Harbingers of monsoon

The monsoon season brings much needed respite for all the life forms after the hot summer. For humans, the season’s influence on the avian wonders becomes clearly visible. With the rains, the birds that are scattered everywhere congregate near the waterbodies for feeding upon fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects that come out of their aestivation hideouts. 

Soon after the rains, the insects also breed extensively, and their larvae spread everywhere to feed upon the plants. During this period, a number of birds start building their nest and breed. The reason for monsoon breeding is the availability of insects and their larvae or caterpillars for the young ones. The birds of aquatic habitat like egrets, storks, ibises, herons, pelicans, ducks, swamphens, jacanas, etc. are more visible in waterbodies during monsoon. 

There are two subspecies of Jacobin cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo. While one species migrates from Africa for breeding in the northern parts of India and another species is a resident bird. The sight of these birds in late summer is believed to be the harbinger of monsoon. In Indian mythology, it is believed as the chatakapakshi that waits for the arrival of rains.

This cuckoo is a nest or brood parasite; it stealthily lays eggs in the nests of babblers and waits around the nests as a sentry. Its visibility is common in and around Hampi in the monsoon season. A rare bird like yellow bittern is visible during late summer and monsoon in Hampi. It nests among the floating weeds and vegetation. Birds like grey-bellied cuckoo and the colourful Indian pitta are more visible during monsoon as well.