Cordon bleu

I’ve been an avid fan of the avian species since childhood. I can still remember how they flew around, made lots of beautiful noises every afternoon, and then the clearing started, the cutting of trees for the ever increasing population of our village. As fast as they came the birds suddenly seized they’re performance because the stage was being dismantled. I needed to go to the deeper part of the woods just to observe them again but many of them are not there anymore. Here in Africa they are facing the same problems. The burning of bushes every year. I think for the korosho (cashew) which would be easier to pick up when everything is cleared up. Also the development which wouldn’t co exist with the wild life. People would start to notice the disappearance of big creatures first, like the elephants and rhinoceros and then the small ones like the birds and insects. Another cause is the introduction of crows from India which supposedly eradicate the population of rats in the city that might bring the plague to the people. But because of mismanagement the already big number of crows and ravens are continuously growing, preventing the indigenous birds to exist. Mousebirds are continually declining in Mwanza as I have read somewhere. Even the big and powerful birds of Africa like the hawks and eagles are in danger. Last Saturday I saw a big hawk being attacked by a bunch of lousy ravens. According to Piet this is because the ravens are threatened by the presence of the hawks near their nesting places. While they are still here I will cherish their beautiful songs and assorted colours. Unforgettable birds are the sunbirds with their metallic feathers, the lilac breasted rollers with their breast (colour, breast colour I mean), kingfishers whom are not all kings and eat fish, some preys on insects and little frogs, the whydahs and paradise flycatchers with the tails longer than their bodies, firebirds who are like flying plums and the all time favourite of Doc Rene (one of the things that made him stay and finish his contract), the Cordon bleu, the blue birds. They look like small Mayas with sky blue feathers. They come in gardens and are rather tame. They eat seeds and insects and are so common but I’m still amazed by their cheery attitude. I’m planning to invest on one of those high end binoculars. It would be good not just for observing birds.. hehe.