Last month, the Ecology department seva-ite took a problem up to Amma. “Amma, with huge amounts of bird pooh falling on our plants from the tall trees above, we cannot think of growing any edible greens or vegetables in our yard. The white pooh is all over the place, sometimes painting all our plants white.”
Amma smiled and said, “Amma loves birds. Don’t think of driving them away. Daughter, you can grow flower plants there.”
The seva-ite accepted Amma’s words and hummed to herself, “Amma, in that case, may their tribe increase.”
She told this to me a week ago.
This morning after the Upanishad class, i went to one of the terraces just to feel Mother Nature.

I was watching the trees between the Ashram buildings and backwaters. The white birds had gone, and the black birds that go a little late had also gone. Not one in sight. I was staring at the coconut tree tops at my nose level.

I could hear at least half a dozen birds singing. Like in a mountain valley. A few kinds of tiny warbling birds warbling different notes like in a symphony; the parrot colored short tailed sparrow- like bird that sings during spring season only; the long tailed brindled big bird with gruff voice, and so on. Curiously, none of them was visible.

Soon i saw some white wings flapping here and there. On a closer look, a wonderful world revealed before my eyes. They were the herons, with nests in each and every coconut tree! Dozens and dozens of them!
Herons are grey-green in color, unattractive and unobtrusive when they are sitting; but when they fly, their big white wings open wide, and they become conspicuous.

Going close to the nearest tree i saw: they have pretty blue beaks with black tips: natural adaptation for the fishing birds. Their eggs also of the same sea blue hue. Also, these herons have a very gentle voice. Sometimes three tufts of hair show on the back of their necks.

Though the birds are quite big, their nests are small, just meant for their eggs, with space just enough for the brooding mother’s tummy! And it is a well known fact that birds build only to breed their young ones. Nature is their guide. A great lesson in economy and utility for humans to learn.
When herons sit inside of the coconut treetops, with their face and beaks jutting out, they look like one of the tree’s growths.

I zoomed out my sight. The herons were in a playful mood, flying from one frond only to perch on another. The space between the trees was all theirs alone.

Indeed their tribe was increasing in multiple proportions!

– Sandhya