Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
Produced by the iLab at WBUR Boston. Think about someone you admire for their bravery. their courage.
Maybe it's a person from history who stood up for what's right.
Perhaps it's a family member or friend who's always bold enough to try something new.
In today's story, we'll meet a character who's so brave, she's willing to give up everything she's ever known.
Everything. Hmm. I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called The Birds and the Trees.
Versions of this tale come from New Zealand, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, Some really great people came together to bring you our telling of this folktale, including Chris Marshall. whom you grownups might recognize from For All Mankind. on Apple TV.
So circle around, everyone, for the birds and the trees.
Long, long ago, when the world was new, A great spirit known as Tane Mahuta created the forests and birds.
So the trees, the bushes, the flowers, and all the feathered creatures who winged through the sky, they were all dead.
Tane's children. One of Tane's favorite things was taking long walks in the woods.
He loved everything about the forest, especially trees.
The fresh, cool, fragrant air. And? the whoosh of the breeze as it rustles the leaves.
And the lively twittering of the birds in the treetops.
It warmed Tane's heart to know that all of his children were doing so wonderfully well.
But then... On one of his morning walks, the Great Spirit spotted something strange.
Hmm. Let me take a closer look at this beech tree over here.
Oh, its bark is so brittle and blotchy. and its leaves are riddled with holes.
Alarmed, Tani glanced around the forest.
To his dismay, many of the other trees looked unwell too.
My goodness, what's happening to my trees?
To my children? They look so sick. What could be ailing them?
That's when Tane noticed. The bugs. Vast armies of bugs scuttling across the forest floor, skittering over the mud, mulch, and fallen leaves, then heading straight. for the trees.
Suddenly, Tane understood. Oh my... The bugs are coming up from the ground and feasting on my trees.
They're sucking the life out of my children.
I must find a way to stop those vicious critters.
Now remember, Tani wasn't just the creator of the trees.
He was the creator of the birds too. He took off through the forest, running as fast as he could and calling up toward the sky birds birds come to your father birds Birds, come to me now!
There was a great fluttering and flapping of wings, and all at once... birds of every size and color left their perches in the treetops and glided down to the forest floor.
Some birds settled on mossy logs, while others stood on the ground, with their talons and claws sinking into the squishy mulch and mud.
Thank you for coming, my children. Thank you.
But I'm afraid I've called you down from the treetops to deliver some very bad news.
Tane gestured toward a sickly tree. Its ragged bark was peeling off in thick strips.
Then he gestured toward another tree. And another.
And another. See these trees? Hordes of bugs are climbing up from the ground. then biting and nipping at the bark and branches and leaves, and making the trees sick.
Very sick. That's why I need one of you to help me out.
I need one of you to give up your home in the treetops and live here on the forest floor. where you will gobble up those voracious pests before they gobble up our trees.
The birds were silent. No one even ruffled a feather.
Now I will admit. If you volunteer, your life will be changed forevermore.
You will lose your wings and your tail, so you will not fly.
You'll never see the treetops again. You'll also lose your smooth, bright feathers. and instead have shaggy, bristly feathers the color of the forest floor.
But you'll be saving the forest. Our forest.
So, who's with me? Tane flashed the birds a smile.
Not one of them smiled back. Oh, come now, children.
Surely someone will volunteer to give up the sky and come down to earth.
Someone? Anyone? Tane looked around, then pointed to a brown-eyed bird with an iridescent swirl of blue, green, and bronze feathers.
Tooey, how about you? Will you help me save the forest?
Tooey blinked his brown eyes. Who, me? I don't know.
And why not? Well, Father, when you created me, You were kind enough to give me a beautiful voice.
One of the most beautiful in the forest.
And up in the treetops, I can raise that voice and sing loud and clear for all to hear.
So, what's the problem? Isn't it obvious, Father?
If I move down to the forest floor, no one will hear my tuneful tones.
My pleasant pipes, my melodious music, my harmonious...
Harmonious hands. Anyway, you get what I'm saying.
Indeed, Tane got what Tui was saying. and realized that this was going to be much more difficult than he thought.
All right, then. If Tooie won't volunteer to help me save the forest, then which one of you will?
Hmm? Tani looked around the flock of birds that surrounded him.
Then he waved at a large bird with a violet chest, a scarlet head. and bright orange legs and feet.
Pukeko, how about you? Will you help me save the forest?
Pukeko gulped. Who? Me? I don't know... And why not?
Well, Father, when you created me... You gave me these lovely orange feet with long, slim toes.
They're my most elegant feature. And up in the treetops, where the breeze blows all day, I never have to worry about my fabulous feet getting wet.
And if you move down to the forest floor?
If I move down to the forest floor... The damp and soggy forest floor.
My glorious feet will be wet all the time, drenched.
Not to mention covered with mud. Nobody will ever see them.
Tane took a deep breath. Right then. So if Pukeko won't volunteer to help me save the forest, and Tooie won't volunteer to help me save the forest.
Surely someone else will? Tani nodded toward a plump green and white pigeon.
Kararu, how about you? Will you help me save the forest?
Kararu did a double take. Who? Me? I don't know.
And why not? Well, Father, when you created me, you gave me a craving for fresh, juicy food. fruit.
And up in the treetops I can pick as much fresh juicy fruit as I want right off the branches.
Do you see where I'm going with this? Please indulge me.
Think about it. If I move down to the forest floor, I'll have to wait until that fresh, juicy fruit gets overripe. and rotten, and falls from the tree, and seriously, Who wants to eat spoiled fruit off the ground?
Not me. Tane was quiet for a moment. Then he shrugged his great shoulders and shook his great head.
