Are we teaching or learning from animals?
Week before last, I witnessed a bird stealing from a human being! I just haven’t had the chance to write about it. 
Just imagine yourself making it to the shopping centre to your favourite pastry shop, when after a string of cold rainy days, the weather turns out to be “just right” and you decide to treat yourself and your family to an outdoor snack to match the weather.
Well, this guy accompanied by persons who seemed to be family (but could have been close friends, of course) selected and paid for some attractive savoury stuff. His hot stuff was rolled in paper- good hygiene. As he was about to take his first bite, down swooped this bird and off it went with the food in its beak.
I swear I saw that bird gloating! So much so, it flew down and landed a few metres away, near enough so that the man could see birdie eating his snack. The fellow was definitely not impressed. I don’t even blame him for lurching forward and attempting a kick at the animal. Only thing the bird was smarter, somehow expecting him to retaliate and up it went as abruptly as it did after it had pilfered the sausage looking delicacy.
Did I say “pilfered”? Yes, much as the would-be eater was looking forward to enjoying his treat, that was a small thing when you think about the millions who go without daily bread, let alone savoury snack. And if you know my beloved, he likes to say, “wild animals need to eat too”.
I don’t agree with him that wild animals must eat humans’ food. They are wild and should satisfy themselves with what grows in the wild. However, the definition of wild varies. In my Caribbean Garden, I plant stuff for me, my family, friends, acquaintances, and other human beings to eat. I don’t mind the birds having a bite or two, or three, or more, because the fruit trees especially will produce much more than enough for us to eat. But in that place, there are also creatures called iguanas (you know them?) that are definitely animalistic from the standpoint that they have no conscience when it comes to devouring everything that people plant for food. They are as unkind as that bird I saw stealing from the unsuspecting man.
Did I say “steal”? Yes, I did. And I meant it. That bird came into a shopping plaza where bird food trees don’t grow. It came looking for people’s food. It came by a shop that makes food for people, not for birds. I wonder if it’s at all true when we are greedy and misbehave that we are being instinctively like animas. Is that so? As a former biologist with some insight into ethology, I did learn about certain traits that we might share with other created beings. But, but, but- I’m beginning to wonder if other beings are watching us misbehave and perfecting on our bad habits. I don’t think it’s the first time that particular bird stole from a human person. He was like a pro in his craft! Not at all like the sweet mild creatures in my feature photograph.