God Sent Me A Racket Tailed Drongo

God Sent Me A Racket Tailed Drongo I woke up this morning to bird calls, as with all the other mornings since I've moved into my current dwelling place beside a jungle & a cemetary which houses the remains of Yap Ah Loy, The Capitan of Kuala Lumpur. It wasn't just any bird call. It was an intriguing call, more like a song that changes with the flicker of sunlight that penetrated parts of this jungle. I would walk over to my window & see this remarkable Racket Tailed Drongo( Dicrurus paradiseus) that would greet me each morning in front of my bedroom on the tree branch just ahead. I would watch it in awe. It brought back memories of my first encounter with this bird in Langkawi at Burau Bay. I was walking along the road leading back to Berjaya Resort with my camera, hoping to capture a raptor or two. Just as soon as I saw one overhead, it settled on a low branch right in front of me. I was thinking how I would be the envy of the birdwatchers before me when I show them my pictures later! What a timely presence! It was a beautiful eagle, about 40cm in height & just as I was preparing to prop my camera, an unbelievable thing happened that took my breath away. Out of nowhere, a racket-tailed drongo took a suicidal dive from the sky at the perched eagle in what seemed to be an act of vengeance of some sort. I witnessed a tremendous amount of courage exerted by the drongo as I stood there in confusion with my hand shielding my eyes from the sun as it repeatedly plunged into the eagle! Before long, the eagle fluttered & knew it was no match for this mad, suicidal bird & took flight. I was too floored to take a picture although at other times, I would not have missed the opportunity. In fact, I was upset at the drongo for chasing away my subject when I had spent the whole morning looking for raptors in the area! I couldn't shake that feeling off! This was also before I knew of the bird's name. There were streamers at its' tail which was rather unusual. A check with Irshad, my birdwatching expert guide, established my respect for this fearless drongo. It has an alliance with small mammals (squirrels, baby monkeys etc.) & other birds to protect them when birds of predator come a calling...! Should the eagle(predator) be of a greater size, several drongos would group together to drive it away! Now that's what I call a bird of character! Coming back to this morning, I was privileged to have been allowed to stand at my window without scarring the birds away. I take it that my presence has been accepted by the colonies of this quaint jungle outside my abode. Then the drongo sang. And constantly changing tunes. Before long, I came to the conclusion that this bird has the ability to mimic the cries of other birds as well! Hah! What a great actor! Just then, God impressed upon my heart to draw this mighty bird of courage & said, "Regardless of creed, colour or size, I can select anyone among you to tend to my flock. Though the smaller in size does not mean lesser in strength, nor the greater among you is necessarily good. I have created all nations to answer to My calling & have brought forth prophets to prophesy in your language yet if choose to remain divided, you will not stand. Do not worry what to say when you are brought to a test for I will give you the words when the time comes. Like this drongo, though solitary, has a purpose to keep the weaker safe. You may be like a squirrel one day or a monkey the next but I called you to be a drongo. Like this drongo, many things can be spoken in that many will also hear & receive." In an act of worship, I opened my Christmas present in the form of chalk pastels & drew the drongo in 3 hours.