Learning from One Another

The delightful Society Finch requires companionship amongst members of its own kind; hence the name, Society Finch. In the facilities containing our aviaries, residents and nurses alike have noticed that these little birds tend to stick together, like buddies that are “thicker than thieves”. People are generally dubious when it comes to personifying an animal, but if such a person were ever to observe these birds interacting with each other (or even with other birds!), they would be convinced that these little finches possess the biggest hearts!

            I myself have experienced this first-hand since coming to possess three blind Societies of my own. Two of them lived happy, normal lives and went blind only as they got older, while the last one, Louie, was born blind. Louie was the first that I took in, and when I observed him sitting and hopping around his cage, it was evident, that he didn’t really know how to be a bird. Although he would sing, he did not preen much and never attempted to fly or to bathe himself. Having missed out on experiencing the world through such a major sense as vision, his understanding of the world and related development was incomplete.

            When I introduced his first brother, Amaretto, however, things began to change. Louie learned not only how to preen himself and other birds—a means of enjoying each other’s company—he also became much more active in terms of flying and even bathing. Being blind, none of my birds are confident fliers, however, the ones that were born with sight (who had experienced their wings sweeping through the air in their youth) do cautiously take to the air a few times a day. Now Louie, despite never having learned to fly properly, does the same thing. He flies around his cage when he hears the others doing so and, despite being a bit helter-skelter, is gaining confidence every day.

            He has also, somewhat, learned how to take a bath. Initially, whenever Amaretto or Bam-Bam (the third finch) splashed around in their tub, Louie would go over and try to get wet as well. He would let them splash him as they bathed themselves, getting only a sprinkle of water, however, now he does his best to splash around himself. It didn’t work out too well at first, he would hardly get wet (though he would still fan his wings like he was soaked), but he has improved quite a bit and I’m sure he’ll get even better.

            It’s awe inspiring to see these minute creatures looking out for and learning from one another and such a delight to watch them take care of the little families that they create. The residents that get to watch Society Finches in the aviaries are treated to a glimpse of the type of warmth and love that is pure and precious.