In my dream, I saw a bird lying flat on the ground with wings wide open sticking to the ground.
I asked Bird” Did you party last night.”
I further asked the bird” Why are you lying flat on the ground with your wings apart.”
Bird said the reason I will tell you madam very soon. That will make you admire birds and Mother Nature.
Well, madam what I am doing in scientific language is called #anting.
I asked the bird ” What does it mean?”
Bird said” Bird’s wings have feathers and 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 ant colonies.”
I asked the bird, “Are you birds not scared of ants .”
No madam, said the bird. But, let me tell you, this is peculiar happening 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 ants have…. #FORMIC ACID. “
I said” Yes, the ant secretes formic acid”
Bird said,” Formic acid gets inside our feathers, and you will be amazed to know madam that this acid is a very good #insecticide.”
Thus, we bird 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(bird) savior.”
Bird further said” Some birds later spread the formic acid throughout their wings with the help of their beak”
Bird also said,” Is not life amazing???”
I said” How smart you birds are and when will you stop amazing us(humans)?? I think never.”
I soon realized it was time for me to go to school.
Moral :birds are geniuses, and they have a higher IQ than the average person (like me), who stalk them.
Advertisement
Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitness Tracker with Skin Temp. Heart Rate
Rs. 8899
https://www.amazon.com.au/Science-Life-Nature-Poetry-Collection/dp/1521260060
Sukarma Thareja
Alumnus IITK
India
Comments