Teetiri protects the grassland - 3 - How the eggs were lost once before

3

How the eggs were lost once before

He was once again thinking too much about the other birds, thought Teetiraa, scolding himself. Teetiri, Kotwal and Phoolchuki had warned him about this dangerous habit. He had to pay attention to the fact that both Teetiri and Teetiraa had to be responsible to their duties at the nest and the newly laid clutch of two eggs. Teetiraa was supposed to help Teetiri in guarding their nest very carefully. There were enemies everywhere. The grassland was not as innocent as it seemed to be at the beginning. Their enemies were very clever and could hide anywhere in the open grassland. They could not afford to make a mistake all over again. Two seasons ago, Teetiri had lost a clutch of three eggs when an alert Kaawla, the crow, had seen Teetiraa raise his head at the nest to watch Dhaman slither by at a distance.

Kaawla had waited quietly, hidden in the babool tree, unseen by even the usually very alert and vigilant Kotwal. Teetiri had to prevent Dhaman from locating the nest. Kaawla had flown straight to the nest at the very moment that Teetiri had stood up to walk away stealthily. Before anyone had realised the danger, Kaawla had broken all the three eggs and eaten them up. Teetiri had got very angry and flew straight at Kaawla and tried to hit him. Kotwal had also followed to support Teetiri.

But the damage had been done. Teetiraa had gone back to the nest to find that all the eggs were broken and the shell pieces lay scattered. Teetiri was inconsolable at that time. Kotwal, Bulbul and Phoolchuki had talked them through their days of sorrow. They had been good friends, thought Teetiraa. They had been very helpful in convincing Teetiri that it was not her fault. Kotwal explained to her that there were several times that Phoolchuki had lost her entire nest when the local villagers came to cut tree branches for use as fuelwood. Phoolchuki built her nests with great difficulty. It took her several days to construct it and had to suffer the loss several times in each season. Teetiri had taken courage from Kotwal and Phoolchuki and agreed with Teetiraa to try once again to grow a family of young redwattled lapwings in the grassland.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 19 - Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

19

Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

Salonki’s father had asked one of the crows about this brownish yellow animal. The eldest of the crows, Kaawla Chacha, had replied that this animal was ‘Billi’, the village cat. It was very bold, very fast, very quiet and very patient. And, most important of all, it was very dangerous. One should not even try flying close to it. It could jump up, quite high, and injure you with its claws. Why do you grassland and forest birds come inside the village anyway, Kaawla Chacha asked angrily. Why do you come to suffer so badly? Do you see any of the village birds roaming around in the grassland? Or do you see the waterbirds roaming around in the forest? Get some sense, act smart, and survive. Stay in your habitat, Kaawla Chacha gestured angrily at Salonki’s father. Survive. Survive. Survive. Survive.

Salonki remembered all those unfortunate happenings very clearly. Salonki remembered Billi very clearly to this day. Only, he had not expected to see him inside the grassland, hiding in the marsh, and being an expert at camouflage, he told his partner. This animal in front of them, hiding away, very patiently in the marsh was Billi, Salonki told all her relatives. Why was it here, asked Salonki’s aunt, if it was supposed to be inside the village? If we should not go outside our habitat, what was this animal doing outside its village?

It must have come to the marsh to try its luck in hunting down some grassland birds, Salonki said. Okay. Salonki could also play this game. Salonki could also take this opportunity to take revenge for what had happened out there in the village that day. Kaawla Chacha had told Salonki’s father that day that Billi was smart and dangerous. Now let us see if Billi was indeed all that smart, Salonki told her partner. She flew to the lone babool stem to join Kotwal and Teetiri. Rapidly, she told them the story of that unfortunate day in the village when he had lost his brother.  Teetiri had never seen a cat. Billi? What was a Billi? Teetiri asked Salonki. Was it like Bhainsa, the buffalo? Was it like Gadheda, the donkey? Or, was it like Lombdi, the Wolf?

