鸟巢故事·黑额织雀

玄凤

黑额织雀（学名：Ploceus velatus，英文名为Southern Masked Weaver），又称南方黑脸织布鸟，属于雀形目织布鸟科，是一种分布在非洲中南部的鸟类。这种鸟类以其卓越的筑巢技巧而闻名，雄性黑额织雀尤其以其鲜艳的羽色和筑巢能力著称。

雄鸟在繁殖期具有窄黑前额和黑面罩，覆盖眼上方、脸颊、耳羽、下巴和喉部，延伸至胸上部；头部鲜黄，颈后至背部呈绿橄榄色，有微弱中央条纹；臀部绿黄色；尾橄榄绿色，尾羽尖端淡黄；翅膀棕色，翼羽边缘黄色；腹部、两胁、大腿和尾下覆羽鲜黄。雌鸟和非繁殖期雄鸟羽色较暗淡，虹膜红色到红棕色，喙黑色，腿棕色至粉棕色。

黑额织雀栖息于多种生境，包括灌木地、草原、开放林地、内陆湿地和半沙漠地区。它们也会出现在城市花园和公园中。这种鸟类发出尖锐的swizzling叫声，类似于其他种类的织雀。

繁殖期主要在9月至翌年1月，雄鸟可拥有多位雌鸟伴侣，一季建巢多达25个。巢由草、芦苇或棕榈叶编织而成，雌鸟会用软草和羽毛装饰选定的巢穴。巢建于树上，常在水面上方，有时在郊区。一窝蛋颜色多样，帮助躲避寄生鸟的寄生。孵化和育雏主要由雌鸟承担。

黑额织雀分布于非洲中南部地区，包括阿拉伯半岛的南部、撒哈拉沙漠（北回归线）以南的整个非洲大陆，以及圣多美岛（几内亚湾群岛）。

根据国际自然保护联盟（IUCN）的评估，黑额织雀的保护现状为无危（LC）。

黑额织雀以其独特的筑巢行为和鲜明的羽色在鸟类中独树一帜，是非洲大陆上一道亮丽的风景线。

鸟巢故事·黑额织雀：在2016年10月的一场暴风雨后，我在哈博罗内发现了两只失去家园的黑额织雀幼鸟。面对它们的无助，我决定承担起照顾它们的责任。尽管我尽力喂养和保护这些脆弱的小生命，但命运却并不总是如人所愿。在一次长途旅行中，两只小鸟最终还是未能幸存。在弗朗西斯敦，我将它们埋葬在一棵树下，让它们回归自然，心中充满了对生命的敬畏和对未能挽救它们的深深歉意。

‍（以下是当时的日记全文）

Farewell, Little Birdies

24/10/2016 Gaborone

I had two baby birds, masked weavers to be exact, which were found last Friday after the incredibly strong wind and torrential rain. The wind blew down the tree where their nest was, and their parents went away. So I decided to take over and take care of them. I hand-fed them softened rice and egg yolk, and even tried to catch flies and other insects for them; they were fed five to six times a day.

Look at these two little things, they’re just too small, too soft, too weak and fragile, they cannot feed themselves, let alone survive on their own. They will definitely die if nobody feeds them.

They’ve just been born to this earth, like us and all other creatures, they have the right to live and to grow up.

Good people with loving hearts, if you find them through the security scanner, please alter the regulations a little bit, they’re harmless to anyone on board, show your mercy and kindness. Just make an exception for these two little creatures. I will keep them safely beneath the seat. The creator (the Modimo) will be grateful for what you do today.

Let them go with me, and let me take care of them. Ke rata phologolo le nonyane. I’m an animal and bird lover. I know they belong to the wild. When they grow up, I will set them free. Yes, it takes time to look after them. It may only take me one or two months’ time, but for them, it’s critical, it’s about life and death.

(The above words were written the night before departing for F/town, trying to list reasons in order to persuade the airport security guards to let go in case they detect the birds in my backpack)

25/10/2016 Francistown

I am so regretful now, I lost one of the baby birds this morning, although I managed to carry them through the airport security scanner and flew to F/town. When I arrived at the dormitory and checked them, the smaller one was in a bad condition; it seemed to be squeezed and pressed by its brother on the way here. I gave it water and let it rest in a separate box lined with soft tissue. However, when I rechecked it one hour later, it was already gone. Feeling grieved, I buried it under a tree in the backyard as suggested by my beloved wife Grace, returned it to the wild, to the nature where it came from, hoping that it may nourish the tree and come out in another form of life someday. After lunch and a nap, I checked the other remaining bird; it seemed weakened and was so sleepy. I tried to feed it, but it kept opening its mouth just as an instinctive routine but refused to swallow. I know, if the situation doesn’t improve, it might not survive the day.

I now realize what a mistake I made. I should not have carried them with me to travel so long. They are too small and weak to be tossed. It really hurts to see two living things die one after another before you, but there’s nothing I can do. I made a wrong decision, and I now have to live with the consequences of my actions.

Do not go gentle into that good night, little one, may you survive today and be strong. Otherwise, may you rest in peace.

Modimo a go segofatse. May God bless you. And I will pray for you.

(I was holding it in my palm, feeling its heartbeats and trying to give it warmth, but I know it probably can’t outrun its fate. I pen these words in memory of the little creatures that I recently encountered in my life, which I decided to look after but failed. I feel sorry for them, depressed and repentant for myself.)

26/10/2016 Francistown

It’s gone. Survived for another night, the little birdie was fed on insects and ants I captured in the yard. However, its condition kept deteriorating. For the last time, I held it in my hand, touching its fluff and tiny feathers. It struggled to open its eyes for a while and then closed them, lowered its head, and fell asleep forever. I buried it beside its brother in front of the tree. Up there, the African sun was shining, burning exactly, as always. Farewell, little birdies. Rest in peace.

(Period.)

在小鸟们离去后，我决定将它们的巢保存下来，作为对这两个小生命的纪念，并记录下这个鸟巢的故事，作为对生命脆弱和珍贵的提醒。