Bytes from India by Randa Breuer

                                            The elephant and the cattle egret are said to have a symbiotic relationship, and are often seen together, lounging in the fields, like a pair of mismatched old ladies. The egret sits atop the elephant, feeding on its lice and ticks, and thereby ridding it of unwelcome parasites. Additionally, the egret gets a free safe ride and perch, especially in areas where trees are scarce; and, as if in gratitude, it warns of predators with its loud scream.  Rupa Samaria and the birds of India have a similar mutualistic relationship, benefiting and enriching each other’s lives and survival. Rupa’s creativity and curiosity feeds upon the various birds in the many different regions of India; their stories, their colors, their survival needs inspiring her as an artist and painter; and in return, Rupa has become a heralder for bird conservation and propagation. Just as John James Audubon painted the birds of the United States in the nineteenth century, Rupa&