How nature teaches us to express ourselves
Nature has always been the ultimate gallery, hasn’t it? I’ve come to believe that every living creature is a part of this grand design. When you look deeply, you realise that every art form we create, whether music, painting, or poetry, is really just us trying to find our way back to the natural world.
In art, the most basic instinct is to express yourself. Have you ever wondered if humans and birds are expressing the same fundamental truths? A bird’s call is its identity. Each bird species carries a unique call, a sonic fingerprint left upon the air. I remember sitting in the office recently, just caught up in a random conversation with a colleague. We started talking about the personalities of the birds outside our window, and she said something that stayed with me: “You know, birds have introverts and extroverts just like we do.” That was the moment when I got to know that do have specific sounds for when they are happy, when they are sad. Their voices are not just noise; they are emotional signatures.
When I look at the birds around us now, I see different kinds of artists trying to express themselves in their own way. We all have that one friend whose voice changes the second their mood does. For me, that’s the Jungle Babbler. Usually, they have this beautiful, haunting meow, but the moment they’re bothered, they turn into an angry cat. It’s so human, isn’t it? I love this because it’s so real. It’s a reminder that art and expression aren’t always pretty; sometimes being honest means being a little sharp and loud.
If birds were people, the Rose-ringed Parakeet would be the bold extrovert in the group. They are impossible to ignore; in fact, they aren’t shy about making their presence known. But there is a hidden grace to them, the way they fly in perfect, fast-moving formations is like a choreographed dance in the sky. They’re a reminder to all of us that we don’t have to be just one vibe. We are allowed to be both loud and messy, and incredibly graceful all at once.
Think about the art of acting for a second. What is it if not the art of mimicry? The Ashy Drongo is the ultimate performance artist in this sense. They have these sweet, cheery voices that can lift your spirits, but they are also masters of a more tactical art. They will perfectly mimic the call of a hawk to send other birds into a panic, just to steal their food. It’s a fascinating look at how mimicry and acting aren’t just for the stage; in the wild, they are creative tools for survival.
Finally, look at the Purple Sunbird. Small, frantic, and shimmering like a jewel, they are always on the move. Most of the time, they are just a quick flash of colour, but when they stop to sing, it’s a high-pitched, energetic warble. It’s a beautiful reminder that even the quietest, most introverted people among us often carry a grand symphony inside, just waiting for the right moment to be heard.
While it’s true that some birds are masters of mimicry, imitating the songs of neighbours or the sounds of their environment, if you listen closely enough, you can always separate the imitation from the original.
The way a bird chooses to speak to the world is deeply correlated with its environment and its inner nature. By observing them, we learn more about our own drive to create, to speak, and to be heard. The next time you step outside, don’t just listen, try to hear the personality behind the song.
