Bird-brained part two

A couple of days ago, a loud, horrid squawk tore at my eardrums from outside my office window. Accustomed to the high pitched chirping of the common brown sparrows that frequently buzz around anywhere I go, I took a peek out of the venetian blinds to inspect what god-awful monster must be dying just outside. I was expecting a big black crow haunting my office, but then the sight of this deep-blue bird with intense yellow streaks came as a surprise. It was maybe a foot and a half long from beak to tailfeathers, and was surely the most colorful flier I've seen so far this close. It squawked a couple more times before taking to the air.

Of course, I googled up my description of what I saw, but came up empty. I never could count upon my googling skills for anything, especially not to find information regarding some strange and uncommon an occurrence such as this. So sorry to disappoint you, but no, I have no clue what kind of bird that was.

Anyway, upon seeing that bird fly away, I thought it best to declare a cigarette break. I needed to think recent events through. First, there was the dead bird stupid enough to dart straight for the clear glass window a couple of weeks ago, now this? Entire cultures once based their everyday decisions on our flying friends, sightings and visions of strange birds were regarded as potent signs and omens, who am I to disregard them now?

Trouble is, I've the faintest idea of what this all means. Been having enough trouble focusing at work, unearthing the mystery of these avian sightings is way beyond me even at my bored-most. Maybe it's a calling, that I should be a bird-watcher, or that it's high time that I spread my wings and fly? Or it could be a reminder of just how small my brain is, perhaps an indication that my current staple of fried chicken, chicken franks and hard boiled eggs has gone overboard.

*****

That day at lunchtime, after my delicious meal of spicy chicken wings, I got around to asking my officemates it they saw any peculiar birds lately. No one saw anything of interest, so I had a go at filling them in on my new discovery. Of the four present, three of them agreed that I should've caught and took the bird home as a pet-slash-prize. The other one wondered how it tasted over beer. Clearly the office is going to the birds...

*****

A month ago, I was reading the papers when I chanced upon an article about the death of another Philippine Eagle, the fourth casualty of those hatched in captivity, if I remember right. I couldn't recall if this one bled to death from a bullet wound, what I did remember from the article was that the third casualty was captured and eaten by a couple of villagers not too far from the eagle's sanctuary. Eagle-eye soup must really be that good.

*****

Not a lot of people know that the whole of the prestigious Ayala-Alabang subdivision is a bird sanctuary. They've signs posted and all, a testament to the respect and love the residents have for our feathered friends. They've got gigantic television screens flashing this accord right outside the village gates, fair warning to the outsiders to check their BB guns with the guard, as well as tell the birds that they're welcome to shit-spray their shiny cars and meticulously hand-woven country club shirts. Curiously, while glancing upon the giant television screen proclaiming this fact, a scooter-driving delivery boy whizzed past me and proceeded into the village, the box on the rear of the two-wheeler declared the letters "KFC" in bright crimson.

I knew I shouldn't have laughed, but that sight just cracked me up.