第5期:池塘(2)

For the next few days, the swans rested.

When they were hungry, they ate. When they were thirsty--which was a great deal of the time--they drank.

On the tenth day, the female began looking around to find a place to build her nest.

In the spring of the year, nest-building is uppermost in a bird's mind: it is the most important thing there is.

If she picks a good place, she stands a good chance of hatching her eggs and rearing her young.

If she picks a poor place, she may fail to raise a family.

The female swan knew this; she knew the decision she was making was extremely important.

The two swans first investigated the upper end of the pond, where a stream flowed slowly in.

It was pleasant there, with reeds and bulrushes.

Red-winged Blackbirds were busy nesting in this part of the pond, and a pair of Mallard Ducks were courting.