now she could afford to relax at her nest.

Teetiraa, her partner would now come to take his place at the nest. He must have been sitting at some other spot, not so far and not so near. He knew it was time for him to take over his duties at the nest once the Chimini family began to sing. It was quite hideous, he thought, having to wake up like that. Teetiri was however very happy about it, he knew. The Chimini family did wake him up quite rudely, he thought to himself. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 2 - With the dawn, comes the sound

2

With the dawn, comes the sound

And then suddenly, in one very small moment of time, the orange shade in the sky glowed brighter, and all the trees seemed to come alive. It began with Bulbul, the redvented bulbul, whistling a soft note, trying to wake up her partner in the nearby branches. Phoolchuki, the purple sunbird, picked up that note, in the small thicket of weeds and grasses. Phoolchuki was searching for his partner, for she could not be seen easily inside the thicket. His frantic calls set off Dominga, the magpie-robin, sleeping on the topmost branches of a nearby Babool tree.

Dominga, the male Oriental Magpie Robin - 

He loved to sing from the topmost branches

Teetiraa and Teetiri were good friends of Dominga. 

His morning song woke up the grassland.

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

Teetiraa knew that Dominga was a very proud bird. He loved to hear his voice, he had told Teetiri. She had for once, agreed with him. Teetiri had said that Dominga sang for two reasons. Firstly, was to tell all other birds that he could sing beautifully. And secondly, he sang loudly in order to prevent his brothers, uncles or nephews from singing nearby. Teetiraa had seen Dominga chase away his male relatives on several occasions, and therefore was not unhappy that he had to agree with Teetiri.

Dominga's song woke up Chimini and her large family. And, instantly the small grassland between the forest and the sandy banks along the river was filled with sound. Lots of sound. The Chimini family was very noisy. They seemed to talk to each other all at once. Chatter-Chatter-Chatter-Chatter seemed to be followed by Chatter-Titter-Chatter-Titter. Sometimes one did not know if at all there was a purpose in all their talking. Their loud chatter in the babool trees, seemed to get Salonki, the common myna, and her family started. Salonki's family and several other Myna families preferred to rest together in the large Chinch (tamarind) trees that stood bordering the grassland with the nearby forest.

During the day, only her partner accompanied Salonki, while they moved around hunting for food. At times, eight to ten of her brothers and sisters and their respective partners came whenever food was available. At night though, the Chinch tree was filled with hundreds of myna families, and their sounds at dusk could easily drown the sounds of the Chimini families in the babool trees. It was indeed amazing, thought Teetiraa and Teetiri. Here they were, one partner to the other, only the two of them, content in living with each other, and these other crazy birds, were intent on living with hundreds and thousands of their relatives, in the same tree. In the same tree? Would they not get tired of seeing so many relatives all the time? How much more boring can it be, thought Teetiraa.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 8 - Dominga and Domingi’s eggs change colour

8

Dominga and Domingi’s eggs change colour

Teetiri needed to keep walking to get some energy and blood circulation back into the body. It was tough, sitting there, on that open nest, in the cold of the night, waiting, waiting, and waiting for what seemed to be forever. Well, it did definitely seem like forever. What does a lapwing have to do at night, completely alone on an open nest? At least Dominga and Domingi sat close to each other, while Domingi sat on the eggs at her nest. Once they had had a big fight, and all the birds came to know about it. Domingi had laid four eggs, all alike. And one fine day, Dominga had come to the nest and saw that one of the eggs had changed it’s colour. Domingi insisted that just awhile ago, all the four eggs had been of one colour. Then how could one egg change colour? Dominga kept asking.

Dominga - the male magpie robin kept arguing with Domingi

[Photograph - Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal]

They had kept arguing and arguing. The noise had become very painful, remembered Teetiri. Dominga had gone and complained about it to Kotwal, to Chimini and to Teetiraa also. That must have been very humiliating to Dominga, thought Teetiri, for she knew that Dominga and Teetiraa did not like each other very much. Teetiraa had replied rather very rudely and had tried to insult Dominga until Teetiri had told him to keep quiet. This was a totally different problem from theirs, thought Teetiri. The lapwings had lost their eggs, while the magpie-robins had no idea of what had happened to one of their eggs. And what more, but to try to understand what they could do with the different coloured egg that was still present in the nest.

Domingi - the female Magpie Robin was very upset

Dominga had kept fighting with her about the missing egg

[Photograph - Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal]

Dominga had kept on arguing. He had kept searching for other birds to tell his sorrowful story. Domingi on the other hand had continued to sit at her nest, knowing that her responsibility was towards protecting her eggs. She had not dared to leave her nest, for fear that another egg may change colour. What if the eggs had not been changed at all? What if, one of her eggs had indeed changed colour by itself? Did the two of them, Domingi and Dominga, know all that there was to know about eggs and their colour? How could she just leave all her eggs at her nest and fly away just because one of the eggs had changed colour? Dominga did not listen to any of these questions. He was angry and very certain that Domingi had given away one of their eggs and brought one from some other bird’s nest.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 9 - Dominga searches for Darzi

9

Dominga searches for Darzi

Finally, it was Phoolchuki who gave the proper advice to Dominga. He told Dominga to go and consult the Darzi, the tailor bird. Darzi was known to be very wise. Very wise, and very skilled. Actually, Teetiri thought that Darzi was very wise, very skilled, very clever and a very good songster. Darzi’s song was usually at a very high pitch, but that call was that of a master at bird song. Nobody could mistake Darzi’s song. Also, Darzi was an expert at hiding his nest and was also known to be able to skillfully construct it with his beak. That was a skill that was very necessary for all birds, thought Teetiri to herself. It was very useful to be able to do activities such as stitching leaves together with one’s beak. Teetiri wished she could also stitch big leaves together and make a nest that was protected from all enemies.

