Lazy Doves and Smart Buzzards

 

Hope you remember the spotted dove episode? The broken nest is still there. Without any doubt, all doves are very lazy. They seem content in their small, peaceful world and take the trouble to coo sometimes and walk with gentle strides. They show a bit of urgency only when they take off. They flutter their wings pretty loudly to even scare you sometimes. In comparison to their eased living, a tailorbird looks weary and stress-battered.

The nest is just an assemblage of few dry twigs at a height where you can easily touch it with your extended hand and raised heels. A pair of laughing dove now decides to occupy the abandoned house. They aren’t deterred by the painful recent past. They make some flimsy, make-believe adjustments to the arrangement of twigs. You can literally see through the nest when you stand under it and scan it for its safety features.

A honey buzzard lands onto the small curry patta tree bearing the nest and the honeycomb. The birds haven’t laid eggs yet. They fly with a loud beating of wings. The nest is empty but he gets a bonus, the little ball of honeybees. It’s a small hive because flowers are vanishing from the planet and my little garden is sufficient for a tiny hive only. But the eagle gets a little sweet beakful of honey. The dove couple looks adamant and returns after some time. They will surely lay eggs despite cats and the eagle stalking them. They are into it with a single-minded focus. In between, some biggest favor by luck favors them with a successful hatching. However, given their lazy ways, it seems a miracle almost.