As the sun starts to set, the forest transforms into a mystery land filled with new surprises. All that hides during the day comes to vibrant life as the dark dawns over. As the light starts to fade, the melodious bird calls are taken over by the orchestra of the cicadas and the croaking of frogs who fill the air with a vibe of the unseen. Fireflies illuminate a distant tree with its unmistakable glow and the lightning showers the earth below in strobes. The scent of rain fills my lungs. A pour comes echoes like beating drums as it hits the leaves of the canopy, before it eventually slows down to a scattered drip.
The forest comes alive with this rain—tree and bush frogs croak out of their hiding to claim their spot, water cascades through the leaves of the forest canopy, serpents take their position strategically, nocturnal birds ruffle their feathers to dry themselves so they can go about their business, the fungi breathes its spores to spread far and wide...this list is never ending.
The nightfall might seem like the forest has rested, but in reality it is a time of change—one where survival and adaptation takes the spotlight. Here is how this transformation brings to life, more than the eyes can see and the mind can fathom.
Predators use the dark as their ally and get active scouting for a potential meal. Many nocturnal hunters activate their superpowers—such as the night vision of a wild cat; the snake’s ability to activate their heat sensing capabilities; and owls, doubling as the ghosts of the forest, fly without making a noise. Some prey species use the same darkness to benefit themselves and evade dangers. Thus, teaching us all a valuable lesson that the game of survival never rests, even when the sun does.
While many animals choose to sleep, we have secret agents of the night who take their assignments very seriously, converting the forest floor and the night sky into a busy highway. Ants march like a disciplined army filling up their reserves; flying squirrels glide with pristine accuracy from one tree to another foraging for their meal. Species like these merely adapt to the dark and use shadows to move about unseen. Once daylight breaks, their presence is as good as erased—like they were never there, except for a few pug marks and markings.
An orchestra of the shadows is always plays as the background score at night, with the songs of the cicadas rising in chorus and falling in waves. The distant croak of the frog adds beats to the ongoing melody. Calls of the mammals become the occasional lead voice to this mysterious soulful song. Every melody adds to it and serves its purpose—it may be an alarm call, a call for a mate, or an authoritative call in defence of territory. This is as alive as alive can be, strengthening the fact that the forest is far from being asleep.
What’s a party without a spectacular light show? This is exactly where the deep night adds its grace to species that are nothing short of being referred to as the "fairies of the night."
The first to add value to this list are fireflies, who flicker through the air and rest between their short flights, leaving every soul that witnesses them in pure awe of their magical touch.
Since the skies are covered by fireflies, the bioluminescent fungi take their position to light up the ground. Their faint glow can only be described as "otherworldly." These blessings can be reached only by those who dare to explore the forests at night.
The night continues to flaunt its mysteries; it will never cease to amaze even the folks who are the least interested. As the forest transitions towards day, almost every species retreats to a safe havens where their presence can seldom be detected. The forest readies itself for another shift and a new set of species reclaim the space to call it theirs.
So, the next time someone tells you that the forest sleeps, be sure to argue that it changes character and reveals its hidden treasures only to the brave.
