Nature’s envy, owner’s pride

Kamal Baruah
I was wonderstruck the other day by a woodpecker repeatedly knocking on the tinted glass of our bedroom window and I woke-up in the dark before dawn,nonetheless it’s tough in the early morning, when the beautiful songs come streaming through the casement. They’re early risers. As I tenderly pulled the curtain aside, the bird was upbeat for her relentless task for a couple of minutes. It didn’t catch me staring out of the window. I used to observe for the last summer at the same hour of the day.
The bird in all likelihood got annoyed with our presence as we moved to a new home recently by the side of a small river called ‘Mora Basistha’ (low flow waterways).  Fortunately, no structure comes to the right side as other wetlands flow by the fence of our plot. Aquatic Birds are enjoying the richness of avian fauna and it’s our delight to witness such peaceful nature in the bustle of the metropolis.I saw kingfishers spectacular dives into water. There is no better place to start morning than being in the lap of Mother Nature as they’re calling me, it’s time to answer the call, get outside and zoom-in through DSLR.
At the side of the balcony is a small area of marsh. Dahikotora (Magpie) looked brighter and had colourful feathers. There are Oriole and Indian rollers too. They’re wild birds singing louder, peeping and tweeting outside. They’re pretty small but have a strong impression of their presence in their neighborhood. They probably compete for food or places to nest and also defend their territory from any threats. They’re male showing off unique tunes in hopes of attracting a female.
However I failed to understand the interesting phenomenon of a bird pecking at a window. Other traditions believe that a bird hitting a window is just a messenger. Some believe the bird carries a goodwill message. So generally, according to all traditions, a bird hitting a window signifies change. While others believe, it’s a natural occurrence as birds see widows as a continuation of the landscape and upon reflection, she strikes the mirror. There is no need to fuss and lose sleep over superstitious beliefs. It could be a symbol of a new beginning and mostly all about perception.
Millions of migratory birds fly from north to south each winter and all bird species have their own departure and arrival patterns depending on climate impact at different latitudes along the routes from wintering to breeding areas.Guwahati happens to be a city of large aquatic body including the important riverine wetlands in the Brahmaputra valley, where an open lake basin DeeporBeel is connected to the river with inflow and outflow channels. Originally, the beel had its natural linkages with the river through the Sola Beel and the swampy areas of Pandu. Now it’s been disrupted due to construction of National Highways and Railway line.
The Basistha River originates in the Meghalaya foothills, flows through the beel and joins the river Brahmaputra through Khana River at Kahanamukh and Bharalu River at Bharalumukh. DeeporBeel has both biological and environmental importance besides being the two major storm water storage basins Basistha and Bharalu for the city; thereby large congregations of aquatic birds migrate to Guwahati. Alas, they (birds) aren’t seen nowadays! They aren’t only woodpeckers; even the parrots aren’t seen in this winter but my blooming balcony is growing by varieties of petunias, salvia, dahlias, and marigolds.
I also saw house sparrows start visiting our backyard and chirping noise so early every morning. As I opened the door in the wee hours of another day, suddenly hosts of sparrows flew away at the first sight from our sunny balcony as little birds were too little to worry about us and they perceived humans as potential threats. But they come again as they’re not migratory and remain native virtually the same place within a kilometer throughout the year. They’re strongly associated with human habitation, found widespread and abundant.
But there is another guest squirrelling around in the potted plants in search of something early in the morning. The furry little garden invaders – a cute squirrel scratch up our flowerbed and dig into our plants and soil. Squirrels tend to dig in search of food. They eat fruit, vegetable, and plant bulbs.
Although it caused some damage to our plants grown however I didn’t hurt it, only repelling it away. Our garden probably attracts the squirrel as my better half planted a lot of hanging plants such as Wandering Jew, Broken Heart, FittoniaGreen and Money Plants all around.
While the squirrel enjoyed digging our soil, I found their frenetic activities entertaining. They’re cute and fun to watch and begin active immediately prior to dawn. However it’s caught often despite our presence. Probably (they) a woodpecker, host of sparrows and squirrels envy human presence and easy growing flowers of bougainvillea, peace lily, roses and hibiscus.
Feeling the presence of bio diversities around the habitat of Lakhimi Nagar, city dwellers must not block life of birds and animals in their natural habitat but to bounce out of bed early in the morning with a spring in their step and to be ready to walk an extra mile to conserve wild neighbors.
 The early bird catches the worm, so they sing louder, livelier and more frequently. Don’t you envy our breathtaking beauty of nature on the balcony as a squirrel and a woodpecker did the other day?