Hornbill's Nesting Drama: A Tale of Bullying and Belonging

For almost two months, an oriental pied hornbill in New Delhi's Lodhi Garden became the center of attention for birdwatchers and walkers. This female hornbill, nicknamed Mousi Ma, exhibited perplexing behavior around Indian grey hornbill nests. She was frequently seen delivering food, including berries, figs, and even scavenged items like pigeon eggs and jungle babblers, to grey hornbill chicks.

Her actions often involved aggressive territorial displays, including chasing away the male grey hornbill and guarding nesting trees. Observers speculated she might be acting on a misdirected maternal instinct, as isolated female oriental pied hornbills are rare in Delhi, and no male of her species was present. Her behavior was complex, as she sometimes raided nests but also protected grey hornbill nestlings.

The situation took a notable turn when Mousi Ma was observed chasing away a crow that threatened a young grey hornbill fledgling and even feeding it directly. This contrasts with a previous observation in Punjab where a similar hornbill preyed on a grey hornbill's egg and nestling.

By mid-July, the season concluded with all grey hornbill chicks safely fledging. The oriental pied hornbill continues to be seen in Lodhi Garden, now peacefully coexisting with the grey hornbill families she once interfered with, marking a remarkable and heartwarming conclusion to this avian saga.