A secret so horrid it could make you sick — My first close, very close, encounter with mallards — a mother with its six or seven ducklings, no father mallard in tow — took place eons ago, in a quiet suburb in West Auckland in New Zealand. Ducks, especially mallards, were everywhere. Mallards crossing the road, thereby stopping the flow…

Lessons from the secret sex life of mandarin ducks — Mandarin ducks are viewed as representation of eternal love. No other ancient symbol of enduring marital happiness and faithfulness is as revered, especially in Japan and eastern China. These exotic birds, which originally came from the said countries, are usually given in pairs as gifts to newlyweds as lucky charms. …

Watching them take a drink may change your opinion but who on earth is perfect — No other bird has the grace and elegance of a swan. The way it gracefully moves conveys a posh style to it. In fact, a swanlike neck in a woman is regarded as the essence of poise and youthful beauty. But there is no comparing a woman (or man?) …

A blessing in disguise — We cannot change the colour of the sky, can we Nor can we change the cawing sounds crows make. With cheating hearts or ungrateful sods ingratitude and disloyalty are in them, buried deeply. Like a goose that quacks or an alligator that bites or a guard dog that barks no changing them, it’s…

Which pattern would you choose? — A tinge of envy when allowed to take hold could turn into a tonne of hate. A drop of fear when granted to grow could freeze a hardy resolve. A tad of indecisiveness when given a pass could ruin a will. Life is a mosaic with drools of negativity but with drizzles…

But are they friends or foes? — Squirrels are regarded by many as pests in gardens and the wider countryside. They are viewed as vermin and taxonomically speaking, as rodents. They steal food meant for little birds. How could songbirds — the robins, the finches, the blackbirds, the wrens and many more — compete against squirrels that…

No need for them to hire a diversity trainer or a consultant to teach them about equality and inclusion — A word that has gained traction in recent times is diversity. Some institutions, both public and government, have diversity consultants. Their role is to promote a workforce that is reflective of a diverse society. In the corporate world, diversity is a key word. Diversity, equality and inclusion — these are…

Some help in boosting our potentials towards achieving the best version of us — Who could live without herbs? They enhance if not maximise the flavours of meat, salad, pizza, and most tomato-based sauces. Using herbs in our food helps reduce the use of salt, and we’re all aware that too much salt is not good for our health. Aside from enhancing the flavour, colour and the aroma of…

The playful robin that made its pursuer huff and puff to capture a fine photo shot (but success was sloppily shod) — The playful robin is playing a trick teasing its pursuer to take its pic then flies a short distance in a flash and perches at a mound of leafy trash to sneak a peek at its pursuer’s huffs oh, playful robin, where is your heart checking if the pursuer is following while cheekily…