Mangoes, the delicious honey pods hang from the mango trees in the Pelton Canal meadow. They tempt parrots, mynahs and crows. The recent heavy and incessant rain swayed the mango tree branches and many of the ripe fruits fell to the ground, split and sweet juices filled the air with their fragrance.

An early bird, the black-naped oriole began savouring one open mango when a mynah came by and tried to join his breakfast. The surprised yellow songbird turned on the intruder. No bother, the mynah simply headed towards the free-for-all fare on the ground. The young oriole did not fancy communal feeding and flew off in frustration. And the couldn’t be bothered mynah got its fill.
Thereby hangs a ‘tail’.
Ivan Lim
20 January 2025