In my dream I saw a bird lying flat on ground with #wings wide open sticking the ground.
I asked bird” did you party last night.”
I also asked bird”why are you lying flat on ground with your wings apart.”
Bird said the reason I will tell you madam very soon. That will definitely make you admire birds and mother nature.
Well, madam what I am doing in scientific language it is called anting.
I asked”So what does it mean?”
Bird said” Bird’s wings have feathers and every now and then, parasites and small insects get into the feathers to suck blood and sometimes they do whatever ill they can. This makes we birds uncomfortable.”
Bird further said “but madam we birds are also smart. To get rid of these parasites and insects, we birds first find an ant colony, and then we lie flat on these ants colonies.”
I asked bird, “Are you birds not scared of ants .”
No madam, said bird.But, let me tell you, this is peculiar hapening to where our (birds )beauty lies.
Bird further said”We genius cheeky birds, let the ants enter to our feathers. I hope you know madam what ants have…. FORMIC ACID. “
I said”Yes, the ant secrete formic acid”
Bird said ” formic acid get inside our feathers, and you will be amazed to know madam that this acid is a very good insecticide.”
Thus, we birds use an ant’s weapon to get rid of our problem i.e parasites. On top of that, some very intelligent birds, perched on a branch after the anting process, eat the ants still sticking.
I said ” How merciless and selfish is that??”
Bird said “it is your point of view madam, but this mechanism is our(birds) saviour.”
Bird further said”some birds later spread the formic acid throughout their wings with the help of their beak”
Bird also said”Is not a life amazing???”
I said” how smart you birds are and when will you stop amazing us(humans)?? I think never.”
I soon realised it is time for me to go to school.
Moral-These birds are genius, and they have a higher IQ than the average person (like me), who stalk them.
Sukarma Thareja
Alumnus IITK
India
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