Since apartment 415-P The Empire State Residency is not in permanent occupation, some feathery guests have taken advantage and moved in. The pair of common myna birds nesting on top of the air-conditioning unit on our balcony welcome us every morning with beautiful song. And throughout the day they remind us of their presence with noisy croaks, squawks and chirps. The mess though, as they build (or repair?) their nest, preen their feathers and poo at will on the balcony rail and floor is rather annoying.
However, I have developed a soft spot for them and had to laugh when one seemed to be copying Chris’s loud signature laugh; the duet from inside and out was very funny.
The penthouse flat upstairs (is that what the ‘-P’ is for in our apartment number?) has a huge rooftop area also favoured by the birds. There is a neat little nest next to the battery system (used to keep our lighting and internet running when the power goes off). Although the eggs look a bit small for mynas’.
I recall as a child that Uncle Sam and Auntie Maida (not relatives, just the term used by children for grown-up family friends in those days) had a myna bird in a cage. It would mimic sounds and shout words, to the great delight of us kids, although I can’t remember anything specific it could say.
The myna, native to India/Asia, is spreading across the world at a rapid rate having been introduced for insect control in many places (Australia, Europe, South Africa, Hawaii); in recent years it has been included in the world’s top one hundred worst invasive species.
Pity.
Val Jonas
