Graceful Creatures
Hornbills are unusual. The giant birds, which can grow larger than one metre (3.3 feet) and weigh several kilograms, have strange, double-decked beaks and bills. Looking at one, it’s easy to pass it off as a goofy animation. But hornbills have elegance and grace while swooping and gliding from their nests high in the treetops. The hornbills in Sarawak are some of the largest birds in the rainforest and from a distance can resemble a swan with a giant beak. But the beak and billaren’t for feeding. Instead,they’re a quirky evolutionary trait to them help find a mate. And when they do, hornbills are monogamous. A single male and female will spend their lives, sometimes reaching several decades together. Hornbills also share with their family and it’s not uncommon to see them pass food amongst each other.
According to the indigenous Dayak,an umbrella term for the natives of Borneo, Rhinoceros Hornbills represent THE SPIRIT OF GOD.It’s considered good luck to the local community when one flies over the house. And when the Iban tribes of Sarawak watched soaring hornbills, they saw the God of War as well as various womens. The birds were also believed to have mythical powers. Superstitious pagans and animists sacrificed the majestic creatures and wore their yellow-orange beak on a necklace. This, they said, gave power and influence. Feathers from the tail were harvested to decorate ceremonial headdresses and weapons, including blowpipes and machetes. Those sporting the hornbill feathers would be stronger than their opponents.
Refer to this channel for extra information ⤵
Comments
Post a Comment