Rains in Bangalore mean a lot to lots of creatures. Life to some and death to some...... This is the kind of life and death battle that I was privileged to witness this mid week following a heavy overnight rain.
Rains meant that Ant/ Termite queen hatchlings began to come out of their shelter in an attempt to set up new colonies elsewhere.
The first cluster was probably the luckiest. They got out unscathed with no predators nearby to take note. Soon however it was a different story. The Jungle grapevine was in full flow and soon we had tens of mynas, magpie robins, cuckoos, ravens, Shikras, Caloutes, Squirrels, Coucals, all came in within space of minutes and then the feast began.
Soon the birds were dancing and chasing after the flying queens for a dose of high protein. A rare treat for the creatures!!!
The Magpie Robin soon had its beakfull of queens and was dancing away in joy......
Meanwhile it was hard work for the Mynas and Ravens and the Mynas were left in the wake by the resourceful Magpie Robin.
One Myna was particularly disgusted with the success the Robin was having. Neighbors Envy! Owners Pride!!!
Pretty soon the Mynas and the Ravens caught on to the Robins tricks and started to catch the insects much to their joy.
Soon the Squirrels also joined in and made merry!!
While the Shikra lay in wait for the unwary bird or lizard or mammal. She was not so lucky today though with the birds and animals moving all the time in high alert.
The Mynas even tried to steal from the Robin without any success.
The entire episode lasted about an hour by which time most of the visitors had feasted. Then as if someone had turned off a switch, the insects stopped coming out. While it was death for so many insects, their deaths was not in vain as they helped so many other creatures in the food chain alive by providing sustenance. Meanwhile their large numbers ensured that sufficient numbers escaped to form a new colony elsewhere!!
Thanks Mother Nature for providing a No Holds Barred uncensored glimpse of Raw Nature at its best on a beautiful Wednesday morning.
Who needs a Television, when you have live events unfolding outside your door!!
Rains meant that Ant/ Termite queen hatchlings began to come out of their shelter in an attempt to set up new colonies elsewhere.
The first cluster was probably the luckiest. They got out unscathed with no predators nearby to take note. Soon however it was a different story. The Jungle grapevine was in full flow and soon we had tens of mynas, magpie robins, cuckoos, ravens, Shikras, Caloutes, Squirrels, Coucals, all came in within space of minutes and then the feast began.
Soon the birds were dancing and chasing after the flying queens for a dose of high protein. A rare treat for the creatures!!!
The Magpie Robin soon had its beakfull of queens and was dancing away in joy......
Meanwhile it was hard work for the Mynas and Ravens and the Mynas were left in the wake by the resourceful Magpie Robin.One Myna was particularly disgusted with the success the Robin was having. Neighbors Envy! Owners Pride!!!
Pretty soon the Mynas and the Ravens caught on to the Robins tricks and started to catch the insects much to their joy.
Soon the Squirrels also joined in and made merry!!
While the Shikra lay in wait for the unwary bird or lizard or mammal. She was not so lucky today though with the birds and animals moving all the time in high alert.
The Mynas even tried to steal from the Robin without any success.
The entire episode lasted about an hour by which time most of the visitors had feasted. Then as if someone had turned off a switch, the insects stopped coming out. While it was death for so many insects, their deaths was not in vain as they helped so many other creatures in the food chain alive by providing sustenance. Meanwhile their large numbers ensured that sufficient numbers escaped to form a new colony elsewhere!!
Thanks Mother Nature for providing a No Holds Barred uncensored glimpse of Raw Nature at its best on a beautiful Wednesday morning.
Who needs a Television, when you have live events unfolding outside your door!!
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