Last Sunday, I was at Karnala Bird Sanctuary from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. The maximum by far, watching just a single species of bird, but what I saw was one of the most amazing bird behaviours, I had ever experienced!
Around 1 PM, I noticed a 5-foot-long rat snake near the nest. Thankfully it didn't go towards the nest but it took another route in the opposite direction...still pretty close to the nest. The snake was spotted by the parent birds and it was interesting to watch what happened next!
The female ODKF waited on another perch (with a half-crab in its mouth) keeping a look out as if guarding the nest location, but the snake was just basking in the warmth of the sun. After 15 minutes of careful watch, the male ODKF got feed for the chicks. By now the snake had gone into the bushes far away from the nest but the female didn't want to take any chances, she changed her perch towards the direction of the snake, still keeping a watchful eye.
Meanwhile, the male with the feed entered the nest for a few seconds and dashed back to the perch all smeared with mud! He tried to lure the chicks thrice by dashing in and out of the nest. Eventually, he dropped the large spider into the flowing stream as if giving up on the quest to get the young ones out of the nest.
#nikonp1000 #birdsofmaharashtra #odkf
