Reasons why being bird-brained is smart

We all have our personal lists - of the zaniest/quirkiest/
funniest/ craziest/smartest... We devote this page to them.
This week, Pooja Peswani lists her top ten reasons why being bird-brained is smart.

It's a phrase of honour All those years of education have finally paid off. Now you know what it means to be graceful as a swan, wise as an owl, gentle as a dove and soar high as an eagle. It takes a bird brain to be able to do all these.

You'll never go thirsty The crow in the famous fable drops stones in the jug to raise the water level so he can drink. Would you have thought of something equally clever if stranded in some dry place with a parched throat? I'd rather be bird-brained than otherwise.

You never lose your way Do you have the ability to migrate from country to country without consulting road maps or GPS systems? Well, birds have the ability. We humans in spite of using a Sat-Nav can get hopelessly lost and also hate asking for directions. Basically, we have issues. Birds don't.

It makes you a great home architect Ever heard of a bird consulting an architect or interior designer to build its home? Instead it displays an amazing ability to build its nest from scratch and design its interiors for utmost safety and comfort – all due to its brain power.

Law abiding is second nature Unlike humans, birds know where they come from and where they would want to go. Ever heard of a kiwi in India or a peacock at the North Pole or a penguin in Cuba? Knowing your boundaries and limitations can take you to great places.

Helps break language barriers Being bird-brained or simple-minded would also mean being able to cut across language barriers and speech limitations with tact and style. Haven't you noticed that birds use just two words, "chirp-chirp" and "tweet-tweet"?

Resilience at all times Think before calling someone "daft as a duck" because you would be praising his/her capability of being able to shake water off his/her back and stay afloat in these troubled times.

Helps you earn praise If the term "to earn one's feathers" means to show acts of bravery, then I guess a bird is the bravest of us. For it very naturally earns its feathers while we humans have to struggle for that honour. Man smart, bird smarter Remember Tweety and how it always outsmarts Sylvester, the cat? Now wouldn't you want to be that smart?

Makes you observant and successful Have you studied a bird as it focuses on its prey and calculates the exact second at which to attack? It's a breathtaking display of prowess, strategy and power. To be successful, you need to know when to do what and how. Birds have got it down pat.

– As told to Hina Navin, Dubai-based freelancer