By Allie Cohen ’12, Staff Writer

Each spring, the Newark Academy community excitedly awaits Mr. “Blackie” Parlin’s announcement that the Red-winged Blackbirds have returned to New Jersey. Therefore, it was with a mixture of good humor and sadness that Mrs. Schottland, during Morning Meeting in the first week back from winter break, asked Mr. Parlin whether he had heard of the recent death of thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds in Arkansas.

The cause of the deaths is still being debated. Some experts speculate that the birds died of trauma from the New Year’s fireworks.  While the death of the birds is an isolated, albeit bizarre incident, it has caused a stir all over the country, with popular shows like Saturday Night Live referencing it in their programs. It was in the Newark Academy auditorium, however, that a witty, conversational exchange in front of the community truly brought this national event home.

Despite Mr. Parlin’s affection for the birds, his first reaction to the news of the massive bird deaths was laughter. The mention of Arkansas made him think of one of his good friends at Newark Academy, Mr. “Arky” Crook, who, as nearly everyone knows, hails from Arkansas. Mr. Parlin recalls how when he heard the news in Morning Meeting, he immediately asked, “What state [did the deaths occur in]?” because of the irony of the location. Although the occurrence was tragic, Mr. Parlin explains that his connection to the birds comes from a fun, lighthearted tradition, and that his reaction was “all in good humor.”

Mr. Parlin recalls how on his way to school at a certain time at the beginning of spring every year, the row of trees by the Eisenhower Parkway traffic light suddenly fills with blackbirds. He explains that the first time he saw them years ago, he could see their silhouettes against the rising sun, and the beauty of the scene made him want to share his observations with the school. Ever since, his annual announcement of the arrival of the blackbirds has become a beloved, much-awaited Newark Academy tradition. The tradition has served for such a long time as the school’s own acknowledgement of the start of spring that Mr. Parlin himself does not even remember his first presentation on the Red-winged Blackbirds. This uniquely NA tradition has held such a strong place in the culture of the Academy that there once existed a marching band called “the Red-wing Blackbirds.”

Perhaps, though, the Newark Academy community should take public Morning Meeting announcements, like that of Mrs. Schottland, more seriously. Senior Katie Bu admits that her first reaction to the news was to laugh, though she later recognized that the situation was not necessarily funny: “It was a really sad topic, especially considering Mr. Parlin’s love for the blackbirds.” She believes that comments on topics that are emotionally significant to the community could and should be more carefully considered.

On her part, Mrs. Schottland views Mr. Parlin’s annual announcement not only as a fun tradition but also as a connection between the school community and the outside world. She believes that the blackbirds “connect us in our sealed environment to the outside world.” Sometimes at Newark Academy, especially in the winter months, we students and faculty members become so engrossed in our work and various school commitments that occurrences outside of the school boundaries pass us by. Perhaps, the arrival of the blackbirds and Mr. Parlin’s announcement serve as an annual reminder that the world is bigger than what is contained within the brick walls of Newark Academy, and that as a community, we should appreciate all it has to offer.