Izinyoni Eziculayo—Amagagu Abekela Ukuqonda Inselele

“EKUSENI ngovivi, ngavuswa umsindo izindlebe zami ezijwayele umsindo wasedolobheni ezazingawujwayele. Wawungajwayelekile kodwa umnandi. Kwakungowomculo wezinyoni. Hhayi nje eyodwa noma ezimbili kodwa eziningi. Izinyoni eziningi. Ezinye zaziseduze, ezinye zikude lé, futhi zonke zicula. Njengoba ngangilele embhedeni futhi ngilalele, ngafikelwa ukumangala okukhulu. Ngavuka ngaya efasiteleni, ngalivula, ngaguqa ngithinte ngezindololwane phezu konqenqema lwefasitela. Eduze kakhulu manje, ngezwa umsindo uba mkhulu kwaze kwaba yilapho sekubonakala ukuthi yonke indawo engaphandle igcwele umculo. Izinyoni eziningi eziculayo ngayinye iziculela izingoma zayo eziningi kodwa zonke zihlangana zenza umculo omnandi. Ngakushaya indiva ukubanda okwakusemoyeni. Ngangihlabeke umxhwele.”

Okungenhla kwabonwa yindoda yaseDolobheni laseNew York eyayivakashele abangane bayo eNyakatho yeYorkshire, eNgilandi. Ikhaya labo lalizungezwe amasimu angenalutho namahlathi​—⁠nezinyoni. Lapho ibingelela umbhangqwana eyayiwuvakashele ekuseni ngalolosuku, yayichichima injabulo. Bayichazela ukuthi yayisanda kubona ‘abaculi basentathakusa.’ Kwenzeka njalo entwasahlobo kuze kube maphakathi nehlobo. Kukhona ‘nabaculi bakusihlwa.’ Baculela phansi kakhulu, kodwa nakuba kunjalo bahlaba umxhwele. Ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, lomculo uya uba yindlala; kwezinye izindawo awusekho kwanhlobo.

Kunezinhlobo ezithi mazibe ngu-⁠9 000 ezaziwayo zezinyoni, ezingu-⁠5 000 zazo zaziwa njengezinyoni eziculayo, zeqembu elaziwa ngokuthi amaOscines. Nakuba ezinye zensikazi zicula, ezeduna ezenza lemibukiso yasekuseni neyakusihlwa yomculo. Sitshelwa ukuthi zicula ukuze zigcine izindawo zokuhlala futhi zithole ezizoshelana nazo, kodwa futhi kungenzeka ukuthi zimane ziyakujabulela ukucula. Ngokuqinisekile, lapho umculo wasekuseni ufinyelela umvuthwandaba wawo futhi uqhubeka ungayeki imizuzu engu-30, abaculi babonakala befinyelela amaqophelo aphakeme enjabulo.

Izingoma Ezihlukahlukene Kakhulu

Izingoma ziyahlukahluka zisuka kwezilula kuya kweziyinkimbinkimbi kuya kwezinemininingwane eminingi. Umhlala-khaya onesicholo esimhlophe ubonakala waneliswa ingoma eyodwa elula, ephindaphindwa ngokungenasiphelo. Umhlala-khaya oculayo unezingoma eziningana, amawren anezingamakhulu, futhi amamockingbird angacula izingoma zawo ezimtoti amahora amaningi. Nokho, ngezingoma eziningana ezimsulwa, ithrasher ensundu kuthiwa inezingaphezu kuka-2 000. Amanightingale, iminswi, amathrasher, izintaka, amarobin, oqaqashe, amablackbird, amawarbler, okhadinali, amalyrebird amahle, amarobin chat, amaskylark, nezinye eziningi ezivela kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba zingazitholela udumo njengabaculi abangamagagu.

Ngaphezu kwezingoma eziyinhloko eziculwa entathakusa nasebusuku, kukhona nezinye. Izingoma ezithakazelisa kakhulu yizingoma “ezinyenyezayo,” ukuculelwa phansi kwamanqampunqampu ezingoma eziyinhloko, eziculwa ngezindlela ezahlukahlukene kudamane kunezelwa okuthile futhi zizwakale emamitheni ambalwa. Njengoba ngokuvamile ziculwa ngesikhathi izinyoni zihleli esidlekeni zifukamela amaqanda noma zicashe ngasese ehlokozini, lezingoma ezincane ezingezwakali kahle eziculwa kokubili ezeduna nezensikazi zingase zizwakalise ukwaneliseka okungaphazamisekile.

