Secret lives of seabirds

"Mankind naturally and generally love to be flattered: Whatever sooths our pride, and tends to exalt our species above the rest of the creation, we are pleased with and easily believe, when ungrateful truths shall be with the utmost Indignation rejected. "What! bring ourselves down to an Equality with the Beasts of the Field! with the meanest part of the Creation! 'Tis insufferable!" But, (to use a piece of common sense) our Geese are but Geese tho' we may think 'em Swans; and Truth will be Truth tho' it sometimes proves mortifying and distasteful - Benjamin Franklin.

My readers must be wondering what this is all about. After all, most of us have either known or heard of birds from the same species as us having secret lives. Come to think of it; to be fair to these birds, I would say most of the human species must be having some kind of secrets in their lives. But, seabirds? Iam not referring to the rock band by the name Seabirds from Independence, Kentucky, U.S.A. As individuals, some or all members of the band may possess secret lives.

But, the only secret kept hidden for a long time by the band was that their debut EP, "Spread Your Broken Wings and Try", was recorded in one of the band members' rooms. But for this fact, this group was just another mediocre band with nothing much further to add. Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that had adapted to life within the marine environment. However, study of seabirds show a striking similarity to the present day birds of the human species. In fact, very much like our humans birds of the Sri Lankan variety; these marine birds, in general, live longer, breed later and have fewer young than other birds do. They also invest a great deal of time in their young.

Compare this with similar traits of our Sri Lankan birds who live longer than their men; marry late, have fewer children and devote a lot of time towards the upbringing of their children. Most species of seabirds nest in colonies - which can vary in size from a few dozen birds to millions - just like us humans.

Many species are famous for undertaking long annual migrations, crossing the equator or circumnavigating the Earth in some cases. They feed both at the ocean's surface and below it, and even feed on each other. In the case of our walking and talking Lankan birds; though they would like to imitate the seabird lifestyle of travel, monetary conditions that affect humans but not the seabirds may act as spoil sport. However, like the sea birds, our birds too feed at home as well as outside, and they thrive on digesting each other's gossip.

Seabirds and humans have a long history together: they have provided food to hunters, guided fishermen to fishing stocks and led sailors to land. Seabird tourism can provide income for coastal communities as well as raise the profile of seabird conservation.

Many species are currently threatened by human activities, and conservation efforts are under way. Today many important seabird colonies are given some measure of protection.

It is said that birds of a feather are gregarious by nature. But, birds of a different feather do fly together. Scientists are now discovering that young seabirds regularly follow different species to learn from them.

A key to understanding how juvenile animals develop involves watching them interact socially and potentially learn from the experience of others, as opposed to by trial and error - a lesson worth emulating by human beings as well. The best form of learning is to imbibe from the experience of others. That way, we learn faster and avoid the heart ache that self experience can inflict. Learning by trial and error is a cumbersome process.

The fact that we humans do not always realize this; and yet, seabirds and other animals are doing it, is a shame upon our intelligence.

Secret means to keep some information separate or hidden from view or knowledge, or from all persons except the individual concerned. Synonyms for the word includes: clandestine, concealed, covered, covert, furtive, and so on. Secrecy is often controversial, depending on the content of the secret, the group or people keeping the secret, and the motivation for secrecy. Secrecy by government entities is often decried as excessive or in promotion of poor operation; excessive revelation of information on individuals can conflict with virtues of privacy and confidentiality.

Humans attempt to consciously conceal aspects of themselves from others due to shame, or from fear of violence, rejection, harassment, loss of acceptance, or loss of employment.

Humans may also attempt to conceal aspects of their own self which they are not capable of incorporating psychologically into their conscious being. Families sometimes maintain "family secrets", obliging family members never to discuss disagreeable issues concerning the family with outsiders or sometimes even within the family. Many "family secrets" are maintained by using a mutually agreed-upon construct (an official family story) when speaking with outside members. Agreement to maintain the secret is often coerced through "shaming" and reference to family honour.

The information may even be something as trivial as a recipe. Animals, on the other hand, conceal the location of their den or nest from predators. Squirrels bury nuts, hiding them, and they try to remember their locations later. Excessive secrecy is often cited as a source of much human conflict. One may have to lie in order to hold a secret, which might lead to psychological repercussions.

The alternative, declining to answer when asked something, may suggest the answer and may therefore not always be suitable for keeping a secret. Also, the other may insist that one answer the question. Nearly 2500 years ago, Sophocles wrote, "Do nothing secretly; for Time sees and hears all things, and discloses all." And the Buddha, even earlier to Sophocles, once said "Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth".Well readers, seabirds may lead secret lives, but let us humans decide whether it is worth having and leading secret lives.

The burden of carrying a secret often extracts a toll and it shows irrespective of the secret remaining a secret. And do remember: three may keep a secret, provided two of them are dead.See you this day next week. Until then, avoid secrets but keep thinking, keep laughing. Life is mostly about these two activities.

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