Ta, the Sunbird: Will He Look at Me?

He was handsome. He was gorgeous. He was a purple sunbird (though he wasn't purple yet, but as a teenager, electric blue) whose name was Tufty.

She was a female sunbird. Her name was Ta.

Plain. Simple. Yellow-throated Ta.

Ta's older sisters, Ada and Vada, much prettier than Ta, thought Tufty was heart-melting cute, and were waiting for him to turn an iridescent purple, as that's when he was *officially* ready for a girl-friend. Ta, however, thought Tufty was... perfect now.

His down-curving bill was perfect. His tubular tongue was perfect. When he sat on a lantana, he looked so dreamy against the pink flowers. When he flew past her to feed on nectar, and catch an insect, she became tongue-tied (although she had a long tongue, as sunbirds do).

Ta dreamed as she perched on a honeysuckle. Oh, to be with Tufty. Oh, to have Tufty close to her. To sit in her (imaginary) nest, with Tufty asking her if she wanted a berry or a bug.

But Tufty never noticed her. Tufty never even looked at her.

"HELLO THERE!" someone growled. "HELLO! Can you HEAR ME?"

Ta jumped and snapped out of her daze (Tufty always put her in one). Inside the honeysuckle was a spider glaring at Ta with its big, black, shiny eyes. "Name's Orb. Hate to interrupt your reverie, but I just finished one of the finest webs ever, and if you eat me, I'll die unfulfilled."

"Oh!" Ta said, lifting her beak. She wanted to say 'join the club' but instead said - "Sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Orb grumbled. "We're your diet. You eat what you have to eat. I never ask for favors, so I've a proposition for you. If you spare my life, I'll help you build the finest sunbird nest ever with golden spider silk. Something whatshisname Tufty might like."

Ta blushed. Stammered. Pretended she didn't understand.

But Orb waved her away. "Don't pine over what you can't control. You can't make yourself prettier. Do something you can do," Orb said, scurrying off. "Find me when you are ready. Do not be one of those who change their minds incessantly and ad nauseam, however. My webs used to be a tangled mess. Now they are ART. It's all in the preparation & planning."

Work of art, Ta thought. Of course! Male sunbirds liked well-made nests.

SHE wanted it as well.

Would Tufty notice her if she...?

"Even if he did not," Orb growled, over his shoulder, as he disappeared into the bushes. "You would still have a great nest! Know how to build one! Think smart Ta!"

Ta snapped out of her daze. Orb was reading her like his web. She didn't like it one bit.

Ta thought all day. All night.

The next day, Ta approached Orb, who was spinning away.

"Location?" Orb barked, before Ta could open her mouth. "Facing which side? East? West? North? South? Which branch? Size? Shape? Length? Cornice? Diameter? Entrance? Porch? Golden spider silk is an expensive, time-consuming business. Your ideas better be clear!"

Ta flew away, overwhelmed.

But she had learned her lesson.

Two weeks later, Orb produced seven kinds of spider silk - golden, sticky, strong, and each with a different characteristic. Using Orb's spider silk, Ta began to build. The nest was tear-drop shaped, with an entrance. Over the circular entry, was a jutting area, like a roof. Inside there was room so Ta could turn or her tail could stick out. The nest faced west. Outside was a pretty cover lined with lichens, grass, lots of silver bark. Inside was the softest fuzz and silk. The nest was Ta's design. She had imagined, gathered, and built it, but Orb's seven kinds of golden silk held it together - from the strongest to the softest. It was magnificent.

When it was ready, Ta laughed (even Orb stopped glaring for a moment) and said - 'TA DA!'

And Tufty, who had just turned purple, grinned. "Hey, nice nest! Is that your name? TADA?"