Bruny Youth Story Prize

The journey of life - A Swift Parrot story 

Beth steadies her wings ready to take flight, the journey will be long but with her mate by her side she can do it, the wind is strong she looks up and sees thick dark clouds gathering above she does not think much of them at first.

Beth takes a deep breath, opens her wings and soars up through the clouds, it is quiet and calm between the clouds then suddenly a flash of lightning strikes the ground, thunder roars, wind moves Beth side to side making it impossible to fly. Beth falls to a nearby tree branch where her mate lands next to her.

They wait till the sky clears, the sun shines through the dark clouds Beth sighs happily, finally its over they set off again, fearing for another storm Beth and her mate travel fast, barely stopping for food and water. After days of flying Beth smells the familiar aromas and knows the nesting grounds are close, she sees a small green island surrounded by water, sandy strips, the lighthouse in the distance and the memorable flowering forests, just how she remembers, relief washes over her there finally here.

Beth lands on a nearby branch she looks at the blooming flowers hungrily Beth and her mate drink as much nectar as they can Beth sits there in satisfaction staring at the sunset.

Later Beth starts looking around for a hollow, she finds the perfect one and shows it to her mate and they decide to stay. Weeks go by one day when Beth’s mate comes to feed her there are three little chicks calling for food.

Beth sighs happily, she now has a perfect family. Soon her chicks start to grow feathers and slowly their hollow feels smaller. Beth and her mate teach their chicks to fly. First from lower places then from the highest branch, they were soon flying with the other swift parrots happily. The last weeks had gone by so fast and soon Beth’s fledglings were no longer chicks, and they were ready to make their own journey. 
On the last day of breeding season Beth’s fledglings leave her, ready to live their lives they fly away with the others. Beth steadies her wings ready to take flight, she takes a deep breath and soars up through the clouds, free and happy.

Ready for her next journey.

The end
 

Winners of the Bruny Youth Story Prize will be announced at The Bruny Island Bird Festival on Sunday, the 22nd of March at 12 pm in the Adventure Bay hall. This prize is proudly brought to you by The Bruny Kids and Nature Project, led by Claire Boost and the Tasmanian Community Fund.