The Bird on the Wire
1Yusuf and Aunt Marisol sat on a wooden fence at the edge of a grassy field. Aunt Marisol handed him her binoculars so he could see the far-off birds up close. "Look at that small bird on the wire," she said. "It is a kestrel."
2The kestrel was perched on the wire, sitting very still with its feet wrapped around it. Its feathers were rusty orange with dark spots.
3Suddenly, the kestrel flew up. It hovered above the grass, flapping its wings fast but staying in one spot, like it was hanging on a string. Its head turned from side to side as it scanned the field, looking all around for something to eat.
4Then a strong gust of wind blew Yusuf's cap right off his head. All at once, the kestrel dove straight down into the grass, headfirst and fast.
5"Did it catch something?" Yusuf asked. "Maybe a grasshopper," said Aunt Marisol. "Kestrels eat lots of bugs." Yusuf grinned from ear to ear. He could not wait to come back and watch again.