Color Your Life With Some Birds
By: S M Mamunur Rahman
Tags: Travel, Nature, The Masterpiece, Environment, Birds

Let’s take a walk

I take a bus and get off where the city vanishes away, and the pastoral serenity begins to show its freshness. I hit the muddy, dusty roads and gradually enter into a magical world.

No one is with me. It’s just me with myself.

The first thing I notice is the air — so fresh and full of life. I take a few deep breaths and feel relaxed. I deliberately walk at a steady pace because I don’t want to miss a thing on my way.

It’s just 11.00 am and a whole day ahead of me. The sun is up there to shine everything with its soft glow, the clear blue sky — cloudless and shiny. A gentle breeze is whispering to the leaves about something, and the leaves are nodding their heads.

I walk slowly — and gently observe what’s going around. On my right, there is an ocean of green, yellow, and white. On my left a tiny river just like a lifeline in the wilderness. I see some herons are enjoying a flight over the river. Their shadows are reflecting on the water, making each of them double.

I feel tremendous joy as I love the herons most. When they wait gently in the riverside to catch fish with their long legs and necks, they look like saints to me. Catching fish is like their way of having meditation. I love them — especially the white ones.

I take my time to watch them crossing the river. Then I dive deep into the green ocean of mystery. I am looking for birds. I approach carefully, not making any sound. After a few minutes, I encounter a few bee-eaters. I see them every time I go on a bird-watching adventure.

I drag myself close to the bee-eaters to capture the moment, but they somehow read my mind and fly away to another place.

Bee-eater. Photo captured by the author, Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019

I saw a few more at a distance. This time, I bend my knees and nearly stop my breathing. I move forward more cautiously like a cat and take my position to have a snap. I see a bee-eater is busking in the sun. I take a few shots quickly and silently observe what it does.

After a while, more bee-eaters come and start hunting some insects. They make noise with their wings, talk to each other, and finally go in different directions in search of food maybe. Oh, I love this beautiful green bird. And I love its dark, nearly invisible eyes.

Spending some time there, I walk ahead — I come across a field, and at the end of that, I see a few big trees.

Green ocean. Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019. Photo captured by the author.

Wait, a sharp sound is coming from there. It must be a woodpecker. I cross the field and go in the direction of that sharp sound. I keep my eyes on the tree-tops. I see a few big holes in some trees and become sure that there must be some woodpeckers.

I move forward with the camera ready in my hand. I hear the sound again. Where is it? I try to concentrate. Yes, I feel something is happening. I can sense it. I move my head to my right and see some leaves moving.

Yes, finally, I spot the lovely bird. It’s trying to find a suitable tree to make a new home or maybe in search of some tasty worm to have a feast.

The woodpecker. Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019. Photo captured by the author.

I take a few good photos with both my camera and my eyes. I see some finch and a few sparrows there as well.

I continue my journey to the unknown and go where my eyes take me. I walk and walk and keep my eyes open to observe the wilderness.

I spend some time in front of an agri-farm and hear the sound of growing vegetables — fresh and enchanting. I see different shades of green everywhere and the hide and seek games of sun and shadow. I hear the music of tranquility.

Now, it is midday, and the sun is getting warmer. I find a small village-market on my way and take a break. I sprinkle water on my face, wash my hands, and then eat my lunch. At this point, I talk to locals — a little chitchat to know where I am and where more birds are waiting for me.

I come to know that a few miles away, there is a nearly dead river, and on its bank, birds are in great numbers. So I take a new route, and after a few birds later, I find the river. It has lost its youth long ago. Now it is like a narrow canal that I must cross with a boat.

Horse in the field. Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019. Photo captured by the author.

I see an unfinished bridge there. Maybe the bridge killed the river, or I don’t know the reason behind the river’s untimely death. I cross the narrow river and land on a field full of yellow.

A horse grazing nearby catches my attention. I see the open field where birds are flying with a yellow backdrop. Oh, it’s love at first sight.

Let’s spend some time sitting on the riverbank watching some kingfishers and cormorants. They are the real hunters — swift and sharp.

Kingfisher is truly the king of fishing. The way it hunts is spectacular to watch. Sitting on the grass, I see them hunting fish and eating right away.

Ah, it seems an easy way to live a life. But I reckon they have their own society and competition like ours, as I have seen, in a lake near my house, seven herons competing for a particular place for fishing.

The hunting is on. Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019. Photo captured by the author.

I am convinced that having the ability to fly is no guarantee to achieve freedom. Birds have their community with a set of rules. Maybe, they have their own kind of hierarchy.

Do they have democracy? Or are they still in debate whether communism is better for them or not? I don’t know — but I am sure they have found peace, balance, and harmony.

Anyway, I end my bird-philosophy and see there are lots of doves walking through the fields. It’s hard to identify them on the ground as their colors are quite similar to earth.

Doves are very shy. When I come close to them, they fly away immediately. But the field is full of them. So, I capture some of their beautiful, decorative body.

Innocent Dove. Bokchar, Dhaka, 2019. Photo captured by the author.

I see a few thatched houses at a distance but no one in the field this afternoon. I am the only man here wandering for some birds. And it’s a different experience to walk absolutely alone in nature like this. It’s lovely and a little intimidating too.

Numerous little birds are with me all the time. They are spinning around to make me feel comfortable. When they are in the air, anyone may confuse them with bullets.

One moment they are near you, but in a second, they go somewhere else. Then again, return as a flock.

They inspect the entire field like a police battalion. And the insect-criminals have nowhere to hide from their eyes. They eat the bees from the mustard-plants. Then go for an aerobatic display up above.

I spend the rest of the day in this open field full of life. I breathe the green, yellow, and the entire experience. The experience — words often fail to contain.

I come to understand that I must take a break, explore nature, and spend time more with birds to have a deeper understanding of the world I live in.

After a day with birds, I feel that a day is well-spent, and I need to make more days like this.