All World
Gayatri Pariwar

   Other creatures are not as developed as humans in terms of intelligence, but if we were to look at them from the perspective of love, mutual co-operation and other qualities, then they are in no way inferior to humans. We think that they lack the faculty of speech and sophisticated language to express themselves and hence they are devoid of the above-mentioned qualities, but the truth is something different. Based on their individual capacities, they can certainly express their feelings in one way or the other. They do communicate their thoughts with one another. They convey feelings of happiness, sadness and send out warning messages to others when in danger. It is a different thing that we cannot understand their mode of communication; but we have no right to believe that they are deaf and dumb. They have their own science of communicating and expressing themselves. Researchers are trying to understand this science that exists in the species of birds.   

The renowned ornithologist from Michigan University Dr. Brodock has done extensive studies for several years on the behavior of birds. He believes that birds share their thoughts with one another just like human beings. We might assume that their actions like chirping and hopping are pointless, but those actions carry different types of information. In addition to this, birds express different feelings and postures through which they transmit information. Sometimes they use special sounds to convey some messages to alert their fellow birds. Dr. Brodock says that birds also have feelings and emotions just like human beings. He says that if a birds were devoid of emotions, it would not have showed concern for fellow birds in times of danger and alerted them.

It would have just flown away to save its own life. But this is not true. Probably, the bird knows the hardships that it has to face at the hands of the enemy. Hence, it is overcome by compassion and love for its fellow birds and tries to send out warning signals in times of impending danger. Renowned Indian ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali conducted studies on birds and their behavior throughout his life. Based on his elaborate studies and experience, he said that if Nature had not given different postures, emotions and signals through which birds communicate, then it would not have been possible for them to survive. Collective living is another basis through which they maintain their unique identity as species. Even if one bird is alert, it protects the entire flock. On the other hand, the collective power of the flock enables them to fight the enemy.

This kind of research has also been done by other scientists in the world. J. C. Bremond of ‘Laboratory of birds and their behavior’ situated in France has been conducting research on birds, their sounds and signals. He has recorded more than 1300 sounds of various species of birds. There are some birds, which in addition to their own sound, also make several other sounds that resemble other birds, animals and also machines. Why is this special faculty found in these birds and what is its use? On this topic, Dr. Bremond feels that this faculty is given by Nature so that they can intimidate the predator. In his book – ‘Birds and Nature’, he gave a description of a European robin and writes that when they played the sounds of a robin recorded during different times through a loud speaker in an area that was predominantly full of male robins during the spring season, thinking that it could be an attack by some foreign species, all the robins got together to face the attack. After a while, when they realized that it must have been the work of some truant robin, they again lowered their guard and resumed their activity. When this same experiment was conducted during autumn, there was no reaction from the robins. Based on this he concluded that the sounds produced by birds are of different variety and evoke either a fearsome or loving reaction in different seasons.

Presently, this signalling information of the birds is being used against them to scare and send them away. Oppenheim in Germany is known as the ‘city of alcohol’. The grape orchards are in full bloom during the autumn season. When the grapes ripen, a flock of Tailipier birds begins to hover on the vineyards. The moment they find an opportunity and descend down, the watchman present there presses a button in the tape-recorder. On hearing the sound, the birds run for their life. They move out of that place and try to land on some other far away yard and the same method is repeated from the watchman there. Finally, the flock is fear-stricken and moves away. The tape-recorder contains sound produced by those birds to indicate grave danger. Hence on hearing it, they run away in fear. The owners of vineyards prepare these recorded sounds beforehand so as to save their crop from these birds. Once the harvest season comes, they play this sound through loud speakers hearing which the Tailipier thinks that it is in grave danger and immediately flies away.

This kind of technique is being employed at airports too. A large gull attacked an airplane that was landing at New York airport. The pilot somehow steered it away from the attacking bird and landed the airplane safely. But there were two more airplanes that were due for landing at that time and there was a flock of gulls hovering around that area. To save any kind of mishap, the airport authorities summoned Cadillac, a specialist in bird sounds who was known for averting such mishaps. He produced a sound that indicated danger to the gulls and they immediately fled from that place. In this way, the accident was averted.

Just like humans, other creatures also express their emotions. The only difference is that man is able to express himself more clearly owing to the language. If we move ahead in this direction, man can establish loving relationship with not only humans but also extend his affection to other creatures and expand his consciousness.