Fine Feathered Friends by Kavita Shivdasani

In a quiet lane off Alipore, Calcutta we lived in a sprawling accommodation in the three storied Belvedere Estate. Adjoining us was Woodlands and Alipore Estates followed by the Russian Counsulate, with the posh Woodlands Nursing Home spread right across on the opposite side of the street.

Every lodging overlooked immaculate emerald lawns that ran across the entire frontage of each property. Each stretch of home turf was separated from the other by low hedges and yet interconnected by winding cobbled paths.

Bordering the lawns and shaded by trees were basket ball and badminton courts, slides, swings, see-saws, cycling trails shared by us children from all three estates.

Beyond partitioned by a low wall lay the densely tree covered grounds of the Calcutta Zoo also a sanctuary for birds both migratory and indigenous.

So it was not an uncommon sight to look out of my window and spot a few dozen peacocks strutting regally around the lawns or have a baby owl, talons neatly aligned, on a low hanging branch just outside our first floor verandah on a moonlit night gazing at me with solemn, unblinking, golden saucer shaped eyes.

It was a cold December morning about 6.30 a.m. when a dissonance of cackles and screeches woke me with a start. I ran out bare footed onto the verandah shivering in my night clothes. A thin mist hung over the lawns.

The sounds seemed to radiate upwards from the turf below. As my eyes adjusted to the bright green grass I managed to detect a jamboree of possibly 50 or 60 equally bright green parakeets only because of their intense red beaks and red-ringed necks.

As the sun pierced through the mist the parakeet party took flight in unison an undulating stretch of green and red and made off over the tree tops. As the beating of their wings receded the silence was deafening.

A whole bunch of us kids would often spend a pleasant Sunday morning at the Calcutta Zoo.10 year old Digvijay was the naught boy of the group. He was hell bent on acquiring one of the gorgeous tail feathers of a majestic looking peacock out for a leisurely walk.

As Diggy reached to pluck at the iridescent tail plume the peacock swiveled at lightening speed to strike back. Aghast at this unexpected retaliation Diggy made off as fast as possible – head thrown back, chest thrown out and legs pistoning furiously with the angry bird in hot pursuit. It was splendid to watch the swift pace with which this bird can move fan of long tail features notwithstanding.

Diggy’s cries for help fell on deaf ears as we all rolled on the ground helpless with laughter. After three circuits of the lawn with Diggy just a hairbreadth ahead the bird lost interest and walked off disdainfully while Diggy collapsed in relief quite out of breath.

Kalpana Malani’s query ‘so do you feel this bird trail is appropriate?’ interrupted my wandering thoughts and brought me back to the present. We were planning to take a group of 4 – 8 year olds on a bird watching excursion on Sunday 25^th April 2010 and were staking out the route.

There are quite a few interesting bird watching places in and around Bombay – Sewri, Karnala, the Mangrove Zone at Vikroli, SGNP, Maharahtra Nature Park, The Ranibaug Zoo, BPT Gardens, Kamla Nehru Park and believe me several streets on Marine Drive and areas of Peddar Road, Altamount Road, Bandra and in fact any part of the city that has a tree cover is a good place to watch for birds. All you need however is patience and a quick eye to spot our fine feathered friends who have adapted brilliantly to wanton urbanization.