Wednesday, April 25, 2007
We were just back home today, tired out and yearning for a good rest. I must have been dazed, for she heard a commotion outside the window (I didn't) - a chorus of high-pitched chirping which prompted us to peep through the curtains. There, swinging on the Nepenthes vine on which the sunbirds had made their nest, was a totally foreign bird. It was no doubt a sunbird as well, but it looked strange. It had barely a stump of a tail and strangely-fluffy feathers that made it look much bigger than the sunbirds we were used to.
Finally, the baby chick is being weaned out of its nest today.
The baby's parents were perched on a bouganvillea tree about 3 metres away, chirruping continuously. Finally, Mommy bird fluttered over to the baby, and back to the bouganvillea. More chirping for the next few minutes. Without warning, in a sudden flurry of fluffy yellow wings, the baby took flight, landing in the bouganvillea tree.
We finally understood the rules of the game.
Mommy and Daddy birds would fly short distances as a demonstration, and chirp encouragingly for the baby to follow suit. If baby didn't get it, they would fly back by its side, and do it all over again.
The game continued in this line for 10 minutes or so, and while we were both watching and observing intently, the trio took flight simultaneously. They landed first in the neighbour's palm tree, and barely a second later, proceeded to the tree outside my gates, and again and again, and further and further. We saw their tiny bodies going, going, going, and then they were gone. All that were left of my companions over the last 2 months were the incessant high-pitched choruses of "Come on! Come on!" ; and now, even that is no more.
We sat there, gazing at the fast-approaching storm and the inevitable darkness of dusk, with an unexplained feeling of loss gnawing inside. They were significant to me in their own little ways. The privilge of watching their masterful craft of nest-building. The fascination at their dedication and brooding. The warmth of watching them take turns in feeding the chicks. And of course, their cheery little chirps. Most of all, they were part of a memorable phase in life, gracing me with their presence from revision times till now when it's all over/starting again. The feeling of loss rather intensified at these thoughts.
Off to bed now, with their song in my dreams and a place in my memory.
Labels: rants
Wenky
11:14 PM
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