Imibhangqwana eshelene yezinhlobonhlobo eziningi zezinyoni icula izingoma eziculwa izinyoni ezingambili. Ndawonye, zingase zicule ingoma eyodwa, noma izingoma ezihlukene, noma zicule ngokudedelana izindlela ezihlukene zengoma efanayo. Zikwenza kahle kakhulu ngesikhathi esifanayo kangangokuthi kuzwakala sengathi kucula inyoni eyodwa vó. Ikhefu phakathi nalapho enye ima futhi enye iqala lilinganiswa ngemizuzwanyana. Okuwukuphela kwendlela yokuqiniseka ngokuthi zimbili izinyoni eziculayo, ayiyinye, iwukuma phakathi kwazo. ENingizimu Melika izinyoni ezicula kahle kakhulu ngazimbili ngamawren angabaculi, abaningi abacabanga ukuthi acula izingoma eziningi ezimtoti ezizwakala laphaya emahlathini.

Ukulingisa Ngaphandle Kwamahloni

Ukulingisa ngamaphimbo kuyinto ethanda ukwenziwa izinhlobo eziningi zezinyoni. Izazi zezinyoni zibhekisela kukho njengesici esididayo futhi ziyehluleka ukubona ukuthi kufeza yiphi injongo, nakuba omunye umcwaningi asikisela ukuthi izinyoni zazizidlalela nje. ENyakatho Melika izinyoni okuthiwa amamockingbird zikwenza kahle kakhulu. Igama layo lezesayensi elithi Mimus polyglottos lisho “ukulingisa ngezilimi eziningi.” Ekuculeni okuthatha ihora elilodwa nje, kubikwa ukuthi enye yalingisela izinhlobo ezingu-55 zezinyoni.

Kodwa imockingbird akuyona yodwa elingisayo. EAustralia ilyrebird enhle “inenye ingoma ezwakala kakhulu nemnandi ukwedlula zonke izingoma zezinyoni eziculayo,” kanti “engomeni yayo siqu inezela cishe ezazozonke izinhlobo zezinyoni ezihlala eduze.” URobert Burton, encwadini yakhe iBird Behavior, amakhasi 130-⁠1, ubika ngokulingisa kwezinyoni okuthiwa amabowerbird, amawarbler ahlala emaxhaphozini, nemizwilili. Amabowerbird aseAustralia “kuye kwabikwa ukuthi alingisa amakati, izinja, izimbazo ezigawula izinkuni, amahutha ezimoto nemisindo yothango locingo, kanye nezinhlobo eziningi zezinyoni. Kuthiwa enye ibowerbird yalingisa ukhozi kahle kangangokuthi yabangela ukuba isikhukhukazi namachwane aso kubaleke kuyocasha.” Ngokuqinisekile, lamabowerbird ayengaculeli ukuze ashelane nezimbazo ezigawula izinkuni noma ukuze axoshe izintango zocingo ezibanga umsindo endaweni yazo! Mhlawumbe ayemane ezijabulisa, njengoba nabantu ababezilalele babenza.

Iwarbler yaseYurophu ehlala emaxhaphozini intshontsha kwezinye kakhulu kangangokuba “izinhlobo eziphelele zokulingisa kwayo zatholakala kuphela ngokuhlola okwenziwa eBelgium. Ukuhlaziya kwemishini ekala umsindo kwembula ukuthi cishe zonke izingoma zazenziwa yinhlanganisela yokulingisa. Akuzona nje kuphela izingoma zezinhlobo ezicishe zibe yikhulu zaseYurophu ezatholakala emishinini ekala umsindo kodwa futhi nalezo zezinhlobo zaseAfrika ezingaphezu kwekhulu, lezo iwarbler ehlala emaxhaphozini engazizwa endaweni ehlala kuyo ebusika.”

