Teetiri protects the grassland - 1 - Teetiri waits for the dawn

1
Teetiri waits for the dawn

Teetiri, the redwattled lapwing, was looking forward to the dawn. Already, the orange rays in the sky were getting brighter. The silence of the night seemed to be louder than the sounds of the day, she thought to herself. She always had to be alert, watchful so that Dhaman, the rat-snake, could not quietly steal up and grab her newly laid clutch of two eggs. Dhaman loved to eat eggs of ground-nesting birds. But, especially eggs of the red-wattled lapwings, yes, especially eggs of the red-wattled lapwings, said Teetiri, to herself, again and again.

She could easily spot Dhaman and Naag, the cobra, in the daytime when, they were quite clumsy in their approach while hunting for food through the grassland. Why, only yesterday, Teetiri had gossiped with Chimini, the house sparrow, and told her that she was certain that Naag was actually blind and was only able to stumble upon food by accident or because his prey was too shocked to run away. Chimini had giggled as always, and immediately flew off to tell her sixty-seven brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts who were feeding nearby on a heap of harvested grain.

Chimini was like that only. Very busy, chattering all the time, and laughing about everything. Teetiri often wondered if Chimini actually ever listened. She never seemed to be paying attention. Kotwal, the black drongo, was not like Chimini. Dark, glossy and handsome, warrior-like with his alert looks and forked sword-like tail, he was a faithful friend. He loved to perch on the low branches of few grassland trees throughout the early morning and late evenings, and listen to Teetiri's constant gossip about everyone. Kotwal always listened attentively but never complained.

Kotwal, the black drongo was a faithful friend to Teetiri

He loved to listen to Teetiri's gossip from a low branch 

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

The orange light in the dawn sky was getting brighter now. Teetiri knew Chimini and her large family would soon wake up from their night-time sleep in the large babool tree. This was a moment that Teetiri dreaded and looked forward to, at the same time. All the peaceful stillness of the night would be gone, but, it also was an indication to her that now she could afford to relax at her nest.

Teetiraa, her partner would now come to take his place at the nest. He must have been sitting at some other spot, not so far and not so near. He knew it was time for him to take over his duties at the nest once the Chimini family began to sing. It was quite hideous, he thought, having to wake up like that. Teetiri was however very happy about it, he knew. The Chimini family did wake him up quite rudely, he thought to himself. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 2 - With the dawn, comes the sound

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With the dawn, comes the sound

And then suddenly, in one very small moment of time, the orange shade in the sky glowed brighter, and all the trees seemed to come alive. It began with Bulbul, the redvented bulbul, whistling a soft note, trying to wake up her partner in the nearby branches. Phoolchuki, the purple sunbird, picked up that note, in the small thicket of weeds and grasses. Phoolchuki was searching for his partner, for she could not be seen easily inside the thicket. His frantic calls set off Dominga, the magpie-robin, sleeping on the topmost branches of a nearby Babool tree.

Dominga, the male Oriental Magpie Robin - 

He loved to sing from the topmost branches

Teetiraa and Teetiri were good friends of Dominga. 

His morning song woke up the grassland.

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

Teetiraa knew that Dominga was a very proud bird. He loved to hear his voice, he had told Teetiri. She had for once, agreed with him. Teetiri had said that Dominga sang for two reasons. Firstly, was to tell all other birds that he could sing beautifully. And secondly, he sang loudly in order to prevent his brothers, uncles or nephews from singing nearby. Teetiraa had seen Dominga chase away his male relatives on several occasions, and therefore was not unhappy that he had to agree with Teetiri.

Dominga's song woke up Chimini and her large family. And, instantly the small grassland between the forest and the sandy banks along the river was filled with sound. Lots of sound. The Chimini family was very noisy. They seemed to talk to each other all at once. Chatter-Chatter-Chatter-Chatter seemed to be followed by Chatter-Titter-Chatter-Titter. Sometimes one did not know if at all there was a purpose in all their talking. Their loud chatter in the babool trees, seemed to get Salonki, the common myna, and her family started. Salonki's family and several other Myna families preferred to rest together in the large Chinch (tamarind) trees that stood bordering the grassland with the nearby forest.

During the day, only her partner accompanied Salonki, while they moved around hunting for food. At times, eight to ten of her brothers and sisters and their respective partners came whenever food was available. At night though, the Chinch tree was filled with hundreds of myna families, and their sounds at dusk could easily drown the sounds of the Chimini families in the babool trees. It was indeed amazing, thought Teetiraa and Teetiri. Here they were, one partner to the other, only the two of them, content in living with each other, and these other crazy birds, were intent on living with hundreds and thousands of their relatives, in the same tree. In the same tree? Would they not get tired of seeing so many relatives all the time? How much more boring can it be, thought Teetiraa.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 3 - How the eggs were lost once before

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How the eggs were lost once before

He was once again thinking too much about the other birds, thought Teetiraa, scolding himself. Teetiri, Kotwal and Phoolchuki had warned him about this dangerous habit. He had to pay attention to the fact that both Teetiri and Teetiraa had to be responsible to their duties at the nest and the newly laid clutch of two eggs. Teetiraa was supposed to help Teetiri in guarding their nest very carefully. There were enemies everywhere. The grassland was not as innocent as it seemed to be at the beginning. Their enemies were very clever and could hide anywhere in the open grassland. They could not afford to make a mistake all over again. Two seasons ago, Teetiri had lost a clutch of three eggs when an alert Kaawla, the crow, had seen Teetiraa raise his head at the nest to watch Dhaman slither by at a distance.

Kaawla had waited quietly, hidden in the babool tree, unseen by even the usually very alert and vigilant Kotwal. Teetiri had to prevent Dhaman from locating the nest. Kaawla had flown straight to the nest at the very moment that Teetiri had stood up to walk away stealthily. Before anyone had realised the danger, Kaawla had broken all the three eggs and eaten them up. Teetiri had got very angry and flew straight at Kaawla and tried to hit him. Kotwal had also followed to support Teetiri.

But the damage had been done. Teetiraa had gone back to the nest to find that all the eggs were broken and the shell pieces lay scattered. Teetiri was inconsolable at that time. Kotwal, Bulbul and Phoolchuki had talked them through their days of sorrow. They had been good friends, thought Teetiraa. They had been very helpful in convincing Teetiri that it was not her fault. Kotwal explained to her that there were several times that Phoolchuki had lost her entire nest when the local villagers came to cut tree branches for use as fuelwood. Phoolchuki built her nests with great difficulty. It took her several days to construct it and had to suffer the loss several times in each season. Teetiri had taken courage from Kotwal and Phoolchuki and agreed with Teetiraa to try once again to grow a family of young redwattled lapwings in the grassland.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 4 - Teetiraa wonders why he gets to sit under the hot Sun

Teetiraa wonders why he gets to sit under the hot Sun

He had better go and take over at the nest, Teetiraa said to himself. It was his duty to sit over the eggs from dawn to when the sun came up above the lone babool tree in the grassland. Teetiri had told him that she would only return when the shadow of the babool tree began to come over the nest. He would then be free to go to the wet marshy grounds near the river.

