One Eclipse Day

Anxious wait For Juicy bits

Watching the birds fly in a formation eager to reach home before it is completely dark was a thought provoking scene as they were in hurry to reach their nest and it was not night yet. It was just that dark clouds had gathered in the sky and everything seemed gloomy and dark.

The earth was slowly shadowing the mighty sun and the light became lesser and lesser. Were the birds experiencing some confusion? They had suddenly stopped midway of collecting worms and grains and were returning home empty stomach. Worry writ large on their sad eyes, Oh! God how could we miscalculate? How and what are we going to feed out little ones?

The flock reached home, went to their nests and the hungry mouth opened in every corner of the nest. The little ones started flapping their tiny wings and cooing with expectation of soft juicy worm. Then finding none they started making strange noise. What a sad sound it was. The birds started spreading their large wings over the little birdies and all was quiet.

The silence between the babies and mother bird was deafening and to me they seemed to be communicating silently. What were they saying to their little ones? Baby we played and frolicked for so long that we could not collect the food? They made a painful sight with drooping neck, loose wings and sad eyes. 

I spread some grains outside wishing that the birds will come and take them for their little ones. But then how can they leave their nest when it is dark? With dinner to be cooked all was forgotten till I went out to watch the spectacular sight of total solar eclipse. 

The sun getting completely covered by the shadow of earth and the diamond shining in full glow was a view for all of us to enjoy and marvel at the life time experience. None had the time to dwell on the plight of the birds, flapping their wings in despair, babies in the nest looking at parents with hope and hunger. 

Children in the house started clapping, startling the birds and the birds started making noise in utter confusion. Why is such a noise being made by these human? At least let us sleep, with hunger in our belly sleepless night seems longer. Please let our babies sleep else they will crave for food which we did not bring. Please stop making noise when night has fallen and it is dark. Let our babies sleep.

 Then the sun slowly emerged from the grip of earth and the brightness spread everywhere.

Oh! How can it be?  Why our body clock has gone so bad why is it that we are being punished? We were not harming Gods creature, just picking soft worms for our babies. They are small and require soft food. Oh God forgive we will not pick more than what our babies require. Thus with the babies welfare in their heart they flew again to gather food.

Such simple, harmless creature these avian are. They are nature, a part of nature. Do not harm them. They in their own way contribute to preserving the bounty of God. They live in harmony with their surroundings.

Save them by saving their habitats. Save the nature for yourself and for the coming generations.