Dominga went in search of Darzi. He was quite embarassed at having to seek Darzi’s help. This was because Dominga thought that he was the better songster than Darzi. He had always boasted about his abilities to Chimini and her large family, to Teetiraa’s cousins and to Kotwal. They had all agreed with him. But Domingi had once told him in the midst of another long argument that the other birds had merely agreed in order to stop him from talking about his songs and his skills. He did not even remember what the argument was all about. How could one remember all these silly things?

Domingi - knew that Dominga would not listen to her

The other birds had stopped arguing with Dominga.

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Now he had to search for Darzi. He met Teetiri and Phoolchuki. He told them that he knew that Darzi would love to laugh at him. But Phoolchuki and Teetiri had told him that Darzi was a wise bird and would not laugh at him. Teetiri actually offered to go with him to search for Darzi. The secret in searching for Darzi was to wait for his song. Phoolchuki also offered his help. Why were all these birds helping him, wondered Dominga. Why could they not just let him search for Darzi all by himself? Did they think that he was not capable of searching for Darzi?

Finally the three birds began to search for Darzi. Phoolchuki suggested that they should go and wait near the ber bushes. Teetiri agreed and went to walk around near the ber bush and kept searching for insects to eat. Phoolchuki flitted in and out of the branches of the ber bush and the nearby karonda (Carissa Karvanda???) bush. There were always nice tasty insects in these bushes. Some of those ants were quite delicious. The sap juice from the ber and karonda bushes tempted many insects to wander around the branches and Phoolchuki really enjoyed herself feeding near these bushes. Even Dominga, in spite of all his worries and anger could not resist eating up some of the ants that were stuck in the melting sap as it flowed around the branches.

 And then, suddenly, there it was, Darzi’s call, “Toowheeet-Toowheeet-whittoooo-whittooooo-whitoooo”. Very shrill, and very loud. It sounded like it came from the upper branches of the babool tree, Phoolchuki said. No, no, said Teetiri, it sounded more like it came from the adjacent neem tree. Dominga was amazed. He knew that this call seemed like it came repeatedly from both the neem and babool trees. There seemed to be actually two Darzi birds. Must be brothers, for otherwise how could one male Darzi bird tolerate the other so close to each other?

Phoolchuki volunteered to fly into the babool tree and request Darzi to come down to the ber bush so that Teetiri could also participate in the discussion. Teetiri could not climb into the branches of trees. She could fly about around the canopy but could not perch on the tree branches. Darzi would have to come down so that Teetiri could also participate in the discussion.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 13 - Teetiri goes to hunt for red crabs

13

Teetiri goes to hunt for red crabs

Teetiri returned to the marshy water-patch near the rocks. There would be good food to be eaten here. The small red crabs could be found among these grasses and rocks. These brilliant-red coloured animals kept running sideways when disturbed and would dig themselves into the sand thinking that they could not be spotted. But the wet marshy soil and undisturbed sand surface always betrayed them. The footprints of the small red crabs were left on the wet marshy soil and led the birds directly to the spots where they had dug themselves in. The lapwings and other wading birds followed these tracks as they could thus easily identify the presence of the red crabs and pull them out of their hiding spots and eat them up. The deeper water patches in the marsh allowed some hiding places for Teetiri to hide in if Shaheen or Shikra, came hunting in the grassland.

The marshy water-patch was also a favourite hunting place for other wading birds.  Chimini and her family usually frequented it. Salonki and her large numbers of brothers and sisters as also a number of frogs were to be usually seen there. Teetiri loved the songs of the frogs when the first monsoon came down over the grassland and the river. There would be thousands of red crabs that would be running all over the place without even any space for them to dig down to hide.

Teetiri would be joined by her entire family at that time to feed upon the red crabs. All her relatives, her parents, her brothers and sisters and Teetiraa’s relatives would be there at the marsh. Teetiraa’s cousins from across the river would also join them at that time. All of them knew of the marsh and the best place to visit it. They usually left it for Teetiri and Teetiraa for the rest of the year. There were other spots and other times when Teetiri and Teetiraa joined their cousins from across the river, like when the flying ants came out from the ground, or when the waters at the salt-water creek went down in summer exposing thousands of young fish trapped in the rocks.

There were no birds present at the marsh today. That was strange, thought Teetiri. Usually, there would be many birds at this time of the day. Was there something wrong? There did not seem anything like being totally wrong here. The red crabs were there. They were running around. The waters were very inviting.  The cool waters would be very welcome to rest in after the hot rocks that she had crawled through. The grass was not moving. Was there some predator out there at the marsh? Would she be able to spot the predator in time? Was it Mongoose or Lombdi, the wolf? Was it Naag? Hiding out there in the cool water? Frightened, Teetiri looked around for help. Who could tell her if there was something wrong in the marsh?