But Teetiraa would have to return to the nest once the sun's heat began to dry up the black marshy soil. That was when the shadow of the babool tree would no longer be above the nest. Dominga had once commented that this arrangement was funny and strange. How come that Teetiri seemed to get to sit on the eggs at night and whenever the shadow of the babool tree fell upon the nest? Why did he, Teetiraa, have to sit on the eggs only when the nest was unprotected from the harsh sun?

Teetiraa had wondered about it, and had meant to confront her today. But that “today” seemed to keep getting postponed everyday. Dominga had teased him about his hesitation. He had done so daily. Teetiraa had kept telling Dominga that he would exchange duty-timings at the nest with Teetiri today. But he had never done so. And, Dominga had not stopped teasing him. Nowadays, Dominga had begun bringing along Domingi, his partner, to feed at the scrub bushes near the marsh. They always kept tittering to themselves. Teetira suspected that Dominga had told his partner about the challenge and that she kept laughing at him for his failure to confront Teetiri.

Teetiraa had now decided to avoid Dominga. But this could not go on, he thought. Dominga was correct. Why did Teetiri get to sit on the nest at night and when it was under shadows. Why could he not sit on the nest when it was actually comfortable to do so? He had better ask her, ask her today, he thought. Dominga may go and tell this bit of useless gossip to Teetiraa's numerous brothers and cousins, who lived on the other side of the river. They would all begin to laugh at him.

Worse still, his cousins may stop inviting him to their hidden grassy patches inside the scrub forests. All the redwattled lapwing cousins, uncles and aunts and other distant relatives assembled together inside the scrub forests when the first rains brought out the termites. Wow. That was the best part of living, thought Teetiraa. All they had to do was stand around the termite mounds in the ground when the wingless termites came out in the thousands. They could catch them without even having to move around. They could keep eating them through the moonlit nights and sleep it off, happily, too tired to even go back to their regular day-to-day familiar grounds. He could not risk losing that invitation, thought Teetiraa.                               

Teetiri protects the grassland - 5 - Teetiraa approaches the nest by walking away from it

5

Teetiraa approaches the nest by walking away from it

He walked out of the small patch of weeds around the stony rubble wherein he had slept the night. The orange band of light in the sky was fading out and was now being replaced by a shade of golden yellow. Teetiraa walked around the edge of the grassland, in a straight line, pretending that he was going somewhere else. They could not risk the nest being known to unseen watchers. There were several enemies, quiet, unseen, hidden away among the trees, bushes, stones, grass and high up in the sky. They could never be certain that they had not been spotted at the nest.

He stood straight, and walked in a determined manner, calling out, "Teetiree, Teetiree", twice, clearly, loudly, for all to hear. He did not approach the nest, nor did he seem to walk away from the nest. Most smart predators would then be able to search along his path and be able to spot the nest. That would not do. Another season would be lost. Teetiraa thought of those unlucky times as he kept walking around the nest with greater caution. He kept walking in a straight line, right upto the babool tree.

Here, among the stony ground under the branches, he suddenly started calling out loudly “Treeeee, Tteetiriiiii, Treeeeee, Teeetiriiiii”, as though he had spotted Dhaman or Naag. He jumped up and began to fly below the tree, creating a lot of noise. This would have all the unseen watchers looking at him, wondering if there was indeed some problem under the babool tree.  Teetiraa knew, that, at that very moment, Teetiri had begun to walk away from the nest, crouching, taking care to see that her head was unseen above the grasses. This was the best strategy, they had decided among themselves. All animals, seen and unseen, would be looking at Teetiraa, as he was doing something like a loud, haphazard dance, while Teetiri was quietly crawling away from the nest. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 6 - Teetiri begins to leave the nest

6

Teetiri begins to leave the nest

Teetiri kept crawling, slowly, taking care that her black and white head was not being visible above the greenish brown and brownish green grasses. She reached a pile of stones, some brown, some black, some red, some off-white and some brilliantly white. Here, in this pile of stones, she raised her head and sat among some of the stones for some time. She kept moving her head and raising it up and hiding it again. This sort of moment, she knew, would be immediately noticed by the most alert of crows, mongoose or foxes, if hiding nearby. They would wait till she left the pile of stones and would immediately come around to investigate. Once she had settled down in the pile of stones, she called out to Teetiraa. Softly, only once, in a small gentle manner, "Treeet-Treeeeet".

That small gentle call from Teetiri was a signal to Teetiraa that his partner was now comfortably settled elsewhere. He stopped his dance, and began to walk about aimlessly, in large widening circles, pretending to be searching for insects. At times, he did get the still lazy beetle that had not yet hurried to hide away in the daylight. He knew he would have to remember all these spots where lazy beetles would be found easily. For when the eggs would hatch, he would need to be able to catch these beetles in the early morning and late evening and bring them back to feed the young lapwings at the nest.  He began to widen the circles of his walk towards the now unprotected nest. He had to stay in visible distance, to ensure that there were no predators nearby, who would perhaps stumble upon the nest by accident. 

Once he was able to locate the nest, and could keep it in his view, he replied Teetiri's call, by another contact call, louder than Teetiri, but with the same gentle manner, "Treeet-Treeeeet-Did-you-do-it?"  Teetiri could now understand that Teetiraa was able to see the nest and that he would keep a watch out for predators. She bobbed her head once or twice, while still remaining seated at the pile of stones, and made a short but crudely loud noise, "Piteeeweeet". That sound would now make all predators, seen and unseen, look at the stony pile. They would begin to search for the source of that sound. Once again, Teetiri bobbed her head up and down, and began to crawl away clumsily from the stones. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 7 - Teetiri hides the nest by allowing herself to be seen

7

Teetiri hides the nest by allowing herself to be seen

Though she was trying to pretend to hide, she knew that her black and white head would immediately allow all predators to spot her. It had to be done in a manner that would seem to be very purposefully done. This would fool would-be predators. She began to shake some of the grass around her by crawling among them and casually stood up and began to walk away. She knew that there would be someone out there quietly watching her and remembering the spot where she had stood up.

Teetiri - visits the pond of water at the grassland. 

She could keep a watch on Teetiraa at the nest nearby. 

