The Beautiful Summer Song of a Quiet Bird (Short story)

This is a little story inspired in my daily life. 　(English level B2 approx.)
これは私の日常生活をもとにした小さな物語です。

(please check some links related to this story at the end of the page)

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The Beautiful Summer Song of a Quiet Bird

One of the things I like to do the most when I have some free time is going out for a walk. Just walking around, going to a park and sitting on a bench relaxes me and makes me feel renewed by the time I get back home. And one of the things I enjoy the most about going for walks is watching birds and listening to them sing.

There is a very common bird species in Chile called the zorzal that inhabits a large part of the country. It's not a particularly colorful or eye-catching bird. As for its size, one could say it's somewhere between small and medium—bigger than a sparrow but smaller than a pigeon.

Throughout the year you can see the zorzal wandering around here and there. They usually go around alone. Sometimes you’ll find them in pairs or even in groups, but they generally keep a certain distance from each other. Each zorzal seems to be minding its own business, whether it's digging for worms, plucking tiny fruits from trees or shrubs, or simply wandering about.

During most of the year you will never hear them sing. They just let out a sharp chirp every now and then that is neither too loud nor too soft. There's nothing particularly special about it.

However, as the cold of winter starts to fade and the warm, sunny days of spring begin to arrive, a change takes place. Around mid or late spring, the quiet zorzal, as if out of nowhere, begins to sing. And it's not just any kind of song; it's one of the most charming melodies you can hear. Many bird enthusiasts in Chile would agree that the song of the zorzal is one of the most beautiful in the country.

In Santiago, where I live, it gets really hot in summer, but towards the evening a lively breeze starts to blow and the temperature drops slightly. Going out for a walk at this time of day, sitting under the shade of a tree and listening to a zorzal sing makes you feel relaxed and at peace. For me, it's one of the nicest things about summer over here.

Glossary:

Inhabit (verb):live in a place or area. (生息する)
eye-catching (adjective): easy to notice because it looks attractive or unusual. (目を引く)
wander (verb): walk around without a particular destination. (歩き回る)
To mind one's own business: to focus on one's own activities. (自分のことだけに気を向ける)
pluck (verb): pick; pull off. (摘む)
fade (verb): gradually become less intense. (薄れる)
as if out of nowhere: unexpectedly and suddenly. (突然)
charming (adjective): pleasant and attractive; pleasing to look at or listen to. (魅力的)
enthusiast (noun): a person who is very interested in something. (愛好家)