One of the red crabs came running towards her unaware of her presence. Instinctively she jabbed down with her beak. picked up the crab and swallowed it. Wow. That felt goooood. She needed to eat another. Already she would soon be due back at the nest to relieve Teetiraa. She walked hesitantly towards the marsh, worried. There! There was another one of the red crabs. She jumped two steps and rushed towards it and grabbed it just as it had begun to dig down. Her sudden movement among the stones had dislodged a dung beetle that had been busy rolling up some mud. She grabbed the dung beetle without thinking. The dung beetle did not taste as good as the red crab but it would have to do. She desperately needed that nutrition. She was going to go back and sit at that nest and she needed all the energy she could get. She could not complain now. Or, be choosy at the marsh when the very next moment a predator could easily jump up at her. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 14 - A strange animal hides at the marsh

14

A strange animal hides at the marsh

It was Kotwal who was watching from a very high perch on the babool tree above the marsh who called out to warn her. It was a strange animal, hiding out among the grass, pouncing and frightening away the birds that came to the water. Kotwal flew down from his perch to a thin lone babool stem that had been trying to grow out of the grassland each year. The babool would try and grow taller each year but would find itself cut down by one of the wandering children from the village nearby. The lone babool stem never gave up trying. It kept growing out of the grassland each year in spite of being cut down. Kotwal alighted on the babool and whispered to Teetiri about the strange animal that had never been seen in their grassland before. It looked very dangerous. It seemed to be hiding in the tall grass and sitting very still.

The lone Babool tree - kept growing back after it was cut

Kotwal - the black drongo loved to perch on its highest branches

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

What can we do? Teetiri asked. Can we not frighten it? Does it fly? Can it fly? Can it run very fast? Does it swim? All these days, Teetiri had thought that the marsh would have been the safest place in the grassland for her to hide her young ones when they would hatch out of their eggs. And now, this strange animal had come to the wetland. Had it come to stay there forever? What was it anyway? Could someone talk to it? Could we know more about it so that we could decide whether to visit the marsh or not? Teetiri asked Kotwal.

Let us call all the birds of the grassland together,  replied Kotwal. We will tell Darzi and Phoolchuki to go around on all the trees and tell the other birds to come here. I will go around the grassland and call the birds that I meet. Teetiri said that she would go near the river bank and call the birds from near the water. Darzi went and told Dominga and Domingi, while Phoolchuki went and told all his cousins and Chimini and her family. Kotwal went around the grassland and told his cousins and Bulbul. Teetiri went to the riverside and told all her cousins and asked her aunt to go and fetch Salonki, the common myna.

Teetiri’s aunt found Salonki and her partner dustbathing and soaking in the sun among some of the smooth round stones near the pools formed along the river. On hearing Teetiri’s message, Salonki and her partner left rapidly and came flying to land near the babool stem. Most of the birds had not seen the strange animal, except for Salonki and her partner. They had indeed seen the strange animal. Wow. It was quite frightening. Both Salonki and her partner kept nodding and shaking their head as though agreeing and disagreeing with each other. So what should we do? Teetiri asked. What did it look like? It was large, Kotwal said. It was dangerous, Salonki said. Salonki’s partner kept nodding and shaking his head. So what was the animal? Teetiri asked worriedly, wondering whether or not Salonki would actually provide an answer. Whatever it was, it was frightening, large and dangerous, said Salonki while her partner kept nodding and shaking his head.

Getting tired of Salonki and her partner by now, Teetiri asked Kotwal to fly low over the marsh once to check if the animal was still hiding out there. Kotwal agreed and flew straight up from the babool stem, straight and high and then glided down straight back over the marsh as though he was about to land there. While reaching just above the grass, Kotwal straightened his glide and flew out above the marsh and turned back to return to the babool stem. Not at all looking tired or frightened after this search flight, Kotwal turned to Teetiri and nodded. Yes. The animal was still out there. Sitting quietly. Not moving at all. This would not do, Teetiri thought. The animal would have to go. She needed the marsh returned to her for raising her young ones who were yet to be born. She could not risk losing another season and another clutch of eggs. She had to do something. But she needed more help. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 23 - Bade Miya and Chote Miya

23

Bade Miya and Chote Miya

While all the birds were waiting, Salonki had flown straight to the village. She had not stopped anywhere in the grassland. She had indeed felt extremely tempted when she saw Chimini and her cousins alighting on some foodgrain bullock carts that were returning to the village. She controlled herself, remembering Kotwal and Teetiri’s strict instructions. She had to meet Guturgu as fast as possible, seek his advice and return to the grassland. Teetiri and Kotwal would be waiting for her.

She could see some of blue-rock pigeons, Guturgu’s relatives, flying near the foodgrain sheds. Guturgu was sure to be sitting there. But what if he was not to be found there? She could not risk wasting time searching for Guturgu. She could not go around the entire village. What if Guturgu had gone to visit some other village? She needed information. Sure and reliable information to help her search for Guturgu. And she thought she knew where she could get some good information.

She had some very reliable and very strong friends. These were the oxen belonging to the groundnut farmer. He had his cropfields near the grassland. Salonki alighted at the farmer’s foodgrain shed. She knew his bullock cart, and had sat on the backs of the oxen that pulled it. She knew both the oxen and was friendly with them. Teetiri and Kotwal were also good friends of both the oxen. The three of them helped the oxen by picking off insects from their body. Actually only Salonki and Kotwal did that, by perching on the backs of the oxen. Teetiri stayed nearby, picking up the insects that got disturbed by the farmer’s plough  that was pulled by the oxen.

Salonki knew that she could safely sit near the oxen and talk to them about Teetiri and Kotwal. The oxen would not get angry at Salonki’s presence. Teetiri always preferred to follow the oxen when the farmer released them at the edge of his cropfield while he worked on the groundnut crop. They would not welcome Teetiri while they rested. Kotwal, perhaps, may be equally as welcome as Salonki. Kotwal was also friendly with the oxen, daring to perch on their backs. But it was Salonki that the oxen really trusted. They allowed her to perch even an inch away from their eyes. Salonki perched so dangerously in order to pick off the small insects from their ears and near their eyes.

