Saving Munias

The Scaly-breasted Munia is a small, finch-like bird common in our area.

It builds a substantial ball-shaped nest out of grass with a small entrance at the front and an escape route out the back. The nest is usually wedged in trees or bushes but they also build on man-made structures, the ones I've seen including telegraph poles, our roof and the compressor at a rented flat where we once stayed which meant we refrained from turning on the air-conditioning.

They also built this nest amongst a bunch of bananas growing just outside our kitchen window. An unusual site but it seemed like a reasonably secure place until the bananas started ripening. Usually I would collect the fruit at this point but I didn't want to disturb the nest. Then along came various hungry animals like these Great Mynas, Koel and Grey-bellied Squirrel, all clambering over the nest and causing a lot of distress to the Munias. And they wouldn't have had any rest at night either as fruit bats came to take their share.

But even without all the fruit-eaters I could see that the ripe bananas would soon start dropping off and bring the nest down with them. With no sign of any young ready to leave the nest I decided drastic action was needed. So, I very carefully cut all the bananas away and replaced them with wire that held the nest in place.

I then stood back and anxiously watched to see if the nest owners would accept this new arrangement. After looking it over suspiciously they just carried on using it as normal. I think the trick was ensuring it stayed in exactly the same position.

A few days later everything was so quiet at the nest that I suspected it had been desserted. I got the step-ladder back out and carefully put my finger inside the nest. The gentle peck from a brooding parent was a pleasant surprise, so I retreated and trusted them to get on with raising their family.

As the young grew so did the activity with the parents coming and going throughout the day. Then finally a few weeks later two fledglings appeared on top of the nest and hung around for half a day begging food from the still busy parents. Finally, they drifted away and I was left with a feeling of satisfaction for my 'benevolent uncle' role in their upbringing.

The only disappointment is that they never write, not even on my birthday.