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The Cattle Egrets And The Copper Pod Trees

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by GeetaKashyap, Mar 4, 2018.

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Mar 6, 2018 #41

GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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Amica said: ↑

It's sweet of you to remember. I loved your snippet on your mother's kobbari mitthai and all your snippets after that.
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@Amica,

Thanks, dear.

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

#41

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Mar 6, 2018 #42

Frangipani Silver IL'ite

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GeetaKashyap said: ↑

**********PART 2**********

(When my son was younger he would wonder why they clucked so constantly. He would ask, “Mumma, how much food can they demand and eat, and still make so much noise? Won’t their Mumma get angry nor have a headache? Won’t she ever ask them to shut up?

I would tell him, “Mummy can never get tired of her children’s sounds and perhaps she must be smiling with satisfaction that her chicks are so healthy and agile. Their clucking must be music to her ears!”…

Hearing the chirping birds, my son would sometimes point excitedly, “Mumma, can you make out the difference in their voices? One little birdy’s voice is shriller than that of the other and that must be a female. Even in our class, girls have a shrill voice! Thus making me chuckle as at an age of 5-6, both the boys and the girls sound alike, yet my macho son would imagine himself having a manly voice!

When my son was growing up there were more than a dozen boys in the neighbourhood, of all age groups between 5 and 15. Our street would be so noisy because of these children playing, screaming, fighting, shouting and crying. Even amongst so many children, my ears would be acutely tuned to my son’s voice, wherever he would be in any of the neighbouring buildings. The moment I would sense his irritated or distressed voice, I would rush to his rescue in no time like a genie! I now wonder how I could stay so alert and be tuned to him all the time! I guess that is an intrinsic quality God has bestowed upon every mother!)

The older chick enjoying the breeze and the sunset

Last year, the egret nests were almost over 45-50 feet above the ground (This year also it will be the same) and it was difficult to see them clearly amidst the thick foliage. So my son went to the building terrace and clicked a few pictures using his mobile phone. The picture quality may not be great but they are good enough to tell the story. We were pleasantly surprised to see two chicks each of two different age groups. The older chicks were over a foot high and had acquired the beautiful white and orangish brown plumage like their parents. But their faces were very innocent. (This was in May, last year) Rarely do they come down to discover the area and they are already good at flying. The younger chicks appear small, white and fluffy with black beaks. These are the noisy ones. At this stage, they are not good flyers but they can manage short flights and they get into trouble if they come on the ground.

Doesn't their feathers ruffled by the wind make them look very very cute?

Earlier (12-14 years back), when the tree canopies were hardly twenty feet above the ground, often these little ones would come on the ground and face misery. They would come under the wheels or the dogs would catch them. The neighbouring building was under construction and those workers would catch these chicks to eat. In those days all of us thought these birds were migrants from some far off country and we were very protective towards them. Many took it upon themselves to educate these workers about protecting these assumed foreign visitors. A couple of times my son had caught such wandering chicks and he wanted to raise them at home! Since the tree trunks lacked branches, we would struggle to put these scared chicks back on the trees. Once we had even called the Fire engine office for this purpose as they regularly come to our area to free a pigeon or a crow caught may be between the tree branches or in the leftover manjas. Then we were told that only when the bird is above the ground they come to their rescue and if the bird is already on the ground, the bird’s safety is not their responsibility! (This is some General Knowledge for all!)

The older chicks enjoying the breeze and the sunset

As the breeding season continues, the entire neighbourhood starts getting a little irritated due to these birds’ thick paint like droppings that deface the road, parked cars and also they target the unsuspecting passers-by with great accuracy! They spare nobody

As the monsoons begin, the rains lash mercilessly. These birds withstand its fury and stay put. Then their trouble starts first with the municipality workers trimming the trees indiscriminately in the rainy season and later with the noisy Ganesha festival and the Diwali. Even otherwise, by Diwali, rains reduce and heat picks up once again signalling that it is time for these birds to move on. One fine day without a whimper they vanish leaving us with a great sense of loss; parting is always painful. Somewhere in between all the monsoon fury, deluge, tree falls and the festivities, the cuckoo’s calls also disappear. Soon we forget these birds and make do with our regular crows and pigeons.

