Locals of Ganjam district in Odisha are sure that the monsoon will arrive early this year. When asked how they know this, the locals pointed towards the nests of weaver birds.
"Usually these tiny industrious birds start weaving their nests with leaf fiber of weeds and grass from the second week of May. But this year, the birds started building their nests from April," said Rabindra Nath Sahu, a wild life activist and head of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee.
As per a survey by Mr. Sahu and his team, there are nearly 500 weaver bird nests that are almost completely built. Within the next 10 days, these nests will be ready to house eggs, which would be more than a month before schedule.
Mr. Sahu said weaver birds start building their nests a month before the start of the monsoon, which usually arrives in the State by the second week of June. “The rains promote growth of vegetation, which houses insects that can be eaten by the birds. But, this year the birds have started building their nests in April,” he said.
Locals have taken this to believe that the monsoon will arrive early this year.
Changed behaviour
Ornithologist Gohar Abedin, however, said nothing can be said for sure regarding this changed behaviour of the tiny birds. Male weaver birds build their nests ahead of monsoon, but we do not know how they sense that the rainy season is about to begin, he added.
According to him, availability of food may be a major reason behind the early construction of the nests in the region.
The weaver bird times the building of its nest so that the eggs hatch by the time monsoon arrives and there is ample food in the area, he added.
So, are the weaver birds trying to tell us something? Only time will tell.
