new kid in the garden | lessons of life with Oriental White-eye

Change in weather always bring something new in the life. Season has been changing , giving space to new plants to grow, new flowers to blossom. After bountiful of rain, when water was available in plentiful quantity everywhere, this was the first time that the garden soil needed some artificial recharge. More when you wanted to grow a few new crops. While we were busy with cropping and watering the plants, a generous leakage in watering- hose was strategically placed to optimally utilize the water. Like humans and plants other inhabitants of the garden also need water. Hence a strategic placement of leakage to cater the need of plants and birds at the same time. Bird baths have been empty for a while now, Dengue outbreaks in Delhi have made us learn a few lessons and implement on them too.

Now the garden is not only one shade of green after the abnormally long monsoon season this year. Some younger shoots of lighter green, some sprouting roses with reddish hue and an occasional yellow cosmos. Birds are all there already.

You see any color different from green is also welcome in our Green space, be it red rose or a bird.

Yes, a young Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) or OWE, hopping in the garden under the watchful eyes of its parents. Having fun as a community. These little birds have been in the garden for years now, taking showers from the hose every now and then, photography opportunities were limited back then.

Group of three because the white-eyes are sociable, forming flocks which only separates on the approach of the breeding season. We don't necessarily have spot a OWE chick to know they are here, the flurried activities of the parents gives it away almost every time. The way they keep making very soft chik chik voices around one place and then bring some food in their tiny beak. You know there is some interesting story unfolding.

While the one parent is busy with feeding the kid the other one keeps a close eye on the surrounding. Those familiar with our garden can easily identify the place and the plants.

But the parenting is not only about feeding a kid, it also involves giving them few more lessons of life, connecting with them, playing with them, giving confidence to them so that they can handle the worldly situations by themselves.

When it comes about life lessons, it also involves drinking water and taking a bath into it. See the profusely leaky hose, positioned strategically.

See the water gushing out. But this lesson is not so easy. This parent has to lead by showing example and keeping a close watch on chicks' activities.

Showing position before dip .

Enjoying themselves in the process too.

And now its the little chick's turn to enjoy.

They fluttered wings, got wet, fluttered again to drain off all the water. And then they take the dip again. Quite playfully.

We have seen dozens of them having a shower under the hose many times when we water our plants, taking pictures was not always possible as one of us would be sleeping when it happened.

This time they decided to take a dip in the leaky hose and now we know how to attract them for good photo opportunities.

Hoping to come again with many more such bird stories.

Sounds of silence in our summer garden...

Yes, the colors of spring are slowly fading now, the chill is history. Welcome to the Delhi summer. Dry, hot and seemingly lifeless.

Summer is the time when even the leaves refuse to flutter in our garden. The absence of any unwanted noise or presence of a much revered silence. The absence of voices doesn't mean no living activity. Silence has its own energy and vibrations.   

Silence in the summer noon is not lifeless though. Last weekend I decided to check by myself sitting in the garden. Not in the usual morning or evening when I water the plants but during the early afternoon when we usually remain indoors enjoying all around avian sounds . Yes it feels like we are in a jungle cottage when Barbets call each other from different trees and we hear them from inside. Blessed feeling.

It was early noon and there was unusual movement of two adult babblers. On close scrutiny two set of tiny eyes caught my attention. See by yourself.. 

They were sitting on the mango tree which is not in very good shape due to some extra active anti-environment 'human' neighbor, but able to give some homely atmosphere to the avian neighbors nevertheless.

These tiny chicks seem to be waiting for someone...

Ahh.. here the mother cames with mouthful of lunch... 

Another one...

Yes both the parents at the same time with food, what enjoyment.

Imagine yourself in this situation, you would know the real feeling.

Near absolute silence, the voices are very low pitched and very calming ...

Very homely too, in a strange way...

They all huddle together, knowing my presence and still comfortable ...

The parents wait till the first serving of the food is swallowed. And then the next is offered to a fluttering baby..

Yes the babies keep fluttering the wings when they demand food...

They take small bites of the insect I notice...

Some conversation is also going on along with munching... dining table conversations you know...

But these conversations are all almost silent for human ears....

This is not the end of enjoyment. Another variation of silence is about to come. Another set of tiny eyes catch the attention of a camera lens.

Some little creatures...

Beautiful little eyes waiting for someone inside the lemon tree... Safe cocoon of a place.

What bliss...

No we are not grumpy... we are cute as bunnies..

I know you are watching, who cares?

My mom is watching too... Do you know that?

The watch guards are sitting very nearby...

Here she came with the food . Sorry for the poor picture quality but sometimes real eyes are better record keepers than the mechanical one..

After meal time may be we should do some stretching...

Walks are also a healthy option...

Meanwhile Mr. G who is all the time snacking on the Moringa flowers is also found lazing around .

Seems like he is also enjoying silence irrespective of neighbors.. like us...

zzz...

But it's so hot we need water too...

We have our own watering hole ....

But there is a tough competition at the watering hole..

Some visitors come angry...

Some are quite shy to take risk..

Some come for water quietly and do the job as if spying on someone...

Witnessing the constant watch on the watering hole, Mr. G decided to challenge me with his own style of sumo pose...

On the other side there was another story unfolding... A new beginning happening...

A couple searching for a place to build their new home and why not, who stops you from starting a new life this summer.

While one of them keeping a watchful eye on the rest of creatures around....

The other one is busy building a new home, home to her new summer life... deep inside the mehendi bush.

Many visits to the ground to pick up thin sticks and some silk cotton flying around... and returning to the same spot...

 In the meantime the young babblers decided to take a walk in company of their parents. In safely camouflaged grounds...

The Bulbul chick also decided to show her antics...  and anger...

Of course in presence of her parents...

The stern look... as if saving the smaller chick by hiding her behind...

And then telling her someone is watching, be careful...

Stretching wings to show I am no small kid...

Did you see that?

I am a grown up bird now...

This much in one single day, who says summer is lifeless and silent? They have their own sounds and communications, it's the human mind that is clouded by the maddening turbulence.

How is summer at your end?

PS : The post is jointly written by both of us, myself and Arvind, and the pictures are also taken by both of us. There are days when we don't want to miss whatever is happening outside in the garden and weekends are the best days to record such things. we took turns in sitting outside for a couple of hours that day and all this was recorded. All pictures are processed by Arvind.