In 2009 we were staying at our cousin's house in Triora, Italy. Settled just above a window was a bird's nest which my cousin said had been there for many years. Each year, different families of starlings (惊鸟) came back to make it their1.
We knew they were 2 because the chattering (鸣叫) of six newly hatched chicks woke us early every morning. Standing on a chair, I 3 to look into their nest. The first time I looked, the chicks were 4 and almost featherless. Their parents 5 backwards and forwards, bringing food to 6 their hungry and noisy chicks.
Being 7 parents, whenever they saw me they screamed and flew at the window. So I could only see the chicks when they weren't around.
8 the chicks were only a few days old, I realized the parents were teaching their young to fly. One brave chick beat its wings a few times and then 9 across the street landing on the roof of the house 10. Well done, I thought. The next day, my husband and I left for a tour and I was 11, thinking of how I would miss the rest taking their first 12.
Two weeks later, on our return, the first thing I did was look in the nest. It was 13. Then, suddenly, I heard the beating of wings and all eight of them were flying towards me. They 14 a semicircle, singing to me. I felt as though they were saying," Thank you for not harming us. " Then they flew off 15 into the blue sky.
