Harini’s
mother looked angry. “Come on, eat up your breakfast. We need to get you to
your kindergarten school in time. You may be punished for being late.”
Harini knew her strategy well for such moments. She put up her innocent face, pouted slightly, and spoke in a sing song voice, “Let me sit in Daddy’s open jeep in the garden and eat my breakfast. I will finish it quickly. We can go to the school directly from the garden after you get ready.”
Before waiting for her mother to answer, Harini picked up her breakfast plate, spoon and water bottle and ran out to the garden. She had prepared for it, already. A wooden box was kept in place for her to climb on and get in to the front seat of the open jeep. She could now have her breakfast and also take a look around the garden and see if she could spot any of the birds or butterflies or grasshoppers. Some portion of the Chafa tree’s shadow came over the vehicle and Harini was happy about it.
Sure enough, the male Magpie Robin, the handsome black and white colored bird, was perched on the outer branches of the Chafa tree and calling out in song, in a shrill, loud tone, with long whistles. ‘Wonder why was he calling out so loudly,’ thought Harini. ‘Darzee had told her that the tailor birds had different reasons for their many short and long whistles and calls. Did the Magpie Robin also change its calls?’
Waving her spoon, Harini called out to the Magpie Robin, “Why are you calling out so loudly, so early in the morning? Do you want some breakfast? I can share some of my fruits and milk.”
The Magpie Robin did not reply. From a nearby branch, Darzee, the female tailor bird, flew down to the bonnet of the jeep and looked inside Harini’s breakfast plate.
Darzee said, “That is Dominga, the male Magpie Robin. He is usually very busy in the mornings and evenings in calling out with his very loud display call. What are you eating? That looks very funny. Do you want me get you some insects and flowers to eat?”
Harini laughed. “Yes. I would love to show the insects to my mother and tell her that I am going to eat them. She will scream in fright. Why is Dominga, the male Magpie Robin calling out so loudly? Is he threatening the other birds and warning them not to come to the Chafa tree?”
“Dominga is just like that,” Darzee replied. “He calls out to the other male Magpie Robins and tells them that he is at the Chafa tree and that the others can go to some other trees. But, he is usually calling out to Domingi, the female Magpie Robin, who is at her hidden nest, on their eggs, and being careful about letting anyone know her location.”
Darzee whistled in mock anger. “Yes. I know where Domingi has her nest. No. I will not show you the nest or point it out to you. The nest will be in danger. There are always others who are watching, waiting for us to make a mistake. They even notice the direction that you are pointing to, and also can wait very patiently.”
“Yes, Yes. You had warned me,” Harini said. “I have to go to school now, and will return at noon. Can you get me to talk to Dominga and Domingi? I love Dominga’s song. Why does he sing?”
“I guess he is being clever,” Darzee said. “He is singing loudly so that all the hidden watchers are looking at him. Domingi can quietly get out of her nest and flit about the low bushes before she allows herself to be seen in the upper branches.”
“That is very smart,” Harini replied. “There, my mother is coming over to pull me out of this vehicle. I will meet you when I return from school. I love Dominga’s long whistling song. Let me try and practice that when I am going to school.”
Bharat Bhushan
11 April 2025
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