The influence for change!

Every morning, there is an activity at the feeding station in our garden,  which is like a theatre of activity, with birds interacting with each other. As Anna and I watch this sight every morning, I get a sense that some birds come to socialise and not for feeding. An earlier cacaphonic scene has got converted into a communicative space for birds at day break, before they disperse for the day to their flight stations. 

The feeding no more involves chasing each other away. It is a shared experience where they turn to each other in between feed and chirp to communicate. We had  not imagined that it would be a social occasion for the birds as at the beginning, their behaviour was 'each for oneself'. 

Now the Bulbuls who are the first to arrive will raise bird calls to announce about food. In fact the first arrivals would wait for some more birds to come before they start feeding from the bowl. That in itself is a learning curve for us about bird behaviour. 

If the feeding bowl is without food, some Bulbuls would come to the feeding station behind our kitchen searching for food. In case we miss their bird calls, the familiar ones would fly into the dining table to feed from  the fruit basket on the side shelf. 

This bird behaviour is probably conditioned by two factors. One is certainty of food during the day in the feeding station. The second is an experience of comfort without the fear of being trapped to be caged while feeding. 

It is no more an assembly of strangers, but a community of birds who oblige to take care of each other. The Barbets who used to fly away with food to eat privately do not do that any more. 

During two telephone conversations yesterday with friends, I happened to hear how people in the neighbourhood are active to support new comers to the residential community. They even arrange for food to be served at their homes till they are settled well. 

The acts of kindness and thoughtful responses to human need bring a refreshing awareness about the caring instinct of human behaviour. 

The domestic worker who worked beyond the usual time to finish painting, surprised me when I complemented him for overstaying: 'I find working a good experience'! I noticed how helpful and thoughtful he is often, which was not what it was earlier! The prospect of change is present with most people, provided we can facilitate them to feel accepted and appreciated. 

The theme of the book, Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell is about the biography of ideas. In the concluding chapter of the book, (p253), he narrated the story of Georgia Saddler who wanted to educate people about prevention of Diabetes and Breast cancer. She attempted to reach out to women after church services. When that did not receive attention of women, as they were in a hurry to return home to prepare the Sunday lunch, Georgia turned to visit hair style salons where women came. She educated the staff to initiate conversation about self care to prevent Diabetes and Breast cancer. It worked. The hair stylists whom Georgia trained became public health educators. What made the stylists to consent to take this initiative was their thoughtful attitude towards others. Most hair stylists were women. The tipping point  was when majority of the hair stylists became spokepersons for self care. 

For a change in behaviour, we need initiators and propagators to effect the change. 

That is what I observed in the birds who come to the feeding station! They created a friendly ambience. That subdued the competitive and provocative behaviour to bring peace as the ambience. 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)