No, No, Kotwal and Salonki said together. It was not like Bhainsa, Gadheda or Lombdi, Kotwal said. This was a Cat, a Cat, a very dangerous animal, Salonki said. There are many types of cats, some large, some small, some spotted and some striped, Kotwal said. So, which one was this, he asked Salonki. Salonki only knew about the village cat from Kaawla Chacha and about how dangerous it was. Salonki herself had not seen Billi from very close. Whatever had been seen on that day in the village was a very fleeting glimpse of a very fast animal.

You won’t understand, Salonki told Teetiri. Do not just wait for it to come out. We have to bring Billi out of the marsh and chase it away from the grassland, Salonki said. They could not allow Billi to take over the marsh. The birds of the grassland would not be safe. No, No, Teetiri said, we have to fight for our grassland. I will fight for the grassland, Teetiri told Kotwal and Salonki, again and again. Not merely fight for the grassland, Salonki interrupted, we have to also humiliate Billi so that he would never return to the marsh and the grassland. It would be a big favour; could they do her this favour? Salonki asked Teetiri and Kotwal. Could they help her take revenge? It would help her feel better and forget the unfortunate happening of that day in the village. They needed to help her plan. It would also help to drive Billi away from the marsh. Teetiri and Kotwal agree to help fight Billi.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 20 - Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe

20

Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe

Teetiri agreed instantly while pecking fast at a passing beetle and swallowing it. Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe for her children when they would hatch out. She had planned the nesting in order that her children would be hatched just in time for the monsoon. But she was worried that the rains may be delayed by seven to ten days. She needed the water in the marsh and the safe hideout that the green grass would provide to her children.

Teetiri asked Kotwal to help Salonki plan against Billi. Kotwal also agreed to help. He had a very good reason to help because Billi had once climbed a mango tree adjacent to the village and destroyed the nest that belonged to Kotwal’s sister. Kotwal had not seen it happen but his father had described it to him. This Billi should never be allowed inside the grassland or at the marsh, Kotwal said. But we need more help, perhaps some clever birds from the village, Teetiri suggested. We do not know how to fight Billi, while the village birds would be able to help them plan. Both Kotwal and Salonki nodded in agreement.

Who could help them but Kaawla Chacha, said Salonki excitedly. He was the one who had scolded Salonki’s father in the village. He seemed to know a lot and seemed like a very wise bird. He may be able to help the birds of the grassland. Kaawla Chacha certainly seemed to be very intelligent. Salonki proposed that Kaawla Chacha could be invited to come to the grassland and help the birds lead an attack on Billi while he hid in the marsh.

Teetiri disagreed. She still remembered the way that Kaawla Chacha’s cousin had destroyed her nest and eaten up her eggs. She argued that Kaawla may be very intelligent but he was also a danger to the birds and their nests in the grassland. Kaawla Chacha should never be able to find out the secrets of the grassland or the marsh. An enemy is an enemy is an enemy. Especially one who destroys your nest and eats away the eggs. Such an enemy could never be trusted. We may replace one foolish enemy with a very smart and intelligent enemy, she said.

Kotwal agreed. Do not call Kaawla Chacha, he advised. A better friend would be Guturgu, the Blue-Rock Pigeon. Guturgu never destroyed any nests or ate any eggs. He was very peaceful, content to live with his family. He actually seemed to have a very large family. The blue-rock pigeons seemed to come out of the village in their hundreds to the cropfields when the grain was ready to be harvested. They were never to be seen flying around commonly in the grassland or the river or the forest. The local villagers were also known to feed them at a specific place. Guturgu could teach some tricks to the birds of the grassland. 

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 - 34 - The grassland is busy with birds

34

The grassland is busy with birds

Shikra and Shaheen flew out of their hiding places, disgusted at this widespread disturbance. Both birds of prey flew across the river to go and perhaps search for some other grassland. But there did not seem to be any sight of Bater and his family. Kotwal’s father flew down to Salonki and asked her to send some mynas to a distant bunch of rocks and tall grass. Salonki flew towards her sister’s group of twelve mynas who were busy gossiping about the good nesting spots in the old bungalow inside the forest. Salonki’s sister was explaining that the bungalow was not in a good condition, without anyone living in it, and had begun to break apart. It was a good spot to choose for several nests this season. It would also stay cool during the summer.

