Of birds and boys

Of late there seem to be a spate of stories about gifted animals. There's the US study that suggests mocking birds can identify who's naughty or nice. According to this research, these birds can tell people apart and are quick to react to those they don't like. The study goes on to say that the birds learn to identify humans who have threatened their nests and sound the alarm or even attack these people.

While most would laugh at the idea of a bird being a good reader of human intentions, I for one am not surprised at the finding. There's this African grey parrot that has never forgotten (or forgiven) the two boys of the house who used to delight in teasing it and prodding its cage with a stick each time they passed by.

Soon, the very sight of these imps would send it into a frenzy of squawking and fluttering, which attracted the attention of the other inmates of the house. Puzzling over what appeared to be an extreme reaction to the presence of the 'terrible two', the parents decided to let the boys bond with the bird. So, they were assigned the task of cleaning out its cage and keeping an eye on it while this was being done to make sure it didn't peck at the furniture or do anything it shouldn't be doing.

The alarm on the faces of the boys on being told about their new chores would have been comical if the adults had been able to figure out the reason for it. Unable to confide in their parents regarding their fears because that would have been equivalent to opening a can of worms, they braced themselves for the job. Gingerly approaching the bird's abode, two pairs of timid hands attempted to set it free. But no sooner had they started unlatching the cage than the parrot went into a squawking frenzy, spitting fire and brimstone.

The boys stood there with their hearts in their mouths, hoping against hope for a miracle, for someone who would volunteer to take over the task, someone like their sister, who had this mutual admiration thing going with the bird. A few feathers flew out and landed on the floor near their feet. Would the parents blame them for this too, they wondered.

Just then the object of their thoughts entered the room, and wanted to know what all the commotion was about. Seeing the two boys standing like statues, the parents burst out laughing. They couldn't believe that the little ones were actually frightened of the bird. Chiding them for their foolishness at being scared of such a tiny, helpless creature, the parents told the boys not to be such ninnies.

Realising that refusal to get on with the job could result in exposure of their tormenting ways, the boys crept closer to the cage and managed to unbolt the door in one hasty, panic-stricken movement. But though freedom lay within tantalising reach, the bird remained inside, with a baleful glance fixed on the two. Recognising pure hatred, the two soon scampered away, mumbling something about incomplete homework, the only excuse they could think of to get away from this nightmarish experience. Who would have expected such a tiny being to transform itself into such a ball of fury?

Through sheer cunning, the two managed to get out of the cage cleaning routine, claiming that their sister, who professed to love the bird, should be given the task. In return, they would willingly walk the dogs. Somehow the bargain was struck and an uneasy peace ensued.

Of course, each time the parents were disturbed by the screeching of an agitated parrot, they discovered that this disturbance always seemed to occur soon after traces of the recent presence of the two boys were to be found in the vicinity. Alas, trusting souls that they were, they were never able to see the connection between the two.