Chirp chirp went the bird. Then it flew away. Why did it decide to fly away, and not chirp to me anymore? And did it know it was chirping for me? I marvel at the birds. They are so busy, and yet never tense. They just fly when and where they want to, and chirp when and why they want. Darwin can't explain this. Neither can Neil deGrasse Tyson.
The quality of chirps varies too. Sometimes the chirps have annoyed me so much that I turned on the hose full blast and squirted it at the bird, or even threw rocks at the bird until it flew away. Other times I marvel at the sheer brilliance and ingenuity of the chirps, sounding just like the best jazz pianist. Those were probably the mockingbirds, my Mom told me. So that's why I loved the book and movie so much, I thought.
Birds can fly over vast distances, and not lose their mate or their group. They even fly in formations like the Blue Angels. To think that they came from the dinosaurs. They are vastly smarter than we give them credit for. They need no airplanes, no guidance systems, no electronic communication systems or music lessons. We can learn a lot from our friends, the birds. Chirp Chirp!
Note: not long after I read this essay, to tepid response from the Band, I went to another room and heard a mockingbird chirp some lovely music. And now he's back as I write this link.
This essay was the follow-up to the essay prompted by Tick Tock, the first "sound effect."
Let's Stop Killing the Mockingbirds, UU service reflection