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.
