Flight of the Kites

Watching birds is great fun. When I first moved from Hamilton to Crawick, seeing Buzzards fly by your window was a great deal. And then the graceful kite family moved in. Cool! 😮😁 But no matter where I am, crows always seem to be a nuisance to someone!

Flight of the Kites

by L.M. Owens

Deep in the isolation of the Holm wood stood a grand nest built at the canopy of the trees. Far up in her newly found home sat a mother red Kite. She slept on her two eggs keeping them warm and protecting them from harm. The forest was not, however, resting. Each blossoming tree was alive with twittering birds, each rock was slapped in turn by the ferocity of the Crawick Water. The mother kite, by name Raksha, was deeply asleep and only stirred as the large, beady eyed male swooped down beside her with a dead mouse clutched in his beak.

Two feathers had been plucked clean from Mel’s left wing. He glowered up at the sky where a murder of crows cackled triumphantly in the distant treetops. With only days to go, mother and father kite anxiously awaited the arrival of their offspring. “Should we have started our family from this abandoned crow’s nest?” Raksha kept asking herself.

Days later, Mel, the hulking great father, was preparing to hunt when Raksha felt movement around her tail feathers. She glanced down at her talons and gasped with delight. The once motionless eggs had begun to crack. By the next day, two scruffy, bleary eyed chicks were hopping around the nest. For the next few weeks, Raksha tolerated the constant demands of the new-borns’ while Mel single handedly defended the territory.

Soon their sandy white feathers had turned to glossy brown as the chicks began to learn the Law of the Forest:

“This is the law of the forest

As old and as wise as the tree

The kite that follows will prosper

But the kite that breaks it must leave”

Dest and Lolo, the newly named chicks, sat around their mother, listening intently to stories of their ancestors and the dangers they overcame. Lolo mostly liked to prance around the nest showing off his newly acquired tail feathers whilst chatting and listening whereas Dest was different. He would sit in silence, listening carefully under the protection of his mother’s wing. Although Dest was the oldest, Lolo believed that he was the more confident.

“And man,” she repressed a shudder “man can make fire erupt from his hands!” exclaimed Raksha. “What do you mean mummy?” asked Lolo. “Sometimes,” she continued in no more than a whisper, “men bring big metal fingers and point them at us! There is a crash like thunder and,” she closed her eyes, “it kills you in an instant.” Their eyes bulged in awe and terror. “Now tell us about the crows whispered Dest. “They swoop down out of nowhere and attack.” Raksha told them. “Never children, pick a fight with a crow. Their brains are more expanded than ours. They can learn the tricks of men!” The kites gasped. “They pop the lids off feeding cans that hang off trees in men’s gardens and indulge themselves with rich nuts meant for smaller incapable birds. Even Mr. Grey, the heron that fears none but man is wary of the antics of the crows. Every creature is mistrustful of them. Men, although I do not know why, shake their fists in anger at them.” “But how do we recognise them?” asked Lolo. “Their glossy black wings and body is noticeable from a mile away and you will hear their deep caw echoing around the Holm.

“But why would the crows want to attack us?” Dest asked, as he cuddled further into his mother. “I think that the crows believe that the Holm Woods belong to them and their ancestors, so they’re determined to drive us out.” she replied softly. “Now children,” changing the subject abruptly, “I do see that the sun is setting and I want you sleeping before nightfall.” But the chicks’ dreams were troubled by visions of metal fingers and murderous crows…

Although the chicks were now beginning to turn chestnut coloured, it was another week or so until they looked anything like their parents. Lolo woke up as the small family were napping in the nest. He looked out over the sunny landscape. “Mummy?”, he noticed curiously, “I have never seen a man with big black eyes before.” “What?” She murmured sleepily. “There is a man.” he sighed. “Man!?” Raksha yelped, “Quickly! Stay behind me!” She peeked out over the nest at the yellowing grass in the field beyond. “Yes, I see what you mean…” she said warily. “Stay close little ones it could still be dangerous.” She scrutinized the intruder before laughing. “Do not fear, they are only binoculars! They help men to see as well as us!” They all crouched low in the nest, until the man had gone.

One sunny dawn morning, Dest and Lolo stretched out their growing legs and felt the urge to beat their strong wings. Of course, Lolo wanted to make this a competition and he flew about a foot in the air, mocking Dest who failed to move far from the nest. Raksha congratulated them, “Keep trying! It won’t be too long now until you fledge!” They all knew what fledge meant. It was the day that you would leave the nest and learn to fly. “The key to flying is to keep your wings held slightly forward, angled and gently arched.” she told her eager children. “Why do we have to wait so long?” grumbled Lolo, but only so that Dest could hear.

In fact, it was not a long wait at all. Soon the chicks were flapping and squawking all over the nest. Until one day Raksha said to them, “My children, it is time I taught you to fly.” and she set about giving the youngsters lessons about the art of flight.

Meanwhile, as Mel was gliding back to the nest with a dead mouse clutched in his beak, he was side-tracked by a crow. It cawed maliciously to him, “Your chicks, Kite, don’t look all that strong. It would be terrible if something happened to them!” The Crow flew off squawking, triumphant that it had disturbed his rival.

Back at the nest, Raksha was ushering her chicks over the edge. Lolo, determined to show off, jumped first. Seconds passed, until… Whoosh! He had succeeded! Immediately, Dest wanted to avoid further teasing so hopped to the nearest branch, squeezed his eyes tight shut and jumped. But as he took the leap of faith, a cascade of ebony feathers smashed into him. Beaks and feet found their mark, leaving deep gashes in the kite’s back. As soon as Raksha saw the battle forming below her, she instinctively soared down to save her chicks. She pushed a crow off Dest who was struggling to fight back but the three kites were no match for the constant attacks from the murder of crows. Just as the aggressors had almost pinned the kites to the ground, Dest had an idea. He called out,

“This is the law of the forest!

As old and as wise as the tree!

The kite that follows will prosper!

But the Kite that breaks it must leave!”

Trees began to sway and whistling could be heard all around the Crawick landscape. Instantaneously, a soar of kites appeared from all corners of the compass. Dest shrieked in astonishment as he noticed his father leading the attack and managing to take down two crows by himself. He had never even seen another kite before and certainly had no idea that this many roosted nearby. As the cavalry joined the battle, the crows were slowly but surely pushed back, beyond the border of the Holm Wood. 

After all the crows had disappeared, Mel, Raksha and Dest landed on a nearby branch and whistled their appreciation to the departing kites. Raksha’s left wing was bruised and bloody, as was Dest’s. But where was Lolo? They searched the surrounding treetops for what seemed like hours until Dest gave a horrified squawk and flew down to his brother’s motionless body that lay on the forest floor. Lolo’s tongue was lolling out of his mouth and his talons stuck up in a jaunty angle. “Lolo!” cried Dest as a tear trickled down his plumage.

  

For once, the Holm Woods fell silent, only the creaking of the trees could be heard.  To Dest’s utter surprise, Lolo opened one eye timidly, “Are they away yet?” he mouthed. “For goodness sake your alive! And yes, don’t worry they’re away little brother.” laughed Dest. “Maybe you’re not so weak after all big brother.” smiled Lolo kindly. And the two juveniles swooped off together into the sunset.