The shorter, slimmer and younger ox was called Bade Miya (Big Man), while the taller, fatter and older one was called Chote Miya (Small Man). This seemed to be like a joke for the farmers, Salonki thought, for they always laughed when they called the oxen by their names. These oxen were a favourite with all the villagers because they always won prizes at the bullock-cart races. So, what brings you here to the village, so far away from your grassland, asked Bade Miya. Salonki hopped on to Chote Miya’s back, gestured to Bade Miya to have some patience, and took huge gasps of breath. She had flown very rapidly from the grassland in order to reach the village. Chote Miya was however not going to be patient. Yes, what brings you here to the village, my favourite tick-eater, Chote Miya asked Salonki. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 25 - Salonki meets Guturgu

25

Salonki meets Guturgu

Salonki flew up to the roof of the nearest shed. There were about twenty blue-rock pigeons sitting there, cooing loudly, with two very vain male pigeons, rotating themselves in circles,  trying to impress the lady pigeons. It would be better to seek information from these pigeons rather than Bade Miya or Chote Miya, thought Salonki. The pigeons were present on about six to seven roofs of the grain sheds. A very audible humming noise could be heard once one landed amongst the pigeons. Salonki wondered whether they chatted with each other. Whether they gossipped with each other.  The pigeon flock seemed totally unlike Chimini and her cousins or Salonki' relatives when they gathered together. You could hear them throughout the grassland when they started talking.

The pigeons became strangely silent the moment Salonki landed on the shed's roof. The humming stopped, and the vain male pigeons stopped circling themselves, and stood warily, watching Salonki. It was then that Salonki realised that there were hardly any other birds within the pigeons on the roofs. Alarmed, she looked around at the nearby sheds. Again there were none, except if you included Kaawla's cousin, who was cawing above the sweet merchant's shop.

She wondered if the pigeons would attack her because she had come inside their space. But then, she remembered, pigeons did not attack mynas. So she must be safe. Was she, Salonki wondered. She asked the nearest pigeons about Guturgu. They did not answer.  She walked inside the flock, and asked the vain male pigeons about Guturgu. They kept silent. And suddenly, one of the female pigeons made an abrupt gesture of flapping her wings and jumping up and down on the roof, as though in alarm. Taken aback, Salonki stepped out of the flock's space on the shed's roof.

From up above among the clouds, flying about almost unseen, a young male pigeon, very proud of his ability to fly in tight circles for a long time, flew down rapidly like an arrow, and came to an abrupt halt, barely two inches from Salonki. He stood beak-to-beak, barely an eyeblink away from Salonki's eye, and asked, and who asks, may I know? Surprised, Salonki replied, I am Salonki, from the grassland. I have come to meet Guturgu. The answer did not seem to have satisfied the young male pigeon, for he did not move away from Salonki, and asked again, And why do you think Guturgu should talk to you? All the other pigeons seemed to step closer now, including the vain male pigeons who seemed to have been frightened earlier. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 28 - Guturgu gives advice to Salonki

28

Guturgu gives advice to Salonki

Would the marsh also come to this, Salonki wondered. Would the mynas, sparrows, bulbuls, lapwings and drongos, continue to live peacefully in the grassland? Would they have to begin to develop a very alert and attentive system like Guturgu and his pigeons?  This seemed so silly. Why live like this? Forever fearful? Thankfully, the grassland was not like the village, except for the danger from Naag or Dhaman or Shikra or Shaheen. Salonki whispered to himself. Probably these were the dangers of living near or in human settlements. What was Guturgu thinking? Was it so difficult to get rid of Billi? Would Guturgu be able to help? Would Salonki, Teetiri and Kotwal have to wait until Bade Miya went into the marsh to chase Billi away? Salonki wondered.

I can sense your worries, my old friend. You are thinking if your grassland would also become a dangerous place, with unknown enemies, Guturgu said. Yes, Salonki said, we can survive with our known enemies, like Naag, Dhaman or Kaawla. Sometimes we can fool Shikra or Shaheen. But animals like Billi will bring other problems with them. We cannot survive without our water. We need the marsh in the grassland, Salonki added. Guturgu nodded and hmmmmmed. I do not think I can help you as much as you hope I can do magic immediately to chase Billi away from the grassland. Do you not see how we live her, in constant fear of various animals? Guturgu asked.

I cannot lend you strength or wisdom, Salonki my friend. You need to solve this problem with your own strengths, Guturgu said. It is not wise to invite others to help you when danger threatens you inside your own house. You need to work together, Guturgu advised and added, all the birds in the grassland need to think about this together. You can do it. The answer is within you. You need to search for it, my dear friend, Guturgu said. Those who live together will always help each other. Do as we do. See how well we have organised ourselves.We have not lost a pigeon for the past more than sixty days. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 41 - Bater and his family are not frightened

41

Bater and his family are not frightened

Teetiri smiled at Bater’s son and remarked how brave he was, to step out of the circle and show his courage like his father. Phoolchuki added her bit, by saying how Bater and his family were the most courageous of all the birds and how only they could save the grassland. Bater also looked very proud and hugged his son, and agreed with Teetiri about wanting to save the grassland. Kotwal was amazed, and said, Wow, you mean you will agree to do whatever it is that would need to be done? You are not frightened? You do not even know how you would fight with Billi. How can you be so brave?

I have to be brave, replied Bater, for I am required to save my habitat. This is my grassland as much as it is yours. You are all so concerned, Teetiri, Phoolchuki, Salonki, Chimini, Darzi, Bulbul, Kotwal and Dominga. How can I not gather courage to fight? I want to first indicate my intention to be ready to fight. Once I am convinced that my course of action would be to fight Billi, I can be happy to agree with whatever plan that Teetiri will make. After all, Teetiri is the only bird in the grassland from amongst all of us who is required to have the most complex survival strategy. Look at all the calling and signalling that Teetiri and Teetiraa have worked out between the two of them.

