​Spring is here

It is amazing what I can observe from my window about bird activity here in Hangdong, Chiang Mai. It is March April and birds are busy in courting displays and collection of varied items for nesting. We have just finished witnessing the miracle of finding a Zebra dove’s nest in out balcony, followed by two eggs and eventually two new lives and two more doves flown away into this world. I see a Zebra dove perched on the electric cable across my window and wonder if it is the same that flew away from our balcony, a few weeks back! (See beautiful guest in our balcony)
Just spotted across our window, a Red Collared Dove nesting on electric pole among the jumble of wires with two chicks (June 8, 2020)
The Oriental Magpie-robin wakes us up every morning with its songs so close to our balcony. This morning, I see a pair of Black Drongo on the electric pole, an unusual site for Drongos. The male carrying a twig longer than itself and the female, seemingly suggesting where the nest should be. I had observed the same scene yesterday, wrongly concluding that the bird had accidently entangled itself in a white twine.  Let us see where they decide to have their nest, weather it will be observable, like the Zebra dove’s nest.
There was also a pair of ashy wood swallows chasing each other, engaging in courtship on the electric wires outside. There has been an increased activity of white-vented Mynas in the neighbourhood. The common Mynas are busy making nests in the eaves. I am missing seeing our regular visitor Tailorbird in the star gooseberry tree, picking insects for some time.
A male Red-whiskered Bulbul displays fanning of the tale to woo the female on the branches of star gooseberry tree. Bulbuls are the most common visitors and I can observe them at close quarters from my desk window. They are beautiful birds with characteristic features and I have been able to appreciate all the colours because of the closeness behind the window panes. It is also fascinating to watch males frantically trying to tear off bits of plastic strings tied to vines and bushes for their nests. The persistence of this efforts until they succeed is sobering.
As usual, scaly breasted munias have returned to my small garden to collect Spanish moss for nesting. I will never know where they would be nesting. Olive backed sunbirds keep visiting the garden and they seem to have affinity for our Heurnia succulent (with red dragon flowers), although I have never seen them paying any attention to the flowers. They seem to be more interested in the succulent stem of the plant, possibly for some juices from it!
A common sound of cooing of doves have almost disappeared, possibly their breeding time has ended. Although, calls of Asian Koels is only increasing by the day, but they are only heard and not seen, as they are high up around, only on tall trees well disguised.
​It is of great encouragement that the bird life around us is still alive and hope we continue to welcome them without disturbing their environment and the lifestyle.