[Photograph - Savio Fonseca]

Teetiri walked out towards a small puddle of water that always collected amongst some rocks near the old well. It was said that some humans had once lived here in order to go by fishing boats in the creek to catch fish and prawns. One big storm had killed all of them and since then it had been seen that humans rarely came to this corner of the creek. Teetiri rushed loudly, “Treeeet, treeeet!” at two mynas who were drinking there. To all those watching, it seemed like Teetiri was staking her right to drink at the puddle. But it actually served as a signal to Teetiraa to begin to approach the nest, where the egg lay exposed to the hot sunlight. To all those watching, Teetiri was now drinking peacefully at the water puddle.

Teetiri and Teetiraa had decided to adopt this strategy of staging a double deception in order to try and allow their new eggs to survive. They had risked only two eggs this time. Teetiri did not understand how Teetiraa had thought of this idea. Sometimes he could be so smart, she thought. Teetiraa on the other hand, thought that this was Teetiri’s idea. She was always so smart, he thought. They had agreed with each other to try this survival strategy. Teetiraa was at quite a distance, away from the nest, but able to spot the location to be sure that there was no accidental predator. Teetiraa walked into a bunch of tall grass in a bold manner and suddenly sat down. He waited for some time and began to crawl out of the grass towards a babool bush that had low undergrowth. Reaching the babool bush, he crawled in and around the low branches until he came to a ber (Zizyphus berries) bush that was alongside it. He repeated the same crawling in the ber bush. He came out the other side to a bunch of stones that helped him hide while crawling in and out of the low grass. He was now close to the nest. He waited here for some time, looking around to spot any approaching predator.

At this very time, Teetiri flew up into the sky, calling out loudly, “Treeee, treeeee, tweeet, did-you-do-it? did-you-do-it?” When he was sure that everybody would be watching Teetiri flying and circling about, repeating the loud harsh calls and disturbing the entire grassland, Teetiraa did the final crawl to the nest, checked out the two eggs and sat over them. Teetiri watched him from above, making sure that no predator was approaching the nest, and sang out the all-safe call, “Treeee-he-did-it, Treeeee-he-did-it!”

Teetiri and Teetiraa repeated this shuffle, hiding among the bushes and stones, trying to fool their enemies, morning, evening and night, day in and day out. They had to keep on doing it, without losing their guard, without making a mistake, in order to ensure that their clutch of two eggs hatched perfectly. Both of them knew that the actual battle would begin when the eggs were hatched and the chicks would be born. They would then have their very own redwattled lapwing family to take care of, to protect, to raise, to feed, to take care of, to feed, to take care of, to feed, and and and and, wow, it was indeed going to be a lot of work. They would have to hide their chicks, feed them, feed themselves, and make sure that nobody spotted their family together for at least ten days after the eggs were hatched. For now, they had to be careful, extra careful. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 8 - Dominga and Domingi’s eggs change colour

8

Dominga and Domingi’s eggs change colour

Teetiri needed to keep walking to get some energy and blood circulation back into the body. It was tough, sitting there, on that open nest, in the cold of the night, waiting, waiting, and waiting for what seemed to be forever. Well, it did definitely seem like forever. What does a lapwing have to do at night, completely alone on an open nest? At least Dominga and Domingi sat close to each other, while Domingi sat on the eggs at her nest. Once they had had a big fight, and all the birds came to know about it. Domingi had laid four eggs, all alike. And one fine day, Dominga had come to the nest and saw that one of the eggs had changed it’s colour. Domingi insisted that just awhile ago, all the four eggs had been of one colour. Then how could one egg change colour? Dominga kept asking.

Dominga - the male magpie robin kept arguing with Domingi

[Photograph - Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal]

They had kept arguing and arguing. The noise had become very painful, remembered Teetiri. Dominga had gone and complained about it to Kotwal, to Chimini and to Teetiraa also. That must have been very humiliating to Dominga, thought Teetiri, for she knew that Dominga and Teetiraa did not like each other very much. Teetiraa had replied rather very rudely and had tried to insult Dominga until Teetiri had told him to keep quiet. This was a totally different problem from theirs, thought Teetiri. The lapwings had lost their eggs, while the magpie-robins had no idea of what had happened to one of their eggs. And what more, but to try to understand what they could do with the different coloured egg that was still present in the nest.

Domingi - the female Magpie Robin was very upset

Dominga had kept fighting with her about the missing egg

[Photograph - Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal]

Dominga had kept on arguing. He had kept searching for other birds to tell his sorrowful story. Domingi on the other hand had continued to sit at her nest, knowing that her responsibility was towards protecting her eggs. She had not dared to leave her nest, for fear that another egg may change colour. What if the eggs had not been changed at all? What if, one of her eggs had indeed changed colour by itself? Did the two of them, Domingi and Dominga, know all that there was to know about eggs and their colour? How could she just leave all her eggs at her nest and fly away just because one of the eggs had changed colour? Dominga did not listen to any of these questions. He was angry and very certain that Domingi had given away one of their eggs and brought one from some other bird’s nest.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 9 - Dominga searches for Darzi

9

Dominga searches for Darzi

Finally, it was Phoolchuki who gave the proper advice to Dominga. He told Dominga to go and consult the Darzi, the tailor bird. Darzi was known to be very wise. Very wise, and very skilled. Actually, Teetiri thought that Darzi was very wise, very skilled, very clever and a very good songster. Darzi’s song was usually at a very high pitch, but that call was that of a master at bird song. Nobody could mistake Darzi’s song. Also, Darzi was an expert at hiding his nest and was also known to be able to skillfully construct it with his beak. That was a skill that was very necessary for all birds, thought Teetiri to herself. It was very useful to be able to do activities such as stitching leaves together with one’s beak. Teetiri wished she could also stitch big leaves together and make a nest that was protected from all enemies.

Dominga went in search of Darzi. He was quite embarassed at having to seek Darzi’s help. This was because Dominga thought that he was the better songster than Darzi. He had always boasted about his abilities to Chimini and her large family, to Teetiraa’s cousins and to Kotwal. They had all agreed with him. But Domingi had once told him in the midst of another long argument that the other birds had merely agreed in order to stop him from talking about his songs and his skills. He did not even remember what the argument was all about. How could one remember all these silly things?

Domingi - knew that Dominga would not listen to her

The other birds had stopped arguing with Dominga.

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Now he had to search for Darzi. He met Teetiri and Phoolchuki. He told them that he knew that Darzi would love to laugh at him. But Phoolchuki and Teetiri had told him that Darzi was a wise bird and would not laugh at him. Teetiri actually offered to go with him to search for Darzi. The secret in searching for Darzi was to wait for his song. Phoolchuki also offered his help. Why were all these birds helping him, wondered Dominga. Why could they not just let him search for Darzi all by himself? Did they think that he was not capable of searching for Darzi?

