I like Anuska?...No!

Honestly speaking, there’s nothing more I hate than the anuska season. So hateful!…

Why, you ask? Allow then this chivalrous bird, me, little Taro, to share my many grievances I can barely manage to tolerate about this hateful season.

Anuska… the season where all the luxury ends and where the many little difficulties begin. The coldest and unbearable season.

Chattering of beaks unconsciously, a ‘must sleep in a crowded nest’ law, waking up late and sleeping earlier, moving nests to seek refuge in the south, and the most unbearable of all to me…

Missing my delicious afternoon delicacy!… my grub… sniff sniff.

All other inconveniences can be pardoned. I mean, whichever bird won’t tolerate their beak chattering unruly once in awhile? Well, except for this one time I stumbled across an old oriole from a nearby nest giving instructions to its family’s sons in the morning. 

It was quite a hilarious sight. Due the extremely low temperature, the oriole’s beak kept chattering while in the middle of instructing , as a result, all that was heard was a mumble jumble chirping not even he himself could understand. The poor old bird kept repeating the same words several times while even flapping its wings from time to time , but all its effort came to naught. I even felt pity for the old oriole, but I did laugh.

sigh…this cold weather is so troublesome…

Then again, when it comes to that stinky law the honorable ancestor kept of crowding the nests when sleeping at night to keep warm, I feel emotionally spent! And unless we have moved nests to the south where it's more humid during anuska, we won’t be sleeping in separated kins. How I usually miss such days when i could occupy five more straws for myself when sleeping! Sigh…

Let’s not talk about waking up late and sleeping earlier. This subject hurts our pride as birds. I meant to say those other birds not me. What bird’s pride? Can I eat it? Is it as delicious as my grub? I only care about my delicious grub!…

I can imagine the angry faces of other birds if they could hear my amazing thoughts. Hahaha…

The vireos and swallows are so good in chirping soprano, while the flycatchers and tanagers do the bass chirping the most, and I personally quite hate how they sound though. If you ask any bird, ‘Who chirps alto the best?’ The only answer you’ll get is the warblers. I like how they sound early in the morning and they act as my secret moving clock ( if I even ever know what a clock is…). And last but not least, if you want to listen to a tenor chirping, ask the songbirds and you’ll obviously be pleasantly surprised.

Therefore the reason why most birds hate anuska season is because they will probably have to wake up late due to the cold, depriving them of their only privilege to chirp sweetly and entice other species in the mornings ( They always love it. Those other species). A big blow to their pride this one, especially the orioles.

Hah… poor us.

Moving nests to seek refuge in the south, is always the major event during the anuska season. Not only due to decrease of temperature during the anuska season do we have to move nests to the south where it's more humid at that time, but also the decrease in our meal budget. What I mean to say is, my grubs won’t be available anymore, and if they are, the chances are I will catch only one or two not ten like I used to, after exhausting my wings and eyes so much that I wish to cry( that is.. if I had tears).

Sigh, so depressing… and this time anuska came earlier than expected.

“ Little Taro why are you lazing around at this time? Don’t you know tomorrow we are moving nests?” Chirped mama Taro angrily.

“ I’m waiting for Zuma and his little brother mom. They said they will pass by when going to the night market, so I thought I will have to go with them and trade the for the dry grubs. ”

“ You really are my son. My family’s son shouldn’t be so lax and slack around like the second kin's son. Oh, and don’t forget to trade for the grains too they are very useful along the way.”

“ Mom don’t worry, I will.” I assured her.

During the beginning of the anuska season, the mulberry night market is conducted just above the clouds, only once, and it is always lively. It is the market only the flying species can afford to attend and of course it’s the secret only we the birds know about.

That night, I brought with me twenty rice straws which can be considered a very rare commodity for nest making during this time, and exchanged them for the grains and dry grub. Of course, I collected more grub the most… who can blame me?…

Although moving nests is beneficial for us during the anuska season, it’s nevertheless very dangerous and an arduous undertaking, testing both our endurance and mental capabilities( if we ever had enough…teh teh…).

Physical stress of the trip to the south, we may luck enough grub to eat along the way, and sometimes some of us may even be caught up on traps and have a fall out or even be hunted by those big bad guys who can chew us in one bite( predators…?)…

I always have some misgivings about the trip to the south ...gulp.

Speaking of those big bad guys, the last time we were moving nests during the anuska season, the third kin of the songbirds all got caught up in their trap due to the playfulness of their last daughter. No one could help them, not even the great Renta, our strong guide. It was so sad and most of us completed our journey while being all panicky and restless.

Hah… I cried three times that day( that is.. if I had tears)…

Today, I hope we have a good journey and reach our destination safely not like last time. Personally I think this time’s trip is going to be great and safe.

Why? Because… new Rentas have been assigned and trained this time for a more accurate navigation and senses of trails. One for each bird kin.

Moreover, the giant V flying pattern we normally use during our trip, has been modified to a supposedly more comfortable and and secured W flying pattern.

I think it’ll be awesome. I want to try it so much… 

It’s just that… I hope I meet again that cute little miss oriole. She was quite a lovely and charming companion the last time we came to the south. I sometimes wonder if I have fallen for her?…

Sigh… I might even think that I like anuska because of her. But hey, how i hate it because of my grub!?!…