A Call from the Rose-Ringed Parakeet.
Each day, as a wildlife photographer, takes me to unexpected places and teaches me unexpected things. I have been professionally spotting birds for over ten years, having traveled to 25 states in India and documented over 1000 bird species.
While I am well versed in 400 bird species in Telangana, my encounters with familiar birds are revelations in behavioural studies, leaving me spellbound each time.
This story is of a time before my bird-watching days. The Indian parrot, or Rose-ringed parakeet, is an active and chatty species I’ve frequently spotted in my village. They rest in tree hollows, bickering away as the sun rises.
It’s fascinating how these birds mimic human behaviour, a prime example of which I observed during my time in Hyderabad.
Parakeet V/S Predator
During my early days of bird-watching, I visited Ananthagiri Forest. At some point on the roadside, I saw a group of parakeets frantically screeching and causing commotion. I took this as an opportunity to stop and get some action shots while they were noisily moving about.
After gauging the situation, I came to a chilling realisation. I had mistaken their agitation for animatedness. Amongst the branches was an Indian Cobra attempting to locate the Parakeets’ eggs in the tree hollows.
To my surprise, this set of fearless Rose-ringed parakeets fiercely attempted to pull the snake down by tugging on its tail. Eventually, the snake made a daring leap from the treetop to the ground and went about its way.Resilient Parakeet Behaviour
This encounter has remained etched in my memory to this day because it taught me an invaluable lesson. I have always learned to observe the surroundings closely when observing birds.
If I notice birds exhibiting restlessness and agitation, it often means danger is nearby. These Totas will put up a fight! This understanding has made me vigilant and ready to respond with my camera in the face of a noteworthy event.
My brush with the parakeets has proved to be useful even otherwise in my birdwatching journey! I have spotted various owl species in the wild during the daytime, as birds tend to become agitated around mob owls when they encounter them in daylight.
I have been documenting my tryst with birds in my weekly newsletter, Spotted @WOODS.
Appetite for Adventure
I have always found the Rose-ringed parakeet a unique species. Despite having immense cultural significance, especially in Andhra Pradesh, these birds are a menace to local produce!
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