This week in the ‘Birds of Chopta’ series, we bring you these seven birds and poetry dedicated to the beauty and grace of each one of them.
Poems by Sourabha Rao. Photo courtesy shared below each image.
1. Rufous-bellied woodpecker
© Aditya Chavan
all these trees in the world
and a world that a tree is
a tap or two for some sap
an insect or two for this visitor’s belly
just what it needs, without indulgence
there is a whole lot more the world offers
than we can ever take
for now, look at a tree and its woodpecker
may this largesse end our greed, benevolently
2. Asian barred owlet
© Rajiv Bisht Puran Singh
certain gazes have gravity, and Earth never complains
there are affections that ask nothing
you can write a poem
or not
either way, you are not liable
your attention is your gift to yourself
this is a lover whose very roving eyes and head you love
it’s an unrequited, glorious love
whose presence is sometimes announced by mobbing songbirds
3. Long-tailed minivet
© Mohit Midha
like the heart suddenly grew wings
in these montane forests
it has its dark sides, too
and no one complains
perhaps a long-tailed minivet is a lesson with wings
a bloody love that makes you more alive
if there is the humility that learning needs
4. Fire-tailed sunbird
© Aly Rashid
even Tungnath will have to wait
the trekking birders stop short and hold their panting breath
their fingers in a frenzy, grabbing binoculars and cameras
things serving as the third eye like Shiva’s himself
intending only to document your vibrant presence
you are a god in your own right, why not
more alive flitting about than a stone-cold symbolic one
the alcoholic birding-guide tells the group you are indeed rare in this part of the Himalaya where we stand
his eyes bloodshot, like your tail
you are so beautiful
the attention you get from him could break his wife’s heart
5. Rufous-gorgeted flycatcher
© Gargi Ray
tomorrow always arrives late
when you lie awake at night waiting for it
but just how much sweeter its arrival
when it carries a miracle under its wings
there is a bird to be seen
its songs filling the lungs of montane forests
the gorget, rufous
why did it have to be there at all
to be a sign? that beauty always exists outside of us
no matter how unbearable the world becomes within
6. Olive-backed pipit
© Santosh Saligram
you can bask in the shade of a bare tree
pipit makes it possible
its wing-flutter ruffles something within you – a warmth
that makes the colossal Chaukhamba behind it less cold, less daunting
perhaps all that is utterly beautiful is incompletely understood
a blessing of the unknown
of a migrant who belongs everywhere
whether on foot or in flight
7. Koklass pheasant
© Aditya Chavan
your call rends the air
echoing several times between the snow-cold Himalayan peaks
those who covet your elusive beauty stay alert
this is how you bring the warmth of harmless expectations in these elevations
even before showing up
the most advanced apes crouch and lay low and hunch over
after an eternity of this waiting
a delirium of camera-shutter sounds announce your presence
how oblivious you are to all this attention
somewhat like the idea of gods that some of us apes have made for ourselves
only, somewhat realer
because you do sometimes show up
Birds of Chopta - Week 1
Birds of Chopta - Week 3