Birdfllight

By Carla M. Pacis

Birdflight tells a fabulous story about Philippine birds, many of which are now endangered. In this novel, a large group of captive birds, led by Manaul, a Philippine Eagle, and aided by unlikely creatures, try to engineer an escape from a private aviary in the city. This is a rich novel that not only introduces the young reader to environmental issues and to the beauty of the many birds that make the Philippines their home, it also tells a lovely story of friendship, unity and courage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anvil Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9789712736285

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To finish this novel, I had to hole myself up, much like the female hornbill in her nest, in a relatively far but comfortable place. I would like to thank Cesar and Bambina Buenaventura for generously allowing me to use their lovely house in Subic for a month where, in relative isolation, I finished this story.

—CMP

Birdflight

Carla M. Pacis

Copyright © Anvil Publishing Inc. and Carla M. Pads, 1999

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owners and the publisher.

Published and exclusively distributed by

ANVIL PUBLISHING, INC.

7th Floor Quad Alpha Centrum

125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City 1550 Philippines

Telephones: (632) 8477-4752, 8477-4755 to 57

Fax: [phone]

www. anvilpublishing.com

Cover Illustration by Kat Casapao

Inside Illustrations by Felix Mago Miguel

Print Book Design by Ramon Sunico

eBook Conversion by JP Meneses

eISBN: 978-971-27-3628-5

When my father was in his early forties and had reached the peak of his career, he bought himself a small single-engine plane and often took my siblings and me up with him. Up in the clouds with only the noise of the engine for company, he showed us another world. This book is dedicated to my father, Vic Pacis, he who wanted to fly.

A NOTE ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations in this book were based on real Philippine birds, most of which are on the endangered list. Teachers from various disciplines can use these illustrations to introduce their students to the beauty and variety of Philippine fauna. Some of the birds illustrated by Felix Mago Miguel are: the Nicobar Pigeon, Forest Kingfisher, Bleeding Heart Pigeon [p. 3 ]; the Cuckoo Dove, Philippine Hanging Parakeet, Philippine Horned Owl, Green Imperial Pigeon, Coleto, Sulu Hornbill [p. 1]; the Blue-naped Parrot [pp. 21]; the Philippine Eagle [pp. 51]; the Philippine Cockatoo, Whistling Green Pigeon [p. 83]; the Crow [p. 93]; Brahminy Kite, Green Imperial Pigeon, Whistling Green Pigeon, Blue-naped Parrot, Philippine Eagle, Sulu Hornbill [p. 103 and Front Cover]; and the Palawan Hornbill [p. 113, left].

As can be seen from the list above, some of the novel’s main characters appear in more than one illustration.

CHAPTER 1:

CAPTURE

The loud clang of the lock against the gate startled them to wakefulness. Through half-closed eyes they watched as Edgar noisily unlocked the gate and hung the hissing gas lamp on the beam. On the crook of his arm, he held a large cardboard box. They watched as he carefully dropped the box on the dirt floor. The fading light, another clang and the click of the lock signaled Edgar’s departure.

The eyes that once pretended to see nothing now saw everything. And they focused on the beat-up box that sat on the dirt floor.

What has he brought this time? asked a deep, raspy voice.

Kolasisi and two of her tribe of Hanging Parakeets flew down to the dirt floor and up to the box. They poked their bright green heads into the flaps.

Oh no! whistled Kolasisi.

It can’t be! despaired the other.

It mustn’t be! said a third.

All the rest of the birds became very agitated. Many began to flap their wings. Others began to hop on their perches. Manaul, the Great Eagle and Kuago, the Wise Owl flew down to land by the box.

It is a Princess Hornbill, proclaimed Kolasisi.

A baby one, chorused the other two.

And probably the last of its species, mourned Kuago.

Is it still alive? asked 11anaul.

We don’t know, answered Kolasisi. It sits very still.

Open the box! ordered Manaul in his deep, raspy voice. We must see if it still lives. Otherwise, there is no hope for its species.

Kuago helped the three little parakeets rip the flaps open. Its sharp claws and beak made the job much easier. All the other birds looked on in great anticipation. The Princess Hornbill must be saved! Otherwise, they saw the same fate for their kind.

The baby hornbill sat very still in her box, her eyes shut tightly. She was hardly breathing. She had stopped rolling around in the box and the low grunts had ceased. What now? Maybe if they thought she was dead, they would leave her alone. But suddenly, the noises around were familiar. The wind that tickled her five new breast feathers told her everything was all right. She opened one eye and was surprised to see an owl and three little hanging parakeets peering at her. She was among her kind! She opened the other eye and let out a loud and happy bark. The whole cage joined in her happy cry. She was alive. The Princess Hornbill was all right! And, she was an egg layer. Her white eyes told them that.

Silence! ordered Manaul. Your loud squawking will bring Edgar back.

The happy cries immediately stopped except that of the baby bird who continued to cry with a call much like a dog’s bark. Manaul immediately hopped up to the box and looked down at the scraggly chick. Standing on the dirt floor was very uncomfortable for this great bird. He had to flatten his long claws that were once as sharp as razors and this gave him much pain. "Quiet Kalaw, your call will bring