Nature is currently writing a heartwarming story of its own right in the middle of Lodhi Garden. Forgoing typical bird behaviour, a female Oriental Pied Hornbill has stepped up as the ultimate ‘cool aunt,’ taking grey hornbill chicks under her wings. Birders in NCR are buzzing over this unusual activity, noting that she’s looking after these little ones with all the devotion of a true maasi. The best part? You can witness this extraordinary tale unfolding in the heart of Delhi this weekend.
What’s happeningA routine morning in May at Delhi’s Lodhi Garden turned extraordinary when a rare, active hornbill nest was spotted high in the canopy. While observing the nesting process – where the female seals herself inside a tree hollow to be fed by the male – birders noticed a unique social dynamic: a team of ‘helper’ birds, likely offspring from previous years, assisting in the effort. There was a plot twist when a female Pied Hornbill – a distinct, larger species – crashed the party.‘The Lodhi Garden’s hornbill saga became an entry point into nature’Talking about the interspecific feeding and foster parenting by the Oriental Pied Hornbill, whom the birders have dubbed ‘mausi’, senior birder Pankaj Gupta says, “This bird seems to have crossed a species barrier. She hasn’t simply fed a chick once or twice. She has repeatedly taken over caregiving at two nests. We don’t really know why. It is possible that her maternal instincts may have found an outlet in caring.”
Grey hornbill mom with the chick named Tiger by Delhi birders
Muskaan Sacheti, psychologist and nature educator, who recently led a Reset With Nature walk in Lodhi Garden, observes, “The hornbill saga became an entry point into nature. People were fascinated by the drama around the nest, but it also encouraged them to slow down, notice the trees and birds around them, and end the walk feeling more connected to the landscape through nature-inspired art.”
Watching this rare act of care, protection, and selfless devotion is nothing short of magical. It reminds us that compassion knows no boundaries, not even those of species
Vikram Singh, birder
Capt Anil Singru (Retd), a birder and naturalist, has been documenting the hornbill saga through his everyday blog. In his recent post, he wrote, “Over the past two months, we have watched uncertainty give way to understanding, conflict soften into coexistence, and an Oriental Pied Hornbill transform from outsider to accepted presence. The Oriental Pied Hornbill and the Grey Hornbill father, once fierce territorial rivals, were seen perching close together, with conflict limited only to the immediate vicinity of the active nest. Tiger (the young chick) has grown into a confident young hornbill, equally at ease with its family and its unlikely companion.”
