Cardinal Guilt

Last spring my small dog Oreo went roaming about in the backyard. I realized something was dreadfully amiss when I saw three birds, one a flashing bright red and two more brownish, swooping back and forth over Oreo's head. I ran to the spot and saw Oreo trying to swipe at a tiny reddish object, which upon closer inspection proved to be a baby cardinal. The bird had probably fallen from a hidden nest, could not yet fly, and its parents and extended family were attempting to scare off the dog from mauling the curious object. My daughter and I rescued the bird, but couldn't really save it, and, alas, it sucumbed to the grievous injuries a week later.

This spring, we decided to create a haven for birds, a virtual place of freedom for winged creatures. Birdfeeder hanging on a pole, providing food and sustenance for the nesting parents and hatchlings. They have flocked to our backyard, scarlet cardinals, tiny yellow finches, ordinary sparrows and cooing doves. However, even in paradise, always a culprit to blame! "When Squirrels Attack" seemed to be filming right in the backyard. Sharp raps on the window proved to be only momentary respite from the furry creatures attempts to steal all the food. Humans being smarter and wealthier, I exchanged one hanging pole for a better, taller one, and the birdfeeder now swings free of the rodent like animals. After all, don't they have nuts to eat?

Vocabulary:

1. roaming (verb) - wandering and exploring

2. amiss (adjective) - wrong, out of place

3. haven (noun) - place of refuge

4. sustenance (noun) - nourishment needed to survive

5. hatchlings (noun) - newborn birds

6. respite (noun) - temporary break

Practice:

1. My friend was never comfortable in one place and was always _________ around.

2. I could tell from their sad faces that somehing was ____.

3. The hurricane survivors struggled across the flood to reach a safe _______.

4. Bread and water provided enough ______ to keep them alive.

5. The students watched in awe as three little _____ emerged from their eggs.

6. The truce provided a much wanted ____ from the fighting.

Grammar Point:

A description tells what someone or something is like. You can describe a real or made-up person or place. Make sure you use "details" to help your readers "see" the place you are describing. You can use sensory words to tell your reader how things look, sound, feel, smell, or taste.