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 - 3 - How the eggs were lost once before

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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 - 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 - 5 - Teetiraa approaches the nest by walking away from it

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Teetiraa approaches the nest by walking away from it

He walked out of the small patch of weeds around the stony rubble wherein he had slept the night. The orange band of light in the sky was fading out and was now being replaced by a shade of golden yellow. Teetiraa walked around the edge of the grassland, in a straight line, pretending that he was going somewhere else. They could not risk the nest being known to unseen watchers. There were several enemies, quiet, unseen, hidden away among the trees, bushes, stones, grass and high up in the sky. They could never be certain that they had not been spotted at the nest.

He stood straight, and walked in a determined manner, calling out, "Teetiree, Teetiree", twice, clearly, loudly, for all to hear. He did not approach the nest, nor did he seem to walk away from the nest. Most smart predators would then be able to search along his path and be able to spot the nest. That would not do. Another season would be lost. Teetiraa thought of those unlucky times as he kept walking around the nest with greater caution. He kept walking in a straight line, right upto the babool tree.

Here, among the stony ground under the branches, he suddenly started calling out loudly “Treeeee, Tteetiriiiii, Treeeeee, Teeetiriiiii”, as though he had spotted Dhaman or Naag. He jumped up and began to fly below the tree, creating a lot of noise. This would have all the unseen watchers looking at him, wondering if there was indeed some problem under the babool tree.  Teetiraa knew, that, at that very moment, Teetiri had begun to walk away from the nest, crouching, taking care to see that her head was unseen above the grasses. This was the best strategy, they had decided among themselves. All animals, seen and unseen, would be looking at Teetiraa, as he was doing something like a loud, haphazard dance, while Teetiri was quietly crawling away from the nest. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 7 - Teetiri hides the nest by allowing herself to be seen

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Teetiri hides the nest by allowing herself to be seen

Though she was trying to pretend to hide, she knew that her black and white head would immediately allow all predators to spot her. It had to be done in a manner that would seem to be very purposefully done. This would fool would-be predators. She began to shake some of the grass around her by crawling among them and casually stood up and began to walk away. She knew that there would be someone out there quietly watching her and remembering the spot where she had stood up.

Teetiri - visits the pond of water at the grassland. 

She could keep a watch on Teetiraa at the nest nearby. 

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

Teetiri walked out towards a small puddle of water that always collected amongst some rocks near the old well. It was said that some humans had once lived here in order to go by fishing boats in the creek to catch fish and prawns. One big storm had killed all of them and since then it had been seen that humans rarely came to this corner of the creek. Teetiri rushed loudly, “Treeeet, treeeet!” at two mynas who were drinking there. To all those watching, it seemed like Teetiri was staking her right to drink at the puddle. But it actually served as a signal to Teetiraa to begin to approach the nest, where the egg lay exposed to the hot sunlight. To all those watching, Teetiri was now drinking peacefully at the water puddle.

Teetiri and Teetiraa had decided to adopt this strategy of staging a double deception in order to try and allow their new eggs to survive. They had risked only two eggs this time. Teetiri did not understand how Teetiraa had thought of this idea. Sometimes he could be so smart, she thought. Teetiraa on the other hand, thought that this was Teetiri’s idea. She was always so smart, he thought. They had agreed with each other to try this survival strategy. Teetiraa was at quite a distance, away from the nest, but able to spot the location to be sure that there was no accidental predator. Teetiraa walked into a bunch of tall grass in a bold manner and suddenly sat down. He waited for some time and began to crawl out of the grass towards a babool bush that had low undergrowth. Reaching the babool bush, he crawled in and around the low branches until he came to a ber (Zizyphus berries) bush that was alongside it. He repeated the same crawling in the ber bush. He came out the other side to a bunch of stones that helped him hide while crawling in and out of the low grass. He was now close to the nest. He waited here for some time, looking around to spot any approaching predator.

At this very time, Teetiri flew up into the sky, calling out loudly, “Treeee, treeeee, tweeet, did-you-do-it? did-you-do-it?” When he was sure that everybody would be watching Teetiri flying and circling about, repeating the loud harsh calls and disturbing the entire grassland, Teetiraa did the final crawl to the nest, checked out the two eggs and sat over them. Teetiri watched him from above, making sure that no predator was approaching the nest, and sang out the all-safe call, “Treeee-he-did-it, Treeeee-he-did-it!”

