In the early mornings as I sit
Waves of birds visit
To the bread crumbs plate drawn
Hanging from the Neem tree in our lawn.
One after the other in waves led
For something new fed
A good way for bird watching
A pattern of behavior emerging.
Oriental Magpie Robin
Common bird seen
Known for their melodious calls
Mimic and innovate new calls
Bluish black and white in colour
Streaked wings, white belly lower
Tail feathers long
Hop-hop-hoping along
Moving up and down.
Mynas behave as if the garden they own
Yellow face mask and body brown
Other birds made to stay away
React to danger fast
Attacking the cat crouching for its breakfast.
With its size and stature
With a ruling nature.
Javan or Myna-white vented
Black body, yellow legs, eyes, yellow beaked
In the garden foraging
Seen in the bright morning.
Gliding in one after the other
Bonding with another
Signs of sharing and caring.
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Nesting in places high and low
Seen in Europe, Himalayas
A lowland bird also in South East Asia.
Their presence strongly making
Scraps of food, left overs foraging
Dried grass stems collecting
Under rafters, tiles
For nest making places of choice.
Beak, eyes and throat blackish
White belly, wings and back brownish
A longish tail for balancing
With wings and tail swift movement making.
Yellow-vented Bulbul sitting on a wall
Same time its early morning call
A ten minute ritual
Brown and yellow
Yellow below
Every morning briefly they come along
Not staying too long.
The Black-naped Oriole in fleeting passage
A strong impression made
With brilliant yellow plumage
Against the green foliage.
In fellowship loitering
Loudly chatting
Territorial and aggressive
The larger crow away they drive
These birds so much I like
I wait to see them gracefully dive.
Philippine Glossy Starlings almost black
In bright daylight
An Iridescent green in strong light
Red eyes darting
With dark body well matching.
The Zebra Dove as the Katitir, Merbok known
Entered for song competitions in the padang
A song bird with repertoire and tone
Tame and in cages hang
Bidding for the best singer
Won by the highest bidder.
In pairs moving
For seeds foraging
Deceptively tame in these moments
Undisturbed by human movement.
The Spotted Dove walking on the ground
Like the Zebra Dove but larger
The Zebra dove on high buildings found
Both same body colour share
Spots around the neck they wear
With different calls made
Spotted Dove kept also as birds caged
The Pink-necked Pigeon Green
Comfortable in human company
On Palm tree fruits very keen
Familiarity assures them of safety
In pairs they are seen
Pink necked and greenish body
The male to show off always ready.
The Asian Koel from December to June
Constant male calling, koel-koel-koel
Hearing but not seeing
This large bird to itself keeping
Black coloured males
Green coloured with spots for females.
The Pacific Swallow on wire high up lining
Without obstruction to take off waiting
Bluish black hued
In sunlight when viewed.
Olive-backed Sunbird hearing
Chirping away punctually each morning
Males` Brownish black dark throat
In our garden gracefully they float
Yellow belly, curved pointed beak
Females brown back, yellow belly and neck.
To cleans up rubbish
House Crows put to service
Also road kills
In droves seen in market places and land-fills.
For some Hindus, they play a part
To appease human spirits when they depart
At a death anniversary
For someone departed
Its spirit crow would carry
A grand meal offered
With clapping crows invited
When they feed, all satisfied.
Noisy shrieks heard
When food somewhere discovered
Black back and wings they carry
Grey neck and underbelly.
Birds many emotions
show
Possessiveness, vanity, anger, sorrow
Love, courage sacrifice, enjoyment
Almost like humans in some moments
What a treat for me in the morning
To see my friends coming.
MPP
7.11.2016
PJ
