Beside our window, in our garden, there was a Maprang tree.
It was full of bright yellow fruits—resembling bunches of small mangoes.
They tasted like a mix of mango, plum, and apricot.
The tree looked beautiful, and the fruits were sweet and tangy.
Two sunbirds were building a nest in one of its branches.
We wanted to tell them their location was unsafe because
the Maprang fruits were sure to attract predatory birds.
But they had nearly completed the beautiful nest.
To save the fruits, we put a fishing net over the tree.
We left a small opening for the sunbirds.
They seemed to understand our gesture and laid the eggs.
While the female bird sat in the nest, giving warmth,
the male bird kept vigil from a nearby tree.
We collected the fruits without disturbing the birds.
They got accustomed to our presence and were unafraid.
Most birds were dissuaded by the net, but a Greater Coucal
was determined to steal the fruits.
The Greater Coucal with its glossy black head, chestnut wings,
and long tail was attractive. But its cruel red eyes spoke danger.
We were worried about the Greater Coucal’s determination,
and the safety of the sunbirds.
So we kept constant vigil and tried to look after the sunbirds.
As we feared, one day the Greater Coucal made its move.
It tried to enter the net cover through the small opening.
The sunbirds cried for help, and we went running to the tree.
We scared the Greater Coucal, and it flew away.
The eggs hatched and there were three chicks.
The sunbirds fed the chicks small insects and nectar.
The chicks were always hungry and had to be fed frequently.
But our garden was full of small insects and nectar-laden flowers.
The chicks grew quickly and healthily, fed on nutritious food.
Finally, they were ready to fly and left the nest.
We took the nest and hung it inside the house, along with many others.
