Rest day in Trinidad
While the morning is still cool, the bird people come out. They walk through the shaded cobblestone streets carrying cages made of reeds with little song birds in them, hoping to expose their pets, or contestants in this case, to a variety of sounds.
Several times a year, there is a competition in Trinidad in which all these birds go breast to breast, and sing the most beautiful songs that they have collected throughout the year. It takes exposure to learn these songs, so their owners walk them throughout the town and countryside, through forest and coastline stopping to let them listen when another bird is singing, hunting for new sounds and melodies.
We have seen these caged birds stacked high on the back of slow moving motorcycles, hanging from the handlebars of bicycles, gently swaying at people’s sides as the walk gingerly down the road and in every other window. They are everywhere. They aren’t overly colorful, but their song repertoire is incredible.
The birds are collected by bird collectors or individuals with nets in the mountains. They are tended to with utmost care and are well protected from the elements at all times.
The winner of these competitions just wins. There is no prize except for the knowledge that their bird has the most varied and beautiful songs in the city.