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| "...the magnificence of courtship that eventually leads to the miracles of life." |
If
you go to the Plaza Quince Martires before the morning breaks you will be in
for a pleasant surprise. There are a few lush trees as tall as the
re-conceptualized building right across the street. Well ahead of the early
dawn mass at the San Francisco Church you will be enthralled by the performance
of winged creatures of God’s masterpiece: Nature at its best.
It is a joyous melody, a testament to the glory of God’s creation. About a hundred or more birds chirp and sing in unison like music to the ears. They converge in the inner sanctum of the foliage and sometimes fly to the nearby trees. I feel one with nature-- a pilgrim in this magnificence we call life.
I
linger for a few moments just to listen to their songs of praise and to soak in
their presence. With their ability to fly, they are the next best things to
angels. They are ethereal beings as they soar in the heavens. The sky doesn’t
seem so vast with birds flying in it. I look forward to the next day or two to
experience what seems to be a celestial phenomenon.
Next
stop is the Metropolitan Cathedral Grounds. I enjoy seeing the doves that call
the holy place their home. Their different colors evoke amusement at the
variety of these domesticated birds. They fly in groups and perch on lamp post
wires and grace the patio like decorative artistic silhouettes. And when rays
of the sun touch their bodies, a prism of glittering lights shines as they
flutter their vibrant wings.
I
especially like the white doves that remind me of the biblical reference to the
Holy Spirit. Somehow, I feel a calming, soothing energy whenever I gaze upon
their immaculate white feathers. Truly soul enriching. This reminds me that we
are stewards and caretakers of Mother Earth.
For
a long time, I have only seen sparrows and the local ‘dignus’ while growing up
here in my hometown. Except for a raven that I saw in the backyard of our house
when I was in high school, I have seen a variety of birds like love birds and macaws
but those are pets. I am referring to wild birds: The ones that pepper the sky
while they are in flight. Usually, their colors are plain brown, black, with silver
beaks.
But
in recent years, I was surprised to see a growing variety of wild birds,
particularly the ones that honor us with their frequent visits to our gardens.
I
have seen spotted neck doves. They are a smaller version of the all too
familiar regular doves. They usually come in pairs. And they like to hop on the
field at the back of our house, pecking at insects, seeds, or worms.
There
is also a bird with black and white colored wings that I saw dancing to impress
a potential mate. The female is brown, devoid of the fan-like adorned wings of
its male counterpart. What a sight to behold! It manifests the magnificence of
courtship that eventually leads to the miracles of life.
A
yellow-breasted bird variety is another one of our guests in the early morning.
It is a little plump and looks jovial. It is a solitary bird and likes to perch
on the branches of the trees. It glides when flying from one point to another
and disappears into the horizon.
For
the finale, I present to you the amazing Island Verditer Flycatcher. It is a
medium- sized bird. I have only seen one in pictures of books or in the movies.
So the first time I saw one, I was captivated and literally starstruck. It is a
blue bird. It is mostly blue with varying shades. It has a wondrous appeal. It
is so regal and royal that it is a perfect fit for a palace. And this is just
the urban jungle we are talking about, what more awaits in the forests of nearby
Mount Isarog. Now I am proud to recommend Naga City as an
ornithologist’s paradise. Welcome to the
viewing deck of an open-air, expansive, wire mesh-free aviary.