Imizwilili “ayikhethi futhi ilingisa noma yini, okuyenza ithandwe kangaka njengezinyoni zasekhejini. Kunesibonelo esidumile, sasekuqaleni kwawo-1900, sentaka yeduna etholakala eYurophu naseAsia eyayifundiswe ukushaya ngekhwelo ingoma yesiNgisi edumile. Umzwilili owawusekameleni eliseduze nalelo wafunda lengoma esikhathini esingangonyaka, futhi lapho intaka yeduna ingingiza isikhathi eside ekupheleni komusho wesithathu, umzwilili wawungenela uqedele lengoma.” Izinhlobo ezihlukene zinezindawo eziqondile ezizikhethela zona lapho kuziwa ezindaweni zokuculela. Ezinye zicula ziphansi emhlabathini, ezinye zisesihlokweni sesidindi, ezinye zisegatsheni elisobala esicongweni sesihlahla. Amamockingbird akhetha izindawo ezinjalo ezisobala eziphakeme futhi ngezikhathi ezithile andizele emoyeni ngamamitha amathathu noma ayisithupha bese ehlela endaweni yawo futhi, ayacula njengoba enza konke lokhu. Izinyoni ezinezidleke endaweni evulekile zivame ukucula lapho zindiza njengoba zikhuphuka zindiza ngaphezu kwezindawo zazo. Lokhu kunjalo ngeskylark, njengoba kuboniswa yimbongi uShelley enkondlweni yakhe emnandi ethi “Ode to a Skylark [Izibongo Zeskylark],” akhuluma kuyo “ngalomoya wenjabulo” okhuphukela phezulu bese uthululela inhliziyo yawo “ngamandla amakhulu obuciko obungacatshangwanga kusengaphambili.”

Entwasahlobo nasekuqaleni kwehlobo yisikhathi somculo wasentathakusa nowakusihlwa. Ngisho neBhayibheli liyabonisa ukuthi lena yinkathi ekhethekile yokuba izinyoni zicule. IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo zikaSolomoni sikhuluma ngesikhathi lapho ubusika sebudlulile, izimbali ziqhakaza, imithi ethela izithelo, izinyoni ezifudukayo sezibuyile ezindaweni ezibalekela kuzo ebusika, “nezinyoni sezicula, nokukhala kwamajuba kuzwakala ezweni lakithi.” (2:​11, 12, The New English Bible) Nokho, izinyoni eziningi, ziyoqhubeka zicula ngemva kwentwasahlobo nehlobo, ngemva kokuba imisebenzi yokushelana nokwakha izidleke isiphelile.

Omunye umbhali uthi okuningi ngezingoma zezinyoni kuyaxaka, futhi “imfihlakalo enkulu kunazo zonke iwukuthi kungani lezingoma ezinemininingwane eminingi zaziphendukela ngokwemvelo kwasekuqaleni, eziyinkimbinkimbi kangaka ngokungadingekile ukuba zenze noma yimuphi umsebenzi ongenzeka.” Mhlawumbe kumelwe acabangele ukuthi “lezingoma eziyinkimbinkimbi” azizange ziziphendukele ngokwemvelo kwasekuqaleni kodwa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu, obonisa ukukhathalela imihlala-khaya nezinyoni ezingomama ezihleli ezidlekeni zazo, wazinika lezizipho zokucula lapho ezidala. (Duteronomi 22:​6, 7; Mathewu 10:​29) Mhlawumbe omunye ‘wemisebenzi’ owokunikeza lezizinyoni injabulo. Amamockingbird nezinye ngokuvamile acula kuze kube sebusuku kakhulu. Ubani ongathi lokho akuzijabulisi zona ngokwazo​—⁠kanye nathi.

