Birds can do what human beings can only imagine – fly. Besides, nature has endowed them with quaint features, contrasting colours and singing tunes that fascinate our eyes and ears. Yet common birds and their interesting ways do not quite get the attention that they deserve. I did not care to see them either until recently I became interested in photography and captured them in my camera.
While photographing birds, my eyes opened to their joyous ways of flying from one branch to another. Taking off needs w.efforts and birds flutter their wings, but going some distance, they glide, using the momentum and again work their wings to reach the destination. Sparrows, sunbirds, black drangos, silverbills and green bee-eaters perch on the branches for a short moment of rest. It is in those short whiles that I direct my camera, focus on them and quickly press the shutter, or else they would quickly move to another place and disappear. But interestingly, they would return to the same place after some time. So I stand there with my camera, waiting patiently, ready for a click.
Birds love open spaces in the jungles where they fly from one place to another, unhindered. It is here that they spend time and engage in conversations with each other, settling atop or on the branches of the trees. These are also the moments when snapping them results in sharp images, leaving the background blurred.
Birds build their nests and take care of their young ones in cozy homes. I often see them carry straws to build their nests or grub in their bills to feed their young ones. Multiple sorties are undertaken to collect enough materials for their cozy nests or food for the chicks.
What is near and common is often ignored as if all interesting things have to be exotic and happen only at a distance. But doing photography, I discovered that looked at closely, common birds are amazing subjects for pictures. Chirping of birds is pleasing to our ear and indicates their presence in an area. Whenever I pass by the woods and hear birdsongs, I pause for a moment and take a look at them. Their existence confirms that the environment around us is healthy and life goes on around us, whether we see it or not.
Trickles of Tales 