Surprise guest — a few days with Baby Indian Bulbul
It’s not routine for us to have guests like the one I am going to talk about. While they are around, I have never been a watcher.
One fine day, we woke up to pale chirping. I was looking around, searching on trees to spot something without luck. And then suddenly realised it’s coming from the corner a few inches away from me. Baby red vented bulbul dropped in just like that.
While we were still trying to figure out how he managed to land on the terrace, he occupied every corner and started moving in freely. It became our favourite pastime to see him moving through the glass door.
It was fun to see how his guardians were guarding with their presence and throat. The moment we would step on the terrace, one of the guardians would come, sit on safety railings and start shouting at us.
We were enjoying this bossing. Open the door and they would be there. Step into the terrace for anything, and they will be there. And if we linger around longer, two of them would come and start shouting, literally shouting and forcing us to go away.
I guess birds understand the intent very well; Soon, their patience increased. They would allow us to sit and observe their little one longer. And would greet us just by coming in and sitting on the wall.
While this was happening, little one was growing in strength and discovering new things.
Through these days, we were wondering how he manages food. And while we knew he is eating some leaves from our beloved plants, his guardian won’t leave him just for that. And we were amazed by what things they could manage for him — like pomegranate, some berries red, yellow, blue and so on.
It’s amazing how seeing something growing like that can do to you. The first thing the morning, we would go and check on him. And that was a routine for everyone in the house.
His strength and courage both were on the rise. We could feel that probably it’s the last day before he disappears for good. And that was it, next day morning, we couldn’t spot him — he was gone, spread his wings and took a leap — doing what birds do best — Fly High in the Sky.
I wonder whether he would remember these days he spent at our place. Every time I see any bulbul around now, I think, is he the one.
