What do you use your voices for?"
The bird nodded: "Some of us have different songs to put our en-
emies off the track. Sometimes we make our nests in holes in tree
trunks, and when an enemy tries to get in, we hiss like snakes. The
invader thinks there is a snake in the nest, which allows us to pro-
tect our nests."
"What else do you do to protect your nests from enemies?" won-
dered Anwar.
"We build many decoy nests to mislead our enemies," said the
bird. "In this way we put invaders off the track and protect our nests
and eggs that we have hidden in the area. To protect our nests from
poisonous snakes, we hide the entrances and make them very com-
plicated. Another precaution is building our nests in trees that have
thorns on their branches."
"How is it that some birds can swim in water? And why can't all
birds swim?" Anwar asked his friend.
The sparrow replied: "Allah has created some of us with the
ability to swim. He has given them webbed feet to enable them to
swim when they go into the water. Others of us have thin toes with
no webs. So, apart from water-birds, birds can't swim."
"Just like flippers!" Anwar exclaimed. "When I swim with flip-
pers on, I can go much faster."
"There are some kinds of birds that have these flippers from
birth," said the bird.
While Anwar and the bird were having this conversation, his
52
Do they not see the birds suspended in
mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds
them there except Allah. There are
certainly Signs in that for people
who believe. (Surat an-Nahl: 79)