All the birds looked at Teetiri with a new respect. Yes, they had never realised the fact that Teetiri had to have a very complex survival strategy in the grassland. Most birds built their nests depending upon its efficient design and built their strategies around it, while Teetiri had to hide her nest without building it. Teetiri and Teetiraa indeed had a complex signalling strategy, a different strategy to approach the nest, and another one to leave it, another strategy to use while sitting at the nest, and another to use while feeding nearby. Wow. They had seen it all happen in front of them, but had never realised the magic of it all.

Kotwal looked at Bater with more and more respect. Kotwal’s father nodded his head up and down in appreciation of what Bater had just pointed out. Dominga let out a very melodious appreciative whistle. Bulbul began singing in agreement. But, as Teetiri thought to herself, for all the bravado that Bater seemed to show, he continued to look frightened, as did his entire family. What could they do? Teetiri wondered. They looked so frightened. They did not stay still, always hesitant, looking all around them, worried, panicky and kept turning around to look at all sides. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 42 - Teetiri needed a good plan

42

Teetiri needed a good plan

What could Bater and his family do? How could they help? They could not even frighten Darzi or Phoolchuki. How could they fight Billi? Teetiri thought angrily to herself. She needed a plan, a perfect plan and Bater had to somehow figure in it. Whatever it may be, Billi had to be chased out of the marsh. Kotwal asked Teetiri, well, you seem to be the leader now, my good friend. Do we have a plan that includes Bater? Are all of us going to figure in it? We could have all the mynas, sparrows and drongos just fly in together and dive to hit Billi in the marsh. He may get frightened and run away if we did that suddenly, screeching and screaming.

Even as he was speaking, Kotwal’s father was shaking his head in disagreement. No, No, that would not do. Where do you come up with a plan like this? That is not a plan. That is disaster. No doubt you would alarm Billi, but even a single swipe of his paws could kill three or four sparrows or at least two mynas. What if your own brother or sister were to be killed? Did you think about that? You cannot go to war without being sure that you would not loose one of your own. A leader does not send in his warriors without being sure of winning the battle. Without being sure that he would not loose his warriors. A leader has to be in the war, leading from the front. Not hiding in a crowd.

Phoolchuki, Darzi and Bulbul nodded together in agreement. Salonki and Chimini also nodded and said, yes, we cannot risk any of our brothers, sisters or cousins being killed in the attack. We thought that the purpose of chasing Billi away from the marsh was to prevent our family members from being killed. We need a plan, Kotwal’s sister said, that does not place us in danger from Billi. Hearing his own sister turn on him in this manner, Kotwal turned to Teetiri and said, my good friend, there you have it. Now you are also part of the action. The plan requires only you and Bater. And you have to be ahead of Bater. So how are you going to go about it?

Teetiri - the redwattled lapwing was now the leader

of the birds of the grassland according to Kotwal

[Photograph by Saleel Tambe]

Teetiri was now completely confused. So she was to also figure in the plan. When did she become the leader? She certainly did not recollect any sort of consensus before this day indicating that she was the leader of the birds of the grassland. And now, in this time of crisis, when she felt she had to take the initiative, every bird turns around and makes her the leader. How could she be certain that any action against Billi would not put other birds at danger of loosing their lives? How did she end up with this problem? It was Salonki who had brought this idea of getting Bater to be part of the plan. Did Guturgu do this to tease Salonki? 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 43 - How could Bater fight Billi?

43

How could Bater fight Billi?

But, Guturgu was a wise bird. He knew what he was talking about. He must have thought about it and must have felt that this was the best option. But, why did Guturgu choose the most frightened bird? Would not Bater get frightened when he actually stood in front of Billi? The mere sight of Billi in the grassland had left Salonki thinking about all her sad memories. And what would she do in the plan? How, how, how, how, how could Bater fight Billi?

Bater most certainly would not go anywhere without his family, thought Teetiri. So Bater’s family would also need to be included in the plan. Whatever plan it was, it now included Bater, all the jungle bush quail and Teetiri. There had to be a solution somewhere. She could include Salonki and her cousins, Kotwal and his family, perhaps Dominga and Darzi. Not Bulbul certainly. He could not hide any secret. Also Chimini. She could not be trusted with secrets. But the plan had to revolve around Bater. And she had to be seen to lead it. She could not hide somewhere and send Bater into the marshy waters to fight Billi. What to do, whattodo, whattodowhattodo, thought Teetiri to herself.

She looked at Bater and his family, again and again. Just look at them, standing there, like an easy target, so naïve looking, so identical, thought Teetiri. Who was that jungle bush quail wandering about, seemingly more confident than the others? Was that not Bater’s son? Now the jungle bush quail were no longer standing in a circle. They seemed to have got over their fright and were moving about within the circle of all the birds gathered there. Perhaps Bater’s son could be sent in to fight Billi. He seemed more courageous than Bater himself. But which one was Bater’s son? They looked all the same, exactly identical. They also seemed equally frightened. And suddenly, Teetiri realised that was the answer. That, that, THAT, THAT, THAT was the answer, Teetiri thought excitedly. Definitely. What an idea. She jumped up and down, flapped her wings, and began to laugh at the simple idea that she had got. Guturgu was smart.