Teetiri and Teetiraa repeated this shuffle, hiding among the bushes and stones, trying to fool their enemies, morning, evening and night, day in and day out. They had to keep on doing it, without losing their guard, without making a mistake, in order to ensure that their clutch of two eggs hatched perfectly. Both of them knew that the actual battle would begin when the eggs were hatched and the chicks would be born. They would then have their very own redwattled lapwing family to take care of, to protect, to raise, to feed, to take care of, to feed, to take care of, to feed, and and and and, wow, it was indeed going to be a lot of work. They would have to hide their chicks, feed them, feed themselves, and make sure that nobody spotted their family together for at least ten days after the eggs were hatched. For now, they had to be careful, extra careful. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 9 - Dominga searches for Darzi

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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 - 12 - Dominga is fooled by Darzi and returns to Domingi

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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 - 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 - 15 - Teetiri asks Salonki for help

15

Teetiri asks Salonki to help

She was almost sure that she could not depend on Salonki and her partner. Or, could she? Teetiri asked herself. It may perhaps be easier to ask Salonki to risk taking a chance than any other bird. Salonki would be willing to take risks. For all the singing and gesturing that Dominga, Darzi or Phoolchuki did, they did not have the guts to confront an enemy. She could not risk Kotwal. Teetiri needed Kotwal to warn her at her nest. Salonki would have to do for the moment, Teetiri thought.

After all, no smart predator was waiting out there so patiently to have to eat Salonki. With all the nodding and shaking that they did, the predator would definitely a stomach ache, Teetiri thought and smiled to herself. She called Salonki and informed her that she would need a favour. Salonki was surprised and felt very happy. Teetiri, Teetiri, TEETIRI was asking her, her, HER, Salonki, to do a favour. Teetiri was considered to be much smarter than Salonki and here she was, asking her for a favour. Sure, she said, ask and if she could do it, she would definitely be glad to be of any help.

Go to the jowar and bajra cropfields. Go and tell all your myna cousins and relatives that Teetiri needs their help. Bring them to the marsh. Teetiri told Salonki. Do not ask them to land in the marsh but ask them to perch on the branches of the babool trees. Tell them to just sit there and try to find out what the animal was. Was it a dog from the village? Was it Mongoose or Ghorpad, the monitor lizard, wandering away from his usual walking path? Whoever it was from among all these, they were all equally dangerous for lapwing chicks, Teetiri thought. What if it was not one of these animals? She could always deal with the known ones, and try and force them into moving away. It was the unknown and strange animals, that would be more worrying.

Salonki agreed to bring all her cousins and relatives to the marsh. She flew off with her nodding partner to the cropfields across the river where all her relatives gathered to feed upon the grains. They were also possibly gathering around the place where the farmers were boiling harvested sugarcane to make jaggery. The mynas loved to pick up the fallen jaggery when it was being transported back and forth from the boiling area in the cropfields to the godowns. The farmers usually left the godown doors open. The mynas also raided the godown interiors for there was more food to be found inside.

Salonki flew down upon the roof of the shed and called out to her relatives. All of them gathered together on the roof while Salonki told them about the request for help from Teetiri. They were all excited. They felt that Salonki had done all the mynas proud. Imagine, they spoke agitatedly, imagine, one of the lapwings was actually asking the mynas for help. Wow. That was something, indeeeeeed. They were also excited about this strange animal that Salonki was describing. Large, frightening and dangerous, Salonki had said. And, all Teetiri had asked of was to make sure that all the mynas perched on the babool trees and just stayed there? That was the plan? That was the entire plan? Of course, they could do it.  That was very easy. And for this easy bit of assistance, Teetiri would owe Salonki a favour? Wow. How foolish could the lapwings be? They told each other in pairs, for though they seemed to be in a large flock, the mynas interacted only as pairs. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 16 - Salonki and her relatives talk to the stranger. And talk, and talk and talk.

16

Salonki and her relatives talk to the stranger. And talk, and talk and talk.

The mynas flew off together from the roof of the shed with Salonki leading the way. They were actually flying in pairs, but looked like a flock when together. Each pair kept talking to each other even when flying. They would talk to each other until the end of their lives, thought Bulbul, who was flying by at that time. Salonki lead the flock of mynas directly to the babool trees. There were probably more than two hundred mynas together now. They kept talking to each other. That is what Teetiri had told them to do, did she not? Salonki wondered. What sort of a plan was this? How would Teetiri confront the animal if the plan was only to keep all the mynas in the babool trees and to ensure that they kept talking? How would she get to know who the strange animal was? Did she expect that the animal would talk to Salonki?

