A Parliament of Owls

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Because owls fly exceedingly quietly, they are sometimes referred to as “silence” when in flight. This is due to the fact that owls are superb hunters and have exceptionally quiet flying. A month ago, while vacationing in California, I came across a kiosk while on a wildlife walk at Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve informing visitors about the Anna’s Hummingbird. Along with other information, it mentioned that a group of hummingbirds can be called anyone of five words.

The phrase ‘parliament of foules’ has existed since the 1300s. Geoffrey Chaucer, a 14th-century poet, used it to define birds/fowls living in groups. 2Of course, inevitably, there is rebellion in the Kingdom of Birds, pitting a fiery tiny female fire-finch against Arum Tindi, thunderous ground hornbill and chief propagandist for the parliament of Owls.

I love the terms used for groups of animals. I spent a whole night going through these with my other half and found them far more amusing than I probably should have, recall making the terrible owl joke then tooThe play is set in the Kingdom of Birds ruled by the owls, with Parliament of Owls as the most powerful institution only comparable to the Royal Trees – the abode of the Royal Owl, King Tula Nyongoro. Money Bags Owl is the Royal Owl’s most trusted ally but he is corrupt, and goes grabbing every tree around. Besides he is the “sponsor” of Socialite Owl who uses her position in Parliament to push for passing of bills like the “Make-Up” Bill and works closely with Red String Puppet Owl and other sycophants in ensuring the interests of owls are protected, for instance with the passing of the Moonlight Bill. The technical term for collective nouns for groups of animals, by the way, is terms of venery. These form part of a larger trend in the late Middle Ages of adopting specific hunting terminology from French. Probably to make the practice of killing animals feel more respectable, I imagine. I won’t list all the terms here, but I will look at a few of my favourites: Socialite owl makes up her face without making her mind and she terrifically twerks ceaselessly burning cigar and wine” Osogo, the weaver bird, is in a state of sadness, as he plays melancholic tunes on his flute. Red String, a sycophantic owl of the Royal trees, with hollow eyeglasses made from millet stalk and a protruding tummy, thus cutting a comic figure, stealthily encroaches (onto) the space of Osogo.But there is nothing comical about their verbal twilight-lit confrontation (as opposed to the literary cowboy shootouts at high noon).