A pair of Scaly-breasted Munia has always nested under our roof, under the tiles, placing its flimsy-looking mass of grass strands on the wooden beam under the tiles.
This year too was no exception. Once the monsoon set in and we had the first set of showers, the pair started bringing nesting materials and commenced nesting. Things went on smoothly for over a week and then the macaques came in. As always, they pulled down the nest with its precious eggs which the birds had commenced to incubate. The birds, after a couple of days, recommenced their nesting activities and brought in fresh nesting materials, and started rebuilding the nest at the very spot. Ten days down the line, the macaques came again and pulled down the nest!
Once again the birds recommenced the nest after a short gap and again at the very same spot! Enter the macaques. The nest is again gone. But the birds were not willing to give up. This time they shifted their site and placed the nest just outside our door, just a couple of meters from the old site. Now a tragedy of a different sort struck the birds. The domestic cat that often sleeps on our terrace pounced on one of the birds and made a meal of it! I thought the bird would give up now. But no! Four days later, the bird found a new mate and continued bringing fresh material to its nest.
I am now looking forward to what new threats the birds will face and also eager to know if they will be successful in raising a brood.
- Santharam
8 Sept. 2021