About Author & Essay
Full Name: Malcolm Smith
Malcolm Smith is a biologist, former Chief Scientist and Deputy Chief Executive at The Countryside Council for Wales and has been Member of the Board of the Environment Agency (for England and Wales). He has had numerous features on wildlife, heritage and travel published in a variety of publications and is the author of the acclaimed Life with Birds, a story of Mutual Exploitation; Back from the Brink and Gone Wild, Stories from a Lifetime of Wildlife Travel.
“The Bird that Guides” is an informative piece written by the author of Life with Birds : A story of Mutual Exploitation which describes his experience of finding about a species of bird that guides people to wild bee nests, and seeing that process firsthand. In this text, the author also shares about another bird that shows a similar behavior and relates with reports from biologist regarding it. We also learn about the place where honeyguides were common and about the local tribe who had sufficient expertise in using them. We also get a detailed description of the process of the bird-human partnership between the honeyguide and the tribesmen. Furthermore, the text also provides us with information about different species of honeyguides, their history and the reasons for why this sort of bird-human partnership came to be.
(सजिलो गरि भन्दा) ↓
“The Bird that Guides” Malcolm Smith i.e. author ले लेखेको “Life with Birds: A Story of Mutual Exploitation,” बाट लिएको एउटा सानो informational टुक्रा (i.e. piece) मात्र हो, where the author shares his experience (आफैले प्रत्यक्ष आँखाले देखेको) of discovering or finding a species of bird that helps people find wild bee nests (मानिसहरूलाई जंगली माहुरीको गुँड फेला पार्न मद्दत गर्ने चराको प्रजाति ). In this text, the author also talks about another bird that behaves similarly, and relates with reports from biologist regarding it. We also learn about places where these birds were common and about local tribes i.e. जनजातिहरू who had sufficient expertise in using them. The text also provides a detailed description of the partnership between the honeyguide bird and the tribesmen. Furthermore, it offers information about different species of honeyguides, their history, and the reasons why such bird-human partnerships exist.
Original Essay
Summary
“The Bird That Guides” by Malcolm Smith explores the remarkable symbiotic relationship between humans and honeyguides, focusing on their shared quest / hunt for wild bee nests. Author Smith recounts his personal experiences and observations, starting with the Ndorobo tribesman Robert Lentaaya’s use of honeyguides in Kenya’s Mathews Range. Lentaaya’s expertise in discovering the forest and communicating with the birds underscores the depth of this partnership.
Smith also discusses on the behavior of honeyguides, describing their characteristic calls and gestures used to attract human attention and lead them to bee nests. He recounts examples where honeyguides displayed persistence and agitation when humans failed to follow their guidance, emphasizing the birds’ keen interest in accessing bee colonies.
The essay discusses the practical aspects of bee nest exploration, detailing Lentaaya’s methods of pacifying bees with smoke before extracting honeycomb. Smith highlights the danger posed by wild bees and the skill required to safely harvest honey, offering knowledge into the risks involved in this hard struggle.
Beyond personal story, Smith explores the broader ecological context of honeyguides, noting their role in pollination and their dependence on specific habitats, particularly older trees with cavities for nesting. He also addresses the cultural significance of honeyguides, tracing historical accounts of their interactions with humans and speculating on the origins of this unique relationship.
Throughout the essay, Smith reflects on the potential threats facing honeyguides, such as habitat loss and changing human practices like beekeeping in hives. He underscores the importance of preserving this ancient human-bird relationship and its associated ecological benefits, while acknowledging the challenges posed by modernization and environmental degradation.
In sum, “The Bird That Guides” provides a detailed exploration of the complicated relationships between humans and honeyguides, connecting together personal narratives, ecological awareness, and cultural reflections to explain the depth and significance of this age-old partnership.
Comprehension Questions
- What bird is the author specifically talking about in the text?
→ Although the author had described about honeyguide birds as a main context, the author has describes two birds in the text, which are mentioned below:
a. Honeyguides: These birds, particularly the Greater Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, and Lesser Honeyguide, are central to the narrative. Honeyguides are known for their unique behavior of guiding humans to wild bee nests to access honeycomb.
b. Northern Ravens: While this bird is not the primary focus of the text, Northern Ravens are briefly mentioned as birds that sometimes guide hunters, particularly in the Arctic region, by signaling the presence of prey such as caribou. - Which type of bird displays imitation and skills like problem-solving?
→ The Northern Raven is the kind of bird that displays imitation and cognitive abilities like problem-solving. According to the author, Northern Ravens have some of the largest brains of any bird species, making them highly successful and clever. They are renowned for their capacity for insight, cognitive functions like mimicry, and problem-solving. - What was Heinrich’s basis for his point in Mind of the Raven?
→ Heinrich’s basis for his point in “Mind of the Raven” was primarily anecdotal evidence gathered from Inuit hunters on Baffin Island in the Arctic. He suggests that ravens sometimes guide hunters by signaling the presence of prey such as caribou. The signals could include tucking in one wing momentarily as they fly or making a certain call. While Heinrich acknowledges that he doesn’t have objective proof, he presents anecdotes from the Inuit hunters to support his idea that ravens guide hunters to food sources like caribou. - With whom did the author have his experience of the bird-human partnership?
→ The author had his experience of the bird-human partnership with a Ndorobo tribesman named Robert Lentaaya in the Mathews forests of Central Kenya. - How many Lentaaya able to spot the honeyguide?
