It was while observing one cycle of feeding of a Bulbul, at day break in the feeding station, I noticed the similar process it follows in each cycle.
The decision to choose the amount of the pulp each time it pecks the banana fruit caught my attention. It is a measured amount each time to make the swallowing easy.
This habit of choosing the little that it can swallow, has been a matter of my study, while watching birds at the feeding station!
Among the different species of birds and about hundred birds visiting the feeding station each day, Bulbuls are the regular visitors who return to feed five or six times during the day. Its routine is to feed, sip water and fly away with repeated bird calls. They return to feed when the feeding station is not crowded with other birds. They wait on the Rambutan tree next to the feeding station and make repeated bird calls, if there is no food at the feeding station. They wait till we place food in the feeding bowls.
They are therefore making a social connection with us. Their chirps in between the feeding cycles are different from the bird calls when they arrive or leave. Those short and subdued chirps in between the feeding cycles convey some message! There are a few Bulbuls who are regular visitors. They are familiar with our cottage. Two of hem would come to the door and chirp looking at us. The tone and tune of those chirps are similar to the chirps in between the feeding cycles.
So I wonder, whether they are messages of social and relational intent!
As I do not notice similar behaviour in other species of birds, I feel inclined to think that the Bulbuls communicate a social intent!
What might be the avian social intent!
The red whiskered Bulbul birds are known to have some special features. Both male and female birds participate in building the nest, parenting of fledglings, and remaining as permanent partners. They are usually residents in gardens, adjacent to human habitations. They are therefore socially knit for contacts with humans.
The Magpie robin and red whiskered Bulbul have a similar habit in the morning hours. They reach the top of tall trees and tunefully engage in bird calls ! This is attributed to their social intent !
Birds are messengers!
The Bulbuls send out a message each day through their bird calls, gestures of social connect !
The political climate in India is to classify people on the basis of ethnicity, religion and castes. The discriminating social affinity is eroding our humaneness.
I find a message of a call for social harmony in the bird calls !
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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