A Shikra, belonging to the family of Hawk, was on a coconut palm for a while in our garden. I mistook it for an owl from a distance. Only when it turned its face, I noticed it to be different. It was during the Google search, I recognised it to be a Shikra, little banded goshawk, a native of Asian and African continents. I noticed its typical flap and glide flight when it flew away to another tree, probably to be in sunlight. From the yellowish iris, brownish upper parts and heavier brown banding on the underparts, this was probably a juvenile female bird.
Its name suggests that it is a hunter. The falconers train Shikra to fetch food for Falcons.
This is not a bird which small birds are comfortable with, as they feed on them, squirrels, lizards and insects. I wonder whether the relative absence of smaller birds in our garden, even around the feeding station in the morning, was on account of fear this Shikra would have conveyed through its presence in the garden! The Babblers can gather together and chase away a Shikra.
I noticed a squirrel who was on its morning stroll protecting itself between two branches in a deliberate act of seeking safety. A Tree pie perched in the coconut palm was looking intently towards the Shikra. A Bulbul sounded alarm calls from the nutmeg tree adjacent to the coconut palm. I did not associate these with stress behaviour of a squirrel or birds till I read more about the behaviour of Shikra while hunting for its prey. It is known to fly towards its target and carry the prey between its beaks!
It was a wet and cloudy morning yesterday and visibility was reduced. The light condition was not ideal for photography. I feel good to have pursued to race the Shikra, form the time I noticed it for the first time.
The presence of one hostile bird, chased away most birds from the garden and the few birds and the squirrel seemed to show stressful behaviour.
When a pair of Bulbul appeared in the tree in front of our cottage, I knew that the threat of Shikra had receded and bird movements were returning to be normal.
The Bulbuls were soon back in the feeding station, to turn the morning to a usual occasion for birds.
I happened to hear two speakers alive yesterday. One spoke stressfully and nervously listing the ills, uncertainties and unfortunate situations around. The other spoke about some happy childhood experiences recalling family times spent with his sister, late father and mother at home.
It was a message to me about the way we perceive situations. There is enough adverse situations around along with endearing experiences. What do I focus on and communicate matter!
Following the painting of the a room last week, I was rearranging the room yesterday. When I rearranged many photographs of people and evens of the last forty years associated with the work of ASHIRVAD, an Initiative for Child Development, in which Anna and I were involved, brought memories of many events which were subsumed by some other difficult events. The stressful events often remained dominant. The several other joyful and fruitful experiences, when recalled, the inner ambience moved to a state of peace and wellness.
The palpable threat Shikra created in our garden among other birds was short lived.
The philosophy of 'fight or flight' when adverse circumstances surface do not appear to be the whole truth. A third option is to 'stay' knowing that the wind and storm would recede. The tree pie, Bulbul and squirrel were alarmed, but stayed around in the garden knowing that 'even this will pass away'!
The stress that comes upon us due to unexpected situations can be natural, but that too can be a means to grow in inner strength, knowing that it is in 'God we live, move, and have our being'!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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