Teetiri protects the grassland - 4 - Teetiraa wonders why he gets to sit under the hot Sun

Teetiraa wonders why he gets to sit under the hot Sun

He had better go and take over at the nest, Teetiraa said to himself. It was his duty to sit over the eggs from dawn to when the sun came up above the lone babool tree in the grassland. Teetiri had told him that she would only return when the shadow of the babool tree began to come over the nest. He would then be free to go to the wet marshy grounds near the river.

But Teetiraa would have to return to the nest once the sun's heat began to dry up the black marshy soil. That was when the shadow of the babool tree would no longer be above the nest. Dominga had once commented that this arrangement was funny and strange. How come that Teetiri seemed to get to sit on the eggs at night and whenever the shadow of the babool tree fell upon the nest? Why did he, Teetiraa, have to sit on the eggs only when the nest was unprotected from the harsh sun?

Teetiraa had wondered about it, and had meant to confront her today. But that “today” seemed to keep getting postponed everyday. Dominga had teased him about his hesitation. He had done so daily. Teetiraa had kept telling Dominga that he would exchange duty-timings at the nest with Teetiri today. But he had never done so. And, Dominga had not stopped teasing him. Nowadays, Dominga had begun bringing along Domingi, his partner, to feed at the scrub bushes near the marsh. They always kept tittering to themselves. Teetira suspected that Dominga had told his partner about the challenge and that she kept laughing at him for his failure to confront Teetiri.

Teetiraa had now decided to avoid Dominga. But this could not go on, he thought. Dominga was correct. Why did Teetiri get to sit on the nest at night and when it was under shadows. Why could he not sit on the nest when it was actually comfortable to do so? He had better ask her, ask her today, he thought. Dominga may go and tell this bit of useless gossip to Teetiraa's numerous brothers and cousins, who lived on the other side of the river. They would all begin to laugh at him.

Worse still, his cousins may stop inviting him to their hidden grassy patches inside the scrub forests. All the redwattled lapwing cousins, uncles and aunts and other distant relatives assembled together inside the scrub forests when the first rains brought out the termites. Wow. That was the best part of living, thought Teetiraa. All they had to do was stand around the termite mounds in the ground when the wingless termites came out in the thousands. They could catch them without even having to move around. They could keep eating them through the moonlit nights and sleep it off, happily, too tired to even go back to their regular day-to-day familiar grounds. He could not risk losing that invitation, thought Teetiraa.                               

Teetiri protects the grassland - 11 - Darzi says that Kokila was responsible

11

Darzi says that Kokila was responsible

Darzi was getting impatient. He knew what the problem was about. This was something new to Dominga and thus was not easily understood or accepted. He called Teetiri and Phoolchuki aside and spoke to them in a whisper. This was not something that was Dominga or Domingi’s fault, Darzi said. This was the evil Kokila at work. The Koel was a lazy bird, and therefore his partner, Kokila went about removing one egg from unguarded nests and replacing them with one of her own. Koel would never spend time or trouble in constructing his own nest. Kokila perhaps did not trust Koel to feed her at her nest if she did decide to sit on her own nests. And thus, Kokila went around searching for nests where she could hide her eggs.

Teetiri was shocked. She was learning about this for the first time in her life. As far as she knew, there were no nest raiders who replaced eggs of ground nesting birds. Phoolchuki had once heard about nest raiders on tree-nesting birds from one of her aunts who had had to raise a young Kokila chick in her nest.  The Kokila chick soon grew to be four times the size of her aunt, but she continued to feed it and take care of it, with all the love that only a mother can give. Her aunt had argued with her sisters and brothers that after all the Kokila chick was also an unprotected young bird, and if she could give food and love, and make sure that it flew away safely, she would be happy to do so. Phoolchuki’s father had not agreed but her mother had supported it. She was also a mother, wasn’t she? Who else would know a mother’s love, she had said.

Darzi said that the same incident had occurred with one of his aunts in the big fruit orchard that bordered their grassland. The village on the other side of the fruit orchard had many large tamarind, mango and banyan trees that were full of these evil Koel and Kokila birds. They came out from there, searching in the fruit orchards, the grasslands, the riverbanks and the forests. They searched for unprotected nests, that already had some eggs laid in them, and replaced one egg with one of their own. Did they do it with ground nesting birds, Teetiri asked, worried that it may happen with their nest when both Teetiri and Teetiraa left it unprotected? No, No, Darzi said, it was only with tree-nesting birds. The colours of the Kokila’s egg were such that it would easily be seen if left exposed to the sun, in the open grassland, if left in a ground-nest.

