During a recent visit to a hill station, I noticed two sparrows during the morning walk. One was moving on the ground gathering seeds from the ground for its feed.
The other sparrow was moving towards a pool of water in the ground and flew away after its drink of water.
Yesterday, at sunset a Heron arrived in the lawn in front of our cottage and moved about searching for its feed of grasshopper. It did find one during the short time, before visibility decreased with dusk setting in.
Following the decline of birds visiting the garden and our feeding station during the last six weeks, Anna and I kept wondering the reason for them skipping our garden from their flight path in the mornings and evenings.
We wondered whether it was because of ants crawling in to their food plates with the onset of the summer.
We arranged the feeding station in a tank with water, erected on pillars so that ants would not have access to the feeding station.
The First visitor to the feeding bowl was a Babbler !
I hope more birds would follow on!
Although there are bird movements between some flight stations on the tall trees, it remains as a mystery as to why the avians skipped the feeding station for a few weeks now. Even the squirrels stopped coming for their banana feed.
When we hear or read about the displaced people from Gaza, Ukraine or those forcibly sent out from the USA, the distance of those sight from our visibility, might diminish the true gruesome story of their lives.
How each bird is a wanderer finding its feed and water each day! They are survivors and pathfinders!
It is when we are downcast or anxious, we find the avian way of living each day, bringing us a message to ponder upon!
It is a reminder to those who have plenty to be mindful of those who have less to live on! Those who do not have enough to live on to feel comforted by knowing that even the birds are provided for!
Such a hope at a time, when thousands live in refugee camps in the war zones or in temporary shelters following the earthquake in Myanmar might appear to be a sterile hope, as the intensity of suffering and deprivation do not get nullified!
The stories of families welcoming people to share their homes in Myanmar, is what gives hope!
The hearts to feel and thoughts to care bring a healing touch to all that we do! This is what a saint referred to as 'living with the mind in the heart' !
I felt encouraged by having had contacts with a few people recently, with whom regular contacts had diminished following some differences of opinion in the past. It brought an opportunity to grow in mindfulness, without being influenced by the differences!
The birds have wings to fly and a mind to find their way !
\M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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