Crest of Gold (Pt. 2)
November 7th 2006 05:46
Danny retreated into himself after the incident, keeping contact with the flock to a minimum. One day, not so long after I saw these cockies at Macquarie University, Danny was wandering by himself through the national park near Sutherland Shire. He came across the butchered remains of some sort of parrot, and his disgust for the carnage was quickly overcome by a swell of excitement from within. Such was Danny’s reserves of once-powerful vanity and pride that they could sometimes overcome all else. This was one of those times. Danny pulled some feathers from the carcass and flew out in search of some of his flock.
Zach was a member of this flock, a friend of Danny’s even, and he was there to see Danny fly in – the flock presently resting in a tree for the dusk, screeching and squawking as their manner often demands of them in such times. Danny roosted in next to his friend and passed him the feathers.
Zach was confused by the gesture but Danny, in a very animated and enthusiastic fashion, quickly explained to Zach what the feathers were for. At first Zach was reluctant to partake in such a silly and slightly macabre activity but after much screeching on Danny’s part he yielded and went about pushing the feathers into his friend’s naked scalp. It was painful and not without blood but at Danny’s insistence Zach persisted and eventually had planted all the feathers into the scarred skin.
Danny was in pain for a while after this as he waited for his wounds to heal around the feathers, but he knew it was a wholly worthwhile venture and soon he has a brand new crest and no longer felt the sting of ugliness. He once more soared out to the water and gazed in rapture at the beautiful creature in the reflection… a splendid white Cockatoo with a brand new crest of blue and red feathers.
The other Cockatoos thought Danny’s new look was a scream, and often sniggered whenever he was nearby, but Danny didn’t care. In fact, it didn’t take long for him to grow more fond of his new crest then he had ever been of his old one, and he now fell in love with himself more than ever before. He was beautiful. He was unique.
It’s rare for men to ever pose a threat to flocks of adult cockatoos, especially Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos. Cockies are often more regarded as a nuisance rather than a natural commodity. Occasionally, though not often, one would be shot by a disgruntled farmer. Such incidents are rare but well-recorded in the cockatoo world, and the creatures give such dangerous men a wide berth in light of their murderous actions. With all this in mind however, Danny had nevertheless given cause for his existence to come under threat from a man.
Danny was by himself at the water’s edge one clear day, contemplating the addition of some more coloured feathers to his wings when this particular man happened to spot him. The man in question was a bird smuggler, not at all smart or particularly knowledgeable about birds, but good at what he did. He traversed the wilderness in search of rare Australian birds that he might catch and sell to the international black market. He had never seen a cockatoo with a blue and red crest and he became very excited at the money such an acquisition might bring to him. Danny was oblivious to the man watching him from nearby bushes, and the man began to stalk him, slowly and quietly creeping towards him. Danny was only aware of one individual, and that was himself.
Zach was a member of this flock, a friend of Danny’s even, and he was there to see Danny fly in – the flock presently resting in a tree for the dusk, screeching and squawking as their manner often demands of them in such times. Danny roosted in next to his friend and passed him the feathers.
Zach was confused by the gesture but Danny, in a very animated and enthusiastic fashion, quickly explained to Zach what the feathers were for. At first Zach was reluctant to partake in such a silly and slightly macabre activity but after much screeching on Danny’s part he yielded and went about pushing the feathers into his friend’s naked scalp. It was painful and not without blood but at Danny’s insistence Zach persisted and eventually had planted all the feathers into the scarred skin.
Danny was in pain for a while after this as he waited for his wounds to heal around the feathers, but he knew it was a wholly worthwhile venture and soon he has a brand new crest and no longer felt the sting of ugliness. He once more soared out to the water and gazed in rapture at the beautiful creature in the reflection… a splendid white Cockatoo with a brand new crest of blue and red feathers.
The other Cockatoos thought Danny’s new look was a scream, and often sniggered whenever he was nearby, but Danny didn’t care. In fact, it didn’t take long for him to grow more fond of his new crest then he had ever been of his old one, and he now fell in love with himself more than ever before. He was beautiful. He was unique.
It’s rare for men to ever pose a threat to flocks of adult cockatoos, especially Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos. Cockies are often more regarded as a nuisance rather than a natural commodity. Occasionally, though not often, one would be shot by a disgruntled farmer. Such incidents are rare but well-recorded in the cockatoo world, and the creatures give such dangerous men a wide berth in light of their murderous actions. With all this in mind however, Danny had nevertheless given cause for his existence to come under threat from a man.
Danny was by himself at the water’s edge one clear day, contemplating the addition of some more coloured feathers to his wings when this particular man happened to spot him. The man in question was a bird smuggler, not at all smart or particularly knowledgeable about birds, but good at what he did. He traversed the wilderness in search of rare Australian birds that he might catch and sell to the international black market. He had never seen a cockatoo with a blue and red crest and he became very excited at the money such an acquisition might bring to him. Danny was oblivious to the man watching him from nearby bushes, and the man began to stalk him, slowly and quietly creeping towards him. Danny was only aware of one individual, and that was himself.
| 48 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
