A List of Birds

There were two kinds of birds in the great forest; Blue jays, which were called Blues, and Cardinals, known among the birds as Reds. The Forest Birds were led by a Circle of Birds that lived in a great Willow tree on a field at the edge of the great forest. These were known as the Willow Birds.

All the birds lived in peace sharing an abundance of bugs and occasional worms, until one day the Circle of Birds decided to make a list. “The list will be of worms.” they said, “That we may know where our abundance lies.”

Stella, a forest bird whose mother was blue and father was red and had white speckles on her tail, said “No lists. Lists are for people and machines and will make us like them.”

Those in the Willow, when they heard of this, said “What do you fear? You are no person, or machine, or worm. Will you be the protector of worms and never eat one again?”

Stella moved her nest to a tall tree.

Soon, the Cardinals came to suspect the Blues of eating more than their share of worms.

“Let us add to our list the birds who eat the worms.”

“No lists,” warned Stella from her tree. “The lists will divide us. Look how people are divided.”

“What do you fear?” said the Cardinals. “The list will have all birds red and blue. There is no division. Perhaps you fear this because you are eating more than your share?”

Then all the birds were frightened. They did not want to be suspected so they rallied behind the Reds, crying “We have nothing to hide, so we have nothing to fear.”

Stella moved her nest to a mountain top, resolving to live on bugs alone.

No sooner was the list augmented to include birds who ate worms than the cry went up from the Willow. “We were right! The Blues must be watched more carefully.” Even the few Blue Jays in the Circle agreed.

“Show us the list,” the forest Blues pleaded.

“The location of the list must remain secret,” insisted the Cardinals. They gave no reason but that it was the will of all good birds, Red and Blue.

Then all the forest birds were frightened that some would think them not to be good birds and they said, “Yes, it is our will.”

Stella said “It is not my will.” She built her nest at the top of a high tree on her high mountain and carefully set thorn bushes to grow all about it. There were still fewer worms in this place and even the bugs were sparse, but in its favor, there were few birds and no lists.

After a time, there came warnings as to the scarceness of worms. It was noted that the Willow dipped deeply, sagging with the heavy weight of the Circle of Birds. While these Willow Birds grew fat, the Forest Birds, red and blue, worried about feeding their families.

The Willow Birds saw the angry flocks and consulted among themselves. Finally, they came upon a solution.

“Red and blue birds,” they said, calling them all together, “we see that you are upset and we know that it is the list that has made you so. It is not right that birds should watch over other birds. So, we have chosen good and impartial friends to manage the list from now on.”

With that they seized up a great load of worms that they had put aside and flew west to the unknown lands. Into the forest, in their place came dozens of cats from the surrounding towns. “Please form two orderly lines,” purred the largest in a kindly voice. “We will first take attendance.”

When the roll was read some of the forest birds noted that Stella was not on it. Unperturbed, the cats went about their business. “Alas”, they said. “What is one bird, more or less?” And in truth, it mattered not, for still they had themselves a fine feast.

The moral: Though you may have nothing to hide, still you may have much to lose.