Indlela Ezikwenza Ngayo Iyimfihlakalo Eqhubekayo

“Imfihlakalo enkulu kunazo zonke” ingase ingabi wukuthi kungani zicula izingoma ezinemininingwane eminingi kanjalo; ingase ibe ukuthi zikwenza kanjani. Kuye kwaba nezinkolelo ezehlukene, futhi ngisho namanje ngemva kokuhlola okukhulu okungokwesayensi, akukho ukuvumelana kobunye. Indawo ekhipha iphimbo yenyoni ibizwa ngokuthi isyrinx​—⁠ingosi esathambo nesabhokisi ekhipha isenanelo enontwentwesi olusapulastiki oluqondiswa izicubu ezikhethekile. Iyehlukahluka kakhulu ezinhlotsheni ezahlukahlukene zezinyoni, uhlobo lwayo oluyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu lutholakala ezinyonini eziculayo. Isendaweni engaphansi ekugcineni kukaqhoqhoqho, noma ipayipi lomoya, futhi inemithombo emibili ehlukene yomsindo. Umthombo ngamunye womsindo unemithanjana yawo, izicubu nontwentwesi, okungalesosizathu kuthiwa izinyoni eziculayo ‘zinamaphimbo amabili.’ Ngokushintsha indlela izicubu ezicindezela ngayo imisipha ontwentwesini nangokushintsha umfutho womoya, inyoni ishintsha ubukhulu bomsindo kanye nokuphakama kwawo. Izinyoni ezinezicubu eziningi ezisabalele zinekhono elikhulu lokucula izingoma ezihlukahlukene eziyinkimbinkimbi nokushaya amakhwelo. Abaculi abanezimpaphe abashintshashintsha kakhulu kulaba banamapheya asukela kwayisikhombisa kuya kwayisishiyagalolunye alezizicubu.

URobert Burton encwadini yakhe ethi Bird Behavior ubonisa isizathu sokuthi kungani amakhono ezinyoni okucula edlula ukuqonda kwethu: “Ukwenziwa komsindo kufinyelela izinga lakho eliphakeme ezinhlotsheni ezifana newarbler ehlala emhlangeni nethrasher ensundu ezicula izindlela ezimbili ngesikhathi esisodwa ngamanothi ahlukene avela engxenyeni ngayinye yesyrinx ngesikhathi esifana nsé. Ngesinye isikhathi lapho icula, ithrasher ensundu iyikhipha ngokoqobo imisindo emine ehlukene ngesikhathi esisodwa, kodwa akwaziwa ukuthi lokho ikwenza kanjani.”

Eminyakeni engu-20 edlule, imfundiso eyamukelwayo yendlela izinyoni ezicula ngayo yayisekelwe kuyisyrinx kuphela. ‘Amaphimbo’ ayo ‘amabili,’ akwazi ukuveza imisindo emibili engafani ngesikhathi esisodwa, ngamunye uhluke ngokuphelele komunye, kwakuthiwa ngokuphelele kuyimbangela yohlobo lomculo nokuhlukahluka kwezinyoni eziculayo. Ngemva kokuba lemisindo emibili iphumile kuyisyrinx, kumelwe ihambe iguduze epayipini lomoya ngaphambi kokuba iphume ngomlomo. Nokho, akukho ngxenye ekuculeni okwathiwa yenziwa ipayipi lomoya nezenanelo zalo.

Eminyakeni emibalwa edlule, kuye kwavela imfundiso entsha ngenxa yokucwaninga okukhulu kwezesayensi. Idinga “ukuhlangana kokubambisana kwemithombo emibili esabalele yephimbo” nokuba nengxenye yentshiseko kukaqhoqhoqho, noma umgudu okhipha iphimbo. Umfanekiso ophumayo uhilela “ukuxhunyaniswa ngokuseduze kwalokho okwenzeka kuyisyrinx nokuhlelwa komgudu wephimbo. Lokhu kuxhunyaniswa kuhloselwe ukufinyelela ukulungiswa okulinganayo kwezenanelo, nalokho okumelwe ngaso sonke isikhathi kube yisivinini esikhulu kakhulu futhi kushaye emhloleni, ukuze kufanelane nesimo esishintshayo salokho okukhishwa umgudu osabalele.” Uma “iphimbo” ngalinye lilalelwa lodwa, amanye amanothi engomeni ephelele ngeke azwakale.

