Our special daily guests
High temperatures above 34 are getting to be ordinary here in Japan. Other countries must also be experiencing the same extreme summer heat. A number of people, especially the elderly, have been hospitalized because of heat wave. Sadly, a number of them have lost their lives as well. Shall we expect even higher temperatures starting this new month of August as well?
To avoid the adverse effects of heat wave, people have been advised to take as much liquids as they can during the day. Human beings are not the only ones affected by the heat wave caused by climate change. A reminder posted in Facebook showed how a bowl of water placed outside can save many birds from the extreme heat. We tried to do that some weeks ago.
We placed a bowl of water in our balcony, then husband Orly decided to add another bowl of brown rice grains. There were no takers the first few days. Then, we heard the happy chirping of one bird, then two, and then until now, from the rising of the sun to about an hour before the setting of the sun, we have our special daily guests, announcing their arrival with their happy chirping and expressing their gratitude, again, with their happy chirp before flying away!
The birds used to come alone at the start. With a chirp, a bird would hop to the bowl of rice grains, peck once, twice, at most 5 times. Some few birds, those we have labeled as the thinner, hungry ones would peck more than 15 times even! Then, each bird would chirp in gratitude(?) then fly away to play with other birds during the day or to join other birds retire for the night in some cozy place to sleep?
This week, there are birds that come in twos, or threes. Occasionally, 4 would come together, chirp their arrival and play around first, hopping and playfully touching each other's beak. Then they would hop together on to the bowl of rice grains, some continuing to chirp during their play and eating time together. They again chirp together as they fly out to their next destination.
Some rare moments, there are louder chirps that can be heard. Then upon observation, some birds are seemingly trying to establish their right to be first to peck and eat by chasing another bird away. Some birds refuse to relinquish their position and their equal right to peck and eat. Then the chirping gets louder as the rival birds try to resolve their seeming conflict.
We are just beginners and amateur bird watchers. But we are grateful each day for our daily guests.
The heat wave has allowed us the joy of observing and learning more about our bird visitors every day. Many more birds seem to have been coming lately to enjoy their brown rice grains in our balcony. They seldom stop for the water, however. There could be other sources of water accessible to them elsewhere, husband Orly speculated. Still, we continue to make sure both bowls of rice grains and water are ready for our daily special guests.
We have observed that only one type of bird has been visiting our balcony bird resto. Other types of birds and bigger ones, the doves and the crows also fly around in our area.
Howver, only the small sparrows or maya come to visit us daily. Unlike serious bird researchers, we do not know, of course, whether they come only once in a day or they come again and again and again or whether the same or different birds come daily. We are just happy that there are birds that come daily to our balcony. Oh, and they never leave any waste behind!
During morning prayer time, which takes about an hour, we have counted about 5 or more chirping visitors. And as they announce both their arrival and departure, we are reminded of these particular biblical verses: " This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink that you need in order to stay alive , or about clothes for your body. After all, isn't life worth more than food? And isn't the body worth more than clothes?" Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Are you worth much more than the birds?" ( Matthew 6:25-26).
Rather than complain about the heat wave, we are grateful each day for the joy of chirping guests and the spiritual reminder that we are worth more than the birds in our Father's eyes and should therefore not need to worry at all!
Would you like to try to find something or more alternatives to cool your body and spirit in the midst of the terrible summer heat?
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