Funday Times

A journey of survival
By Kid Reporter, Dinusha Himashika Weerawardane
Winter was fast approaching Western Siberia and thousands of snipe were preparing for a long, tedious journey across many lands in search of a warmer place.

I was a fine young snipe, basking in the autumn sun with a long, flexible bill and brown, black and white plumage, when my mother told me that it was time to migrate to a warmer country and that I was to go with them. Being used to an idle life and barely aware of the climatic changes around me, I agreed without delay.

The next day, I began my journey with my parents and thousands of other snipe. Days passed by as we journeyed southwards over Kazakhstan. I was overwhelmed by a sensation of joy, freedom and awe as I spread out my wings and glided smoothly over the calm blue waters of the Caspian Sea. In fact, I was so flabbergasted by this sight that I ended up several yards behind the flock of snipe, until my father came back for me.

A few days later however, I grew weary of this long journey as I began to think longingly of a scrumptious dinner and a warm, cosy nest. It was then, my mother told me that it was time to stop our journey for the day.

However, the next morning, a terrible fate overcame us. I was rudely awoken by the sounds of gunshots. Some Iranian hunters were shooting recklessly at us! Many snipe were falling down dead, but I managed to escape without a scratch. I continued to fly southwards, but my enthusiasm and passion for this journey was lost. I had lost my parents and the rest of the flock. I was the sole survivor.

A few weeks later, I noticed that I was flying directly above a lovely island with many trees, so I decided to take a closer look. I flew down onto a nearby tree and gazed around. I couldn't believe my eyes. There were birds of all colours, shapes and sizes.

I made friends with a toucan, who told me that I was in Sri Lanka. I spent about three months there, and then began my journey back to my homeland.

As I flew back to Siberia, independent and eager to begin a new life there, I realised the importance of migration to survive the northern winter and the skills of survival needed for this journey.

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