Today after coming home i was going to my room when i noticed something unusual in my balcony.
There was lump of dirt on the clothes’ wire and some movement was going on inside.
My heart started beating rapidly and the very next moment i saw a purple sunbird flying away from it. I got super excited, called my mom to show her the bird in the book and waited for the sunbird to come back. She got curious too.I went to my room and got my camera.
We spent 45 mins. clicking and watching the bird go and come back with some nesting material and the process of nest-building..
Then, after all the adrenaline subsided i got utterly sad..sad because this is not a natural place for sunbirds to build nest. I got sad thinking there are no plants left for these beauties to nest.
..
Purple Sunbird Making Nest..
Today so-called development has taken a toll on the nesting sites for many bird species. There are gardens in the high end bungalows but all they have are exotic plant species which are meant for beautification and are not at all suitable for the nesting of urban birds.
I stay at a place which used to have good vegetation three years back but today, the scenario of this place is just like any other concrete jungle.
When i came to live at this place, Indian Silverbill used to nest at my room’s window; after two years of nesting they are now gone.
Today, when a revolution is going on to save House Sparrow, i feel lucky that i get to see 6-7 sparrows daily!
There are two active nests of sparrows in my house since last two years and to adapt themselves to the drastically changing situation they are now breeding year long..
Besides two active nests of sparrow there is an active nest of Laughing Dove; pigeons nest now and then too.
Since last couple of days, few sparrows are coming to checkout the place where Silverbill used to nest but they are not able to get inside the closed window.
male sparrow who came to checkout the place where silverbill used to nest
And today there was a new addition to my family of nesting birds – the purple Sunbird..
With this i request everybody reading this to plant trees near their surrounding and put nest box for sparrows,keep a bowl of water in your balcony or any place where birds can drink water from it.
..Memories Swarm.. 