Spring has arrived! Spring has arrived! ― a young Crow called out loudly, flying through the forest.
Have you seen it? Is it beautiful? ― asked a young Woodpecker.
No, I haven't seen it. I only heard sparrows in the city park splashing in a puddle and chirping merrily.
I wonder what Spring is like? ― a Magpie perked up. ― Who has seen it?
Silly Magpie! You've seen it, and I've seen it, ― grumbled Aunt Owl, peering out from the hollow of an old oak tree. ― And all of you have already seen it too.
Where is it? ― asked the Woodpecker and Magpie in unison, settling on a linden branch.
There it is!
Where? ― the birds turned their heads around.
Look! The snowy drifts have turned grey, the snow is melting and flowing in streams across the forest clearings. On a low hill, green grass and the first flowers ― snowdrops ― are pushing through the snow. The sun is shining brighter and warming the earth. The frosts are gone, no more snowfalls or icy winds. Soon the birds will return from warm lands to our forests. The trees will have swollen buds and little green leaves will appear. All of this is Spring! ― explained wise old Aunt Owl.
Are there forests where there is no winter, snow, or frost? ― asked the young Woodpecker.
Yes, there are such forests! Far, far away in the south, where it is always warm and the sun shines, ― answered the wise Owl. ― There are many birds there that fear the cold. In the south they spend the winter, and in spring they return home. And so it is every year.
And they want to fly back and forth? That must be very far? ― asked another Crow, a friend of the one who was spreading the spring news, of the Owl.
If they don't fly away, they will freeze from the cold and hunger. Soon the rooks, starlings, larks, and swallows will return. In a little while, we'll hear the morning song of the Lark. Now do you understand what Spring is? ― asked Aunt Owl.
Yes! ― the birds cried out in unison.
Spring! Spring has arrived! ― joyful chirping echoed through the forest.
