Between 2020 and 2022, amidst the 3 COVID-19 waves, I enrolled in a Master’s program at a college in Pune. Most of my coursework was online, which meant I attended classes from home, in Bangalore. Whenever lockdowns eased, we were called for in-person classes, and I found myself living in different hostels each time in Pune.
For my final stay, I lived next to a very busy flyover. The honks of various vehicles that zoomed past- from monstrous trucks to meek mopeds- constantly echoed in my room. I hopelessly wished for news about an empty bed from the owner of my previous accommodation, which was located in a quaint neighbourhood with a small garden consisting of Champak, Mango, and Coconut trees.
That never happened.
Across from the flyover, closer to my window, was an old Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa). Underneath its canopy was a small temple which was flooded with stressed-out hostellers during final exams. I moved into the hostel in early March when the tree was dry, drab and dusty. Over the next couple of weeks, fresh new leaves and figs appeared, and consequently, the hues outside my window transformed into shades of red and green.
In the foliage of the Peepal, I often found White-browed fantails, Cinereous tits, Purple-rumped Sunbirds, Common Tailorbirds and Oriental Magpie-Robins looking around and gleaning insects or caterpillars. I especially loved watching the fantails flit about acrobatically, making the best use of all kinds of surfaces- from small to large twigs of the Peepal or the electric wires that disappeared into the tree’s dense canopy- to flush and feast on hidden prey.
Visitors of the Peepal – White-browed Fantail, Whiteyes, Sunbird and Golden Oriole
As the figs ripened, there was a sudden arrival of Coppersmith Barbets, Brahminy Starlings, Asian Koels, Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Indian White-eyes, Indian Grey Hornbills and Indian Golden Orioles. They relentlessly relished and devoured the figs as I quietly completed my assignments. Their calls and chaos competed with the honks and traffic from the roads. I always rooted for the peepal perchers to win. On some nights, I would spot a fruit bat feeding on the figs. The light reflecting off its eye never failed to induce a mild jump-scare in both me and my roommates.
Birds that visited Peepal Fruits – Asian Koels, Brahminy Starling, Red-whiskered Bulbul and Coppersmith Barbet
Soon, my desire to move back to my previous abode in Pune died down. This Peepal tree and the creatures it housed, helped me get through bouts of boredom and were pleasant company while I worked on my thesis and assignments. Consider this snippet a long overdue and formal acknowledgement to the tree and its visitors, as it conveniently slipped my mind when I penned my thesis!
All photos by Samyamee Sreevathsa
About the author: Samyamee Sreevathsa is an aspiring ecologist with a keen interest in behavioural and community ecology. She is curious about the patterns seen in nature and is drawn to piecing the bigger picture. She is also interested in learning why scientists do what they do and where they get their inspiration from. She is currently working on a project at the archives at NCBS and Urban Taru (an urban ecology project) in Bangalore, both of which allow her to pursue her niche interests.
