Nihal (ND) Amarasekera on fascinating “flying things”

Nihal (ND) Amarasekera on fascinating “flying things”

Butterflies

Butterflies reminds me of our study of these magnificent insects in biology and its transformation from a slimy voracious caterpillar to an inactive sedentary pupa and then to a beautiful and colourful butterfly flitting from flower to flower. They have mesmerised humans by their delicate elegance and charm since time began and remains so still across cultures as a symbol of the beauty of nature.

Victor Hugo was a famous French romantic poet and novelist in the 19^th century (known for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) and Les Misérables (1862) both rather sombre and dark stories but he also wrote a bright and lovely poem about butterflies.

 The Genesis of the Butterfly by Victor Hugo

The dawn is smiling on the dew that covers

The tearful roses; lo, the little lovers

That kiss the buds, and all the flutterings

In jasmine bloom, and privet, of white wings,

That go and come, and fly, and peep and hide,

With muffled music, murmured far and wide.

Ah, the Spring time, when we think of all the lays

That dreamy lovers send to dreamy mays,

Of the fond hearts within a billet bound,

Of all the soft silk paper that pens wound,

The messages of love that mortals write

Filled with intoxication of delight,

Written in April and before the May time

Shredded and flown, playthings for the wind's playtime,

We dream that all white butterflies above,

Who seek through clouds or waters souls to love,

And leave their lady mistress in despair,

To flit to flowers, as kinder and more fair,

Are but torn love-letters, that through the skies

Flutter, and float, and change to butterflies

 Oriental Magpie-robin

These birds are found in the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia. They are so easily identified with their long tail and black and white plumage. They are commonly found close to human habitation as birds in our gardens feeding on insects, scraps of food, rice and seeds. They make their nests in holes in trees.

The Eurasian Magpies are known for their intelligence. They are much larger and more aggressive feeders stealing eggs and young from the nests of other birds and hence disliked by many. According to traditional British folklore the Magpie is linked to the devil. These birds are grouped with the crows as evil as shown on the film “Omen”. Magpie is the national bird of Korea adored and revered by many as the bringer of good fortune.

 The House Sparrow

These lovable little creatures are ubiquitous and is often described as the cheerful exploiters of man’s rubbish and wastefulness. Having colonised human habitation throughout the world is a common garden bird we all have seen and loved all through our lives. We often left pots with a hole in the centre on trees in our garden for sparrows to nest and they did. Many consider them a symbol of good luck. These cheerful and gregarious little birds prefer to live close to each other in large flocks. They are sometimes seen having baths together in ponds and streams. We often see large flocks congregate in trees in the evenings at sunset and also at sunrise. Sadly these birds are in decline worldwide due to habitat loss.

I love this simple poem by Charles Lamb (1775-1834), the 19^th century poet.

 

The Rook and the Sparrows by Charles Lamb

A little boy with crumbs of bread

Many a hungry sparrow fed.
It was a child of little sense,
Who this kind bounty did dispense;
For suddenly it was withdrawn,
And all the birds were left forlorn,
In a hard time of frost and snow,
Not knowing where for food to go.
He would no longer give them bread,
Because he had observed (he said)

That sometimes to the window came
A great black bird, a rook by name,
And took away a small bird's share.
So foolish Henry did not care
What became of the great rook,
That from the little sparrows took,
Now and then, as 'twere by stealth,
A part of their abundant wealth;
Nor ever more would feed his sparrows.
Thus ignorance a kind heart narrows.

I wish I had been there, I would
Have told the child, rooks live by food
In the same way that sparrows do.
I also would have told him too,
Birds act by instinct, and ne'er can
Attain the rectitude of man.
Nay that even, when distress
Does on poor human nature press,
We need not be too strict in seeing

The failings of a fellow being.

 

Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl (Gallus lafayettii ) 

Our jungle fowl is endemic to Sri Lanka and is our national bird. This is one of the most beautiful birds we have with a richly coloured plumage and a comb of brilliant red. As the name implies they are commonly found in the jungles but occasionally close to human habitation. Although uncommon they are known to inter-breed with domestic fowl. The jungle fowl live in area upto 2000 metres above sea level in the jungles of Kitulgala, Yala and Sinharaja forest.

 

Woodpecker

There are several type of woodpeckers in Sri Lanka. The red coloured flamebacks are only found in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. They feed on insects mostly ants, beetles and caterpillars and also arthropods like spiders. Woodpeckers drill nest holes in trees. Romans worshipped the woodpecker. Picus, was a woodpecker  sacred to the God of Mars.

(all drawings by Nihal. Photos of Victor Hugo and Charles Lamb from  the Web)