→ Lentaaya was able to spot the honeyguide on 2 different times during the author’s visit to the Mathews forests. The first encounter had occurred when the honeyguide came to their campsite and stayed there, calling to Lentaaya. However, they couldn’t follow the bird immediately as the author was away. Despite their attempts to coax the honeyguide back, it left after waiting for some time.
The second encounter happened a few days later while a small group, including the author, was resting by the Ngeng River. Lentaaya, with his sharp hearing, detected the distinctive sound of the honeyguide nearby. He pointed out the bird to the author, and they followed it as it led them through the forest, calling incessantly. Lentaaya communicated with the bird as they followed its lead, maintaining contact with it throughout the journey. Eventually, they reached a spot where the honeyguide’s behavior changed, indicating the presence of a bee nest. However, they were unable to access the nest due to its location high up in a tree. Despite their inability to retrieve honeycomb, the honeyguide continued to call and flick its wings and tail, demonstrating its eagerness to assist them. - In what way did the behavior of the honeyguide change throughout the bird-human partnership that the author experienced?
→ Throughout the bird-human partnership that the author experienced, the behavior of the honeyguide changed in several ways:
a. Initial Agitation: When the honeyguide first arrived at the campsite, it displayed agitation, calling to Lentaaya and indicating its desire to lead them to a bee nest.
b. Persistence: Despite the author’s absence during the first encounter, the honeyguide persisted in its attempts to guide them, staying around the campsite and calling out for some time.
c. Excitement and Leading: During the second encounter, the honeyguide exhibited excitement and eagerness as it led the group through the forest, hopping from branch to branch and calling incessantly to maintain their attention.
d. Communication: The honeyguide communicated with Lentaaya through its calls and gestures, guiding them effectively towards the bee nest.
e. Frustration: When the group was unable to access the bee nest due to its location high up in a tree, the honeyguide’s behavior shifted to frustration. It continued to call and flick its wings and tail, expressing its disappointment at their inability to retrieve honeycomb.
Overall, the honeyguide’s behavior throughout the partnership reflected its strong desire to guide humans to bee nests and hunt honeycomb, as well as its frustration when faced with obstacles that prevented them from doing so. - Why does honeyguide lead people to bee’s nest?
→ Honeyguides lead people to bee’s nests because they have a mutualistic relationship with humans. The honeyguides are attracted to human activities, such as talking, chopping wood, or cooking, and they often approach campsites where humans are present. Since, honeyguides don’t have large & strong beaks, they cannot access bee’s nests on their own due to their inability to break into them and their dangers to bee stings, they depend on humans to open the nests for them. In return for guiding humans to the nests, honeyguides benefit from accessing the wax and bee larvae inside. This behavior likely developed over thousands of years, leading to a mutually beneficial partnership between honeyguides and humans in obtaining food resources. - When and where did Dr Hussein Isack do his research?
→ Dr. Hussein Isack’s research in northern Kenya in the mid-1980s is detailed in the text when the author discusses Isack’s expertise as a honeyguide expert. Isack conducted a three-year study in northern Kenya during the mid-1980s. His research focused on the accessibility of wild honeybee nests to honeyguides. Isack found that 96% of these nests were accessible to the birds only after people had opened them up first. This finding underscores the honeyguides’ dependence on humans to access the food resources inside bee nests. Isack’s research provides empirical evidence supporting the mutually beneficial relationship between honeyguides and humans in obtaining food resources from bee nests. - What was the average difference in duration that it took for tribesmen to find the bee’s nest with and without honeyguides?
→ The average difference in duration it took for tribesmen to find bee’s nests with and without honeyguides was approximately six hours. With honeyguides, it took just over three hours, while without them, it took nearly nine hours on average. - What is the main conclusion that you draw from this text?
→ The main conclusion drawn from the text is that honeyguides have a mutually beneficial relationship with humans, guiding them to bee’s nests in exchange for access to honeycomb. Overall, the essay not only provides information about a unique bird-human relationship, but also highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge and habitat conservation.
Important Long Questions
- How can birds help human beings in different situations?
- Write an essay on bird-human relationship in Nepali Society.
- Discuss the reasons behind worshipping crow in Hindu festival, Kaag Tihar.
- What do you understand by the term ‘migratory birds’? when and where do these birds visit Nepal ?
→ The term “migratory birds” refers to those species of birds that regularly migrate or move or travel across long distances between different regions or habitats. These migrations are usually caused by seasonal variations in the availability of food, breeding circumstances, or climate. These yearly or seasonal migrations are made by these birds as they move from their breeding areas to their wintering grounds.
According to various research data, approximately 150 different bird species travel Nepal annually, traveling from Europe, Korea, the Tibetan area, China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia. Approximately over fifty different migratory bird species go from Nepal to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The majority of summer migrating birds arrive in Nepal in order to lay eggs, hatch, and grow their offspring.
In Nepal, migratory birds visit during the winter months, typically from November to February. They arrive from their breeding grounds in colder regions to escape harsh winter conditions and find suitable habitats with abundant food resources in Nepal’s warmer climate. Nepal’s diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, lakes, rivers, and forests, provide important stopover sites and wintering grounds for migratory birds. Some of the popular destinations for migratory birds in Nepal include wetlands such as the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Chitwan National Park, and the lakes of Pokhara Valley. These areas offer rich feeding grounds and suitable habitats for various species of migratory birds during the winter season.