Finally the three birds began to search for Darzi. Phoolchuki suggested that they should go and wait near the ber bushes. Teetiri agreed and went to walk around near the ber bush and kept searching for insects to eat. Phoolchuki flitted in and out of the branches of the ber bush and the nearby karonda (Carissa Karvanda???) bush. There were always nice tasty insects in these bushes. Some of those ants were quite delicious. The sap juice from the ber and karonda bushes tempted many insects to wander around the branches and Phoolchuki really enjoyed herself feeding near these bushes. Even Dominga, in spite of all his worries and anger could not resist eating up some of the ants that were stuck in the melting sap as it flowed around the branches.

 And then, suddenly, there it was, Darzi’s call, “Toowheeet-Toowheeet-whittoooo-whittooooo-whitoooo”. Very shrill, and very loud. It sounded like it came from the upper branches of the babool tree, Phoolchuki said. No, no, said Teetiri, it sounded more like it came from the adjacent neem tree. Dominga was amazed. He knew that this call seemed like it came repeatedly from both the neem and babool trees. There seemed to be actually two Darzi birds. Must be brothers, for otherwise how could one male Darzi bird tolerate the other so close to each other?

Phoolchuki volunteered to fly into the babool tree and request Darzi to come down to the ber bush so that Teetiri could also participate in the discussion. Teetiri could not climb into the branches of trees. She could fly about around the canopy but could not perch on the tree branches. Darzi would have to come down so that Teetiri could also participate in the discussion.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 10 - Darzi does not like to be disturbed

10

Darzi does not like to be disturbed

Darzi was not one to be disturbed, once the sun had come up. He had to quickly feed himself and pick up some insects for his partner, Darzeee, the female tailorbird, who was sitting at the nest that he had made so lovingly for her. This was the correct time to feed upon the insects infesting the tasty sap that began to flow from the babool’s bark. There were insects of all kinds here. Red and Black Ants, small Beetles, big Beetles, Spiders and the very tasty caterpillars. These were absolutely great. Darzeee loved to be fed the new caterpillars once they hatched out from under the babool’s bark. She did not like the hairy ones. She did not like the red and black ones either. It was these smooth green ones that she loved.

While he was eager to pick up one of the caterpillars and fly off to Darzeee who would be waiting for him, here was Phoolchuki with some strange story about Dominga wanting Darzi’s help. Amazing, thought Darzi. For Dominga was never friendly to Darzi. But Phoolchuki gently reminded him that Dominga had never harmed Darzi either. So why not help Dominga? Darzi’s brother came flying in from the neem tree to listen to this conversation. He was very impatient because he had to fly farther than his brother had to. He told Darzi to go ahead and listen to Dominga while he would go and tell Darzeee that her partner would be late. She may as well get out of the nest and feed upon some of the nearby insects.

Darzi did not like it one bit. But he agreed to go down to the ber bush and listen to Dominga. It is all because of you, he told Phoolchuki. Otherwise he would not have stopped searching for food for Darzeee. Phoolchuki told Darzi that it was because of Teetiri that they had to fly low, because it was well known that lapwings could not come and perch on the tree branches. She had offered to help and she had convinced Dominga to seek Darzi’s help. Otherwise Dominga would have flown up inside the babool tree, Phoolchuki said. Okay, okay, said an irritated Darzi. Just this once. Never again. Teetiri was also a good friend, so he would go down to help and advise Dominga.

Darzi flew down to the ber bush along with Phoolchuki. Dominga was looking very sad. Darzi forgot all his anger just by looking at Dominga’s sad face. Teetiri was giving company, encouraging Dominga to be courageous. She was telling Dominga that Darzi was sure to give good advice. Dominga told Darzi everything. How Dominga and Domingi loved each other very much, how they had taken a lot of trouble to build their nest together, and how Domingi had very lovingly laid four identical eggs. They had spent five days taking care of their nest and how one day, suddenly, one of the eggs had changed its colour. The size was also different. What should Dominga do?

Phoolchuki was angry that Dominga did not tell Darzi how he had been fighting with Domingi since then. Phoolchuki told Darzi that Dominga had made Domingi’s life very miserable. He had not been feeding Domingi at the nest since then. Poor Domingi was quite starved by now, Phoolchuki said. Teetiri tried to defend Dominga and said that he must have felt quite upset that one of the eggs had changed colour so suddenly. Also the size had changed, as Dominga said. Any bird that had lost his or her eggs would rightfully know the anguish, said Teetiri and calmed down Phoolchuki. Anybody could be rightfully upset. But not at ones’ partner, so angrily and so unjustly, until one came to know about the exact reason, Phoolchuki argued again strongly. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 11 - Darzi says that Kokila was responsible

11

Darzi says that Kokila was responsible

Darzi was getting impatient. He knew what the problem was about. This was something new to Dominga and thus was not easily understood or accepted. He called Teetiri and Phoolchuki aside and spoke to them in a whisper. This was not something that was Dominga or Domingi’s fault, Darzi said. This was the evil Kokila at work. The Koel was a lazy bird, and therefore his partner, Kokila went about removing one egg from unguarded nests and replacing them with one of her own. Koel would never spend time or trouble in constructing his own nest. Kokila perhaps did not trust Koel to feed her at her nest if she did decide to sit on her own nests. And thus, Kokila went around searching for nests where she could hide her eggs.

Teetiri was shocked. She was learning about this for the first time in her life. As far as she knew, there were no nest raiders who replaced eggs of ground nesting birds. Phoolchuki had once heard about nest raiders on tree-nesting birds from one of her aunts who had had to raise a young Kokila chick in her nest.  The Kokila chick soon grew to be four times the size of her aunt, but she continued to feed it and take care of it, with all the love that only a mother can give. Her aunt had argued with her sisters and brothers that after all the Kokila chick was also an unprotected young bird, and if she could give food and love, and make sure that it flew away safely, she would be happy to do so. Phoolchuki’s father had not agreed but her mother had supported it. She was also a mother, wasn’t she? Who else would know a mother’s love, she had said.

Darzi said that the same incident had occurred with one of his aunts in the big fruit orchard that bordered their grassland. The village on the other side of the fruit orchard had many large tamarind, mango and banyan trees that were full of these evil Koel and Kokila birds. They came out from there, searching in the fruit orchards, the grasslands, the riverbanks and the forests. They searched for unprotected nests, that already had some eggs laid in them, and replaced one egg with one of their own. Did they do it with ground nesting birds, Teetiri asked, worried that it may happen with their nest when both Teetiri and Teetiraa left it unprotected? No, No, Darzi said, it was only with tree-nesting birds. The colours of the Kokila’s egg were such that it would easily be seen if left exposed to the sun, in the open grassland, if left in a ground-nest.

