searching for the soul mate

When ever I look up a bird in Salim Ali’s “The Book of indian birds,” I wonder at the apt description and the sincere effort put in, to be in a position to describe it so. The description for Magpie Robin is,
“One of the more familiar birds in towns and villages. Shy, silent and unobtrusive during non breeding season. Conspicuos during breeding season when male sings lustily from favourite tree top or post, chiefly early mornings and late afternoons. Songs punctuated by upward jerks of white- fringed tail. Also, very good mimic of other bird’s calls.”

This Magpie robin, as is evident from the picture, attracted my attention because of the incessant and insistent calling. It was 4.30 in the afternoon. It sounded like a dozen birds over there. The power line happens to be one of the favourite perches of this robin and the bulbul, and this robin perched there nearly for an hour calling for it’s mate. Do not know the result yet. Meanwhile, the bulbuls which have already paired themselves and are at peace, allowed the use of the powerline for a good cause and waited patiently on the nearby branch.