Birds and the bees

“Shanti, I am going to the beach,” the husband said, “to watch the birds.”

Shanti, stared at him, for a minute, wondering whether they were the feathered ones, or the human kind.

We may put aside the feelings of Shanti, as such is the case, with the word ‘bird’, which is used liberally. It is used to indicate a situation one is in, or to express a certain exploit. 

Birds are, undeniably, exceptional creatures, and their flying aptitudes, and other distinctiveness give cause for ideas for proverbs, puns and phrases. Continue to read on and you will notice those.

Birds have been the inspiration behind the production of aeroplanes, helicopters, fighter jets, gliders, and even the space shuttles. The analytical and systemic studies of a bird to the very minute details - of its lift off, its flight, and its landing, in relation to the pull of the earth’s gravity - have enabled man to create his own machines that can fly in the air, and land on the ground, as well as, on water.

The reason that I am talking about birds is that, birds, being such marvelous and awe-inspiring creatures, we are taking them for granted. We demean them, by using them as example, as in the case of ‘the birds and the bees’, to explain and, supposedly, enlighten our children about the expansion of population on earth! The amount of understanding by the children, in this matter, is doubtable. Many are the children, who so associate the birds with the population growth, that it is quite laughable, as in the case of a child, who told his friend that his village had less people, because, there were less birds! If one can, inconspicuously, listen to the children speaking after they had undergone a short ‘birds and the bees’ explanation, one will, certainly, obtain quite a bit of ammunition for laughter. Preferably, a more direct approach to express the reality of the human being’s multiplication process, is more apt and agreeable.

By using the ‘birds and the bees’ theory one may think that he or she has killed two birds with one stone; by enlightening the children of the human birth process, and at the same time, giving more knowledge on the 'birds and the bees' themselves. The matter of children getting educated more about the 'birds and the bees' is acceptable, but, the children’s perception of the former, and the main purpose is debatable. Small and young, though, they are, the children are not bird-brained. 

Taking a bird’s eye view of the situation, a child is quite intelligent enough to accept the explanations in plain, scientific terms. Just as, the early bird catches the worm, an early education on the human multiplication process, in plain, actual interpretation, will do a lot of good, to the grasping ability of a child. At a time, when the child is feeling as free as the bird, it will eagerly seize, and perceive anything that is thrown at it. The child will not have the perception that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. It will always go for the extra. It will always search if it is worth more! More so, when they are amongst their own kind. Thrilled, and encouraged they will be, and gladly mingle around with their own groups, and crave for the chance of getting more knowledge of life. How so right is the saying 'birds of a feather flock together'. 

When such is the unavoidable situation, one who tries, insistently, to use the above said theory, will not succeed in his venture, and the theory in the end, will only go to the birds. I hope my point has hit its  target. A birdy, I hope so!