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 - 6 - Teetiri begins to leave the nest

6

Teetiri begins to leave the nest

Teetiri kept crawling, slowly, taking care that her black and white head was not being visible above the greenish brown and brownish green grasses. She reached a pile of stones, some brown, some black, some red, some off-white and some brilliantly white. Here, in this pile of stones, she raised her head and sat among some of the stones for some time. She kept moving her head and raising it up and hiding it again. This sort of moment, she knew, would be immediately noticed by the most alert of crows, mongoose or foxes, if hiding nearby. They would wait till she left the pile of stones and would immediately come around to investigate. Once she had settled down in the pile of stones, she called out to Teetiraa. Softly, only once, in a small gentle manner, "Treeet-Treeeeet".

That small gentle call from Teetiri was a signal to Teetiraa that his partner was now comfortably settled elsewhere. He stopped his dance, and began to walk about aimlessly, in large widening circles, pretending to be searching for insects. At times, he did get the still lazy beetle that had not yet hurried to hide away in the daylight. He knew he would have to remember all these spots where lazy beetles would be found easily. For when the eggs would hatch, he would need to be able to catch these beetles in the early morning and late evening and bring them back to feed the young lapwings at the nest.  He began to widen the circles of his walk towards the now unprotected nest. He had to stay in visible distance, to ensure that there were no predators nearby, who would perhaps stumble upon the nest by accident. 

Once he was able to locate the nest, and could keep it in his view, he replied Teetiri's call, by another contact call, louder than Teetiri, but with the same gentle manner, "Treeet-Treeeeet-Did-you-do-it?"  Teetiri could now understand that Teetiraa was able to see the nest and that he would keep a watch out for predators. She bobbed her head once or twice, while still remaining seated at the pile of stones, and made a short but crudely loud noise, "Piteeeweeet". That sound would now make all predators, seen and unseen, look at the stony pile. They would begin to search for the source of that sound. Once again, Teetiri bobbed her head up and down, and began to crawl away clumsily from the stones. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 18 - Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

18

Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

It was an animal that Salonki had seen only once before. Salonki had seen it inside the village. It was the time that she had accompanied her parents to the village. She and her brothers and sisters had left the nest and had begun to fly just a few days ago. Their parents had wanted to celebrate the fact that all their young ones had begun to fly with confidence, and her father had insisted that they go to the village. He had said that it would be his party. He would treat them to a wonderful feast.

At the edge of the village was a house that belonged to the rich sweet-merchant. Just a week before, a family of mice had successfully made a large hole in the roof of the sweet merchant’s house and had brought out some sweets to feed upon. This had been seen by a flock of mynas who had come to rest at that very moment on their evening flight back from the grassland towards their night roosting trees. Some of those mynas had gone boldly inside the sweet merchant’s house through the large hole to feed upon the uncovered sweets.

They had come back to their night roosting perches in the Peepul tree in the village and had sat drunk after having eaten too much sweets and drunk too much sugar syrup. They seemed so happy and so content throughout the night. Salonki’s father had decided to take his wife and children inside the sweet merchant’s house.  That day Salonki’s family had enjoyed themselves. They had perched on the roof and gone inside the shop, one by one, and fed upon the nice golden yellow coloured sweets. They had been very tasty. They had also eaten the dark brown coloured ones floating on sugar syrup. That syrup had been very intoxicating.

After having eaten more than they could, the family had flown out of the shop and was resting on the roof. They could hardly move off from the roof. A nearby banyan tree had its branches spread over the roof and offered them very welcome shade from the noon sun. The family had decided to take a quick nap under the shade offered by the banyan tree. They had been resting peacefully that day. Salonki could still remember her father and mother smiling very proudly at him and his brothers and sisters. Salonki could remember the day like it was yesterday.

Suddenly, out of the banyan branches, a brownish yellow animal had jumped on to the roof and picked up one of Salonki’s brothers and ran away. They had hardly realised that something was wrong. By the very next instant that they had realised that a member of their family had been taken by this brown-yellow animal, it had disappeared from sight. They had flown up in panic, and gone towards a corner of the village where they could hear some crows cawing excitedly. There, half hidden under an unyoked bullock cart, was the brownish yellow animal, sitting quietly, hissing at the myna family and the crows. There had been no sight of Salonki's brother. 

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.