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Monday 31 December 2018

EP7:AN UNWANTED FLIGHT-HOUBARA BUSTARD at dasht e lut & dasht e kavir, Iran-fusion stories

Novel: AN UNWANTED FLIGHT

CH # 7

Houbara cherishing and breeding at Dasht e Kavir and at Dasht e Lut, Iran


Siberian Crane waved through its wings until Houbara disappeared towards Dasht e Kavir or Dasht e Lut with flock of other Houbaras from west. They both were gloomy while parting from each other. Houbara bustard was flying at flipside of that flock.
HOUBARAS BREED AT DASHT E KAVIR AND DASHT E LUT,IRAN
houbara bustard at Dasht e Kavir,iran


 ‘Hey, Mr. gloomy Houbara at back, are you flying alone? We were the last flock of migratory birds which flew from western Siberia and Mongolia to spend our winters in east. Ah, Houbara have to migrate long every winter to breed in the bushes of east. We had a long, tiring but a peaceful journey. What about you? You look dull. Why?’ young dark brown hairy and chatty female Houbara bustard joined him at back while flying over Tehran.
‘Aaa…actually,’
‘Oh I understand, you must hit by any large glass building, got shock from electric pole or a falconer tried to trap you and you fell down and missed your flock like many other migratory birds but you don’t worry, I’ll help you to find your family. Bye the way, was that Siberian crane your friend? He waved you for long,’ she didn’t give him chance to tell his story and asked another question.  
‘He is my buddy. We travelled together from Siberia. I wish he would be safe at Caspian coast,’ Houbara smiled for a while.


‘Strange, a waterfowl crane and semi deserted Houbara are friends. How…?’She gazed at concerned and dim Houbara who was thinking about crane.
siberian cranes are at risk in Iran
‘What’s this?’ crane felt him stuck at very thin, almost transparent air net stretched long at that Caspian coast on his way back after waving Houbara bustard.
‘Oh yes, it’s my lucky day today. This thin net is brutal for birds but really compliant for us. Another fat Siberian crane….it’ll definitely cost high at market,’ a hunter pulled the net behind the bushes.
Dasht e Kavir,Iran
‘Are we going to Dasht e Lut straight?’ Houbara asked to her.
‘Not actually, first we’ll stop by my all time favorite Dasht e Kavir means Kavir e namak or a salty desert to feed from its orchards and bushes. My parents breed me here. Dasht e kavir is a birth place of many Houbara. I have enjoyed many Shab e Zalda over here. I find myself irresistible to flutter from Albroz Mountain in north towards Dasht e Lut in south of this desert which is stretched among three provinces of Iran. Did you hatch at Dasht e Lut?’ suddenly she took off his ears with another question while flying at almost 3000 feet above Khurasan province of Iran.
‘No. I was born at Gobi desert Mongolia,and mostly we migrate towards China. This is first time I’ve migrated to Iran,’ Houbara felt relax after peeping at its destiny from height.
Sand dunes, pebbles, rearing sheep and sailing camels, rough and tough fine-looking locals residing near seasonal lakes, marshes and river beds which evaporated to salt or namak in summers welcomed him at Dasht e Kavir.
The whole flock of Houbara stayed at almond orchards far from oil wells and main road at Dasht e Kavir. The moderate weather and  scattered greenery at that semi deserted area sooth the Houbara long tiring nerves. He fed seeds, insects and slept relaxed after a long time. His mate Houbara birds were cherishing in their breeding atmosphere. There was no other option except to adapt that habitat for him but there was something restless inside him.
 ‘I hope the crane would be enjoying at Caspian coast with its friends,’ Houbara flew high in the sky.
‘He was right birds should also have mobiles like humans,’ he smirked; quaked high as crane would listen and answer him and was about to fly down when he stopped suddenly.


‘What happened?’ his female Houbara friend caught him worried at such height.
‘Do you just listen at the whoop, quake or sound of any crane?’ Houbara asked her and quaked again higher and waited for while. This time there was complete silence.
‘Are you mad?’ Caspian is so far from here. You can’t listen or see your friend,’ female Houbara dragged him down....
TO BE CONTINUED

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