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 bathing in a puddle and chirping merrily.
I wonder what Spring is like? ― perked up a Magpie. ― 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 you've all 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 about.
Look! The snowy drifts have turned grey, the snow is melting and running in streams across the forest clearings. On a low hill, green grass and the first flowers ― snowdrops ― are pushing through the snow. The sun shines brighter and warms the earth. The frosts have gone, there are no more snowfalls or icy winds. Soon the birds will return from warm lands to our forests. The trees will have swollen buds and tiny green leaves will appear. All of this is Spring! ― explained 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 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 so far? ― another Crow asked Owl ― a friend of the one who was spreading the spring news.
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.