Salonki and her relatives searched for the mysterious animal in the marsh. From here, perched on one of the low branches of the babool tree that stretched out into the marsh, she could see over a large portion of it. Where was it? Where was it? Where was it? If the animal was indeed out there, then it was probably very smart. She could not spot it. And, was she not a very intelligent bird? Then how could the animal be smarter than she could? She called out to Kotwal who was still perched on the lone babool stem. Teetiri was standing on the ground next to the lone babool stem. Kotwal flew out to join Salonki at the higher branches of the babool tree and perched near her. Was the strange animal still hiding out there? Salonki asked. Sure, he must be out there in the marsh, said Kotwal, for he had not seen him come out to the grassland.

So, where was he? Salonki wondered. She could not see him from up here. Could Kotwal spot him? No? Then, where was he? Salonki peered hard at the grass. It was difficult to concentrate with more than 150 relatives behind you, chattering away loudly. The mynas could talk very loudly. They did not stop for the other partner to stop talking. It was getting to be very difficult to sit still and search for the strange animal. What could he do? He could not ask his relatives to keep quiet. Teetiri had especially wanted that all her relatives keep chattering away loudly. That Teetiri was crazy, Salonki thought. What was this plan anyway? Even Salonki got tired of hearing all her relatives talking non-stop. So, why would anyone else love to hear her hundreds of relatives talk non-stop?

Shhhhh, Kotwal said. So, even Kotwal was tired of Salonki and her relatives? No, it did not seem to be the reason for Kotwal to be ‘shhhing’ her. He was pointing towards some brown and green coloured grass. Salonki looked. Yes, there was something all right. It looked like a brown, or black, or brown, or black coloured fluffy ball, just about the size of Phoolchuki or Darzi that seemed to suddenly bob up and down in the grass. The fluffy brown or black ball could not be seen by anyone on the ground. From up here, Salonki and Kotwal could spot it only when it bobbed up and down.

It seemed to be irritated, Kotwal said. Bobbing up like that, almost angrily. It must be angry with all the chatter that Salonki’s relatives were busy with, Kotwal told Salonki. But what was it? Salonki asked. Kotwal flew up and tried to look at the fluffy ball from up closer. He flew back to Salonki and said that he could not see much more than that. Having said that, Kotwal flew back to Teetiri and his lone standing babool stem that grew so persistently out there, in the grassland. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 30 - Salonki returns to the grassland

30

Salonki returns to the grassland

Salonki left Guturgu, puzzled and disappointed, and flew straight to Bade Miya and Chote Miya. They seemed to be arguing in very lazy voices, about the usefulness of their tails to chase away mosquitoes and flies that were hovering above them. Bade Miya wanted to use his tail to kill the insects, while Chote Miya was arguing that the tail should only be used to chase away the insects. Not to kill them. Chote Miya's opinion was that dead insects would be replaced with more and more new insects. It was better to have the number of insects that they were familiar with. Salonki perched upon Chote Miya's forehead and told them about Guturgu's advice about Bater and how the birds of the grassland need to protect the marsh by themselves. Bade Miya snorted immediately and said, what use is that advise? How can Bater help? He is a tiddly-piddly-widly small little scared ghost of a bird. He is frightened of the slightest movement of grass. Maybe the sight of his cousin jungle bush-quail would also frighten him. How can he help?

Chote Miya snorted angrily and told Salonki, O friend, do not get taken in by Bade Miya's words. He is more frightened of Billi or the village dogs than he would care to admit. He is of no use and his advise is also of no use. Do not misunderstand Guturgu, Chote Miya said. Guturgu is very wise, and usually knows what he is talking about. If he means that you have the strength in you to fight Billi, then Guturgu is correct. If Guturgu asks you to take Bater's help, then do it. Go and take Bater's help to fight Billi.

Puzzled at the strange advice from Guturgu being confirmed by Bade Miya and Chote Miya, Salonki flew back to the grassland. She flew nonstop to the lone babool stem near the marsh and perched on it to take some rest. Teetiri did not seem to be nearby. Kotwal could be seen perched on a high branch on the babool tree. All the other mynas were now settling down in the babool tree, some chattering, some flying back and forth from the river at the edge of the grassland. The farmers had returned on their bullock carts, filled with the foodgrain that they had harvested today. There must be a lot of spilled grain along the river edge where the carts had crossed over, Salonki thought. She could see mynas, doves, pigeons and sparrows feeding rapidly at the river-edge. There were a lot of birds flying about behind the bullock carts and in the cropfields beyond the river. 

Salonki called out to Kotwal and Teetiri. Hearing Salonki, Kotwal flew down immediately from his perch, while Teetiri was not to be seen. She must have gone back to the nest, Kotwal said. She is not here? She is not here? asked a worried Salonki. We need Teetiri. Guturgu gave some useless advice. We need Teetiri, Salonki gasped. Calm down, calm down, Kotwal said. We will get Teetiri back. Let us wait till she comes back from the nest. No, No, No, said Salonki and added, we will need to search for Teetiraa to return to the nest so that Teetiri can come back to help plan against Billi. 