Darzi advised Phoolchuki and Teetiri that Dominga must not be told that the egg belonged to Kokila. For otherwise Dominga may go and destroy it. Teetiri also agreed. One egg belonging to Dominga and Domingi was in any case destroyed and lost forever. One should not destroy another egg, though it belonged to another bird, just because one had been destroyed. Phoolchuki also nodded in agreement. Yes, she said, just because it did not belong to you, it did not mean that you had the right to destroy it. Better that Phoolchuki or Teetiri went and told Domingi separately. Let Dominga not know. But what should they tell Dominga? Darzi told Phoolchuki and Teetiri not to worry. He would handle it himself. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 12 - Dominga is fooled by Darzi and returns to Domingi

12

Dominga is fooled by Darzi and returns to Domingi

Phoolchuki, Teetiri and Darzi returned to talk to Dominga. It was Darzi who spoke first. He told Dominga that it was not an unknown thing for eggs to change colour while at the nest. It must have been Dominga’s mistake. Did he, did he, did he, did he ever, ever, ever, ever, feed one of those red and black coloured caterpillars to Domingi before the eggs were laid? Dominga was taken aback. Was it his mistake? Did he give one of those red and black coloured caterpillars to Domingi? He thought very hard. But Darzi did not give him time to think. He kept talking. Dominga must have, must have, must have, must have, fed one of those stick-like grasshoppers then. If not the red and black caterpillars or the stick-like grasshoppers, then he must have, must have, must have, must have given one of those glowing worms that shone brilliantly at night. Dominga nodded hesitantly. Yes. He had once caught one of those glowing worms.

But those glowing worms were certainly not shining once he had caught them, said Dominga. But, it may also have been one of those stick-like grasshoppers. He had once caught a young one. He stopped to think back. Darzi looked at Phoolchuki and winked. Now they had him. Darzi began to talk very fast again. Yes yes yes yes. That must be, must be, must be, must be it. He must have given one of the glow-worms or the stick-like grasshoppers to Domingi.  Did you know that could change the egg-colour? It was his entire fault. Did he, did he, did he, did he, did he scold Domingi for his mistake? Did he, did he, did he, did he? Darzi kept asking. He did not want to give any time for Dominga to realise that he may be wrong or that he was being fooled. And suddenly, Darzi flew away to the babool tree, and back to Darzeee at her nest.

Darzi was happy that he had completed two tasks. First, he had helped Domingi protect her eggs. Second, he had fooled Dominga. He had wanted to do that for a long long time. Dominga had always been a very proud songster, singing from the highest branch, or from some of those new electric cables and wireposts that had been lined up along the edge of the grassland. Those electric cables gave off a loud buzzing noise sometimes. Most birds did not go near them. Darzi was always content to sing from within the branches of trees or bushes, and usually sang to tell Darzeee or other tailor birds that he was nearby. But Dominga was a proud bird. He kept singing just to show off, Darzi was convinced.

Meanwhile, back at the ber bush, Phoolchuki told Dominga to begin smiling, stop his sad look and get back to Domingi back as soon as possible. Dominga looked at Teetiri and asked her as to what she thought. Teetiri also smiled and asked Dominga that he should certainly get back to Domingi right away. She must be starving at the nest. He should go and apologise. Phoolchuki would go with him and make sure that he did apologise. Otherwise Teetiri would tell all the other lapwings to spread the message that Dominga had been a very very bad bird. Then nobody would protect him.

Domingi - the female Magpie Robin knew that

Dominga would return to her after his anger would go off.

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Each time a Shaheen, the falcon, would come hunting for small birds near the tall tamarind tree, some bird or the other would point out Dominga’s location to be hunted. Or, it could be more dangerous, if the tailor birds sounded their alarm to identify Dominga’s hiding place to Shikra, the sparrow hawk, known to all the birds as the silent killer, who flew in between the branches of the trees and bushes. Frightened and completely humbled, Dominga flew back to Domingi with Phoolchuki at his side. Both Shaheen and Shikra were the most feared hunting birds in the grassland, riverside trees, in the orchard, and in the village nearby. Most birds usually helped each other to know that these hunters were nearby. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 13 - Teetiri goes to hunt for red crabs

13

Teetiri goes to hunt for red crabs

Teetiri returned to the marshy water-patch near the rocks. There would be good food to be eaten here. The small red crabs could be found among these grasses and rocks. These brilliant-red coloured animals kept running sideways when disturbed and would dig themselves into the sand thinking that they could not be spotted. But the wet marshy soil and undisturbed sand surface always betrayed them. The footprints of the small red crabs were left on the wet marshy soil and led the birds directly to the spots where they had dug themselves in. The lapwings and other wading birds followed these tracks as they could thus easily identify the presence of the red crabs and pull them out of their hiding spots and eat them up. The deeper water patches in the marsh allowed some hiding places for Teetiri to hide in if Shaheen or Shikra, came hunting in the grassland.

The marshy water-patch was also a favourite hunting place for other wading birds.  Chimini and her family usually frequented it. Salonki and her large numbers of brothers and sisters as also a number of frogs were to be usually seen there. Teetiri loved the songs of the frogs when the first monsoon came down over the grassland and the river. There would be thousands of red crabs that would be running all over the place without even any space for them to dig down to hide.

Teetiri would be joined by her entire family at that time to feed upon the red crabs. All her relatives, her parents, her brothers and sisters and Teetiraa’s relatives would be there at the marsh. Teetiraa’s cousins from across the river would also join them at that time. All of them knew of the marsh and the best place to visit it. They usually left it for Teetiri and Teetiraa for the rest of the year. There were other spots and other times when Teetiri and Teetiraa joined their cousins from across the river, like when the flying ants came out from the ground, or when the waters at the salt-water creek went down in summer exposing thousands of young fish trapped in the rocks.

There were no birds present at the marsh today. That was strange, thought Teetiri. Usually, there would be many birds at this time of the day. Was there something wrong? There did not seem anything like being totally wrong here. The red crabs were there. They were running around. The waters were very inviting.  The cool waters would be very welcome to rest in after the hot rocks that she had crawled through. The grass was not moving. Was there some predator out there at the marsh? Would she be able to spot the predator in time? Was it Mongoose or Lombdi, the wolf? Was it Naag? Hiding out there in the cool water? Frightened, Teetiri looked around for help. Who could tell her if there was something wrong in the marsh?

