Followers

Friday, May 3, 2013

Tropical rainforests: endangered regions

For the ninth and final Ecoregion in her fascinating series, Hannah challenges everyone in and around the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads to think about tropical rain forests.
Says Hannah: "Tropical rainforests have existed on Earth for hundreds of millions of years.
"There are four different types of rainforest: Lowland equatorial evergreen rainforests; Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen seasonal forests; Montane rain forests, and Flooded forests.
"The rainforest has an interesting structure that's broken into layers: Forest Floor, Understory Layer, Canopy Layer and Emergent Layer. Different types of animals reside in these different layers."

Hannah illustrated her challenge with beautiful photos of monkeys, an owl, a koala, and one of the rainforest itself.
She also provided some links, one of which was to photos of tropical birds, which distracted and inspired me so much I didn't check out other links, I just began writing. I love when that happens. Thanks, Hannah, not just for today but for the whole nine challenges.


as long as my finger
as thick as my thumb
where does this beautiful
blue bird come from?
from tropical rainforests,
being destroyed,
daily by greedy creatures
(most of them humanoid)



these parrots
with colors
like sunrise
and noon
will find themselves
homeless
all too very soon.


the birds
get together
a conference
have they—
to try to decide
what to do. 







we’re really quite helpless

says one to another.

“you’re right: 
we can talk,
 but who listens?”




15 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

It's so sad to think of the habitat of these beautiful birds being destroyed so selfishly.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Wow, Kay - and good gracious! I know this is going to look like a shameless plug, but seriously, quite unknowingly my post on My Take Too for today is a story written some time ago - in response to deforestation!!!

Weird thing is I was going to use another piece, but the voices in the head said "Use that one, use that one". Who am I to go against the voices?

Am fascinated by all the writing connections I note here, Kay - sadly I simply do not have any more time just now to follow that up. But I love what I see here!!!

Have a great weekend. Hugs, YAM xx

Grace said...

Love the sunrise colors of these birds~ Hopefully we are listening to their cries Kay ~

Vandana Sharma said...

FILLED WITH LIFE AND HOPE,
THESE JUNGLES TOO HAVE SOUL.

Margaret said...

...I was saying to myself HOW can the people of Madagascar do this... but haven't we all done the same in our countries? Truly a shame.

Anonymous said...

Kay, this is a strong indictment of the Eurocentric ways of the "pale, stale male." Let's face it, white guys have been in control for centuries, and it's taken them little over 200 years, in the US, to enslave both indigenous peoples and Africans, then go on to totally trash the environment.

I pray for Gaia daily (yes, I'm a Christian, and I'm so open to being an earth mama!), pray for the rich to leave it all alone, pray for Africa to heal, as well as South America, for all time.

It's all about the money. Follow the money and you find greed for more.

One hell of a post, Kay. I'm honored. Amy (and PS, it's not all "males," I mean, I married one! And he's "pale," too, just not STALE!

Maggie Grace said...

That tiny royal blue bird stole my heart. As Vandana said, I too believe the jungle has a soul and it is being torn asunder.

Hannah said...

Kay! Thank you so much for joining me in these challenges and for the way you shine the light of the peeps of the Garden...it so encouraging. ♥

I love the little blue bird...so precious...truly a gem.

I'm so glad that you were inspired to give voice to the tropical birds and for the important message you convey.

:) Thank you for writing!

Susie Clevenger said...

So sad we are losing lush rainforests and beautiful birds such as these may find themselves homeless and disappearing.

Grandmother Mary said...

To see this unthinkable loss from the point of view of the inhabitants is a good (and true) perspectiive.

Jenn Jilks said...

It's a shame what 'we' do to our world. All in the name of greed. In Ontario, they talk of monarch butterflies needed milkweed, but it exists here aplenty. It is the winter grounds where we need to educate. That territory is being decimated.
Well-written, as always!

Jo said...

It's so sad how we humans are fast destroying these birds' habitats. I hope you're having a great weekend. Say hi to Dick for me and a hug for you and Lindy. Jo

Kay said...

Such beautiful birds. The problem in Hawaii are the non-native birds that were imported or let loose by pet-owners that decimated the indigenous bird population.

Mary said...

You give these birds voice, Kay! I liked your approach with poetry and photos.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I love all of the colorful birds in the photos. But the top little blue one is SUCH a beauty - just incredible. Horrible when such beauty is threatened as it is, now, everywhere. Especially in the tropical rainforest!