Lovebirds - STEVEN R. TABOR

Lovebirds

What is the best way to survive a storm?


             All I know is something like a bird within her sang,
             All I know she sang a little while and then flew on,
             Tell me all that you know, I'll show you snow and rain.

                                                    ---Hunter and Garcia

On Christmas Eve of 2020, I looked out my window and saw a pair of lime-green parrots clinging to the branches of a tree in our backyard. Suddenly there were heavy gusts of wind and hard rains that pelted these poor little birds, but they held on bravely and actually didn't seem too bothered by the storm. About ten minutes later, the rains stopped; the parrots shook out their feathers; and then they flew off together. Why African parrots should be in Holland in the middle of winter, and why they should find themselves in our backyard is a mystery to me. Perhaps the answer to this is that it is the holiday season.

Traditionally, these little parrots are always seen in pairs, and therefore they are the ideal symbol of love, long-term commitment, loyalty and care. It is believed that these lovebirds cannot survive without their mates for very long. And after a stressful period, they feed one another to re-establish their bond. Accordingly, this series is dedicated to all those lovebirds out there---fly well and remember that even the worst storms eventually do pass.

If you'd like to see the full series, download the PDF catalogue here.