Salonki asked her sister and her group of mynas to go and continue with their gossip at the distant bunch of rocks and tall grass. The small flock of mynas went to the spot as directed and continued with their conversation about the bungalow in the forest. Salonki could still hear her sister explaining all the good nesting qualities that the damaged house seemed to possess. They needed new nesting spots, undisturbed ones, that would provide security and peace for the new flocks of mynas. The village indeed had been able to give them good nesting spots, but Guturgu and the blue rock pigeons had taken over all the nesting spots that the mynas had. The house crows were in control of the trees and their nesting spots near the village.

Salonki’s sister and her flock were busy making plans to shift to the bungalow in the forest for the coming breeding season. But all the conversation was what was helpful, thought Kotwal to himself. Teetiri was intelligent. She knew that all the mynas loved to chatter. And that the chatter was going to be helpful in disturbing Billi and now to search for Bater.  Meanwhile, Kotwal’s father accompanied by Salonki, flew to a tall tree near Salonki’s sister and her flock of mynas. The chatter was good, and it would disturb anybody who lived in this patch of the grassland.

Sure enough, from among the rocks, out came Naag’s sister, followed by two scorpions and some grasshoppers. Those grasshoppers looked tasty, thought Kotwal’s father and decided to go after them. He quickly asked Salonki to tell Kotwal to come over to this area to search for Bater, and flew after the grasshoppers. Angry but helpless at this instinctive gesture by Kotwal’s father, Salonki flew off to ask Kotwal to come over to join up with her to search for Bater. Kotwal’s father, in the meantime, kept darting in and out of the bushes, intent upon catching the grasshoppers. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 36 - Teetiri takes charge of all the birds to fight the enemies in the grassland

36

Teetiri takes charge of all the birds to fight the enemies in the grassland

At the mention of Guturgu and Teetiri, Bater gathered courage and stepped out in the open. The other jungle bush quail were not to be seen. Possibly, Bater had asked them to stay hidden in the grass. Used to sitting out in in the open, Kotwal found all this secrecy to be quite silly. But to each bird, its own recipe for survival, Kotwal's father had once advised him. Never question other birds about their techniques and methods, he had been told. And most importantly, as Kotwal's mother had added,  never tease other birds about their methods.

Why was all this racket disturbing the grassland, Bater asked Kotwal. And why was Salonki and all the mynas moving around the peaceful and quiet grassland?  Why did Guturgu and Teetiri want his help? Was it to chase away Salonki and the mynas? Did she lose her eggs once again? Bater shot the questions in rapid-fire mode. Phoolchuki and Darzi were taken aback by Bater's anger. The jungle bush quail did not look like it had such courage. Phoolchuki had never thought of questioning Kotwal. Darzi always tried to avoid talking to Kotwal. The drongos were known to chase away Shikra, Shaheen or Kaawla Chacha. And here was the timid and shy Bater, posing questions to the dozen to Kotwal.

Kotwal did not lose his cool at the questions. He had once seen Bater argue with Teetiri on the wisdom of choosing good nesting spots on the ground. Both were ground-nesting birds, and while Teetiri tried to nest in the open, Bater built her nest in a quiet, hidden and secretive spot inside clumps of grass or inside bushes and amidst rocks. But unlike Teetiri, Bater was never to be seen out in the open grassland. It was strange indeed, thought Kotwal, that secretive nesters were also secretive, while open ground nesting birds somehow were very confident that their nests would not be seen.

Bater was secretive and shy, no doubt, but confident also. Perhaps that’s why Guturgu and Teetiri had so much faith in the jungle bush quail. Perhaps Kotwal did not know all there was to know from his high perch in the trees. Perhaps ground-nesting birds knew more about other ground-nesting birds. Kotwal flew down to perch on a tiny rock near Bater and began to tell him the entire story of Billi hiding in the marsh. Phoolchuki, Darzi, Bulbul and Salonki were perched on nearby branches. Kotwal’s father and the other drongos kept guard from all the high branches nearby while Salonki’s cousins kept their loud chatter going on nearby.

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.