There is a dove that has been for years building a nest of twigs on an at best six inch rafter beneath the tiles in the verandah of our house. It is the wrong place for a nest. Each year one or two eggs fall off the “nest” and her efforts go in vain.
This year when she started building a nest, Sujata devised a back up system for her, built with a pipe and a discarded cloth, tied up with nylon rope. To “catch” the egg if it rolled off.
But it was not needed. This morning, wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles, I spotted a new born with the mother.
Each time tragedy struck we admonished the dove for being so stupid. And why she would not learn. But she knows that it is a place safe from predators. The titahri lost four of her eggs because she lay them on the ground. The drongo’s chick which had barely learned to hop had fallen off the nest and could not get back there. Our hearts were in our mouth thinking of the dogs around that might get it. The mother drongo sat on the wire overhead speaking to it. Danger is ever present in life of such unsheltered creatures. The magpie robin has her brood on top of the electricity meter near the well, which is relatively protected area. We have seen the Titar brood dwindle. If only the Indian Railways showed as much concern for safety as these birds!
This silent, repeated effort to perpetuate the species! As applicable to human endeavour to achieve. It should be easier for us. We do not risk being killed in the process. So try, try, try again!
Sanjayuvach 