Darzi advised Phoolchuki and Teetiri that Dominga must not be told that the egg belonged to Kokila. For otherwise Dominga may go and destroy it. Teetiri also agreed. One egg belonging to Dominga and Domingi was in any case destroyed and lost forever. One should not destroy another egg, though it belonged to another bird, just because one had been destroyed. Phoolchuki also nodded in agreement. Yes, she said, just because it did not belong to you, it did not mean that you had the right to destroy it. Better that Phoolchuki or Teetiri went and told Domingi separately. Let Dominga not know. But what should they tell Dominga? Darzi told Phoolchuki and Teetiri not to worry. He would handle it himself. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 27 - Guturgu – the leader of the pigeons

27

Guturgu – the leader of the pigeons

Our young male pigeons guard us by continually flying in the sky in tight circles to keep a watch and warn us if any animal was approaching the shed or the neem tree. But what about Guturgu, Salonki asked, was he your leader?  Yes, replied the shy young female pigeon. He plans all the activities of our flock, keeps them together, and helps us find food, shelter and protection. He ensures that they we are not harmed while our aunts and uncles are at the nests. He controls the entire population of blue-rock pigeons in the village. All of us owe our safe existence to him, said the shy young female pigeon, in obvious and absolute reverence to Guturgu.

Again there was a sudden drop of conversation, and silence followed. An almost silent flap of wings could be heard inside the shed and suddenly, Guturgu was there at the window sill. So, Salonki, my old friend, what brings you here away from the grassland? Guturgu asked, stepping outside the window. He was a huge one, larger and fatter than the other pigeons, or seemed to be so, thought Salonki. Salonki had known him earlier when he was slimmer, leaner and faster. Guturgu had visited the marsh waters in the grassland during one very hot summer some years ago. The village pools and the river had gone dry throughout the region during that year. The marsh waters were thought to be bad for drinking for the humans and thus it was freely available to the birds and animals through the summer. Unlike the village pools and the river, the marsh had retained its waters through the harsh summer. It had become quite crowded then, thought Salonki.

I need your help, Salonki said. I guessed as much, Guturgu said, for otherwise you would not be here. Do tell me what is it that you need. Salonki replied, O friend, the marsh waters may no longer be safe. Your know how precious is the marsh to all the birds. And now, we can no longer enter the marsh. Surprised, Guturgu swelled his chest, waved his wings above his head and asked, You can no longer enter the marsh? Pray tell why? Why is it that you can no longer enter the marsh? Is it no longer there? Are the waters of the magical marsh finally gone dry? Are we to suffer this summer? This is a serious matter, my friend Salonki.

Happy that Guturgu had taken the matter so seriously right at the first bit of information, Salonki added, O Guturgu, my old friend, I come to you for help, because only you can help us in the manner in which we need it. The waters are present and will remain so during this summer. But we cannot enter the marsh because Billi is hiding out there, waiting to catch any of the birds that would come inside the marsh grasses. Guturgu gave a hum of understanding, and relaxed. You came to me on your own, my good friend Salonki? And pray tell me, how did you know that I was the correct person to give you advice against Billi?

Teetiri and Kotwal have also sent their regards and seek your support in taking action against Billi, Salonki explained. Guturgu hmmmmmed and grmmmmmmed loudly, and then trmmmmmed and brmmmmed for some more time. He is thinking, said the young female pigeon, obviously very much in love with Guturgu. The young male pigeon-guards were very alert, watching the sky, the roofs of neighbouring sheds, and giving wing signals to other male pigeon-guards flying in the sky. Salonki looked around at the thirty blue-rock pigeons that were standing there waiting to hear Guturgu's words of wisdom. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 32 - Kotwal meets his family

32

Kotwal meets his family

He was correct. His father was indeed there, along with Kotwal's two brothers, one sister, one aunt and her two sons. They seemed to be in a very serious meeting insde the very shady branches of the arjuna tree along the river bank that faced the grassland. They seemed happy to see him, he thought. His two cousins and his aunt did not seem to be so happy. They must have again come to seek his father's permission to hunt for insects in the grassland, he thought. His father would never permit it, he knew, for it was given to Kotwal and two of his sisters only. His father had given him strict instructions that he would have to be careful not to invite other black drongos for otherwise he would not get enough insects to catch.

