Monday, September 28, 2009

The tiny visitor


Got up a little early this Saturday due to what seemed like an alarm going off. But the alarm is generally switched off on Saturdays and the sound seemed to be coming from some place high up near the ceiling.

Then a gentle fluttering sound got me sitting up in bed to ensure that our pet cat was not around.
The little fluttering something, still making the ‘alarming’ sounds finally settled down on the curtain rod and turned out to be a tailor bird chick just out of the nest.

On seeing me waddling sleepily towards it , camera in one hand , the chick first flew straight up to the ceiling fan and hung there bat like for some time. It then made a dash to a dark corner just out of reach.

The chick was constantly making the peeping sounds and these increased in volume as I tried to hold it. The increased intensity of the chick’s calls got one of its parents to the window sill. The adult bird too was calling continuously and may be its call calmed the chick a bit. I too changed my tactics and instead of trying to hold the chick, offered it my hand to perch on.

To my relief and surprise the chick readily accepted this invitation. It sat on my finger comfortably, posed for a few snaps and even stopped shouting! I walked it to the window sill and to its waiting parent and they both flew off to the branches of the champak tree.