CEBU, Philippines - Welcome summer!
The weather is predicted to be cooler this year. Yes, the days are not as warm as summer should be, but we know it’s summer when we see more and more birds flying up in the sky.
Why, this morning before breakfast, I saw so many birds perched on the trees in our garden. I must have spent one whole hour just watching them chirp, flit from branch to branch, and just do the things birds do.
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While watching these birds—most of them brown and small—I remembered the poem I used to recite in grade school. It’s entitled “Birds in summer” by Mary Howitt:
How pleasant the life of a bird must be,
Flitting about in each leafy tree;
In the leafy trees so broad and tall,
Like a green and beautiful palace hall,
With its airy chambers light and boon,
That open to sun and stars and moon;
That open to the bright blue sky,
And the frolicsome winds as they wander by.
Birds are wonderful and beautiful creation! They live up in the sky and tall trees and they could fly far, far away. Did you know that there are over 10,000 living species of birds? Yes, that many.
Their sizes range from two inches (bee hummingbird) to 2.75 meters (ostrich).
Birds are very important to people because they keep mice and rats in control and eat insects that attack crops. They also create habitat for other organisms, and disperse seeds and pollen so crops could grow!
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But the sad thing about birds is—about 130 species have already become extinct (they no longer exist) because of hunting, illegal logging, erecting of buildings, smog, chemicals and other human activities that destroy their homes.
And there are about 1,200 species that are threatened with extinction! Meaning, these birds could disappear soon if nothing is done about it.
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One of these threatened birds is our very own Philippine (Monkey-eating) Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). The few that are left are found in Eastern Luzon, Leyte, Samar and in Mindanao.
Many believe that the Philippine Eagle is the most distinctive, most impressive, super-rare and hard-to-find species. It is also the world’s largest eagle.
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It takes a lot of hard work and money to prevent the extinction of birds. Thankfully, there are organizations, businesses, and companies that donate money to fund the expenses.
In your own little way, you could help. How? Here are five ways:
1.Build a bird feeder and have birdbath for the neighborhood birds.
2.Plant a tree and build a birdhouse in your backyard.
3.Ask your parents to avoid using harmful chemicals in your garden or home.
4.When you visit a national park, make sure you obey the wildlife code.
5.Leave flowers, birds’ eggs, logs and bush rocks where you find them.
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More tips in the next Big Little People. Please email me at: gdchong@gmail.com or visit my website: http://leavesofgrace.blogspot.com. (FREEMAN)