Perils of being with a Bird-watcher




It’s been a year since my valiant jump into the world of Birding – refer https://dillimeriijaan.blogspot.com/2018/02/lazy-persons-guide-to-birding-in-delhi.html

I am having a lot of fun with my winged friends. I wake up to their calls and sing to them, from my balcony, with supporting vocals by Rani, our Domestic goddess.  I feel I can imitate their calls and am particularly proud of my Greater Coucal imitation, which I am certain, would attract loads of female Coucals, if I decided to do it in the open. Which I wouldn’t do – I am ethical like that.


So while I am having the time of my life, my family is not. Here are some things they are subjected to
 
1.       Sudden bird sounds from my room. As mentioned above, Greater Coucal is my Piece De Resistance, and I also do a mean Cuckoo, Rufous Treepie, Large green Barbet and Coppersmith Barbet. Recently, I tried a peacock voice, which send a family member scurrying up to the ceiling – because she is scared of cats! I think the fine distinction between a peacock call and a cat meaowing, is something I have to master yet.

2.       Frantic pointing to the sky. Very often, I clutch the nearest person and try to show her/him a bird on a tree top. Amidst dense foliage. The unfortunately clutched person can mostly only see leaves, or sky, but feeling sorry for my enthusiasm, agrees that s/he is indeed seeing a very beautiful bird. They mumble ambiguous things when I ask the colour and shape and I just accept that birds can sometimes only be seen by chosen few.

3.       Glazed looks. Mid-conversation, a talker may note that my nods are getting increasingly random and eyes peculiarly glazed. It’s because I would have either seen or heard a bird nearby and completely zoned out of the terrestrial world.

4.       Fatal falls. On multiple occasions, I have been pulled back from a precipice, edge of a water body and once, a bridge. Where I would have leaned over, precariously poised to capture a bird on camera. I have come away delighted, with amazing photos but those with me have surely gained a grey hair or two.

While the family barely shares the enthusiasm and tolerates it as a whim of a middle-aged relative, I know they are subconsciously listening in, looking out and observing more. They can’t help but point out that those ubiquitous green birds are NOT parrots but parakeets.
I know their ears perk up on hearing an Oriental Magpie Robin sing.
And what fills my soul with joy, is that they have discovered true happiness, just sitting in a green spot, simply using their eyes, ears, nose and heart – and letting out a sigh of contentment.


Sketch Credit- Aggrieved family member.


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