New Delhi: The avian story involving an adult female Oriental Pied Hornbill and Grey Hornbills that has recently gripped birders at Lodhi Garden on Tuesday took an interesting turn. The Oriental Pied Hornbill, which has been feeding a Grey Hornbill family that is not her own, has been taking care of at least two such nests with chicks.The unusual interaction between the two hornbill species was first noticed on May 12. Birders near the ageing silk cotton tree have been watching the Oriental Pied Hornbill arrive at the nest cavity and attempt to pass food through the entrance’s narrow slit. She would aggressively try to chase away the rightful father Grey Hornbill in her pursuit to feed the family inside. After she would leave, the male Grey Hornbill would arrive again and feed his family.Birder Nikhil Devasar said, “On Tuesday morning, both the Oriental Pied Hornbill and father Grey Hornbill fed berries to the chicks. However, birders Pankaj Gupta and Arnav Gupta decided to answer a question that puzzled us for weeks: where exactly does the Pied go when she disappears? It turned out she was actively attending two nests 50 feet apart.”Birders found that she moved repeatedly between the two families, carrying berries, inspecting the entrances and chasing away the father Grey Hornbills at both locations.“Looks like the Pied appointed herself guardian, caretaker, security officer and neighbourhood administrator for the entire hornbill colony. The occupants of nest 2 (new nest) appeared far more vocal and receptive to her offerings than those at nest 1. Whenever she arrived, there was considerable excitement, with calls from within and eager attempts to receive whatever she had brought,” said Devasar.There are currently seven Grey Hornbills nests in Lodhi Garden.On May 24, TOI reported that the common theory among observers was the Oriental Pied Hornbill was acting out of a misdirected maternal instinct. Since the species is native to the moist forests of the Terai and Himalayan foothills, there are only one or two isolated females known to be in Delhi. There is also no male of her own kind present for her to mate with.
