Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
There’s a certain satisfaction that come from climbing the highest mountain or crossing the widest desert to find that rare bird that lives nowhere except in that inaccessible area. But there’s also a certain gratification derived from floating on your back in a tropical pool and having a previously unobserved bird fly up and land at the edge of the same pool.
Such was the case of this Yellow-vented Bulbul. My pleasure was not diminished in the least finding out later it was probably the most common urban bulbul in all of Southeast Asia. Mine was seen in Bali, but can also be found in Borneo, Brunei, and a host of other nations from China to India.
Besides being common, it’s also a sociable bird, forming flocks with other bulbul species in communal roosting spots for the night. It even seems comfortable in the company of humans, undoubtedly the reason why I was graced with its presence while splashing in the pool. And to top it off, it has a lovely song that is pleasant to human ears.
While I may take great pleasure in finding that impossible to see species, isn’t it nice to know that we are generously blessed by that which is plopped in our laps with really no effort on our part. Paul reminds us of the spiritual equivalent of this in Ephesians 4:7 where he writes: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Let’s make sure we treat this gift for what it is, a gift. Let’s live gratefully and bask in His blessing.