Seeing Orioles makes my insides flutter. They look like they are on a mission from another planet. Perhaps, they are here to tell us that there is such a thing as too much yellow. Or that our ancestors weren’t primates; they were plants. And how silly it is that we move around so much instead of sitting still and reforesting our homes.
I bet it was something our ancestors had never bothered to listen to. It is probably why the Orioles gave up and turned into earthlings. Eat. Poop. Procreate. Sleep. Repeat. No more spilling of universal secrets through subliminal birdsongs.
I have seen three different sub-species. The Golden Oriole, the Black-Hooded Oriole, and the Black-Naped Oriole. They haven’t yet asked me to take them to our leader. Perhaps, they know how poorly governed we all are.
It isn’t easy to distinguish the Orioles. I confuse them with Flame-Throated and Yellow-Browed Bulbuls. Besides being an amateur birder, I can barely tell my own species apart. As an Indian, identifying the people around me by their skin color is really hard. We have shades like typefaces have glyphs. Judging them by the contents of their characters is even more difficult. Because how different are we really from each other?
Look at those we surround ourselves with. We avoid interacting with anyone who offers a different perspective from the one we have, no matter the topic. It’s a cerebral lethargy. Many choose to communicate only within closely-knit communities who talk and think like they do. It causes redundancy in our narratives and hinders our progress as freethinkers.
It’s not as though each Oriole is unique in the way it sings or behaves. But I am less inclined to believe that it has anything to do with laziness.
I have spotted Indian Golden Oriole hundreds of times all over south India. Ever since I stumbled upon an article about one preying on a flying lizard, I have wanted to see it in the middle of a hunt. So far, I haven’t had the privilege. But I know I will. Then, I can be sure that fate has had nothing to do with my growing love for them.
I have found the Black-Hooded Oriole across the foothills in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. There is a disturbing Bengali folk tale behind the origin of its name. The story is that a merchant’s woman, after being tortured by her mother-in-law, was reincarnated a Black Hooded Oriole. Hence, it goes by the name of “Benebou” (“merchant’s wife”).
I had seen the Black-Naped Oriole about two years ago in Valparai. I had assumed then that it was a Golden Oriole boasting of a seasonal plumage. But soon, its bandit mask was evident. It was like no other I had spotted before. I stared at it, lovingly, as I came to a conclusion about its identity. And as I type this, I realized something about my own journey.
The world may be ugly, dark and deep. I may not have promises to keep. And there aren’t exactly miles to go before the next bird-watching trail. But, I will stop by any neck of the woods, irrespective of the weather forecast for the evening, just to spend a few seconds with an Oriole.
An oriole
empties her skirt
pockets, and weeps,
she fears that
we may paint her
fully yellow once
she falls asleep.
(Photographs: Tamil Nadu & Kerala)
Orioles are magic! I can’t wait to hear the orchard oriole we have here–a song that just tumbles all over itself sometimes.
Elouise
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Lovely, do chirp to me when you do
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FYI, my favourite bird that passes through Ontario, Canada is the Baltimore Oriole. He simply lights up wherever he perches. Where I live orange is the new red (Cardinal) or the new blue (Blue Jay). Thanks pal for the breathe of fresh air, Harlon
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I feel the same way about ’em, bro. Can’t wait to see my first orchard oriole for the year this spring!
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beautiful, i look forward to the ecstatic musings!
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Reblogged this on A World named Jessie.
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Again,,,have spotted the golden oriole three times at least near my home. Do they sound exceptionally sweet? I couldn’t capture one because it flew away every time…but it had a sweet voice…dulcet tone! And Captain, watch out for some faun-tastic post on my blog…if my net is up and running this weekend 😀
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aww you are lucky, comrade, to have them at such close quarters! Captain? Not a vijaykanth reference, I deerly hope!
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😀 Aye aye! Captain Hook reference 😛 Or Captain Jack Sparrow, whatever fancies you!!
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(wipes sweat off brows) I’ll take captain hook. that peter pan thinks he is all that and then some. i ll show him!
(scratches hook on concrete)
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His hair is low maintenance too 😛
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*might make you a fave with the auntieeees at the weddings 😛
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Hehehe maintenance is maintenance. And favours sound scary, well wisher aunties are some of the scariest types of Indians!
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They will throw you less shades that way 😛 Come to think of it!
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True that. Maybe a wooden leg, a steel hook and a glass eye too
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Full getup 😀
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Wow.. They seem to come straight from dreamland!! 🙂
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don’t they! even the branches the black-hooded ones land on seem alien-esque
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She has prettiest colors of them all ☺️
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One of the best uses of yellow hues, daffys
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sunflower child o mine ❤️
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❤ where do we go now na na na nana naaaaaa
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I love this! 😀
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Very very glad you did
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Yes! The Baltimore Orioles that occasionally travel through our gardens and the Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks that come through and move on are the most magical birds we see besides the hummingbirds.
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Your garden! How lucky are you! Just Googled the grosbeaks, your pot of gold is precious indeed.
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I know my good fortune. They don’t stay long, but I won’t complain.
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Thanks for sharing onformation on Orioles. Merchant’s wife is an interesting Bengal logic.
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Pleasure was all mine, my friend. The tale was a sad twist, I wish it were less indicative of some realities!
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Beauuuuutiful, bird and the photos 🙂
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Thanks K, I ll tell her next time too!
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Gosh you’re good poet.
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D’aww thanks poetess. If it weren’t for the birds, i’d have no poetry in me!
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Love the photos
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This is such a gorgeous bird! The yellow really makes the Oriole stand out! 🙂
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Yeah totally! I d say she wears yellow from the 12 ‘o’ clock sun.
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Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog and commented:
Beautiful Blog enjoy!
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Re-blogged!
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Thank you!
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Came here after an episode of Orange Is The New Black! 😀
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Hehehe I started watching Season 1 a few weeks ago. Quite fond of Ms Red!
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Love your take on why Orioles have been sent to earth;-) Haven’t spotted my friend in a while…must be someplace in Eurasia by now! Miss our staring matches.
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Thank you Madhu, here’s wishing to more orioles coming your way, come rain or shine! Staring matches, oooh I d like to referee those!
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Nice post. You have a really interesting style of writing. Makes one want to read about birds even though one might not be particularly interested in knowing much about them.
Sometimes you make me wonder about how the birds would find it if they could read and were reading all your stuff….about what their reactions would be to different parts of your stories about them and what comments would they leave..
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Really wonderful to hear you say that. It’s pretty much why I write about birds. So that people will be interested enough to spend a little more time with them or even reading about their habits. Thank you for saying that!
I shudder to think what the birds might say. I am pretty sure they think I am a stalker (smile)
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They are beautiful and you made me discover new birds
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I am very glad I did, dear friend (big smile)
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yeah, in Bengal, we call them Bene-Bou…black hooded ones are quite common here in West Bengal..such a nice post…
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Lovely! So lucky you are to be surrounded by them. I only spot them when I travel to the hills, about 400 odd kilometers away!
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‘Cerebral lethargy’
So true this is
wipes away a tear of joy
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(Giggles) Unfortunately so, my friend in pragmatism!
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Tamil nadu and Kerala – both are home to such brilliant wildlife and birdlife that one can’t help but revel in the marvels of nature.
Cheers
Just Yamini
https://lifeonweekends.com/
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A biosphere like no other! Thank you ❤
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loved the birds. haven’t seen them yet
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Thank you!
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