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 - 45 - The War of the Marsh Waters

45

The War of the Marsh Waters

Billi sat there, hiding in the marsh grasses, waiting for some really fat birds to show up. He had got injured in a fight with the village dogs, and had decided to hide outside the village for the day. Billi planned to catch some food that he usually was not able to taste in the village. He had heard Naag tell his wife and children that the marsh was a good spot to catch unsuspecting birds. He had come very eagerly to hide out in the marsh and try his luck in catching some fat birds. His plan was to hide in the grasses surrounding the marsh and pounce upon birds who were not expecting him to attack them.

Billi suspected that his luck may not be good on this day. Strangely, there had been no birds visiting the marsh through the day. There was only that absolutely irritating flock of more than hundred mynas, who had been chattering throughout the day. Not the entire day actually, for about an hour there had been peace and silence near the marsh. The mynas had gone away and seemed to have spread out all over the grassland. It seemed like some strange ritual among the birds in the grassland. They seemed to have gone crazy all over the grassland. Why did they not repeat that crazy behaviour in the marsh? He could have had his pick of the birds, and decide which ones to catch and which ones not to.

The peace was gone once again over the past five minutes. The mynas were back at the babool tree chattering again. They seemed to be spread all around the marsh, some on the trees, while some were feeding on the ground. He could not run after them all over the grassland with his injured leg. If only some of these silly birds would enter the marsh, his stomach would then stop growling. He needed some food, needed it urgently. As if in answer to his prayers, the grasses in front of him parted very hesitantly, and a jungle bush quail stepped out, very nervously.

Not realising that the birds had begun a war against him, Billi looked happily now at the sudden appearance of Bater in front of him. The mynas were chattering away, while a drongo perched on the topmost babool branch, was calling out in a low unfamiliar syllable. This was most unlike the usual calls of the drongo. A bulbul sat on a low perch, silent, watching him and Bater. Billi looked once again at Bater. This jungle bush quail looked very silly, standing there frightened, lost and nervous. This bird could be easily caught, Billi thought. He looked around once again, at the chattering mynas, at the drongo sitting up very high, at the bulbul nearby, and felt that there was no harm in trying to catch the jungle bush quail. He could not keep waiting for more birds to come inside the marsh. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 48 - Bulbul wonders about the plan

48

Bulbul wonders about the plan

Up above in the babool tree, Bulbul wondered as to what this plan was all about. He had thought that he had understood it when Kotwal had warned Bater twice, at the very instant that Billi had pounced. Bater had disappeared in the grass in a very rapid flash, the moment that Kotwal had changed his call from a low single syllable to a harsh screech. But Kotwal was not to be seen now. How Bater would escape Billi this time, Bulbul wondered. Phoolchuki kept moving from branch to branch and warbling in a low voice. Just as Billi stopped crawling and crouched to prepare for the jump, Phoolchuki stood still on a low branch and changed her call to a longer melodious note.

Billi had begun to make the jump when Phoolchuki changed her call. But Billi had not noticed the change as he was absolutely engrossed in trying to catch Bater. Billi landed once again on the marsh ground, but this time on very wet and soggy soil. He tried to get up but seemed to be stuck in the slush. He struggled and somehow pulled himself out of the soggy and slushy mud patch. He searched the spot to see if he had caught the jungle bush quail. He had failed once again. This was getting to be very irritating. He was usually very good at catching birds in the village, when he hid himself in the trees and bushes. What was puzzling was that he could not seem to catch the most frightened looking bird in the grassland. How did that jungle bush quail do that? How did he manage to escape his lunge and at the very next instant disappear and reappear four or six feet away?

Bulbul realised now that while Billi kept chasing Bater around the marsh, Phoolchuki, Darzi and Kotwal were moving around in the low babool branches. Kotwal stayed inside the thick canopy, unseen but coordinating Phoolchuki and Darzi. They were signalling back and forth to Bater and his family, indicating which way Billi was moving about, and where he had to be taken. Bulbul began to assemble the plan as he understood it at the moment. Teetiri had probably identified one bird to warn Bater at the very moment that Billi would make his jump. The birds in the grassland had also apparently decided that Kotwal would warn Bater for two jumps while Phoolchuki and Darzi would also alternately warn the jungle bush quail. Salonki and her mynas had surrounded the marsh along the sides facing the grassland. The unguarded side of the marsh was the one leading towards the village. 

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 - 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.