The other birds looked at her in a puzzled manner. Had she gone mad, Darzi wondered. Bater was getting more and more frightened. Teetiri, my friend, have you gone crazy, asked Kotwal? No, no, Teetiri replied, and added, I have only now begun to understand what Guturgu must have wanted us to do. Look at Bater and his family, Teetiri continued to explain to the other birds, they are always looking so frightened. But inspite of their fears, they have agreed to help us. They do not even know what they are getting into. But they are ready to help. They are ready to help, just because we need their help and because they love their grassland. And here we are, each one of us, skilled in one way or the other, experts in fighting Naag and Dhaman, experts in fooling Lombdi and Shikra, and now we are frightened of one single Billi. But it is Bater’s fright and nervousness that will be our best weapon to fight Billi, said Teetiri.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 44 - Teetiri decides on the plan to fight Billi

44

Teetiri decides on the plan to fight Billi

Teetiri quickly outlined her plan to fight Billi. It would require the participation of all the birds of the grassland. Each one would have a separate role to remove Billi from the marsh. First, she called Bater aside and told him about his and his family’s role in the plan. Next, Kotwal was told to bring together his family and explain to them about their part of the strategy. The plan would require excellent coordination between Kotwal and the drongos and Bater and the jungle bush quail. Teetiri would lead the attack like the leader that she was just elected to be.

Next, came the role of the lone birds, Darzi, Phoolchuki and Bulbul. Darzi was asked to go with Phoolchuki and play their roles exactly as Teetiri had told them to. After the lone birds, it was the responsibility of the large flocks, namely the mynas and the sparrows. Salonki was asked to explain to her family of more than a hundred mynas about their role. Chimini had come back from the cropfields with her large family of sixty-seven sparrows. They were also given a role in this plan. All the birds of the grassland went about to begin the war against Billi. Except Bulbul.

Bulbul sat on a low babool branch that swung low over the marsh. He had not been told about the entire plan. He was only told that his role would be to sit on the low babool branch and keep watching Billi. That was to be his entire role. Teetiri had worried that he would perhaps not be able to keep it as a secret. But because of his location, Bulbul saw the entire war happen out there that day in the grassland. He went back to tell other bulbuls in the village of what he saw, and how the birds defeated Billi and chased him away from the grassland. The bulbuls later told the story to Bade Miya and Chote Miya. Bade Miya told the story to Kaawla Chacha while Chote Miya excitedly added some unrelated parts while telling the story to Guturgu. The “War of the Marsh Waters”, as it came to be known was later told by Bade Miya, Guturgu, Kaawla Chacha and Bulbul to several other birds and animals. It became known as a famous war, and the story is still being told out there in the grassland. Here is how it happened.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 51 - Bater is grateful to be alive

51

Bater is grateful to be alive

Bater nodded in agreement; sober now, after the initial excitement of having fooled Billi was over. Kotwal was correct. He could have lost one of his brothers or his sons in this war with Billi. It was indeed better to be smart and alive, than foolish and dead. Bater remembered his own father who had told him that it was not meant for the jungle bush quail to be a foolish hero, but to be cautious, careful and alive. Bater decided to call back his family. He raised himself from his hidden position, taking courage from Kotwal’s presence nearby, and called out in a low, repetitive whistle. The call was almost similar to any of the other whistling bird calls that could be heard in the grassland. But it seemed to serve Bater’s purpose appropriately, thought Kotwal, for he could see the jungle bush quail moving towards them.

An instant before, Kotwal could only see Bater. An instant later, there were seven jungle bush quail, standing in front of him. How did they manage that? Kotwal wondered. They moved unseen inside the grass, without shaking up any of the clumps, without any sound and managed to converge at a single point, on the basis of a single call from Bater. How did all the jungle bush quail in a flock manage to identify the single unseen point of convergence from inside all that thick grasses, bushes and rocks? They were really good at this. No wonder that Guturgu had suggested that Bater would have to lead the attack.

At a signal from Bater, the jungle bush quail family moved back from the marsh and went off to hide in the grassland. Kotwal flew out of the marsh grasses and joined Teetiri at the lone babool stem. Phoolchuki and Darzi had also come over to join Teetiri. Now we will start the second step of the plan, said Teetiri, and signalled to Chimini to move into the marsh. Kotwal and Phoolchuki were asked to go and perch themselves over the marsh to provide support to Chimini. Salonki kept moving around the marsh, visiting all her relatives, and ensuring that they kept chattering and making a lot of noise all around. Darzi stayed behind with Teetiri and later went on to sit next to Bulbul to make sure that he did not blurt out the plan to Billi, or to any other animal or bird. That was actually if Bulbul had understood the plan. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 52 - Chimini and the sparrows join the battle

52

Chimini and the sparrows join the battle

Now that Kotwal had seen Billi so frequently, he managed to spot him immediately. At a signal from Kotwal, Phoolchuki called out to Chimini. Chimini came with about ten sparrows and alighted on an open patch of ground across a narrow stream of marsh water. They were about six feet away from Billi who thought that he was well hidden inside the grass clumps. The sparrows began to take a sand bath, fluffing their feathers, playing around, singing and having a merry time. They started calling out to each other, jumping up and down, preening each other and removing insects from their feathers.

Billi was amazed at all the sudden activity inside the marsh grasses. He had not seen a single bird throughout the day and now there were quail after quail and now the sparrows. There were ten sparrows sitting at the marsh grasses, all together. At least he would not fail in catching at least one sparrow. He had convinced himself that he had not caught the quail because it was alone on each occasion. This time around, he could certainly catch one or two sparrows. He looked around to check if that irritating black drongo was still sitting at the topmost perch. He suspected that the drongo seemed to have a role in helping the quail to escape.

The black drongo was not to be seen. There was that Bulbul, sitting silently, watching and smiling at Billi’s foolishness. Billi was sure that this Bulbul was also somehow involved in his failure to hunt successfully. Why was he sitting there, without any movement, watching all the time? Billi thought. There was Darzi, sitting next to Bulbul now. Strangely, Darzi seemed to be very intent on watching Bulbul rather than the marsh. The situation seemed to be correct to try and hunt the sparrows. They did not seem to be aware of his presence, Billi thought to himself. Somehow... 

