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I learn a lot by watching animals. They have tales to tell and lessons to teach for any who have the openness to listen, watch, and learn. Here are some of my latest observations and musings that I hope will demonstrate what I mean.

We have three roosters, each with a different personality and a different voice. Stew often sings at 4:00 AM to herald the dawn before this part of the globe has even thought of circling to it. I will never put him in the stew pot, but he got his name because of his exuberant pre-dawn concerts.

Stew is most definitely lead rooster. He has the "perfect" rooster voice, suitable for featuring in a movie. He also has movie- star looks, as roosters go. He is quite the handsome fellow with bright red plumage. Typical of his kind, he is well aware of his prowess and stature. He struts around and looks after the hens, knowing that he has important work to do.

Another of our roosters is Smoker. His call is not quite like Stew's. It starts out strong and vibrant, then finishes with a crackle that makes him sound as if he is about to go into a smoker's coughing fit. He knows he's not lead rooster, but he is the one I most often see doing sentry duty. He is the one who typically looks for danger and sounding a sort of hiss to alert the flock that he thinks there's a predator nearby. He isn't as bright and handsome as Stew, but he doesn't seem to mind -- or even notice.

Smoker may not have "The Look" or "The Sound," but he takes his place in the order of things without giving evidence of envy or ingratitude. He struts around with the others and sings out when the mood to do so is upon him.

The third rooster is colorful Rocky. His gorgeous high-riding tail feathers form an elegant arch. He is most likely the youngest of the three. He tends to let the ladies push him around and nudge him away from the cracked corn.

One of the hens in particular -- a snowy-headed compact lady -- evidently thinks Rocky should be chased when he's in her vicinity. Rocky rarely asserts himself. He lets the women have their way most of the time.

Until about two weeks ago, Rocky made various chickenly sounds but never crowed. One morning I heard a sound that made me dash out of the house. I thought one of the birds was in horrible pain. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Upon hearing the strained, "Oh!" I realized that Rocky was learning to sing. Two black hens stood nearby. I urged him to sing out and keep practicing. None of the other chickens or roosters laughed at him or told him to be quiet. None of them said, "Stew sounds so much better than you do."

Rocky didn't seem upset that his call was more a moan than a crow. He sang out several more times that day. In fact, the next day his call sounded a bit less pained. It even had two parts to it instead of just one.

His call is still not the quintessential Rooster Crow, but perhaps it will get there in time. Maybe Smoker will find a vigorous finish to his call one day too.

But even if Smoker forever sounds like he has emphysema and Ricky always sounds like he's in screaming agony, it just wouldn't be morning without the calls of all three of the roosters. I enjoy hearing them all, even if Stew often wakes me up and the other two sound ill.

Perhaps no human choir would accept a member with such a voice as Smoker or Rocky, but as the song says, "All God's critters have a place in the choir."

Everyone has unique gifts, and nobody is better than anybody else because of our talents. Some people have beautiful bodies. Some do not. Some people have the talent to sing or write a story or create magnificent artwork. Some have the talent to help others feel secure. Others are just finding out what talents they have to offer. Whichever of the three roosters

We can learn a lot from nature if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and brains enough to pay attention.