Red-vented bulbul of the Indian subcontinent.

Envisaged my lovely heart as you explored my humble home
and persuaded enough your soulmate to come eye on me
is she happy to be my beloved guest?
why don’t you tell me ’cause I need to know she’s not hurt
and she nests happily without a doubt about me in my humble home
and you both and your babies live forever in my beautiful heart!
Thank you for being here with me in my humble home!

The Bulbuls

It was in 2011 when the bulbuls visited my home. We were living on the first floor of the building and there was a workspace behind the kitchen.

There were a few nylon ropes and insulated metal wires tied across to hang dry the clothes. It was one of the ends with the knots that the bulbuls have chosen for their new home.

It was a beautiful sight to watch and witness the bulbul weaving its nest. Awe!! Nature’s art!

I was enjoying work-from-home those days and so, doing the filming and making time for the bulbuls was quite easy.

Right from the time of their visit, they built their nest, nesting, hatchlings, nestlings, and finally, the fledglings venturing their fearless flight, I had them all captured in my camera.

She was a bit scared in the beginning and never used to sleep peacefully. Anytime I go out to check on her, she would be awake before then.

But after we became friends, you can see her sleeping peacefully!

We became so close that she started eating from my hand. I fed them with grapes and also oranges much like how I would feed my baby.

I tried different ways and the bulbuls finally liked to feed on the orange this way.

I waited for almost a week to take a picture after the eggs hatched, as the hatchlings would be very delicate and I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate.

Now, you can see the eruption of the first pin feathers.

The two of them sleeping in their cozy bed!

They used to be very alert. It’s amazing how they respond to their parents’ calls.

They would go down without making a noise when it’s an alarm call. And, I love to watch the show when they hear their mother bringing food.

It was a great blessing to watch them grow up!

The one looking straight is Chingu and the one behind is Pangu. My husband gave them the names.

As it was the first floor and their nest was on the edge, it would really scare me when the nestlings try to come out of the nest, but they used to be very careful.

I wonder about the beauty of how Nature works! How life happens! Miraculous!

We all are safe in the lap of Mother Nature as long as we follow the laws of nature.

Chingu getting ready to spread its wings.

Chingu did have a trial flight in the work area and the next day it was gone. It was Pangu that I managed to film the flight.

They even gave us a few visits after leaving the nest until the time we were there.

This was the last time I saw them before we moved from there.

There’s still a connection between me and the bulbuls. Whenever I hear the call of the bulbuls, I feel like they are talking to me and I talk back or try to mimic their sound. Whenever I visit the mountains, they would always there to welcome me.

I grew up as a child of Nature, spending most of my time alongside the streams in the woods and tea gardens in the beautiful Blue Mountains, The Nilgiris, India.

But, after I moved to the city for a job in 2000, I got quite lost in the busy city life. But, I could always feel something was missing, I was lifeless.

It was after the bulbuls’ visit that I began to observe my surrounding and noticed that many other species of birds visited my neighborhood. Bird-watching became a routine for me thereafter and slowly realized my true self.

Thank you bulbuls for bringing me back Alive! I owe you gratitude and I am dedicating this story to you!

Watch the video to know how the bulbuls keep the nest clean.

Watch till the end to see how the nestlings respond to the alarm call from their parents, as the neighbors were making noise and their baby was crying.

Spread Love! Spread Happiness!

Thank You! Visit Again!