Backyard birding

Tamerlane and His Consort, Bibi Khanum

When royalty visits my backyard

Image by Steve Smith from Unsplash

With so much construction and trees and meadows vanishing in our neighborhood, a pair of American crows who likely lived elsewhere before have migrated to my neighbor’s live oak tree. They now visit my bird feeders daily.

The male is a big and handsome fellow. He hops from feeder to feeder on his left foot, the right foot dragging just a little. I have never seen him walk. The disability, however, doesn’t seem to hinder his flight.

I named him “Temur,” short for “Tamerlane.” I chose the name because my corvine visitor shares his handicap and fighting spirit with his namesake, the legendary Mongol ruler and conqueror.

Temur bin Taraghay Barlas, a.k.a. Tamerlane (1336–1405 AD), founder of the Timurid Empire, is acknowledged as one of history’s most ferocious conquerors and brilliant military leaders. Temur sustained battle injuries, which left him with a disabled right foot. However, he never allowed the handicap to get in the way of his expansive ambitions or his victories on the battlefield.

The disability earned him the nickname “Temūr Lang.” The West knew him as Tamerlane. (“Lang” in Persian means “lame.”)

Tamerlane’s chief consort was Bibi Saray Mulk Khanum. So, of course, I named Temur-the-Crow’s partner “Khanum” (meaning daughter of a Khan — a nobleman).

And now back to the present…

Temur and family

Temur and Khanum have been visiting my backyard since late January. Khanum is smaller boned than her partner. She likes to explore the backyard, stopping frequently to root for worms or snails in the grass.

Temur seems to conserve his energy for flight. He doesn’t stray far from the feeders. I feel a pang when I see him hopping around on his good foot. My hope is that the feeders make it a tad easier for him to earn a living.

I was traveling throughout March, so my feeders stayed empty. I refilled them the day I got home. Temur showed up two mornings later. I was happy to see him looking like his usual self. It is hard enough for animals to get by on rapidly depleting natural food sources. It is even harder for a disabled creature.

Three weeks later, I was in my front yard when I heard a strange, cracked sort of cawing from my neighbor’s live oak. My ears perked up.

Had Temur and Khanum become proud parents?

When I looked out my bedroom window that afternoon, I saw a third crow in my backyard. Temur and Khanum had brought their slightly bald fledgling with them. A week later, the couple showed up — I kid you not — with three chicks.

Temur and Khanum with chick in foreground. (Hard to get a good photo. They take off as soon as I step outside.)— Gauri Sirur

The juveniles dispatched the peanuts and sunflower seeds with commendable efficiency. But they put on a great show of helplessness when their parents were within feeding range. Then they squawked, wings quivering in agitation, head thrown back, and beaks gaping open. Their parents rushed to deposit food into those wide open beaks.

Baby birds are audaciously successful con artists.

Image by Alexas Photos from Pexels

What’s in a name?

I don’t know whether Temur’s and Khanum’s young ‘uns are male or female. So I picked two each of girl and boy names.

Not much is known about the Tamerlane-the-Mongol’s daughters, but I chose two of their names: “Bikijan” and “Qutlugh” — Bikki and Qutie.

As for the sons, I picked “Shah Rukh,” who succeeded his father and brought peace and prosperity, rather than war, to his people. (Shah Rukh is also the name of one of my favorite Bollywood actors.) And then there’s “Babur,” Temur’s great-great-great-grandson, who founded the Mughal empire in India.

So, dear Readers, such are the royal personages gracing my backyard. Is it any wonder I feel honored?

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise for Their Divine and Corvine Majesties, the Sovereign and Queen Consort of a certain grassy kingdom in Texas!