The Myna story - raising a family

To continue with my story of the Myna and Parakeets..

The Parakeets released their hold on the nesting hole.
The Mynas seem to have used it fruitfully. As time passed by I could hear 'cheep' 'cheep' emerge from the hole. A harried parent bird would bring food to keep the chicks quiet. One afternoon, I saw what looked like a beak emerging from the hole. Soon a day arrived when the chicks flew away.

A happy ending for this family!

parakeets and mynas

Every year around June - July, a drama unfolds near my home.

The characters in this drama:

Common Myna – somewhat smaller in size than the parakeet. Equally raucous and a chatterbox.


Rose Ringed Parakeet – A noisy raucous bird often found in cities of India. Lives in gregarious flocks. Loves the eating fruits of sonchafa (michelia champaka) tree.





The coveted nesting place – a small pipe hole in a building wall. A piece of prime property in the avian kingdom!

Every year without fail the mynas use this hole for nesting. Every year around June, I see atleast one Myna chick - unsure of itself, trying to take its first wing flaps. The adult Mynas anxiously sit nearby, alternately trying to coax it and push it to fly.



Around the same time, the parakeets arrive. They are fond of the fleshy champaka (sonchafa) fruits which are a beautiful red from inside. The parakeets have also spotted this hole as suitable for nesting.




For a few days there is a fight between the mynas and the parakeets over the pipe hole. The parakeets eventually manage to drive away the mynas and take control of the nesting place.






Reminds me of a certain old Hindi film song :-)