White-winged Chough

The White-winged Choughs are vocal and somewhat audacious birds.

I got to know them well during lockdown, as they'd move through the garden, patrolling in large groups, probing and scratching the ground. They seemed to flaunt their safety in numbers and would often drive away other birds or animals with noise and aggression.

They were always up to something. One day I was sitting at my desk and heard them going absolutely berserk. I went to investigate, predicting their usual brawl with the Magpies.

But I was wrong, it was the sound of community support. A fledgling was learning to fly, making nervous little jumps from branch to branch. The rest of the Choughs were repeatedly swooping underneath, squawking at each other in traffic as they created a literal safety net for the fledgling. Putting their bodies on the line to break a potential fall. It was such a moving display of community support.

As such, the White-winged Choughs remind me of the power of community, and the value in contributing to something greater than ourselves. There's been a shift away from community in modern times. With ever-rising fences, we're more isolated from our neighbours than ever, which increases the pressure to provide everything for ourselves.

As shown by the Choughs, it's easier to fly knowing there's a safety net below. Belonging to a strong community can allow sharing of resources, benefit physical and mental health, and provide a safer environment for kids (and adults) to learn and play.

Do you feel a strong sense of community in your life? What kind of community involvement could you bring in to benefit you and others?