The bird’s name in the fictional world of Garden of Ban Ban is not explicitly stated. However, based on contextual clues provided in the story, it can be inferred that the bird is likely a parrot or related species of parrot. Parrots are known for their ability to mimic human speech and sounds, which aligns with how the bird communicates and interacts with the other characters in the story. Additionally, parrots are common pet birds that can form bonds with their owners, fitting the relationship between the bird and the old man in the story. Though its exact species is never named, contextual evidence points to the bird being a parrot or similar variety.
Physical Description
While the specific type of parrot is not provided, the story gives some clues about the bird’s physical appearance. It is described as having green feathers, a trait common among many parrot species. The bird is illustrated as being relatively small in size, probably similar to a conure or small macaw. It has a curved beak typical of parrots and wings with long covert feathers. Its tail feathers are also long and pointed. Overall, the bird shares many classic parrot physical characteristics.
Speech and Sounds
One of the strongest indicators that the bird is a parrot is its ability to mimic human speech. The story relays that the bird can perfectly repeat words, phrases, and sounds uttered by humans. This advanced vocal mimicry is a hallmark ability of parrots, especially species like the African grey parrot. The bird is able to hold conversations with the old man and even imitates his coughing fits. This complex speech mimicry would not be possible for most other bird species, further suggesting the bird is a talented parrot.
Behavior
In addition to speech, the bird exhibits other behaviors consistent with parrots. It is closely bonded with the old man and enjoys sitting on his shoulder. Parrots form strong social ties with their owners and often perch or sit with them. The bird also flies back and forth between the old man and the boy, demonstrating its ability to fly moderately short distances from its home base to interact with humans. These behaviors align with parrots’ high intelligence, trainability, and propensity to bond socially with people.
Habitat
Though the exact setting is fictional, Garden of Ban Ban appears to be set in a tropical or subtropical climate based on the lush vegetation described. Parrots natually inhabit warm, tropical regions which supports the theory that the story’s bird is a parrot adapted to such an environment. The ability to live year-round or seasonally in an outdoor garden setting is consistent with parrots’ native habitats. Most parrot species are found in tropical areas similar to the fictional climate of the story’s location.
Relationship with Humans
The bird’s close relationships with both the old man and later the young boy demonstrate the sociability and bonds parrots form with humans. In the story, the bird is portrayed as the old man’s companion, often riding on his shoulder and conversing with him. The bird mirrors the old man’s coughing, showing a specific bond with him. Later, the bird befriends the boy after the old man’s death, demonstrating parrots’ ability to form new human relationships after losing previous ones. This trait highlights parrots’ high emotional intelligence and social nature.
Diet
The story does not provide specifics about what the bird eats. However, parrots generally have a seed-based diet in captivity along with fruits and vegetables. Some parrots may eat animal protein as well. The bird likely has a typical parrot diet of seeds, produce, and possibly other supplemental foods the old man provides. Its food is likely high in carbohydrates and fats like most parrot diets. With its small size, the bird would eat relatively small quantities of food compared to a larger parrot species.
Name
Unfortunately the bird’s actual name is never mentioned in the story. Parrots are popular pets and often given human names by their owners. Based on the strong bond between the old man and the bird, it is very likely he named the bird, but the specific name used is never revealed. Possible parrot names he might have chosen include Buddy, Lucky, Tweets, or other common pet bird names reflecting their bond. However without confirmation from the story, the exact name chosen for the parrot by the old man remains a mystery.
Origin
The bird’s original source before becoming the old man’s pet is also unclear. Many parrots are bred in captivity domestically or imported as newly hatched chicks from tropical regions. Some parrots are caught in the wild as adults and then sold in the pet trade. Based on its strong social attachment to the old man, the bird was likely hand-raised by humans from a very young age. The early positive socialization helped it bond tightly with the old man. Determining where it was originally sourced as a chick or young parrot is impossible given the story’s limited details. Its early life before the old man acquired it remains unknown.
Training
The bird’s ability to mimic extensive human speech indicates substantial training by the old man. Parrots can learn words naturally by exposure or through structured training sessions where the owner deliberately rewards vocalizations. Given the bird’s advanced language skills, the old man likely did regular short training sessions, repeating words and rewarding imitation attempts with food and affection. This allowed the bird to learn more complex phrases over time. The old man probably spent years patiently training the parrot’s speech, evidenced by its near perfect mimicry and ability to improvise new sentences.
Age
The bird’s age is difficult to determine since different parrot species have varied lifetimes. Smaller parrots generally live 15-20 years on average. Larger species like macaws can reach 60+ years old. Based on the bond with the old man, the bird is likely at least 5-10 years old. The story does not indicate if the old man owned the bird since its infancy or adopted it later in life. If he raised it from a chick, the bird could be quite old at 15+ years by the time the old man dies. An older age is reasonable given the extent of speech training it received indicating many years spent with its owner.
Personality
The bird’s actions reveal components of a social, affectionate, and patient personality typical of pet parrots. It enjoys communicating vocally and interacting with people. The bird establishes a close rapport with both the old man and later the young boy, showing its ability to form new bonds after a loss. It patiently indulges the old man’s mischief and coughing fits, tolerating the antics with a sense of humor. Overall, the bird displays high intelligence, emotional depth, patience, loyalty, and adaptability – trademarks of parrot companions. Its personality complements both the young and old characters in the story.
Significance
As a supporting character, the parrot provides key insights into the old man’s life and character. Its interactions with the old man showcase his playfulness and imagination. The bird’s mimicry demonstrates a depth of their relationship impossible with a less intelligent animal. Losing the parrot affects the old man emotionally. The parrot’s ability to form a new bond with the boy enables it to lead the boy to discover the old man’s secret gift, allowing the old man’s memory to positively impact the next generation. This passing down of experience through the parrot is significant to the story’s meaning.
Conclusion
While the bird’s exact species goes unnamed throughout the story, many contextual clues point to it being a parrot or close parrot relative. Its physical description, speech mimicry, behaviors, bond with humans, and personality align with parrot characteristics. The origin of its name and early life remain a mystery. However, its critical role in the story is clear, serving first as the old man’s cherished companion and then bridging connections to impact the boy’s life. The parrot’s interactions provide insight into human relationships and memories. Though unnamed, the clever bird is essential to the deeper meaning and heart of Garden of Ban Ban.