Flock of Birds or Windvane?

Late in the morning, after tending to some gardening tasks, I found myself resting under the shade of an old apricot tree. As usual, a flock of birds had gathered on the large holly tree in front of me. There were a few bulbuls, plenty of white-throated laughingthrushes, a couple of black-headed jays, and a solitary treepie.

But something felt different today.

This holly tree is a regular perch for many birds, and they usually face to my left—roughly southwest. Today, though, they were all turned in the opposite direction, their beaks pointed firmly toward the north-northeast. Every single one of them.

It took me a moment to realize why. The wind had shifted today. For days, it had been blowing steadily from the west. But now, brief gusts were sweeping in from the north. Not strong enough to signal a change in weather—just the kind of turbulence we often see here in Natadol.

Still, it was enough to change the birds’ orientation. It seems they instinctively face into the wind—perhaps a quirk of their natural flight readiness or a subtle piece of avian psychology. Whatever the reason, it’s fascinating to notice these quiet, rhythmic patterns in nature.

Come to think of it, the classic windvanes atop old buildings often feature a rooster. I wonder—was that a nod to how, on old farms, domesticated birds like chickens would sometimes perch on rooftops? Or was it simply inspired by the way birds naturally settle on tree branches, always aware of the wind’s direction?

Either way, it’s a charming blend of function and symbolism—using a bird to read the wind, just as nature intended. Living a slow life reconnects me to nature.

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