Black Kite and the chicks

It is not everyday that you get a ringside view of what is going on inside a bird's nest. That too a Black Kite's nest.

Happened to see this nest from our kitchen window, and from the terrace the view was perfect.

The best part of it was that the nest was exposed to the early morning sunlight which was lighting it up with a golden glow, as if the inside of the nest was lit up with a table lamp.

Noticed that when the Kite fed the young ones, she broke up the feed into small morsels and fed the chicks alternatively ensuring that there was no overfeeding.

All the activity went on in the nest with the accompaniment of cacophony from the rose ringed parakeet.

The coppersmith barbet produced the intermittent tuk tuk sound. It is interesting to note how the barbet makes the sound. The beak remains shut during each call. A patch of bare skin on both sides of the throat inflates and collapses with each tuk and the head keeps bobbing.  ( in the video at 2:46)

The Crow Pheasant (Bharadwaj) was prancing on the same tree but on a different branch.

The Grey Hornbill and Ashy Drongo did their balancing act on the wire

The purple sunbird was busy collecting nectar

While the mother bird sat with the chicks, she sent out a small bird call (typical of the kite family) by just opening the beak a wee bit. You will notice it if you listen with a earphone (at 5:53 in the video) 

The male makes frequent sorties to replenish the food.  In one  such sortie, I found that he had got a large piece of thermocol. Obviously he could not have mistaken it for food for the young ones. So I am guessing he got it to line the inside of the nest.

I did see another piece of thermocol on the floor of the nest, probably placed there while building the nest.

I shudder to think the harm it could cause to the young ones if they ingest it - the harm caused by man made waste which was not disposed properly. When it is not feeding time, she gathers the chicks under her feathers, maybe to keep them warm.

It was interesting to observe the mate waiting for the next call, and yawning in between.

If I get more footage, I hope to make part two of the video (till the chicks fly away) 

Observations during isolation

When you are confined in the house, just looking out of the balcony can bring you interesting sights. What caught my attention was a pair of rose ringed parakeets trying their best to make their young one fly. 

They tried using different tactics including coaxing it with some extra feed. 

I saw one more family member joining in for some extra moral support. Finally all of them manage to push the young one off the edge of the bough. (you can see it in the video)

The booming sound came from my right side and it was the Bharadwaj (Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant) who was responsible for it. He was hidden behind the leaves but I could see his body moving with the "coop coop coop" sound. 

The common Crow was all intrigued by the size of Bharadwaj. 

The female cuckoo sat on the next tree, probably on the lookout for a suitable nest where she can lay her eggs. 

There was a Black Kite perched high up stoically looking at all that was going on 

Meanwhile romance was up in the air (literally) where courting was in progress while balancing on a wire 

The Sunbird and his friends like to visit our garden as soon as I finish watering the plants 

They literally cavort on the leaves getting themselves all wet and then shake themselves dry. It is a daily routine I like to watch.

The Ashy Drongo was another regular in our area. This one saw me pointing my camera at her and she decided to take off 

This is a bee eater I suppose and is very quick in her moments 

I think this cartoon by Bath sums up the present situation.

 The Black Kite finally decided to call it a day and leave his perch. He must have been wondering about the change in the atmosphere with no honking and finding the air quality a shade better.