After a very long time, I can now hear the happy chirping of little sparrows. My daughter looked at those little sparrows with wonder for she never had the opportunity to see the sparrows very near. I am now feeling relieved, for there is no need for our children to watch sparrows only in national wild parks. Every day a pair of sparrows come to my kitchen window to eat the rice I leave for them. They are now so familiar with us that they hop and sit on the iron bar of the window and look inside the kitchen. Where are those Little Sparrows
Literally speaking we are now living in a concrete jungle. It’s not only me, but everyone has a vague memory of watching little sparrows hopping their way in search of food. Life has become so mechanical that we miss the small pleasures that we should not spare.
I remember when I was 11 years old there was a nest of sparrows inside my grandparent’s home. No one will disturb them. The male and the female sparrow would be chirping all day long flying here and there. Whenever a chick fell down from the nest my uncle would place it once again inside the nest. When everyone was having their afternoon siesta, these little sparrows would roam around the room without any fear. I always loved to watch these little sparrows and enjoy listening to their chirping.
I vaguely remember how street urchins killed sparrows flying in plenty across the street and roasted them in the little fire built with dry twigs and leaves. Then they cleaned the roasted bird, sprinkled salt and chilli powder and ate. For them, it was like a hunt in a jungle. They hunt in a jungle of rows and columns of tiled roof houses.
Tiled roof houses gave space to these sparrows to build their nests. Concrete-built, spacious bungalows could not accommodate these little sparrows. Is it not sad? How man has become selfish to deprive some space even for little sparrows who are angel-like. These street urchins will not listen even if the elders shout at them for doing so. For them, it is a kind of adventure. Striking a sparrow with a single stone from their catapult is a feat that demands admiration from their friends.
I remember the big tree at the side of the road near our home. Once the dawn sets in, I could hear the loud chirping of little sparrows. To listen to their early morning chirping I always went to get the milk from the milk booth. One fine day this tree was axed down and no more chirping of little sparrows. I could hear only the nerve breaking sounds of bikes and cars on the roads.
There was a saying that these little sparrows were harbingers of good luck. They bring prosperity to the place where we live.
Spot a Hawk Sparrow!!
Whenever I go to my sister’s home, my daughter and I always prefer to sit at the backyard. Behind my sister’s home was a huge mango tree with thick branches covered with rich foliage. During the day we could listen to the sweet talk of a green parrot or the shrill chirp of the mynas. Every day a pair of mynas would come there and hop on the grass in search of worms or scrap of food thrown from the kitchen window.
If I am lucky I could see a pair of King Fisher silently waiting on the parapet wall of the neighbor’s house. On a sunny bright morning, dragonflies fly here and there across the backyard. The male kingfisher would stoop down low like an elegant dancer and catch a fly with ease. The pair would be there until they caught at least six to eight dragonflies and then fly away.
One day we spotted some new birds. They hopped like a sparrow and looked for scraps of food on the grass. The birds sounded peculiar. Their songs resembled like the sound of a whistle. Usually birds don’t like the intervention of human beings and they would fly away immediately if they heard the footsteps. These birds would not do so.
Even if they know, you are standing and watching them, they are not afraid. With a cool attitude, they would stay back until their stomachs are full. They usually come to the backyard around 5 pm in the evening. They stay back for more than one hour in search of food. Even my daughter’s continuous questions about them will not agitate them.
Here at Chennai we can watch these hawk sparrows in the parks. Relaxing in the cool shade of the trees, they hop here and there looking for food. The bustling activity of the city never disturbs them and they help us to feel the nature and enjoy their presence.
Growing up in an environment enriched with colours of nature adorned with sounds of machines, I enjoyed life with all challenges. Nature is always a great teacher that teaches empathy to live and let live others. Though I am now living in an urban environment, the lesson that nature taught me motivates and allows me to keep on writing. I will always remember the cool afternoons in the shades of trees that made me write more on love.