extra

I dont like this word particularly, but it is the word normally used to refer things other than something given prime importance.

For example,

- in a cinema song sequence, the dancers behind main pair are called extras.

- in a drama act, the women fanning the king are called extras.

- in a school choir, the chorus and tenors are considered extras (though they are very important)

I happen to visit the birdpark out here a few weeks ago, and happened to note the interesting "extras" there. The attractions behind bars are something to be watched, nevertheless the wild birds like mynas and sparrows that come for perks from the cages are very interesting, in their behavior and relationship with the caged birds, the caged birds' responses to these wild birds and vice versa.

In movies like, "Chicken run", I remember one frame of scene in which the Chicken GINGER (the chicken which designs plans for run always), watches and gazes at the flock of free geese flying by with so much anxiety in eyes. (it might be for freedom or a wish to fly)...

These "extras" are seldom watched by visitors, but play an important role in the caged birds psycology. If the wild birds dont visit these cages, the caged birds would forget very soon (if at all they had experienced) what is freedom and what it feels like to "fly" about !

Second is some of the wild birds visiting cage would actually visit the caged birds rather than the cage, like visiting friends. They spend time hopping inside the cage, being a temporary co-tenant of the cage. Seldom contact physically occurs, but visual contact is established often and physical response is observed. In cases, where the visitors and cage occupiers are of same species, breeding also occurs (for eg. Lovebirds that are caged are visited by stray lovebirds and some males stay forever in the cage itself).

One of my friend's love bird cage has a wild bird permanently settled (we call it in Tamil - "dera" :-) and it is full-time love making machine and always poses like a dude with girls around.

Next time you go to visit a caged bird, dont miss to chk out its wild co-tenants, it isnt necessarily birds, sometimes rodents (rats) also play the part.

Attached is the pic of Black winged Starling found to peek inside hornbill enclosures in Jurong Birdpark