Hovering close-by

Living in the jungle gives you a voyeuristic access into the life of animals around. But there are plenty among them who choose to be as reclusive as possible from the two-legged beings around. One such category consists of the predatory birds. One might see them soaring high in the sky but never close enough to be identified except to trained eyes. And that’s why the unusual proximity to the house by this large winged bird caught my attention. I looked out of the window to see this Eagle perched on a tree, frequented by the small insectivores/frugivores of the winged families.

Crested Hawk Eagle are not so easy to spot around human habitations yet this one hovered around the balcony close enough for me to hear the its flight before I could spot it. May be there was a carcass around that I couldn’t see or smell or may be the Eagle was nesting close-by. Either way, the close sighting made my pen itch to draw this specimen.

Greatness in danger

In the hopes of seeing the greatness of the Great Indian Hornbill, I took to pen and paper to sketch it out. The elusive great bird is a sight I am yet to witness. I have had the pleasure of the company of the duller cousin, Malabar Grey Hornbill. Watching it from close quarters, I dive into the imaginary lands of how the Great Indian Hornbill would be to see with naked eyes.

Great Indian Hornbill

Also known as “kochilakhai” bird in the eastern state where I come from, it was hunted for its flesh which is said to have medicinal properties. In the northeastern states, it was hunted for its crown until the bird reached near extinction. To think that the GIH might go extinct if the conservation efforts are not seriously enforced, gives me the chill. Hope to see it sometime soon.