In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where the nights are deep and the wind whispers through the treetops, lives a small bird whose song is one of the saddest sounds you can hear. The Ayaymama (common Potoo), scientifically known as Nyctibius leucopterus, sings as if it’s calling out to its mother, repeating a mournful cry that seems to say, “Ay, ay mama.” But this sorrowful sound is more than just a bird’s call; it carries the weight of a tragic story that has been passed down through generations.
Many years ago, a native community was struck by a devastating epidemic that spread quickly. Among the afflicted was a mother of two young children who began to show the first symptoms of the illness. Knowing that there was no cure and fearing for her children’s safety, she made a painful decision: she would take them far away, out of reach of the disease.
The mother journeyed for days, deep into the jungle. Eventually, she found a hidden stream, surrounded by lush trees and filled with fish in its waters. There, with a heavy heart, she left her children, certain she would never see them again. With tears in her eyes, she said goodbye, praying to the spirits of the forest to watch over them.
At first, the children enjoyed their new surroundings, playing among the trees and splashing in the cool waters of the stream. But as night fell and darkness covered the forest, they began to feel the absence of their mother. Filled with fear and sorrow, they decided to go in search of her.
For hours they walked, unaware that they were moving in circles, lost in the vastness of the forest. Exhausted and scared, the children wished they could fly, thinking it would help them find their mother more quickly. It was then that the moon, watching them from above, took pity on them.
A soft light descended from the sky, and the moon spoke to them: “Little ones, your sadness has reached me. How can I help you?” One of the children, with a trembling voice, replied, “Please take us to our mother. We know she sent you to find us.”
Moved by their plea, the moon decided to transform the children into birds. She gave them wings so they could fly and search for their mother from the skies. Transformed into beautiful birds with feathers that blended into the branches of the trees, they took flight. But when they reached their village, they found it was too late. No one remained, as the illness had taken everyone.
Since then, the two siblings continue flying through the jungle, tirelessly searching for their mother. And when they perch on the treetops, exhausted from their endless search, their sorrowful song fills the night air: “Ayaymama… Ayaymama…” a lament that means, “Mother, why have you abandoned us?”
This mournful cry is still heard by those who venture deep into the Amazon rainforest, a reminder that a child’s love for their mother never fades, and that sometimes, sorrow lives on forever in the heart of nature.
Visit Manu National Park and explore the Peruvian jungle with Unique Amazon Peru!
