The Chickadee-dee-dee call

A few days ago, I was out in my garden, savoring the brisk, cold wind as it grazed my ears, awakening every fiber of my being. It felt good to be away from city life every once in a while—far from the hustle and bustle of civilization. Here, I see only trees, mountains, and the sea! I was beginning to enjoy the moment when, suddenly, I was interrupted by the loud cawing of crows. There were a bunch of them, and one even flew just a few feet above me. I don’t hate them, but their eerie, haunting cries were such a bummer, especially when I was finally settling into a peaceful quiet moment.

That got me thinking—why do some animals make sounds that send shivers down our spines? Some appear so vicious that just the sight of them could send someone running. Meanwhile, others make peaceful melodies that perfectly match their cute and fluffy appearance. Of course, there could be various technical reasons—likely related to survival, communication, or mating. What I’m curious about is how their sounds resonate with us and affect us on a deeper level – like the cawing of crows that unsettles me or the sweet chirping of the birds that harmonizes with our peaceful moments.

There may be a few exceptions among you – perhaps the eerie, haunting cries of birds or other animals sound sweet and peaceful to some. But for me, and likely for many of us, the sweet chirping sounds are far more relaxing.

That got me thinking again, we all seem to enjoy the sweet chirping of these cute birds, but do we ever stop and consider that their melodies might be cries for help?

We unknowingly find comfort and happiness in their songs, using them to calm or uplift ourselves, unaware that those very sounds might be expressions of grief for their young or a dying mate. How twisted is that? It’s quite funny, though—if birds could understand us, they might think we're psychos. Just a thought.

So, I went home, still craving the peace and quiet I had longed for. I turned to drawing, feeling the need to practice, and before I knew it, I already had something in mind. I googled images of birds, searching for something simple, as I was only aiming for a quick sketch. That’s when I came across the chickadees.

source

They’re very cute with their large, round heads and short necks that remind me of my dog. All I know is that despite their tiny brains, they have excellent memories. They also have this adorable chickadee-dee-dee call—and interestingly, the more 'dee' notes in their call, the higher the threat level they’re signaling. It also serves as a way to communicate the recognition of other flocks. It’s strange and interesting how we find their calls stress-relieving, even when they’re actually sounding an alarm.

Going back to what I mentioned earlier, I was curious about how their sounds resonate with us and affect us on a deeper emotional level. Is there another purpose behind it? Maybe there wasn’t or maybe I just wanted more. That question lingered in my mind for a few days until I read something that I believe could be the answer I was looking for—or, to put it more accurately, the answer I’d like it to be.

So, I was reading Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and came across this beautiful passage. We all know Dostoyevsky’s novels can be pretty intense, but there are moments when he explores compassion and holiness so deeply that it feels like he’s offering a reprieve—a way to make up for the emotional work he puts you through while you grapple with uncomfortable truths about yourself. I’m not sure about others, but this is just how I perceive it.

For context, there is a monk, Elder Zosima, whose character was beautifully described through the eyes of Alyosha—one of the brothers in the story. Interestingly, Alyosha shares similarities with Prince Myshkin from The Idiot, as Dostoyevsky presents both characters as Christ-like figures embodying innocence and compassion. The passage reads:

"Even if among us there is sin, untruth, injustice and temptation, at least in certain places, somewhere on the earth, there are men who are holy and exalted; to make up for it, those men have truth and justice; to make up for it, those men know truth and justice; so it has not been lost to the world, and one day it will come to us, too, and will reign in all the world, as was promised."

As implied, Elder Zosima is portrayed as “holy and exalted,” offering consolation and solace from the woes, injustices, and perpetual sins present in the world and within oneself. Now, what does this have to do with Chickadees? Well, I thought, maybe these little creatures, through their simple, pure existence and sweet calls, remind us that even in a world marked by hardship and an endless cycle of misery, something good, innocent, and hopeful still endures and has not been lost to the world—perhaps as a way of making up for life’s inevitable sorrows.

And, as a way to make up for obliviously enjoying their sweet calls—calls that might actually be warnings of nearby predators—I wrote a short poem for them. It may not be as eloquent as I’d like, but it comes from the heart.

source

The chickadee sings unabashedly to me,
Such melodious sound emanating from its tiny body.
Chickadee-dee-dee, away it calls,
Sweet chirping music to my ears it falls.

On your head, you wear the night,
Your white cheeks, an in-between twilight.
A body, round and tiny, fills me with delight;
Sing once more, for tonight you shine as my light.

Even amidst its desperate cries,
It became a safe haven where I could hide.
Though this world may seem one where I don't fit,
Your sweet chirping sound makes up for it.

Chickadee-dee-dee, your melody lives on forever with me.