The sparrows were too much of a temptation for Billi. He decided to go in for catching at least one or two sparrows. He crouched, crept quietly, very slowly, crossing a distance of about two human feet. He did not continue, but waited for some time, looked up and above, to see if the black drongo had returned. There seemed to be a narrow stream of water between Billi and the sparrows. The rocky stream was about a foot wide, and the sparrows were about another three feet away. Once again deciding to go ahead with the attack, Billi moved in to the stream, practically lying down in the water. The sparrows did not seem to suspect anything. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 53 - Chimini and the sparrows are in danger

53

Chimini and the sparrows are in danger

He had now crossed the narrow stream and stayed low, keeping one thick clump of grass between him and the sparrows. He kept looking around to see if the black drongo or Phoolchuki had returned. Bulbul continued to perch where he was. It seemed amazing to Bulbul that Billi had actually come to within three feet away from the sparrows. Chimini and her relatives seemed to be in actual danger. Who would warn the sparrows now? Bulbul wondered, for Kotwal and Phoolchuki were not to be seen. Darzi was sitting alongside him, but seemed to be only looking at Bulbul. Wonder what was that all about? Bulbul thought.

Suddenly, Bulbul saw Kotwal, perched just behind Billi, at a very low branch. He seemed to have positioned himself at a spot where Billi could not turn around to look without exposing himself to the sparrows. Chimini and her relatives could see Kotwal perched on a low perch, accompanied by Phoolchuki at another low perch about six feet away to the left. So, between the two of them, Phoolchuki and Kotwal, Bulbul realised, both of them could keep a watch on Billi. Wonder what was to happen now, Bulbul thought, and wished that he could discuss all these secret strategies with someone. He turned to see if he could discuss it with Darzi, but gave up the thought on looking at the alert gleam in the tailorbird’s eye.

Billi came up to within two feet of the sparrows. They seemed to continue to be ignorant of Billi’s presence. This was the right time, Billi thought, and jumped the remaining two feet at the sparrows. There it was again, Billi realised, the harsh warning call of the black drongo at the very moment that he jumped. The sparrows on hearing the call seemed to lift off, just a microsecond before Billi completed his attack. Billi landed with a very harsh and painful thud. The foolish sparrows had actually been playing and sandbathing on very sharp rocks. Billi could feel each rock throughout his body. Again, he had not managed to catch any bird.

This was getting to be a bad day, Billi thought. He would now stop attacking. He would have to develop a new strategy. He could not keep attacking and hurting himself. Already the leg-injury inflicted by the village dogs was very painful and now these sharp rocks. He would now wait for these stupid birds to come to him. Chimini and her family had flown to some low banyan branches and were now laughing at Billi. They seemed to be laughing and laughing and laughing and laughing. This was becoming very humiliating. He needed to prove himself, soon. He had to prove himself not merely for the sake of understanding if he could hunt properly, but also for satisfying his very hungry stomach. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 54 - What could he do? What could he do?

54

What could he do? What could he do?

Whatcouldhedowhatcouldhedowhatcouldhedo? Billi kept repeating to himself. He had to find himself some food. He began to walk around the stony patch, not wanting to go back across the path where he had had bad luck trying to catch the jungle bush quail. Bulbul was watching him from above, wondering as to whether Billi now had a plan. He knew that Teetiri certainly had a plan and that seemed to be working so far. Where would it end? How would it end? How would all this running and chasing be able to scare Billi away from the marsh? He certainly did not look like he was about to leave the marsh.

Suddenly, Kotwal moved from his perch in the higher branch and came to one of the lower ones, in complete view of Billi. On another tree, away to the left, Kotwal’s father could be seen perched on one of the higher branches. And, another tree had Kotwal’s sister perched on one of the higher branches. And all the three drongos began to call each other. Billi looked up, startled at the sound of three black drongos calling out to each other behind him. This did not look good, he thought. But, wait a minute, Billi realised, perhaps it was a good thing, after all. If those three drongos were busy chatting with each other, way BEHIND him, then there would be no problem in hunting for birds in FRONT of him. Well, he was certainly an intelligent cat, and nobody could fool HIM, that was for sure, Billi told himself.

Billi kept walking slowly in front of him, towards the high ridge of the grassland. The marsh ended at the high ridge, and the waters collected underground as a natural spring and came out below the fifteen feet ridge as a small stream that flowed into the village. Anybody visiting the grassland or the marsh would not be able to understand that even the grass and bushes growing on the ridge-top were actually supporting the marsh in providing waters to the village. The fifteen feet high ridge had a natural slope that fell away gradually towards the river on the other side of the grassland. The river waters supported the agriculture while the marsh waters fed the stream to the village.

Bulbul - the redvented bulbul - wondered about Billi's walk

Why was Billi walking slowly along the water stream?

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Bulbul kept wondering as to why Billi was walking slowly along the narrow water streams in the marsh towards the high ridge. Perhaps it was because of Kotwal and the other drongos chattering away to one side, inside the marsh. At the further end, Salonki and her cousins were creating a loud noise. Chimini and her cousins along with the other members of the family had now taken courage and were settling on the babool branches inside the marsh and gossiping loudly. Billi was perhaps looking for some peaceful spot to hide and hunt. What would Teetiri do now? Bulbul asked Darzi, unable to contain himself any longer. Darzi seemed to glare more fiercely at Bulbul and continued to keep quiet. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 55 - Billi spots a nesting Teetiri

55

Billi spots a nesting Teetiri

Billi kept getting irritated. Those drongos seemed to have got bolder and begun to perch inside the marsh. The lone drongo on the high perch must have called the other drongos after having seen Billi fail in his attempts to catch the jungle bush quail. The sparrows had also been joined by other sparrows and had settled in the large babool tree in the marsh. He needed to get some quiet place to hide, take rest, and wait for other birds to catch. His stomach seemed to be growling louder and louder and Billi could not take it anymore. He needed an easy hunt, a bird that would be easy to catch, a bird that would not run away from the spot from where it was seen.

