Of birds, dreams, and our sense of BEING

A moment spent with a bird is a glimpse of eternity. It’s waxing poetic but it can’t be helped. Birds are intertwined with our existence–and in my case, a deep and quiet kinship.

I love watching the stars at night and that same love is equaled by my sheer bliss from listening to the chirping of birds. I even ‘talk’ to them when they visit outside our windows. Many of you may agree that birds do communicate with us. Of course, our pets and other animals do that, too. However, birds are unique in the sense that they are the only creatures that can reach places that we humans could not (without riding planes, etc.). Therefore, in a way, they help us realize the infinity and creativity of existence; their songs bringing us into a place of union. On some days that when they don’t come by and I need to be inspired, I just go to YouTube to experience their presence. And often, I notice better focus and higher creativity (try it!).

Birds represent lofty goals, the spirit of courage, and our longing for adventures. The pursuit of the impossible, even. Just imagine–airplanes (and the ease of long-distance flying) would not be there without the birds. Head on to this interesting read if you wish to know more about the history of flight. (The link leads to a NASA site.) From the first kites made by the Chinese, to the Ornithopter conceptual design of Leonardo da Vinci and the first first hot air balloon by brothers Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier, more attempts had been done toward the future when we now benefit from the convenience of traveling by air (NASA, n.d.).

In both the material and spiritual levels, birds matter so much in our lives, yet, we seldom find the moment to really think about the values and solace that they give us. In the ecosystem, we know that birds are ‘multi-taskers,’ acting as both nurturer and predators, pollinators and scavengers, seed dispersers and eaters. In certain locations, seabirds and their guano deposits provide nutrients to plants, allowing them to grow taller and faster. They were also observed  to be significantly more productive compared with areas not frequented by birds (adapted from Anderson, W.B. and G.A. Polis, 1999). We are invited to think about this in the context of the whole ecosystem and Mother Gaia herself–each one is part of the whole chain–and conservation is definitely not a one-off project or a mere box that we need to tick off. We need to embark on it in a more profound and holistic manner, appreciating that it’s integrated with and at the ‘bedrock’ of a more sustainable, inclusive, and greener future.

As we seed and pursue our dreams, we are inspired by the flight of birds. If you know me, I don’t really go for projects or assignments that I am not passionate about. Sure, money is awesome (thank you, God-source-universe) but at the top of the list is the soul connection. (As an aside, I just joined an awesome project and just as divine intervention happens, it’s about migratory birds, flyways, and nature-based solutions. Source-universe, please give me more assignments like this!)

And so, if you’re building a startup/ project or career, aspiring to write your own book, or launch your music career, this might inspire you too about holding your vision close to your heart, believing in it, and simply trust that you will land in that exact spot where you will eventually flourish. The Universe definitely hears you and just like the birds, you are guided by the winds!

I also could not forget my first encounter with a Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) [endemic]. It was back in 2004 and an important milestone in conservation efforts because it was the first release of a captive-reared bird. Named Kabayan (in English, “compatriot”), he looked so proud, tall, and magnificent—even the word beautiful seems not enough to describe him and the experience of being close to him.

When he spread his wings and began his first flight toward the wild, everyone was silent and in awe, as if in complete meditation. Sadly, though, Kabayan didn’t live very long. He was found lifeless after 9 months, perceived to have been electrocuted (Philippine Eagle Foundation as cited in Felongco, 2005).

He may have left already but that day in 2004 is one of those moments that stay with you forever, almost transcendental. In that suspended moment, we were all under a spell, touched by an unseen force, surrendering to the hope and courage of this beautiful creature–and inwardly, coming home to absolute bliss and gratitude. In that moment, we all remember, life is indeed beautiful.

There is just too much to learn and imbibe from birds! They are serious yet playful. They are fierce yet loving. They could linger yet see the world as their playground and the next thing you know, they’re off to their next adventures.

Humans could learn so much from them, too. I hope you can take a moment today to think about how your business and processes could draw inspirations from our feathered friends (and how we could give back to them). Think visioning. Adventures. Creativity. Playfulness. Determination. Courage. Ahhh, those are just icing on the cake. Once we go deeper, we also go higher.

Notes: This is a re-post of an essay posted in AnnasTrees.com (Oct 2021). Minor edits had been done. Images by Chen Tengyi, Cheng Li, Cathy Cavallo, and Eric Tan. Text and design work by Anna Suarin.

REFERENCES

Anderson, W.B., & Polis, G.A. (1999). Nutrient fluxes from water to land: seabirds affect plant nutrient status on Gulf of California islands. Oecologia, 118, 324-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420050733

Felongco, G. (2005, Jan 14). Death of first captive-bred eagle hits conservation plans. Gulf News.
https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines/death-of-first-captive-bred-eagle-hits-conservation-plans-1.273897

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (n.d.) History of flight. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/UEET/StudentSite/historyofflight.html

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