The Tree That Stood

By Elizabeth
Elwood Public Schools
Elwood, NE

Narrator: Once upon a time there was a beautiful tree on a ridge with a great view of a lake, mountains, and forest. In this tree lived a Western Bluebird, Oriole, Black-capped chickadee, and a Cardinal. Many animals lived in the tree beside the birds. They loved their home and never wanted to move.

One day the Oriole overhead two loggers talking about cutting down the tree. The Oriole rushed back home to tell the others the news.

Squirrel: Why don't I hit them with my acorns that I have been saving for winter?

Woodpecker: No, you would waste your acorns and winter is coming soon.

Western Bluebird: Does anyone have any suggestions?

Narrator: There was a long pause.

Cardinal: I got it! do you remember when the beavers made a dame last year?

Owl: What does that have to do with it?

Cardinal: Why don't we.....

Everyone: Come on, tell us!

Cardinal: Why don't we make him understand why he shouldn't cut down our home. Look we have exactly four days before they cut down our home.

Black-capped Chickadee: Um.

Cardinal: Now does anyone know where he lives, we could.....

Black-capped Chickadee: Excuse me, how exactly are we going to do this?

Owl: I don't know.

Eagle: I know, but you have to listen and follow directions. Bluebird, you spy on the logger and find out where he lives. Now prepare for Phase 1.

Narrator: The Western Bluebird followed the logger home, and then she flew all the way back to tell the others. The eagle had a very good plan. At midnight, they were going to the logger's house and tell him why it was important not to cut down the tree, their home. At midnight the Cardinal, Oriole, Black-capped Chickadee, and the Western Bluebird, joined together. Now the eagle gives the signal and they go. The logger left his window open so the Cardinal landed on the window ledge and hopped onto his bed. He began to talk tot he logger.

Cardinal: If you cut down the tree, the Cardinals would eventually die out and you would no longer hear the first song the Cardinals sing on late sunny winter days.

Narrator: The Cardinal then flew out the window back to the tree with the other birds. It was the Western Bluebird's turn to visit the logger.

Western Bluebird: I like having a natural hole to live in instead of an artificial nest and you would miss the singing of all the birds in the tree.

Narrator: He flies out of the window and signals the Black-capped Chickadee. The Chickadee leans close to the logger and says:

Black-capped Chickadee: By destroying our home you are destroying the music of nature.

Narrator: He leaves, giving the Oriole the signal to finish the plan.

Oriole: I plead with you do not cut down our home. If you cut down our home you would take away my fruit and insect supplies that I need to survive!

Narrator: He returns to a tree outside the window and all the birds sang together as the sun rose. Suddenly the logger wakes up hearing the beautiful singing and remembers the dreams about the birds. He realizes the music of the birds brings joy and happiness to human lives and decided to follow the songbirds to their home. The tree is so beautiful that the logger buys the land and builds a cabin close to the tree so no one can destroy the birds' home at last.

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