The day I saw a....

The day began just as every day begins. I woke up early this particular day and then decided to have a walk in the garden. The garden I am speaking of is called Mayfair Gardens, after the neighboring building of the same name.

As is my normal ritual, I started to take a walk and began with 4-5 rounds of this garden, and then sit on one of the many benches and try to soak in the relaxing vibes of this garden.

Let me try to describe the garden in more detail and give you a visual picture of the daily ongoing in this garden. I can say this as I have often visited this garden on many a mornings.

The garden is abuzz in the mornings with joggers and walkers, who tread, walk, run along the walking trails in this garden. Some are serious about their routines, and can be seen almost every day in this garden. You can see them jogging along the way, just keeping to themselves and keeping their commitment to maintain and exercise their bodies.

Others, like me, are occasional visitors, who wake up suddenly one day, and decided that the best way to start the day would be to visit the garden.

Mornings is the time when the birds and other creatures too, are quite active. The squirrels are the loudest creatures and they are among the most restless as well. They would scamper up the trees, run under the hedges, and utter the most shrill of sounds.

Crows are usually up on the trees, and would come occasionally to the ground. Some like the mynas would stay up, shrouded behind the leaves, and when they are on the ground, would strut about in their walk, their heads swinging back and forth.

That particular day, I spotted the same creatures, going about in their daily lives, obscure from us humans. I, seated on the bench, lying still, making no sudden movements, could see them clearly. They would take no notice of me and soon, gradually, I could see their daily life unfold before me.

Patience, I soon learned, is the key to spotting wild creatures, even the common ones, that inhabit the gardens and parks of this busy metropolis, we call Mumbai. And patience it was that granted me a sight of one spectacular bird, that I am about to tell you about in this post.

I was sitting (as I mentioned to you before) since about forty minutes, on the bench, when I sensed a movement below the hedge, which lay directly in front of me, at a distance of about 10 feet. I could not recognize it at first sight, but the movement were very visible from my position.

Soon, it came out from the hedge into the open and I could see it very clearly. It was a bird the size of a crow, maybe bigger than a crow, with the appearance, similar to that of a koel. It had a brownish back and slightly long tail than a crow. It strutted into the open and soon perched itself on the compound wall.

I happen to observe crows, koels, fantails, parrots, and know their appearance by sight. But I had not seen this bird before. It was definitely, not a koel, Then what was it. The few moments that I could gaze and study it were enough to leave an imprint of its shape and colors in my mind. I had a vague idea of this bird, but then as soon as it disappeared from view, I took out my mobile and did a quick search on Google.

And sure enough my suspicions about the bird came right. It was a coucal. To see it before me, in this garden, in the midst of the noise and people was a remarkable event. I could hardly believe my luck of seeing a coucal, which until now, I had only heard of. 

It is called Bharadwaj pakshi in local Hindi language. It is also commonly known as the Crow Pheasant. Sighting a coucal is a good omen and is believed to bring good luck. It is also held high in regard as it is perceived as a form of Lord Vishnu. You bow down your head and fold your hands a a form of worship, when you see a coucal. But I, ignorant of such rituals, just kept gazing at the magnificent bird.

The sight of the coucal that day amazed me, and made me wonder at the variety of birds that could be seen in Mumbai. I also pondered at the virtues of being patient. I might have missed at seeing the bird, had I moved about in my bench.

I know not, whether I am blessed or not, at seeing the coucal. But what I do know is that you cannot be sure at what you might spot in gardens and parks in Mumbai. Your backyard, terrace, window, are great spots to spot birds.

Birds can bring you infinite happiness, and even if it is a mere sighting for a few moments, it is a rewarding one. Birds are not patient, but you should be. That is the key of bird sightings in Mumbai.