Response to Nitoo Das' 'On the shyness of birds'

There is incessant noise 
in the city, as if the blinding light 
blocking out the sky was not enough. 
They never spread their wings, but oh,
do they spread far and wide; but their songs 
are nothing to shake a tail-feather at.
The squabbling and screeching 
of fighting roosters, 
the mimicry of parrots finding their voices, 
the chattering of gossiping hens, 
eagles that stalk  only to swoop in 
screaming at the first sparrow to cross their paths, 
the pigeons who don't just wake alone
to be about their business, in the morning. 
They also remain awake and call out into the night 
sometimes longer than the old owl in the park.