One of the red crabs came running towards her unaware of her presence. Instinctively she jabbed down with her beak. picked up the crab and swallowed it. Wow. That felt goooood. She needed to eat another. Already she would soon be due back at the nest to relieve Teetiraa. She walked hesitantly towards the marsh, worried. There! There was another one of the red crabs. She jumped two steps and rushed towards it and grabbed it just as it had begun to dig down. Her sudden movement among the stones had dislodged a dung beetle that had been busy rolling up some mud. She grabbed the dung beetle without thinking. The dung beetle did not taste as good as the red crab but it would have to do. She desperately needed that nutrition. She was going to go back and sit at that nest and she needed all the energy she could get. She could not complain now. Or, be choosy at the marsh when the very next moment a predator could easily jump up at her. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 14 - A strange animal hides at the marsh

14

A strange animal hides at the marsh

It was Kotwal who was watching from a very high perch on the babool tree above the marsh who called out to warn her. It was a strange animal, hiding out among the grass, pouncing and frightening away the birds that came to the water. Kotwal flew down from his perch to a thin lone babool stem that had been trying to grow out of the grassland each year. The babool would try and grow taller each year but would find itself cut down by one of the wandering children from the village nearby. The lone babool stem never gave up trying. It kept growing out of the grassland each year in spite of being cut down. Kotwal alighted on the babool and whispered to Teetiri about the strange animal that had never been seen in their grassland before. It looked very dangerous. It seemed to be hiding in the tall grass and sitting very still.

The lone Babool tree - kept growing back after it was cut

Kotwal - the black drongo loved to perch on its highest branches

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

What can we do? Teetiri asked. Can we not frighten it? Does it fly? Can it fly? Can it run very fast? Does it swim? All these days, Teetiri had thought that the marsh would have been the safest place in the grassland for her to hide her young ones when they would hatch out of their eggs. And now, this strange animal had come to the wetland. Had it come to stay there forever? What was it anyway? Could someone talk to it? Could we know more about it so that we could decide whether to visit the marsh or not? Teetiri asked Kotwal.

Let us call all the birds of the grassland together,  replied Kotwal. We will tell Darzi and Phoolchuki to go around on all the trees and tell the other birds to come here. I will go around the grassland and call the birds that I meet. Teetiri said that she would go near the river bank and call the birds from near the water. Darzi went and told Dominga and Domingi, while Phoolchuki went and told all his cousins and Chimini and her family. Kotwal went around the grassland and told his cousins and Bulbul. Teetiri went to the riverside and told all her cousins and asked her aunt to go and fetch Salonki, the common myna.

Teetiri’s aunt found Salonki and her partner dustbathing and soaking in the sun among some of the smooth round stones near the pools formed along the river. On hearing Teetiri’s message, Salonki and her partner left rapidly and came flying to land near the babool stem. Most of the birds had not seen the strange animal, except for Salonki and her partner. They had indeed seen the strange animal. Wow. It was quite frightening. Both Salonki and her partner kept nodding and shaking their head as though agreeing and disagreeing with each other. So what should we do? Teetiri asked. What did it look like? It was large, Kotwal said. It was dangerous, Salonki said. Salonki’s partner kept nodding and shaking his head. So what was the animal? Teetiri asked worriedly, wondering whether or not Salonki would actually provide an answer. Whatever it was, it was frightening, large and dangerous, said Salonki while her partner kept nodding and shaking his head.

Getting tired of Salonki and her partner by now, Teetiri asked Kotwal to fly low over the marsh once to check if the animal was still hiding out there. Kotwal agreed and flew straight up from the babool stem, straight and high and then glided down straight back over the marsh as though he was about to land there. While reaching just above the grass, Kotwal straightened his glide and flew out above the marsh and turned back to return to the babool stem. Not at all looking tired or frightened after this search flight, Kotwal turned to Teetiri and nodded. Yes. The animal was still out there. Sitting quietly. Not moving at all. This would not do, Teetiri thought. The animal would have to go. She needed the marsh returned to her for raising her young ones who were yet to be born. She could not risk losing another season and another clutch of eggs. She had to do something. But she needed more help. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 15 - Teetiri asks Salonki for help

15

Teetiri asks Salonki to help

She was almost sure that she could not depend on Salonki and her partner. Or, could she? Teetiri asked herself. It may perhaps be easier to ask Salonki to risk taking a chance than any other bird. Salonki would be willing to take risks. For all the singing and gesturing that Dominga, Darzi or Phoolchuki did, they did not have the guts to confront an enemy. She could not risk Kotwal. Teetiri needed Kotwal to warn her at her nest. Salonki would have to do for the moment, Teetiri thought.

After all, no smart predator was waiting out there so patiently to have to eat Salonki. With all the nodding and shaking that they did, the predator would definitely a stomach ache, Teetiri thought and smiled to herself. She called Salonki and informed her that she would need a favour. Salonki was surprised and felt very happy. Teetiri, Teetiri, TEETIRI was asking her, her, HER, Salonki, to do a favour. Teetiri was considered to be much smarter than Salonki and here she was, asking her for a favour. Sure, she said, ask and if she could do it, she would definitely be glad to be of any help.

Go to the jowar and bajra cropfields. Go and tell all your myna cousins and relatives that Teetiri needs their help. Bring them to the marsh. Teetiri told Salonki. Do not ask them to land in the marsh but ask them to perch on the branches of the babool trees. Tell them to just sit there and try to find out what the animal was. Was it a dog from the village? Was it Mongoose or Ghorpad, the monitor lizard, wandering away from his usual walking path? Whoever it was from among all these, they were all equally dangerous for lapwing chicks, Teetiri thought. What if it was not one of these animals? She could always deal with the known ones, and try and force them into moving away. It was the unknown and strange animals, that would be more worrying.

Salonki agreed to bring all her cousins and relatives to the marsh. She flew off with her nodding partner to the cropfields across the river where all her relatives gathered to feed upon the grains. They were also possibly gathering around the place where the farmers were boiling harvested sugarcane to make jaggery. The mynas loved to pick up the fallen jaggery when it was being transported back and forth from the boiling area in the cropfields to the godowns. The farmers usually left the godown doors open. The mynas also raided the godown interiors for there was more food to be found inside.

Salonki flew down upon the roof of the shed and called out to her relatives. All of them gathered together on the roof while Salonki told them about the request for help from Teetiri. They were all excited. They felt that Salonki had done all the mynas proud. Imagine, they spoke agitatedly, imagine, one of the lapwings was actually asking the mynas for help. Wow. That was something, indeeeeeed. They were also excited about this strange animal that Salonki was describing. Large, frightening and dangerous, Salonki had said. And, all Teetiri had asked of was to make sure that all the mynas perched on the babool trees and just stayed there? That was the plan? That was the entire plan? Of course, they could do it.  That was very easy. And for this easy bit of assistance, Teetiri would owe Salonki a favour? Wow. How foolish could the lapwings be? They told each other in pairs, for though they seemed to be in a large flock, the mynas interacted only as pairs. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 16 - Salonki and her relatives talk to the stranger. And talk, and talk and talk.

