Above the tall yellow grass, a black shape leaps up, flutters about, long tail twirls, and then disappears. Moments later, the shape pops up again, vanishes and then reappears again.

Everlasting, our Malawian driver-guide, explains, "Okay sah, that is the widow-bird. It looks for its woman. I don't see her" He smiles, shy. Malawians are very modest people. The widow-bird is gone. It ended its courtship display. Did it find a mate? I hope so. For unrequited love, it was a lot of cavorting and leaping

A breeze blows a ... (more)