Ikhono lenyoni eculayo lokushintsha indlela ekhipha ngayo iphimbo layo liyinto uStephen Nowicki akhuluma ngayo esihlokweni esikuyiNature: “Inyoni ikwazi ukulungisa indlela ekhipha ngayo iphimbo layo ngezindlela ezahlukahlukene: ngokwesibonelo ngokushintsha ubude bukaqhoqhoqho, ngokufinyeza amalaka, noma ngokufutha umqala wayo nomlomo. Ukushintsha okunjalo okuhleliwe kungahambelana kahle nokunyakaza kwekhanda okuvame ukubonakala ezinyonini eziculayo.” UNowicki uyaphetha: “Ngokuphambene nezimfundiso zesikhathi esidlule, inyoni eculayo kumelwe ibhekwe njengento eyinhlanganisela yezimiso zemizwa eziqondisa amaimpulse abangela ukunyakaza esebenza ngobunye.”

Abacwaningi bayehlukanisa phakathi kwamaphimbo ezinyoni namakhwelo acacile ashaywa izinyoni eziculayo. UN. H. Fletcher, lapho ebhala kuJournal of Theoretical Biology, uthi amakhwelo ashaywa yizinyoni eziculayo ngephimbo elilodwa awabonakali ephuma ontwentwesini olungqangqazelayo kuyisyrinx. Kodwa abonakala evezwa inqubo ehluke ngokuphelele, ngokunokwenzeka “akhiziqwa umoya, ngaphandle kosizo lwezinto ezinyakaza ngokoqobo.” Lawomanothi amnandi ashaywa uketshezi asetshenziswa ngamanye amagagu asakubekela inselele ukuqonda.

UJeffrey Cynx waseRockefeller University Field Center unikeza lendatshana: “Abafundi bangase bajabule noma badumale ngokuthola ukuthi ukukwazi ukucula ngephimbo eliphakeme kakhulu kuyatholakala ezinyonini eziculayo. . . . Mina nozakwethu siye sahlola izinhlobo eziningi zezinyoni eziculayo ukuze sithole ukuphakama kwezwi, futhi sathola ikhono lokukwazi ukucula ngephimbo eliphakeme.

Umnandi Kuzo, Umnandi Kithi

UStephen Nowicki noPeter Marler babhala kuyiMusic Perception bathi, “njengezazi zesayensi ezihlola ukuziphatha kwezilwane, ngokuvamile sithathwa umsebenzi nokubaluleka kokuziphendukela kwemvelo kwezinyoni eziculayo njengophawu lokuxhumana kangangokuthi sikhohlwa amandla emizwa emihle ezisiphathele yona njengohlobo lomculo wemvelo.” Babe sebekhumbula ukuthi ezinye izazi zesayensi eminyakeni yawo-1920 nangemva kwalokho “zasikisela ukuthi inyoni eculayo kumelwe ibhekwe njengobuchwepheshe bakudala, obuhle ngokokubheka kwenyoni kanye nokwethu.”

Umculo onyenyezayo wenyoni engumama esesidlekeni, izingoma eziculwa izinyoni ezimbili ezingamawren emajukujukwini ehlathi, umsindo omkhulu womculo weskylark onobuciko obungacatshangwanga kusengaphambili, ibowerbird uma ilingisa ukhozi kahle kangangokuthi isikhukhukazi namachwane aso kubaleke kuyocasha, umculo wemockingbird entathakusa, nakho konke lokhu kufika emvuthwandaba wakho ngomculo ohlanganyelwe ogcwalisa yonke indawo engaphandle ngomculo! Ngokuqinisekile, lokhu kumelwe kudlulele ngalé kwezibalo nezikali zomsindo. Umculo wezinyoni ungase ukudide ukuqonda kwethu ngokuthi kahle-hle zikwenza kanjani, kodwa leyomfihlakalo kumelwe ikhulise ukwazisa kwethu ngalawomagagu ezinyoni eziculayo nangoNkulunkulu owawenza!

[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Phezulu ngenhla, ukusuka kwesobunxele ukuya kwesokudla: Intaka enamashiya abomvu, i“bowerbird” echachambile, umhlala-khaya oculayo, i“wren” enemibalabala, i“meadowlark” yasempumalanga

[Umthombo]

Philip Green

[Umthombo]

Philip Green

[Umthombo]

J. P. Myers/VIREO/H. Armstrong Roberts

[Umthombo]

Philip Green

[Umthombo]

T. Ulrich/H. Armstrong Roberts

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 15]

Paul A. Berquist