What was this? Billi could not believe his eyes. Suddenly, his luck seemed to be getting better. There, hidden across another marsh stream and wet sand, in a patch of rocks and grass, seemed to be a nesting lapwing. Okay, Billi thought. The jungle bush quail may disappear, reappear and disappear, while the sparrows may fly up into the trees, but a nest cannot get up and walk away. The eggs cannot disappear or fly away, even if the lapwing would. He could at least get to eat one or two or three eggs of the nesting lapwing even if he failed to catch the bird. A feast of two or three lapwing eggs may be the right nutrition that he needed, Billi thought.

Billi crouched and crawled to get to a good spot to quietly watch and assess the situation. Bulbul, from his perch on the low branch, realised that something was happening again. There was Billi crouching and crawling once again. Darzi also took a quick look and whispered angrily to Bulbul to stay quiet. Bulbul could not see Teetiri sitting as though she was at a nest, fulfilling her role as a leader of the birds of the grassland. She had decided to take on the most important part of the plan on to herself. Bulbul could only see that Billi was now looking at some unseen bird or some other unseen prey towards the high ridge line that marked the limits of the marsh.

Billi wanted to be very very certain this time around. His luck certainly seemed to have changed now, he thought to himself. The black drongos were behind him, chattering away among them. The sparrows were as yet at the other tree, gossiping very loudly. The mynas were away in the grassland. That irritating and smiling Bulbul continued to sit where he was, accompanied by Darzi. Wonder what that was all about, thought Billi once again to himself. All situations seemed to be in his favour. The lapwing seemed to be up on an incline from where he was hiding. Again, that would also work out to his favour. The lapwing kept lowering its head and raising it, warily, looking around very carefully. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 56 - Teetiri is almost given away

56
Teetiri is almost given away

Yes, yes, yes, Billi said to himself, happily, this was certainly a nesting lapwing. He was in for a good meal. He went forward, deciding to plan the attack path by going up the incline in a crouch, along the marsh water stream that flowed by.  The sound of the marsh waters, a very low gurgling sort of sound, would hide any sounds that he may make by accident. He did not want to alert the lapwing. Billi looked back once again, to try and spot the three black drongos. Yes, they continued to be at the babool trees, chattering away. The mynas and the sparrows continued to be where they were.

It was Darzi who almost gave away the plan at that moment. He spotted Teetiri when she raised her head to look around. Getting excited at spotting her, Darzi left her guard duty over Bulbul and flew to a higher branch to be able to see properly. Realising that Darzi had seen something that he had not seen, Bulbul shifted his perch to a higher one. Almost immediately, Bulbul spotted Teetiri at the edge of the ridge. She seemed to be sitting down, hiding, and raising her head now and then to look around. What was she doing there, all alone? Bulbul whispered to Darzi, who continued to keep silent. Bulbul looked around very fast, trying to see if he could understand this part of the plan. 

The three drongos were at their previous spots, while the sparrows and mynas were still moving around. Billi and Teetiri seemed to be the only two living beings that he could see in the marsh near the high ridge. So who was out there to warn Teetiri? Bulbul wondered. Billi, in the meantime, kept crawling up the very gentle slope, through the grasses, keeping a bunch of rocks between him and Teetiri. He was now within two feet of Teetiri, keeping himself hidden behind a small pile of rocks. He stayed very still, and looked around very carefully. He could not see anybody, but could hear the three drongos chattering, the mynas and sparrows gossiping. He was convinced that Bulbul was not dangerous. He went in a very silent crouch, pushing aside the grasses very quietly, waiting, crouching, waiting and crouching. He did not want to do the same mistake that he had done with Bater and Chimini. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 58 - Billi is chased away

58

Billi is chased away

First, Kotwal had turned up suddenly. He seemed to have come to the mango tree ahead of Billi. How had he done that? Did Kotwal know that Billi would come here? And how come that Billi could keep thinking so much even when he was jumping. And why was he in his jump for such a long time? Why had he not landed? He kept searching for solid ground to land on. There wasn’t any to be found below his feet. He seemed to have gone over a low ridge, and found himself in a leap that covered a lot of distance, most of it downwards, before landing very badly, injuring himself some more. He tumbled along for some more distance, over very sharp stones that hurt him badly. When he sat up, he seemed to have come down very close to the village. Yes. It was indeed his village, and those seemed to be same dogs that had chased him in the morning. Billi ran again, back into the village, to hide from the dogs.

Up in the ridge, Kotwal reported back to Teetiri and all the other birds. The dogs seemed to be only ones who loved Billi. They were running after him, barking loudly and chasing him all around the village, Kotwal said. Their plan had succeeded. Teetiri had led from the front, like a true leader, keeping to herself the final dangerous part. Billi had thought that Teetiri was at a nest, while she had actually been sitting at the very edge of the high ridge. And as Teetiri had predicted, Billi would have become very desperate by the time he had failed to catch the jungle bush quail or the sparrows. He had jumped to try and catch Teetiri, but had actually jumped over the fifteen feet ridge, and landed inside the very village that he had come away from, to escape the dogs.