Project Bluebirds - Recap

Timmy and Lassie are in the fields birdwatching. Lassie runs after a rabbit. Timmy calls and Lassie returns to him. Lassie spots the first bluebird to return to the Calverton area and directs Timmy's attention to it. The bird's behavior causes Timmy to investigate. Timmy finds a nest with dead chicks in it. Timmy grieves.

At home in the parlor, Timmy continues to grieve. His mother tells him to stop brooding about the bluebird tragedy. Timmy reminds her the bluebird is special; it's a symbol of happiness.

Timmy wonders why there are so few bluebirds around. His father tells him they are facing a housing shortage: bluebirds nest in dead trees and weathered fence posts. Dead trees are being cut down and wooden fence posts are being replaced by sturdy modern ones. Ruth says the bluebirds may face extinction and the Audubon Society may have some information. She suggests Timmy write to the Society. Timmy does so at once.

Days later, Timmy runs into the kitchen calling Lassie. He shows her a letter from the Audubon Society with instructions for building bluebird houses. He hurries to the barn to build a birdhouse.

The birdhouse completed, Timmy sets off to find an appropriate site for his birdhouse. Lassie suggests first a stump and then a high fence post. Timmy places the birdhouse on the fence post and secures it with long nails. Later, as Timmy and Lassie nap nearby, a bluebird family moves into the birdhouse.

Timmy sets birdhouses up in the neighborhood, instructing his neighbors in the constructyion of th ehouses.. On later inspection, Timmy discovers Mr. Watts is found to be playing host to a nest of quadruplets!

Timmy and Lassie continue their inspections and are surprised to discover swarms of starlings flcoking in the trees and darkening the skies. Lassie barks furiously. Timmy inspects his special birdhouse and finds his birds are safe. He tells Lassie to stand guard.

At home, Paul is taking a phione call. A meeting has been called to face the crisis created by the flocks of starlings. Paul tells Timmy the starlings are the most destructive birds ever created. Swarms descend on the Martin fields. The family rush outside to drive the birds away by clanging on pots and pans. Paul won't do anything more until he attends the meeting in the evening.

Paul attends the meeting and returns late. He finds Timmy in the kitchen waiting for him. Paul tells him the only way to deal with the starlings is to use dynamite. Timmy is worried about the bluebird eggs and the birds' homes. Paul tells him that sometimes to drive out an evil, something good may have to be sacrificed. Paul points out the the farmers cannot afford to lose their crops and they have no other choice.

The next day, Paul unloads a box of dynamite from his pick up truck in preparation of the community dynamiting. He tells Timmy find lassie and keep her in the house. Timmy hurries into the fields to find Lassie. He checks his special bluebird house; the nest is empty. Timmy returns home unable to find Lassie.

Lasie sits beneath a tree. In the tree is a wicker cornucopia that holds a bird's nest and its eggs. Mr. Watts lights a stick of dynamite nearby and runs to take cover. Lassie grabs the dynamite and runs away with it.

At the Martin farm, Timmy tells his father he can't find lassie. At that moment, they see Lassie running through the fields carrying a stick of dynamite. Timmy yells at her and she drops the dynamite. Lassie rushes to Timmy


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