16

Salonki and her relatives talk to the stranger. And talk, and talk and talk.

The mynas flew off together from the roof of the shed with Salonki leading the way. They were actually flying in pairs, but looked like a flock when together. Each pair kept talking to each other even when flying. They would talk to each other until the end of their lives, thought Bulbul, who was flying by at that time. Salonki lead the flock of mynas directly to the babool trees. There were probably more than two hundred mynas together now. They kept talking to each other. That is what Teetiri had told them to do, did she not? Salonki wondered. What sort of a plan was this? How would Teetiri confront the animal if the plan was only to keep all the mynas in the babool trees and to ensure that they kept talking? How would she get to know who the strange animal was? Did she expect that the animal would talk to Salonki?

Salonki and her relatives searched for the mysterious animal in the marsh. From here, perched on one of the low branches of the babool tree that stretched out into the marsh, she could see over a large portion of it. Where was it? Where was it? Where was it? If the animal was indeed out there, then it was probably very smart. She could not spot it. And, was she not a very intelligent bird? Then how could the animal be smarter than she could? She called out to Kotwal who was still perched on the lone babool stem. Teetiri was standing on the ground next to the lone babool stem. Kotwal flew out to join Salonki at the higher branches of the babool tree and perched near her. Was the strange animal still hiding out there? Salonki asked. Sure, he must be out there in the marsh, said Kotwal, for he had not seen him come out to the grassland.

So, where was he? Salonki wondered. She could not see him from up here. Could Kotwal spot him? No? Then, where was he? Salonki peered hard at the grass. It was difficult to concentrate with more than 150 relatives behind you, chattering away loudly. The mynas could talk very loudly. They did not stop for the other partner to stop talking. It was getting to be very difficult to sit still and search for the strange animal. What could he do? He could not ask his relatives to keep quiet. Teetiri had especially wanted that all her relatives keep chattering away loudly. That Teetiri was crazy, Salonki thought. What was this plan anyway? Even Salonki got tired of hearing all her relatives talking non-stop. So, why would anyone else love to hear her hundreds of relatives talk non-stop?

Shhhhh, Kotwal said. So, even Kotwal was tired of Salonki and her relatives? No, it did not seem to be the reason for Kotwal to be ‘shhhing’ her. He was pointing towards some brown and green coloured grass. Salonki looked. Yes, there was something all right. It looked like a brown, or black, or brown, or black coloured fluffy ball, just about the size of Phoolchuki or Darzi that seemed to suddenly bob up and down in the grass. The fluffy brown or black ball could not be seen by anyone on the ground. From up here, Salonki and Kotwal could spot it only when it bobbed up and down.

It seemed to be irritated, Kotwal said. Bobbing up like that, almost angrily. It must be angry with all the chatter that Salonki’s relatives were busy with, Kotwal told Salonki. But what was it? Salonki asked. Kotwal flew up and tried to look at the fluffy ball from up closer. He flew back to Salonki and said that he could not see much more than that. Having said that, Kotwal flew back to Teetiri and his lone standing babool stem that grew so persistently out there, in the grassland. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 17 - Salonki understands Teetiri’s plan

17

Salonki understands Teetiri’s plan

Suddenly Salonki understood what Teetiri’s plan was all about.  Teetiri must have wanted Salonki’s relatives to irritate the strange animal to show himself. That was the reason why she had wanted them to keep chattering away. That bobbing fluffy ball, whatever it was, showed that the animal was getting irritated. There must be an animal at the other end of the fluffy ball. Having decided that, it became suddenly much more easier for Salonki to look for the animal.

Salonki’s eyes followed the ball, bobbing up and down, and could now identify a brown-coloured snake-like cord attached to it. That must be the tail. She followed the tail through the grass and suddenly could see the animal very clearly. It was right there, and it was not there. It could be seen but it was unseen. You could make out the colours, but if you blinked, the colours were no different than the grassland. It could not be seen if one looked at the grassland without searching for the animal. Wow. This animal was very good at camouflage, Salonki thought.

It was the combination of the brown and green coloured grass that explained it. There simply was no brown grass out there. It was actually simple, when one understood the colours of the grassland or the marsh. Brown dry grass could not occur next to dark green grass that was obviously getting good water through its roots. One patch of grass could not be brown and not getting water, while the grass nearby was green. The brown grass was the animal. It was simple, very simple, actually, when you come to think of it, Salonki told her partner.

It was a brown coloured animal that was hiding in the grass. So, now we know something more about it, Salonki thought. It was strange, dangerous, large, frightening, brown in colour, and with a tail that had a brown or black coloured fluffy ball at the end. Salonki turned and called out to all her relatives. She pointed out the brown and green patch of grass and explained that the animal was hiding out there. All her relatives immediately started arguing about the identity of the animal. For those who were bolder, they began to move to the lower branches and started chattering away loudly. All that chatter, the loud arguments, the agreements and disagreements, soon began to irritate the animal that relied so much on camouflage. Just as Teetiri had predicted to herself, the animal would have to show itself in disgust. And indeed, with all the myna chatter going on above it, suddenly, the animal seemed to shiver all over, and turned its head to stare right up into the babool tree. Salonki could now see it very clearly. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 18 - Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

18

Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

It was an animal that Salonki had seen only once before. Salonki had seen it inside the village. It was the time that she had accompanied her parents to the village. She and her brothers and sisters had left the nest and had begun to fly just a few days ago. Their parents had wanted to celebrate the fact that all their young ones had begun to fly with confidence, and her father had insisted that they go to the village. He had said that it would be his party. He would treat them to a wonderful feast.

At the edge of the village was a house that belonged to the rich sweet-merchant. Just a week before, a family of mice had successfully made a large hole in the roof of the sweet merchant’s house and had brought out some sweets to feed upon. This had been seen by a flock of mynas who had come to rest at that very moment on their evening flight back from the grassland towards their night roosting trees. Some of those mynas had gone boldly inside the sweet merchant’s house through the large hole to feed upon the uncovered sweets.

They had come back to their night roosting perches in the Peepul tree in the village and had sat drunk after having eaten too much sweets and drunk too much sugar syrup. They seemed so happy and so content throughout the night. Salonki’s father had decided to take his wife and children inside the sweet merchant’s house.  That day Salonki’s family had enjoyed themselves. They had perched on the roof and gone inside the shop, one by one, and fed upon the nice golden yellow coloured sweets. They had been very tasty. They had also eaten the dark brown coloured ones floating on sugar syrup. That syrup had been very intoxicating.

