Bird

What comes to your mind when the word bird is mentioned?

Bird represents freedom in many cultures. They are the only creatures we most often see that have wings to fly. Of course there are other creatures that also can fly like a bat or presumable looks like can fly like a flying fox, with or without wings.

Birds are animals that we see in all areas we live in, be it in the city, suburbs, countryside, and even the forests, deserts, and deserted islands. Birds are probably the most widespread animals on earth next to humans.

Most bird species can fly. The largest flying birds known to us are on top of the food chain like eagles and hawks. Their size give them strength to capture prey with their claws and swiftly flyaway with the reward to their nest for feeding.

Some birds are born with smaller wings in comparison to the size of their bodies, which prevents them from flying like regular birds do. They can lift themselves a little off the ground and soar a short distance then back to the ground. This is good for escaping and also chasing after an enemy. Ostrich, the largest bird known to us is in this group.

There are species of birds that can live on land as well as water. These species have relatively longer necks and larger beaks compared to their relatives. They are one of the special breeds that are mostly migrating by seasons. These are wild ducks and geese, pelicans, flamingoes, and swan. Swans mostly stay very still on water which makes them a dreamy creature, the most elegant animal on earth.

We have to acknowledge that the most special birds are hornbills. They only live in certain parts of the world. They have a hornlike casque on the upper mandible of their long down-curved bill. The colour of their bodies is often dull which makes their bright coloured bills stand out. Simply mesmerizing.

Most of the birds we know live during the day and sleep at night like us but there is a species that is nocturnal. The owl sleeps during the day and hunts at night. They prey on tiny mammals, mostly rodents. Owl makes a special sound at night and because of their specialty, they often symbolize mystery and magic. We see a lot of owls in Harry Potter.

Humans have managed to tame some species of birds and keep them as pets. We keep them either to enjoy their early morning songs or the sight of their colourful feathers. The smaller species are often kept in cages while the larger ones have their legs tied to a chain. Perhaps we say we love them and want to keep them safe. Have we ever asked them if they would prefer to have their whole life locked up or have a day to fly freely and die while enjoying their flight?

Birds are probably the world’s best singers. I am grateful to be living near a small piece of a mountainous protected forest. This gives me the privilege to enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature every morning. It is like having an alarm clock that chirps differently each day to wake us from slumber. Various species of birds fly out to the housing area in search of food. This is the time I train myself to be perfectly still so I could sight a bird in the mulberry bushes outside my house.

Some birds come to feed on the berries while some really serve as pest control. They will pick up insects and arthropods to feed themselves and their young. Gardeners would know that these are pests that are hard to rid off. If we are to use technology to rid them, their produce will not be edible. Birds are the natural predators.

If we would like to have birds around our house, why not make a little garden? This way, we can have many birds come by. We can feed them, nurture them, and best of all, let them be free. If we are lucky, they may even choose to nest in the garden. When all the baby birds have grown and flown off, we will get to keep the nest as souvenirs. This is a win-win situation.

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.    

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech (Salvador Dali), Spanish Surrealist Artist, 1904-1989