A social habit!

 

The above four photos are of Indian pied Myna.  The Indian pied Myna is not a regular visitor in our garden. I get an opportunity to see them while visiting north India. They are often found in open spaces and rice fields or in gardens, where there are fruits to live on.They find their night shelter in trees except during the time of their nesting and breeding.  

The common Myna below is different in the colour of its plumage and 

often found near human habitations. 

What is common between these two species of Myna, is that they are often found in small groups and live in a community. 

In our garden, Anna and I watch the common Myna come to feed in the feeding station regularly and behave friendly towards other birds. 

The common Myna can imitate human voices, and a friend told me that they produce the sound, 'Hullo' when he calls them. 

I like watching Myna for two reasons. They are immaculately groomed all the time and are quiet birds with bird calls usually associated with communication between the members of their family. 

I noticed a single Myna calling out for other Myna to come to the feeding station and wait till they come before starting to feed. That is unusual. The Bulbuls feed themselves first and then call out for other birds to come. 

I have noticed that birds come to the feeding station also for 'socialising'. I noticed some Myna birds come to perch on the twigs of the tree, just above the feeding station and fly away after a while without feeding. That too is a ritual of some Myna birds. 

It is like one domestic helper working for us, going to the tea shop in the morning to hear the news of the village from others and return without drinking tea. That morning gathering of about twenty people is the way they start the day. He told me that he would miss that conversation time, if for some reason he could not go!

I noticed that conversation times become communication times when there is a regardful and trustful exchange of thoughts, needs and concerns. 

This social habit of being with each other in the neighbourhood is still a regular occurrence in our village. The social harmony in our village is regulated by some who take interest in the needs and stresses of people. 

The sense of togetherness the Myna birds communicate to each other is their social habit. 

This avian behaviour of some birds is an inspiring message to me!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)