A mid day meal on January 1, 2023

A Tree Pie found our Bell fruit tree and relished its fruit yesterday! It was its bird call during the mid day hour that alerted me to its quiet presence for its meal in the tree. By that time, it seems it had been there for a while. Having had its portion of the meal, the bird call was an  invitation for other birds. 

As I watched the bird eats its meal, its chanting did not stop announcing its desire to share the meal with other avians. The Bell Fruit tree which would have more fruits than leaves during this season, has only few fruits this year. Something to do with the disarray in the climate transition. Through December of 2022, we needed the fan at night and not a blanket. 

By nature a Tree pie is a well groomed bird. I would rate it above the Barbet in this behaviour and not as high as a sunbird, whose groomed groomed body is like an art work. 

As I kept watching the Tree bite takes small bites form the bell fruit, hidden under the foliage, I  thought that it followed all the table manners the British would desire at the dining table. It bit small pieces of the fruit and swallowed it with least facial gestures. Its look of pleasure and satiety drew my attention.

What intrigued me was its in between bird calls, inviting  other avians to come for a new year meal. An avian way of generosity and hospitality! While we were getting ready for our mid day meal on the new year day, hearing the bird call of a Tree Pie made me aware of the reality of those who live deprived of a meal! 

The burden of that thought lasted only for a while till I was drawn by the refrain of a hymn of Miriam Therese Winter:

'It's a long road to freedom,

A winding steep and high,

But when you walk in love,

With the wind on your wing,

And cover the earth with the songs you sing,

The miles fly by'.

To live this way bringing cheer to others through the little things we can do is possible rather live burdened by the challenge!

Live content with what is given and in increasing consciousness of why we are given, what we have- it is for opening the doors of opportunity and provision for others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)