Mummy has joined her older chick and they are discussing something important.

By the end of October and the beginning of November, as the autumn sets in, our copper pod tree starts shedding her leaves as if she is mourning the loss of these egrets and she will be reduced to bare branches in a few days. All her dried tiny leaves increase the sweeper’s job. In India, it is a dull period when the dark green leaves turn yellow, brown and fall; nothing spectacular as in the west. Again by January, beautiful light green leaves begin to grow over this tree and a new season begins. With the beginning of March, as the nip in the air vanishes and the sun begins to shine bright, even we start looking forward to our majestic visitors once again and our lives continue as always, flowing with the seasons; reaching the crest sometimes or hitting the troughs! Behind all these is a lesson of hope and impermanence.

As long as the natural cycles are uninterrupted,
there is living in harmony;
the end symbolizes the new beginning...
and the cycle continues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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@GeetaKashyap

Geeta, another super story from you. You must have spent many seasons studying them . your article reminds me of National Geographic magazine article supported by lovely pictures . your son also loves these birds and nature and that is so good . superb article and photoes .

Frangipani, Mar 6, 2018

Frangipani, Mar 6, 2018

#42

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Mar 6, 2018 #43

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Frangipani said: ↑

@GeetaKashyap

Geeta, another super story from you. You must have spent many seasons studying them . your article reminds me of National Geographic magazine article supported by lovely pictures . your son also loves these birds and nature and that is so good . superb article and photoes .
Click to expand...

Dear @Frangipani,

I am touched by your appreciation and generosity. Thanks a million. I have been watching these birds for over fifteen odd years.

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

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Mar 6, 2018 #44

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GeetaKashyap said: ↑

Dear @Frangipani,

I am touched by your appreciation and generosity. Thanks a million. I have been watching these birds for over fifteen odd years.
Click to expand...

This shows your dedication geets

nandinimithun, Mar 6, 2018

nandinimithun, Mar 6, 2018

#44

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Mar 6, 2018 #45

iyerviji IL Hall of Fame

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Wow Geeta ,super narration and observation. If I see also I won't be able to narrate like you. Whether it is story writing, drawing,painting, snippets you are super in everything. Hats off to you . Great observation.photos are super, must appreciate your son for helping you in taking photos. How old is he.

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

#45

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Mar 6, 2018 #46

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nandinimithun said: ↑

This shows your dedication geets
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Thank you, dear.

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

#46

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Mar 6, 2018 #47

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iyerviji said: ↑

Wow Geeta ,super narration and observation. If I see also I won't be able to narrate like you. Whether it is story writing, drawing,painting, snippets you are super in everything. Hats off to you . Great observation.photos are super, must appreciate your son for helping you in taking photos. How old is he.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Vijima, my blog feels complete with your FB Your heart is pure and you love me; deadly combination! You can see only good in me! Romba romba nandri. My son is 21

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

#47

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Mar 6, 2018 #48

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Thanks dear glad to know your blog is complete with my fb. You are really great and all good things should be appreciated. We had many great writer s in IL ,some stayed only few months but left after taking award. I Will be completing 12yrs in September. I would like you to stay here for long time and give us a treat with your writings quote "GeetaKashyap, post: 4047186, member: 475191"]Thank you, Vijima, my blog feels complete with your FB Your heart is pure and you love me; deadly combination! You can see only good in me! Romba romba nandri. My son is 21[/QUOTE]

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

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Mar 6, 2018 #49

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@iyerviji,

Definitely, I wish to stay, Vijima. I have developed such loving virtual friendships that without reading a message from them, my day feels incomplete. IL is becoming addictive with so many wonderful people with whom I get to interact and learn something new every day.

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

GeetaKashyap, Mar 6, 2018

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Mar 6, 2018 #50

iyerviji IL Hall of Fame

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Very true dear I am also addicted to IL and this is my second family. I have earned so many virtual daughters hereand feel blessed to get part of this family

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

iyerviji, Mar 6, 2018

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