"Home"-ing instinct?

Looking out the window around dusk these past few days, I noticed flocks of birds flying around, trying to find a home for the night. There are a lot of trees in the area, providing these little creatures a place to rest before they fly away again the next morning. It is quite amazing to see how much time the birds take before settling down into a branch. Its a frenzy of activity with hundreds of birds swooping in the air, gliding effortlessly and inter-weaving into groups, the chirping noise almost thunderous. Its a ritual that is quite interesting to watch - they circle around in the air a few times and narrow down where they want to settle in before calling it a day.

How do they know which tree, which branch was their home last night, last week or the last month? How do they hone their instinct and figure out when to stop flying, when or where to finally come to a halt? There is no pointed red arrow saying "home - this way" (if there is one, its not visible to me!). Am sure there is a pattern to it all if I observe their activity carefully and there could be a very logical and scientific explanation to it all but I would rather stay intrigued. Where do these birds come from, where do they go when the sun rises, what do they do all day and why do they come back to a particular tree?

Aren't we trying to do the same? Arent we trying to find a place to call home? We grow up in one part of the world, move around to another city or country, half way across the world sometimes, in the name of education or career or love, trying to find "home"? What is it that makes you call a place home - is it family, friends who live in the vicinity, stores and restaurants within walking distance, train or bus stations to offer easy transportation, short commute to work - what is it? How do people decide which place on the earth they will stay at for a period of time?

Although there is no swooping in the air or loud chirping accompanied with our search, there are countless hours of research and discussions, things to consider before making the decision. Maybe its easier for the birds to find a perch for the night since they dont have to worry about traffic jams, tv satellite dish availability or other creature comforts we seem to pay so much attention to :> or do they not have invisible emotional strings tugging at their little hearts?

Regardless of what it is you are looking for, I hope this new year leads you "home" (whatever it might mean to you).

If Home is where the heart is
Then may your Home be blessed
A shelter from the storms of Life
A place of rest,
And when each day is over
And toil put in its place
Your Home's dear warmth
Will bring its smile
To light the saddest face!

... by John McLeod