A bato bato (Zebra dove, Geopelia striata) is perched on a branch visible from my window. It is sitting contentedly, but when a strong wind shakes the tree, it looks a little concerned. It is easier to draw than the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier). It is much more stable. It only moves its head. Does it owe this lack of movement from a fairly large body? I remember Ricky Baker while looking at it. I’ve sen bato bato alone many times. Perhaps this one doesn’t have a mate. Perhaps bato bato love being alone.
The life of a bird is as interesting as its death. Last night, I saw a dead bird in the middle of the road. I saw its beak and realized that it was not one of the common birds, at least not one you’ll expect to see dead in the middle of the road. It looked like a sikling. Perhaps it was crossing the street the exact moment a car or a motorcycle or a tricycle passed by. There was blood. I picked it up and put it on the side of the road on top of the grass that was just wetted by the storm.
Related: bato-bato