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Across Skies, The Bird Comes to Bharatpur
From Distant Lands, Glossy Ibis Arrives
The story of two birds in Bharatpur
I love birds. I feel their movement in space as a measure of freedom and happiness, and I often look at them while I go for a walk or from my balcony. So when my friends suggested we go to Bharatpur, I was excited.
Bharatpur is known to be a haven for migratory and Indian birds that often meet during the winter. This morning, the above picture flashed before me on my phone, so I am writing about the memory of watching these birds and how much I enjoyed them.
The morning sun spread its golden light across the wetlands of Bharatpur. The water was still and quiet, moving with the rhythm of nature, disturbed only by ripples where wings met water.
On a half-submerged log, I saw two birds sharing space, each with its own tale. One was a Glossy Ibis, slender and elegant. Its feathers were maroon and bronze and shone in the sunlight.
This was a very special visitor. It had flown thousands of kilometres, leaving behind the wetlands of Europe and West Asia. Every year, as winter brings in the cold weather, it follows the ancient routes of its ancestors, guided by instinct, to find warmth and food in Bharatpur’s wetlands.
