STOP TO WATCH A CHIRPING BIRD — IT’S A NATURAL WAY TO CONNECT WITH NATURE

One wonders why is it that as we grow older we often lose our sensitivity to nature.

The other evening, as I was walking with a group of students, they were so attentive; looking closely at trees. It was amazing to watch their excitement when they spotted a bird. One girl commented on the sharpness of its beak. She could see the blue lines that ran down from its throat to the belly. Her eyes lit up and I could see how childlike curiosity is such a precious thing and how essential it is to find happiness in what nature has offered us.

The name or facts about the bird was not important; all that seemed important was the intent observation of a gift of nature. Unfortunately, because of our preoccupation with materialistic things, we lose touch with life that is pulsating all around us.

I also noticed how bird-watching can be an easy way to take us back to nature. Birds seem to be the ideal spokespersons of the natural world. Easily seen at all places, in all seasons, they seem to carrying a special message for us, if we care to listen.

One doesn’t need to be an ornithologist in order to become interested in birds. We have an innate interest in them, but we lose it because we begin to find excitement and entertainment in artificial things. I am reminded of a beautiful quote from the famous American writer Lois Lowry: “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come.”