"Jungle" Birds

In Vapi, it's mating season in the avian world. Lon says that the bird calls have made it sound far more tropical and "jungle".

Our two resident pigeons are desperately trying to make a nest on a very narrow window ledge. Their previous home, a rusted out utility box of some sort, was removed when the bungalow behind us was painted in December. Apparently the pair just can't bear the thought of moving out of the neighborhood.

Potential nest site

Old nesting site -- taken down when bungalow was painted. You can see the nest in the lower left corner of the box.

A red-vented bulbul I was able to photograph in Kolkata last September.
I still haven't been able to figure out how to add sound files without making them into a movie.

The bulbuls (red-vented bulbuls) have added two or three new songs to their repertoire. Not only are they new songs (to me, that is), but they are loud songs. Here's one:

Here's a second version -- I had to up the volume to so that you could hear the background. The responding "bird" in the background is actually the little boy who lives next door. Sometimes they have quite a duet going!

Finally, there are the koels, with their upward spiraling whistle. They are not as common as the bulbuls, so I haven't been able to record their song. You'll have to use the link below to hear someone else's recording.

Unfortunately for bird-watchers, these birds are pretty much black and like to hide in the tree foliage. My identification of them comes from a few brief sightings and matching their songs from this website: Drongo Nature Sounds Library.