Today I came across an interesting video in YouTube that explained how dedicated Hornbills were and how they raise their family together in the wild. It was an interesting story and I was able to see the full video and the process on how it happens. I thought it would be better for me to write an article on the same so that the experience is also shared with many people.
Finding a mate
The story starts with finding a mate. Hornbill first looks for a suitable tree hole where they raise their young. Finding the right tree hole is the role of a male. Once the suitable tree hole is identified the male invites female. Females choose the male based on the selected tree hole. They sometimes reject the tree holes too and the male Hornbill will have to look for a different tree hole.
Building the nest
Once the right tree hole is identified, the female Hornbill joins hand with the male Hornbill and start building the nest. They work together in this. The opening of the nest is sealed with mud with a small hole inbetween where food can be passed. After a point in time during building process, the female sits inside the nest and continue the building process. The access hole is kept very small just to pass food and send out the shit. They use toxic insects with mud and their shit to build the nest so that they are both strong as well as act as a natural pesticide for the nest.
Female lays and male finds prey
This is the most difficult part for the male. The female sits inside the nest and lays eggs. Usually 2 or 3 eggs and based on the size of the nest they start parenting. Ultil the hatching period and even after that, both the female and eggs stay inside the hole and male keeps feeding the female. Even after the eggs hatch, it is the duty of the male to continuously find food and feed the family. After a point where the chicks grow a little bit, the female increases the size of the hole and fly out of the nest. From now onwards, the female also shares the burden of bringing prey or food for the chicks. Once the female is out of the nest, the chicks help in closing the nest by filling it with shit and mud.
Chicks flying out
Until the chicks grow up, the parents continuously work hard to feed them and protect them from other predators. After that when the chick have grown their feathers and when they are ready to explore the world, they break the nest and fly out of the nest. It takes almost 3 months for the chicks to grow and fly out of the nest. Now this entire process is coded in their DNA and they do the same thing when they grow up and start making chicks.
This story gives a great learning for us on the dedicaation and patience the Hornbill have to raise a family.
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