Month: September 2020

Fly, little ones

Bangalore is dreamy in September. Cool, crisp and a hint of rain. On a lazy Sunday morning, as I started to drink my coffee, my neighbor walked in. Excitement evident on her face, she said “Come quick. Bring your camera”. I am known as the ‘bugs and birds’ guy in the neighborhood. I knew something was afoot. A pair of ashy prinias had built a nest in her balcony garden. The chicks had hatched a couple of days ago and were growing rapidly.

As soon as I reached the balcony, I saw what had made her so excited. Two chicks from the nest had experimented flying. One was by the side of the balcony and the other had ventured inside. We coaxed the tiny one inside to fly towards the nest. The parents were looking for the chicks to help them start flying that day. It was interesting to note that they used food to get these little ones to flap their wings.

Here is a story in photographs of how they eventually left the nest and flew away; breaking all our hearts.

  • This one had accidentally entered the room adjoining the balcony
  • This one was right next to the door of the balcony trying to figure out if it was a good idea to enter
  • Once inside, this fearless one checked out the room and the giants looking at it adoringly
  • We somehow managed to get this one back to the nest area; what it is sitting on is the nest where the chicks hatched
  • The nest is visible in this picture
  • The parents were circling the area calling out to the chicks and this one was following the sounds of the parents
  • Looks like this one is ready to take a jump and flap its wings
  • This is the one that didn’t enter the room, eventually went and sat on a nearby plant hiding in the foliage
  • Trying to attract the parents, and following their calls
  • Another parent seems to be nearby calling the chicks
  • The parents are coaxing the chicks to fly using food as a reward for trying
  • It appears to say “I’m not doing this. Not ready yet”
  • The parents used to point (using their beaks) in the direction of where they wanted the chicks to fly. It wasn’t successful all the time
  • This chick decided to wait it out for some more time before flying
  • Listening to the parents’ calls
  • Ashy Prinia mother with an insect to feed the chick
  • Not convinced of this “flying thing”
  • I just need more food
  • Where did mom go now?
  • Food, yay!
  • Ah, maybe now the little one will fly
  • The parents’ efforts paid off. After three hours, this chick was 30 feet away from the nest.
  • A few minutes later, in the grass by the plants. 6 feet away.
  • This was the last we saw of the chick. It had flown about 150 feet from the nest. It took about fours hours of coaxing for the parents to take all of them away and to a new roosting area.