It has been said that during the brief French occupation of what is now Guyana they heard the bird speaking French, “Qu’est ce qu’il dit ? ” meaning, “what is he saying, what is being said?” This was subsequently creolised as “Kiskadee” and was totally accepted. It was like a nickname. In appearance, the Kiskadee is formally attired in a brown coat and bright yellow vest, hence the scientific name pitangus sulphuratus [yellow like sulphur].
There is an Arawak (Lokono) legend about a hero who was being helped by birds to rescue his wife who belonged to Vultures in their celestial home. The Kiskadee did not attend the conference of birds.
it wrapped its head in a white cloth, pretending to be ill. The birds did not like this and Kiskadee was condemned to wear it forever. As a result of this Kiskadee began attacking other birds, especially large ones like crows and vultures.
When a competition was announced to create a Flag and Coat-of-Arms for Guyana after its independence, I entered a design for the latter and at first chose the kiskadee to be the national bird. I later changed my mind because it did not have a commanding presence, and chose the Cock-of-the rock instead. This was rejected because it resembles the cockatoo, regarded as a national bird in Pacific countries.
Kiskadees are everywhere, from the hinterland to the coast, never hide their presence, are courageous and defensive of their territory. I sincerely wish that this beloved bird of courage and indomitable will in its campaign for existence will serve as an example to KISKADEE WATCH in its defence of free veritable speech and respect for ethics.
Discussion