The light-vented bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis), sparrows, black bulbuls (Hypsipetes leucocephalus), turtle doves and pigeons have made the village their home. Their daily chirping livens up the day. Last year, a Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea) flew to the window of my studio for some cat biscuits (actually leftovers, ‘cause a village cat named Purr-purr did not eat them all!). Sometimes the grey treepie comes by for a snack, too, and when it finds the big biscuit bowl empty, it moves to stand on it, and then overturns it with a loud clang, as if protesting ＂Yo, it's empty! Píng-toh!* ＂
 
* In Taiwanese Hokkien, píng-toh means overturning the table, a highly provocative action that suggests anger.