A Call from the Rose-Ringed Parakeet.

Each day, as a wildlife photographer, takes me to unexpected places and teaches me unexpected things. I have been professionally spotting birds for over ten years, having travelled to 25 states in India and documented over 1000 bird species.?While I am well versed in 400 bird species in Telangana, my encounters with familiar birds are revelations in behavioural studies, leaving me spellbound each time.

This story is of a time before my birdwatching days. The Indian parrot, or Rose-ringed parakeet, is an active and chatty species I've frequently spotted in my village. They rest in tree hollows, bickering away as the sun rises. It's fascinating how these birds mimic human behaviour, a prime example I observed while in Hyderabad.

Parakeet V/S Predator

During my early days of birdwatching, I visited Ananthagiri Forest. At some point on the roadside, I saw a group of parakeets frantically screeching and causing commotion. I took this as an opportunity to stop and get some action shots while they were noisily moving about.?

After gauging the situation, I came to a chilling realisation. I had mistaken the parakeets' agitation for animatedness. Amongst the branches was an Indian Cobra attempting to locate their eggs in the tree hollows.?

To my surprise, this set of fearless Rose-ringed parakeets fiercely attempted to pull the snake down by tugging on its tail. Eventually, the snake made a daring leap from the treetop to the ground and went about its way.

Resilient Parakeet Behaviour?

This encounter has remained etched in my memory to this day because it taught me an invaluable lesson. I have always learned to observe the surroundings closely when observing birds. If I notice birds exhibiting restlessness and agitation, it often means danger is nearby.?

These Totas will put up a fight! This understanding has made me vigilant and ready to respond with my camera in the face of a noteworthy event.

My brush with the parakeets has proved to be useful even otherwise in my birdwatching journey! I have spotted various owl species in the wild during the daytime, as birds tend to become agitated around mob owls when they encounter them in daylight.?

I have been documenting my tryst with birds in my weekly newsletter, Spotted @WOODS.

Appetite for Adventure

I have always found the Rose-ringed parakeet a unique species. Despite having immense cultural significance, especially in Andhra Pradesh, these birds are a menace to local produce!

They feed vigorously and disorderly in agricultural fields. In fact, I have seen them sampling the sap of toddy palm trees at Sirnapally, Nizamabad.

Unfortunately, the damage to crops also hits close to home. The millet fields and nestled wooden environment make the bird a regular to the forests of Woods Shamshabad.

During Jowar's ripening season, these parakeets forage on the crop in substantial numbers. This natural display has become a highlight during our Sunday morning bird walks. The fleeting array of bright green against the bright blue morning sky is a sight to see! Observing how these parakeets skillfully pluck the Jowar stems with their beaks and hold them using one leg, much like how we use our hands, is a fascinating experience.

Colourful Chilaka: Colourful Backstory

These birds are widely recognised as parrots or "Rama Chiluka" in Telugu. They make wonderful companions for many people due to their remarkable ability to mimic human voices.

The name "Rama Chiluka" has a beautiful mythological origin. In ancient times, a solitary woman cherished one of these parakeets as her beloved pet and companion. Over time, she taught the parakeet numerous words, including the sacred word "Rama." In her final days, as she chanted the word "Rama," her feathered friend echoed the same.

Both the lady and her cherished companion departed this world together, and it is believed that because both uttered the word "Rama," they ascended to heaven. This heartwarming story is about how the bird became known as "Rama Chiluka."

Wildlife photographer Sriram Reddy authored this thought blog. Reach him at @sriram.wildlife.photographer on Instagram.