After having eaten more than they could, the family had flown out of the shop and was resting on the roof. They could hardly move off from the roof. A nearby banyan tree had its branches spread over the roof and offered them very welcome shade from the noon sun. The family had decided to take a quick nap under the shade offered by the banyan tree. They had been resting peacefully that day. Salonki could still remember her father and mother smiling very proudly at him and his brothers and sisters. Salonki could remember the day like it was yesterday.

Suddenly, out of the banyan branches, a brownish yellow animal had jumped on to the roof and picked up one of Salonki’s brothers and ran away. They had hardly realised that something was wrong. By the very next instant that they had realised that a member of their family had been taken by this brown-yellow animal, it had disappeared from sight. They had flown up in panic, and gone towards a corner of the village where they could hear some crows cawing excitedly. There, half hidden under an unyoked bullock cart, was the brownish yellow animal, sitting quietly, hissing at the myna family and the crows. There had been no sight of Salonki's brother. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 19 - Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

19

Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

Salonki’s father had asked one of the crows about this brownish yellow animal. The eldest of the crows, Kaawla Chacha, had replied that this animal was ‘Billi’, the village cat. It was very bold, very fast, very quiet and very patient. And, most important of all, it was very dangerous. One should not even try flying close to it. It could jump up, quite high, and injure you with its claws. Why do you grassland and forest birds come inside the village anyway, Kaawla Chacha asked angrily. Why do you come to suffer so badly? Do you see any of the village birds roaming around in the grassland? Or do you see the waterbirds roaming around in the forest? Get some sense, act smart, and survive. Stay in your habitat, Kaawla Chacha gestured angrily at Salonki’s father. Survive. Survive. Survive. Survive.

Salonki remembered all those unfortunate happenings very clearly. Salonki remembered Billi very clearly to this day. Only, he had not expected to see him inside the grassland, hiding in the marsh, and being an expert at camouflage, he told his partner. This animal in front of them, hiding away, very patiently in the marsh was Billi, Salonki told all her relatives. Why was it here, asked Salonki’s aunt, if it was supposed to be inside the village? If we should not go outside our habitat, what was this animal doing outside its village?

It must have come to the marsh to try its luck in hunting down some grassland birds, Salonki said. Okay. Salonki could also play this game. Salonki could also take this opportunity to take revenge for what had happened out there in the village that day. Kaawla Chacha had told Salonki’s father that day that Billi was smart and dangerous. Now let us see if Billi was indeed all that smart, Salonki told her partner. She flew to the lone babool stem to join Kotwal and Teetiri. Rapidly, she told them the story of that unfortunate day in the village when he had lost his brother.  Teetiri had never seen a cat. Billi? What was a Billi? Teetiri asked Salonki. Was it like Bhainsa, the buffalo? Was it like Gadheda, the donkey? Or, was it like Lombdi, the Wolf?

No, No, Kotwal and Salonki said together. It was not like Bhainsa, Gadheda or Lombdi, Kotwal said. This was a Cat, a Cat, a very dangerous animal, Salonki said. There are many types of cats, some large, some small, some spotted and some striped, Kotwal said. So, which one was this, he asked Salonki. Salonki only knew about the village cat from Kaawla Chacha and about how dangerous it was. Salonki herself had not seen Billi from very close. Whatever had been seen on that day in the village was a very fleeting glimpse of a very fast animal.

You won’t understand, Salonki told Teetiri. Do not just wait for it to come out. We have to bring Billi out of the marsh and chase it away from the grassland, Salonki said. They could not allow Billi to take over the marsh. The birds of the grassland would not be safe. No, No, Teetiri said, we have to fight for our grassland. I will fight for the grassland, Teetiri told Kotwal and Salonki, again and again. Not merely fight for the grassland, Salonki interrupted, we have to also humiliate Billi so that he would never return to the marsh and the grassland. It would be a big favour; could they do her this favour? Salonki asked Teetiri and Kotwal. Could they help her take revenge? It would help her feel better and forget the unfortunate happening of that day in the village. They needed to help her plan. It would also help to drive Billi away from the marsh. Teetiri and Kotwal agree to help fight Billi.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 20 - Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe

20

Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe

Teetiri agreed instantly while pecking fast at a passing beetle and swallowing it. Teetiri needed the marsh to be safe for her children when they would hatch out. She had planned the nesting in order that her children would be hatched just in time for the monsoon. But she was worried that the rains may be delayed by seven to ten days. She needed the water in the marsh and the safe hideout that the green grass would provide to her children.

Teetiri asked Kotwal to help Salonki plan against Billi. Kotwal also agreed to help. He had a very good reason to help because Billi had once climbed a mango tree adjacent to the village and destroyed the nest that belonged to Kotwal’s sister. Kotwal had not seen it happen but his father had described it to him. This Billi should never be allowed inside the grassland or at the marsh, Kotwal said. But we need more help, perhaps some clever birds from the village, Teetiri suggested. We do not know how to fight Billi, while the village birds would be able to help them plan. Both Kotwal and Salonki nodded in agreement.

Who could help them but Kaawla Chacha, said Salonki excitedly. He was the one who had scolded Salonki’s father in the village. He seemed to know a lot and seemed like a very wise bird. He may be able to help the birds of the grassland. Kaawla Chacha certainly seemed to be very intelligent. Salonki proposed that Kaawla Chacha could be invited to come to the grassland and help the birds lead an attack on Billi while he hid in the marsh.

Teetiri disagreed. She still remembered the way that Kaawla Chacha’s cousin had destroyed her nest and eaten up her eggs. She argued that Kaawla may be very intelligent but he was also a danger to the birds and their nests in the grassland. Kaawla Chacha should never be able to find out the secrets of the grassland or the marsh. An enemy is an enemy is an enemy. Especially one who destroys your nest and eats away the eggs. Such an enemy could never be trusted. We may replace one foolish enemy with a very smart and intelligent enemy, she said.

Kotwal agreed. Do not call Kaawla Chacha, he advised. A better friend would be Guturgu, the Blue-Rock Pigeon. Guturgu never destroyed any nests or ate any eggs. He was very peaceful, content to live with his family. He actually seemed to have a very large family. The blue-rock pigeons seemed to come out of the village in their hundreds to the cropfields when the grain was ready to be harvested. They were never to be seen flying around commonly in the grassland or the river or the forest. The local villagers were also known to feed them at a specific place. Guturgu could teach some tricks to the birds of the grassland.