For the Birds

A small, egg-shaped blue bird lands on a powerline and settles in comfortably. He glances around, drawing the attention of the nearby birds.

Another small blue bird lands close by, and the two begin to bicker. Their squabble draws the curiosity of the other perched birds along the line.

Bit by bit, 13 more birds of the same species arrive, turning the perch into a crowded, noisy scene. The group starts jockeying for space, chirping and quarreling as they spread out along the line.

A large, awkward shoebill-like bird swoops in and interrupts the quarrel from a nearby pole. He imitates the smaller birds’ plumage and honks, prompting the others to mirror his display.

The tall bird looks back at the line and calls to them again, drawing their attention. The flock scoots down toward the middle and starts gossiping about the interruption.

The bigger bird flies between the flock and perches there, but his weight causes the powerline to sag toward the ground. The smaller birds slide down and bunch tightly against his sides, crammed into a cramped space.

They chirp indignantly about the cramped space, while the big bird seems oblivious to their discomfort and continues to squawk.

One tiny bird pecks the big bird’s side, triggering a sudden jump that leaves him hanging upside down by his feet. The crowd cheers the disruption as the line sways and feathers drift around them.

Cheered on by the others, the two little birds in the middle begin pecking at the big bird’s toes. The toes release one by one, and the big bird remains unfazed as he hangs there.

A tiny bird realizes how close they are to the ground and warns the others. They snap the last toe, the line breaks like a slingshot, and the little birds are launched upward in a cloud of feathers.

The bigger bird lands safely on the ground and begins playing with the drifting feathers from the disrupted line. A naked little bird crashes beside him, and the big bird laughs before offering a leaf to cover him.

Seconds later, the remaining fourteen little birds land nearby, all nude. The big bird laughs again as the group hides behind him in embarrassment.