Teetiri protects the grassland - 12 - Dominga is fooled by Darzi and returns to Domingi

12

Dominga is fooled by Darzi and returns to Domingi

Phoolchuki, Teetiri and Darzi returned to talk to Dominga. It was Darzi who spoke first. He told Dominga that it was not an unknown thing for eggs to change colour while at the nest. It must have been Dominga’s mistake. Did he, did he, did he, did he ever, ever, ever, ever, feed one of those red and black coloured caterpillars to Domingi before the eggs were laid? Dominga was taken aback. Was it his mistake? Did he give one of those red and black coloured caterpillars to Domingi? He thought very hard. But Darzi did not give him time to think. He kept talking. Dominga must have, must have, must have, must have, fed one of those stick-like grasshoppers then. If not the red and black caterpillars or the stick-like grasshoppers, then he must have, must have, must have, must have given one of those glowing worms that shone brilliantly at night. Dominga nodded hesitantly. Yes. He had once caught one of those glowing worms.

But those glowing worms were certainly not shining once he had caught them, said Dominga. But, it may also have been one of those stick-like grasshoppers. He had once caught a young one. He stopped to think back. Darzi looked at Phoolchuki and winked. Now they had him. Darzi began to talk very fast again. Yes yes yes yes. That must be, must be, must be, must be it. He must have given one of the glow-worms or the stick-like grasshoppers to Domingi.  Did you know that could change the egg-colour? It was his entire fault. Did he, did he, did he, did he, did he scold Domingi for his mistake? Did he, did he, did he, did he? Darzi kept asking. He did not want to give any time for Dominga to realise that he may be wrong or that he was being fooled. And suddenly, Darzi flew away to the babool tree, and back to Darzeee at her nest.

Darzi was happy that he had completed two tasks. First, he had helped Domingi protect her eggs. Second, he had fooled Dominga. He had wanted to do that for a long long time. Dominga had always been a very proud songster, singing from the highest branch, or from some of those new electric cables and wireposts that had been lined up along the edge of the grassland. Those electric cables gave off a loud buzzing noise sometimes. Most birds did not go near them. Darzi was always content to sing from within the branches of trees or bushes, and usually sang to tell Darzeee or other tailor birds that he was nearby. But Dominga was a proud bird. He kept singing just to show off, Darzi was convinced.

Meanwhile, back at the ber bush, Phoolchuki told Dominga to begin smiling, stop his sad look and get back to Domingi back as soon as possible. Dominga looked at Teetiri and asked her as to what she thought. Teetiri also smiled and asked Dominga that he should certainly get back to Domingi right away. She must be starving at the nest. He should go and apologise. Phoolchuki would go with him and make sure that he did apologise. Otherwise Teetiri would tell all the other lapwings to spread the message that Dominga had been a very very bad bird. Then nobody would protect him.

Domingi - the female Magpie Robin knew that

Dominga would return to her after his anger would go off.

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Each time a Shaheen, the falcon, would come hunting for small birds near the tall tamarind tree, some bird or the other would point out Dominga’s location to be hunted. Or, it could be more dangerous, if the tailor birds sounded their alarm to identify Dominga’s hiding place to Shikra, the sparrow hawk, known to all the birds as the silent killer, who flew in between the branches of the trees and bushes. Frightened and completely humbled, Dominga flew back to Domingi with Phoolchuki at his side. Both Shaheen and Shikra were the most feared hunting birds in the grassland, riverside trees, in the orchard, and in the village nearby. Most birds usually helped each other to know that these hunters were nearby. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 35 - Kotwal’s father spots Bater

35

Kotwal’s father spots Bater

Kotwal decided that he would perch on the highest Babool branch in this part of the grassland in order to search for Bater and at the same time, to be able to keep an eye on his father. Salonki went off to sit on the rocks nearby. Both the birds waited patiently. Kotwal’s father seemed to have caught a grasshopper and was searching for a bush to perch upon. Not finding one nearby, he jumped on to some low-lying rocks. The grasshopper jumped out of his beak and went inside the nearby grass, followed by Kotwal’s father. The commotion soon led to some movement in the grass. Two tailor birds flew out of the bushes nearby, followed by an Indian Robin and his family. He began to fly low and circle around some clumps of grass.

And suddenly, Kotwal’s father began to signal towards the path covered by Kotwal, perched high up in the Babool tree. .

Kotwal and all his brothers and sisters had been watching their father with embarrassment. Imagine, darting off to catch grasshoppers when they had such an important task on their wings. But they also knew and respected their father. They could immediately understand that there was some reason for their father to begin to signal towards the path in the grassland. Perhaps, it was Bater. Kotwal and his brothers and sister flew down to cover all the bushes and perched on the branches. It is Bater, I am sure, It is Bater, I am sure, Kotwal’s father said repeatedly. See, only an experienced old bird knows the secrets of the grassland, he said. But where was Bater, Kotwal asked.

He will not come out, Kotwal’s father replied, he is shy. I know him well. You will need to persuade him to show himself. Kotwal called out to Bater. There was no response. All the drongos, one after the other, called out without success. Kotwal began to suspect that his father was perhaps fooling them all to make up for having shown off his greed to catch the tasty grasshopper. Kotwal’s father began to circle slowly, flying low over the grass clumps near the babool bushes. Suddenly he swooped down and sat on a low rock, watching what seemed like grass, rocks and pebbles. There, you can see him now. Bater and his family, hiding among the rocks, grass and pebbles.

Salonki, Phoolchuki and Darzi came over to the spot. Salonki sat on a low babool branch and called out to Bater. On another low neem tree, Phoolchuki sat and called out to Bater. All the drongos had circled the patch and were keeping a watch for any unseen predators. Bater may be worried about predators, since the grassland had been disturbed, so extensively, thought Kotwal. There are no predators nearby, and we want to talk to you and ask your help, Kotwal called out to Bater. Hearing the assurance, the grass parted, and Bater came out very hesitantly. The rest of his family was still hidden inside the grass. Do not worry, Darzi said. We need your help. All the birds of the grassland need to get rid of a new enemy in the grassland. Guturgu asked Teetiri to seek your help and Teetiri needs you desperately, Kotwal said.