It was a calm morning at Paradise, Mangaluru, where the forest still held the freshness of dawn. Along with my Mangaluru Birding friends, I walked through the quiet trails, listening to the hum of insects and the rustle of fallen leaves.

Then came a magical moment from the dense undergrowth — a flash of rainbow hues appeared. The Indian Pitta, with its nine brilliant colours, hopped gracefully onto a branch, glowing in the soft sunlight.

We stood still, our cameras forgotten for a second, simply admiring this tiny jewel of the forest. That brief meeting was a lesson in nature: true beauty lives quietly in nature's heart — waiting for those who seek it with love and patience.