The bond of love and care was growing stronger. Anyone present could sense the chemistry and emotion in the eyes. 

Both were getting busier with the nest creation, with the one afar sighted carrying feathers to tuck in the nest. They would make the nest from of bark scales and saliva, then tuck in the feather. The nest began to take shape bit by bit over the course of two days. 

A flawlessly cup-shaped nest was taking shape, strongly attached to the edge of a thin branch. 

It was really overcast and windy that morning. When I arrived, she was sitting on a perfectly spherical cup-shaped nest. She was perched on the nest, her down feathers encasing the nest. That's when I realised they now have an egg in the nest. 

When he returned to trade places, I could see one white egg tucked in their cosy nest. 

She glanced fondly at the egg in the nest in the first rays of sunlight; I can't put that sensation into words. He too watched the egg with fondness; this was one of the few times when they watched the nest from the side. 

Both of them are now taking turns keeping it warm and safe. While doing so, both took care of themselves by preening, resting, hovering over for flies in flight, and occasionally dozing off while incubating the egg. 

They were never seen together again after the egg was laid, however they did fly past to adjacent trees, usually the same one each time, and were always alert to any threat nearby.  

It was critical to protect the nest and the egg from predators, pre-monsoon winds, and rain. 

It was time for the tiny one to bring in the joy of life, surrounded by the highest care and tenderness. It was difficult to see if the egg hatched for the first few days, until the nest was exposed for a few moments when both swapped their roles. 

The hatchling was small enough to nestle comfortably in the cup-shaped nest, and it wasn't until a few days later that its tiny head peeked out from the nest. While the he was about to feed, the little one stretched out. That was the only time the little fella could be seen!

I kept track of time and watched throughout the morning, and most of the time she provided warmth and attended to the nest, while he brought in food to feed the baby. 

Little ones grow up quickly. This one was even faster, rocking and rolling in the nest, trying desperately to fit in, and the parents were struggling to keep it there.  While the parent sat on the nest, the little one stretched, attempting to move its tiny little wings and reach out tall in the nest. 

I could now see a tiny beak, the lovely little crest and small wings.

It was the end of May, and the weather was strange; some mornings were too hot, others were gloomy and windy, and yet others poured. The two were both constantly caring for the little one and creating their beautiful world.

When he did not get home on time, she had to leave the house, leaving the little one alone. She went around looking for him, calling him out loud till he returned. These episodes were entertaining to watch. 

On one specific day, a rufous treepie couple came by hopping around the tree; he was terrified and began calling her out; both then hovered above the nest watching over the nest; the young one was obedient and did not move a breath till the frightening visitor flew away. These few minutes were filled with drama, and these were the times when I almost wanted to intervene but did not.

Experiencing this couple build their beautiful world was nothing short of meditative. It was a unique experience to stand there for hours observing them and my thoughts. 

Phase wise observations

• 12-22 May: Nest building 

  1. The pair started building new nest tentatively on 12th May. 

  2. The nest was built by both, like mentioned in the part 1. 

  3. The nest ready in around 7-9 days. 

  4. The pair was still observed bringing in feathers and adding it to the nest. 

  5. The nest was built on a thin branch of the tree. The tree was leafless when the nest building started.

  6. The nest was approximately 3-4 cms wide and 2-3 cms deep, cup like shape, that was clued to the edge of the branch.

• 23rd May - 14th June: Incubation

  1. One single egg white egg was laid. The egg seem to fit perfectly in the cup like nest built.

  2. The pair was seen still tending the nest adding feathers.

  3. Female and Male both took turns to incubate the egg. On my watch observed female spending more time incubating.

  4. The pair was no longer seen perched together. 

  5. The pair would take turns to fly to near by tree (same two trees) for preening. Occasionally both perched on the same tree for preening leaving the nest unattended.

• 15th June - 25th June: Hatching to Fledge

1. Small green leaves had started sprouting. And the branch that initially looked exposed and open to air, now seemed to be hidden in the smaller leaves.

2. 21 days after the egg was laid, on 15th June could see a chick barely of the size of the nest. 

3. Chick was not moving in the first few days. The eyes were closed.

4. The young one was of the exact same colour as that of the nest and the tree branch.

5. By 17th June that is just after 3 to 4 days of hatching the chick had started moving in the nest and tiny little wings were visible.

6. The chick started preening from 20th June that at the age of 5-6 days.

7. Just in a weeks time, by 24th June the chick started developing a tiny crest, the tiny feet where visible gripping the edge of the nest. 

8. The feeding had started and both male and female took turns to feed the chick.

9. Each instance they fed the chick twice. And at an interval spanning from 60 mins to later 20 mins. 

10. The chick was left unattended on many occasions for a span of 2 mins to 10 mins at times.

11. Both male and female now did not land on the nest, but landed just beside the nest and then moved towards the nest cautiously. 

• 25th June onwards: Fledging 

1. Unfortunately could not recorded observations after 25th June of the fledgling phase. 

General observations

1. Both of them never called out to each other while building nest. But after that they did a lot in stage of incubating and also while taking care of the young one.

2. Unlike few other birds, I did not observe the him feeding her while building the nest or even while incubating.

3. The pair never left the nest in bad weather. In case of heavy wind or rains one of them was found sitting on the nest protecting the nest/egg or the chick.

4. In bad weather the chick was quite and did not move like it would on a clear day.

5. The chick when left along did not move at all, not even the slightest movement was observed.

6. The pair was very alert to other sound near by be it other birds, or a monkey, a loud speaker and even a DJ. 

7. The pair had a keen eye when ever a ant passed by the nest, but never pecked it.

8. The pair was not bothered by smaller bird like flowerpeckers, minivets, sunbirds, munias, occasionally a bee eater visiting the tree.

9. They pair would get restless obviously when they sense closed vicinity of Rufous treepie, Crow, or a Shikra. They you keep a eye in the sky on hearing the CSE or CHE hovering over in the sky.

10. Observed a totally different pair nest in the about 20 meters from this nesting location.

11. The parents where landing on the nest earlier. The start landing nextbut pattern changed once the chick overgrows the nest size. 

12. They would regurgitates the food to feed the hatchling.

Note: All the observations where made from a long and safe distance without disturbing the bird(s). And thus most of the images are highly cropped.

Date of observation in between 12 May 2022 to 25th June @Sinhagad Foothills. 

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