Month ago, a pigeon laid eggs in an empty planter on our balcony. We saw them hatching and growing into squabs. Unfortunately one of the squabs passed away in two days after it hatched, while the other kept going.
Everyday, the mother would bring food for its little squeaker, feed it down its beak and make it move. Every time we went out to the balcony, she would fly away leaving her child by itself, vulnerable to the world of us predators. Not going to lie, their presence in our balcony was absolutely annoying as the mess they’ve created is colossal. While I was of the opinion we should discard the eggs, the day they were laid - missus was against the idea and adamant while using her veto.
Days passed and I warmed up to the squab’s presence in our balcony. Made sure it was kept safe - away from the edge to protect it from rain, extreme sun, winds and even falling off from the edge. Its mother kept visiting everyday and stayed the nights with it to make sure it keeps safe. Every morning she would fly away and then keep visiting at regular intervals with seeds, twigs, and little insects.
The squab quickly started to grow. When it was born, it was fully covered with thin yellow wispy hairs. But with its growth, these hairs started disappearing. Now, it was turning into a grown bird. Its body started getting fuller, the yellow hair turned into grey feathers, its pink claws were now starting to show.
Next thing, within days, it crept out of the planter and started strolling around in our balcony, dirtying it all over. The mess was annoying but to my surprise, I started ensuring to keep a check on it at regular intervals. Whenever I’d visit the balcony, it would always be there, either sauntering and bobbing its head or just sitting idle and squeaking merrily.
Stupid little bird brain!
Three days ago, it started moving its wings and tried spreading them into a span. I couldn’t help but smile. With an urge to help it flutter the wings more, I went to the balcony and started tapping my foot to give it jitters. It jumped and stayed mid air for a few seconds.
Impressive!
Now, I was so invested in its endeavour of learning how to fly that all I cared about was its success. Yesterday. I kept standing there to make scary noises for a while. It got flummoxed. I continued. And then, in a flash, it leapt from the floor towards the ceiling!
Attaboy!
It was a pure joy to see it grow from that egg into this stupid bird who just tried to take the longest flight of its life!
‘That’s only your first!’ I said.
It looked at me, turned around and went back to its favourite activity (with pride this time) - meandering aimlessly, and excreting wherever it pleased.
Today morning. I went to check on it again. It was sitting on the edge of the balcony fence (or parapet) looking at the beautiful view outside. I tapped my foot. It fluttered, jumped, went flying ahead, got scared, and came back to the fence. Immediately I reminisced about my first dive into the deep waters during childhood swimming lessons. I surely did not drown. Similarly, this bird won’t fall, I thought.
‘You’re ready!’ I reassured.
It squeaked.
I tapped my foot.
It just moved its claws adjacently on the parapet.
I tapped again, a bit violently - this time.
Within a second, it fluttered its wings, took a nosedive from the parapet towards the ground. All of a sudden, I was scared. For I had made a mistake. It was on its way down, falling from the thirteenth floor, about to hit the ground hard. Oh lord, what have I done!
And just when I blamed myself, it opened its wings to a full span - that stupid little bird brain was now flying in its full glory!
And this how it flew away... without looking back to the mess it created in our balcony.
It flew away.. to where it will find many beautiful balconies to destroy, by taking gigantic dumps.
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