5 hours ago
5
Spring is a relief after four months of darkness in my valley. We live on the north side, so the sun doesn’t rise above the tree line for the whole winter. A sign of spring returning is the birdsong, as they call the sun back to our valley. One of my favourites is the robin, which sings all through the year, but I have really noticed them this spring. They are bold and like to sneak into our kitchen for crumbs.
Recently, a pair of our red-breasted friends built a nest in the eaves near our courtyard. Apparently, it was quite early in the year for them to nest. We watched them flying in and out, carrying small bits of twigs and moss in their beaks. Soon the busy birds stopped being so busy and I knew there must be eggs there. After a couple of weeks, we heard a high-pitched buzz coming from the nest – the birds had hatched and were crying for food. The chicks got bigger, their cries got louder and the parents worked harder.
Then one sunny morning we were sitting outside, the chicks had fledged and one landed in my mum’s hair! My dad had to fish it out and pop it in a sheltered bush. It was hilarious, and we spent the afternoon watching them hop about and find their feet.
It was surprising to see that when they are young, they don’t have the red breast that the adults have. Instead they are brown all over with golden flecks. Robins often have two to three broods, so I really hope to see another lot of chicks up close again.
Tabitha, 10
Read today’s other YCD, by Orla, 8: ‘A close call with a black adder’