Kotwal’s elder brother welcomed him by raising his crest and fluffing himself, while his sister fluttered her wings in appreciation of how well he looked. The discussion was about locating the best trees to build their nests during this approaching season, Kotwal’s father told him. It seemed like this year’s choice was between the arjuna and the banyan trees. These trees would withstand the severe summer that would surely hit the region this year. The climate seemed to be getting bad and bad each year. The days were getting hotter each year, while the summer, winter and the monsoon was longer. Every aspect of the climate was getting to be too much each year, Kotwal’s father told all his children. Kotwal and his brothers and sister nodded respectfully.

This was the problem with meeting his family, Kotwal thought. His father had to lecture them and instruct them. He seemed to think that Kotwal and the other children did not know how to live like black drongos. Someday he would tell his father about his own adventures in the grassland, and of how all the birds lived together. But Kotwal’s father seemed to think that the grassland was not able to feed more than two or three black drongos. Once Kotwal had got used to the grassland, he did not wish to hunt for insects near the river banks or in the village. His sister had also begun to like to hunt for insects among the bushes between the grassland and the scrub forest. She hated going to the village or to the river banks.

Kotwal interrupted his father the moment he paused in his lecture. I need your help, and I need it urgently, Kotwal told his father. Before his father could answer with another lecture, Kotwal told everything about Billi, about Teetiri and Salonki, about Salonki’s family in the babool tree chattering nonstop, and about Guturgu’s advice. He now had to search for Bater urgently. It seemed to be the only option left for the birds to be able to protect the grassland. Billi should not be able to hide out in the marsh tonight. If he would do that comfortably, even for a single night, he would return to the marsh regularly and it would not be a safe place anymore. Only Kotwal’s father could help them out at this moment, Kotwal said. And as Kotwal had hoped, his father took charge of the situation. He immediately began to lecture to Kotwal and his brothers and sister on how to search for Bater.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 33 - A plan to search for Bater

33

A plan to search for Bater

Bater was excellent in hiding in the grassland, Kotwal’s father said. You could spend the entire season in the grassland without seeing Bater or any of his relatives. You cannot search for Bater, he said. You have to wait for Bater to show himself. The drongo family sat together to plan the strategy to spot Bater in the grassland. First, all the drongos, Kotwal’s family included, would fly out of the trees along the river-banks, and perch on high tree branches that overlooked every path and trail in the grassland. Second, Kotwal would have to go and ask Salonki for help. Salonki would have to get all the mynas to disturb the grassland wherever there were rocks and tall grass. They would have to move around the tall grass areas among the rocks and chatter loudly to disturb Bater and his family.

Having agreed on this, the drongos flew out of the tall arjuna trees along the river-banks to the grassland and began to choose perches on the branches of all the tall trees. From up here, they could spot movement on any path or trail in the grassland. The drongos were good at spotting the tiniest of insects flitting about and would be able to pinpoint any movement in the grassland. Kotwal flew over to the babool tree to meet Salonki. He explained the strategy to Salonki who immediately called out to her family to stop chattering. Once silence was achieved, and instructions passed on, Salonki asked her family to break up into small flocks and spread out among the rocks in the tall grass.

The mynas spread out as told by Salonki. Eight to ten mynas in each flock sat on the rocks and began to chatter loudly. Hundreds of mynas started walking around, jumping up and down the rocks, running after insects and pecking at the wandering red crabs that seemed to be lost away from the water. With all the mynas moving around, the grassland suddenly seemed like a small place, after all. The drongos could immediately see the effect on the grassland. There was a confused looking Dominga, an angry Phoolchuki and a disgusted Darzi flying up from their nests, upset at the peace of the grassland being disturbed in this manner. Kotwal’s father spotted Naag rushing away to hide inside a hole next to some rocks, while Dhaman could be seen hurrying away to another hole. 

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.