Oh, my children, can this be true? Will none of you step forward?
Will none of you help me save the trees?
Tani waited for an answer. He waited and waited.
And just when he was certain that all was lost, he heard a voice.
I'll do it, Father. I'll help you save the trees.
You can count on me. Who do you think finally spoke up?
And if you were one of Tane's birds, what would you do?
We'll find out what happens next after a quick break.
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Hiring? Indeed is all you need. need. I'm Rebecca Shear.
Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called The Birds and the Trees. you Before the break, the great spirit Tane Mahuta, creator of trees and birds, wanted to save the forest from hungry bugs that were crawling up from the damp ground and wreaking havoc on the trees.
All of Tane's birds lived high up in the treetops.
So he called the birds together and asked which one of them would volunteer to move down to the forest floor and chow down on the creepy crawly critters, whoever accepted would have to give up their wings. their tails and their bright colors.
At first, the birds were reluctant. Tooey feared that nobody would hear his amazing singing voice if he lived on the ground.
Pukeko fretted about her bright orange feet getting wet and muddy. and Kararu worried about having to eat spoiled fruit after it had fallen off the branches.
But then, all of a sudden, another bird spoke up.
"'I'll do it, father.' I'll help you save the trees.
You will? Who are you? Who's talking? There was a rustling of dried leaves.
Then, a beautiful bird with slender legs A tiny beak and smooth rainbow-colored feathers stepped forward.
It's me! The other birds were astounded.
Kiwi? Are you out of your mind? You'd live on the forest floor?
And give up those silky, colorful feathers?
And tail? And wings? Kiwi paid no attention to Tui, Pukeko, and Kararu.
Instead, she fixed Tane with a steady gaze.
Father? Like everyone else here, I have lived in the treetops my entire life.
I've used my rainbow wings to soar up to the sky and whiz through the clouds.
I've glided over mountains. I've sailed past volcanoes.
Bet across sandy beaches and watch the waves crash and tumble far below.
Kiwi turned to her fellow birds. But my family is in trouble.
Our family is in trouble. The trees are our brothers and sisters, and without those trees, we are doomed.
The whole world is doomed. So, I'll do it.
I'll give up life on the forest roof and live forever on the forest floor.
Tane leaned down toward Kiwi. Kiwi, my child, remember, if you move to the forest floor...
All those glossy, bright feathers of yours.
They'll become shaggy and brown, the color of the earth. your tail will disappear and your wings will become weak little stumps.
Are you sure about this? Kiwi took a deep breath.
I'm absolutely sure, Father. I fully understand all that I have to lose and all that the world has to gain.
Very well, then. You will be our hero of the forest floor, Kiwi.
But before I take care of your transformation...
He cast a glance at Tui, Pukeko, and Kararu.
I have some other business to attend to.
Too-ee. Yes, Father? Too-ee. Kindly remind me, you were concerned that if you moved down to the forest floor, Nobody would hear your tuneful tones.
Is that correct? Yes, indeedy. They'd miss out on my pleasant pipes, my melodious music, My harmonious... Right, right, right.
Well, Toohey, after today, your tuneful tones won't be quite so tuneful.
Your pleasant pipes won't be quite so pleasant, and your melodious music... won't be quite so melodious.
I don't understand. I'm changing your bird call, Toohey.
You'll still have your tuneful tones, but...
They'll be constantly interrupted by coughs and cackles, grunts and gurgles. perhaps even a wheeze or two.
That is how it shall be forevermore. And it was.
To this day, the bird known as the tui has a very odd call.
A series of sweet-sounding tweets and Twitters interspersed with not-very-sweet-sounding clicks and creaks and groans—
But Tane wasn't finished. He turned from Tui to Pukeko.
Pukeko? You were concerned that if you moved down to the forest floor, your lovely orange feet would get all soggy and damp.
Is that right? That's right. I mean, look at these beauties.
Have you ever seen such terrific tootsies?
Well, Pukeko. Here's the thing about your terrific tootsies.
After today... Those tootsies of yours will be terrifically wet.
Whoa! I'm turning you into a swamp bird, Pukeko.
You'll leave the treetops and find a new home in marshy, mushy places.
And... It was... These days, you'll see the Pukeko living in swamps, lagoons, even waterlogged ditches by the side of the road.
But Tane had more work to do.
He turned from Pukeko to Kereru. Kereru?
You feared that if you moved down to the forest floor, you couldn't munch fresh fruit off the trees. that you'd have to wait for it to spoil and fall to the ground.
Yes? Yes, who wants to feast on rotten fruit?
Well, Caroloo. After today, you will want to feast on rotten fruit. as much rotten fruit as you can fit in your belly.
I'm changing your diet, careroo. Your new favorite food will be rotten fruit. and you'll eat so much rotten fruit that you'll grow dizzy and woozy Your flying will become clumsy.
You'll even fall out of trees from time to time.
That is how it shall be forevermore. And it was.
The Kararu is famous for gorging itself on fermented fruit. and demonstrating some truly klutzy behavior, like, yes, tumbling right out of trees.
After Tani announced the fates of Tui, Pukeko, and Kararu, he finally cast his gaze. on Kiwi.
Kiwi, you already know about some of the changes coming your way.
Now that you're moving down to the forest floor, your sleek, colorful feathers will grow shaggy, bristly and brown.
Your wings will become stumps. Your tail will disappear.
But that's not all. It isn't? No. Those slender legs of yours. will grow thick and muscular.
So thick and muscular that you can run very fast if other creatures try to get you.
And you can use your strong legs to dig a burrow beneath the ground where you will stay cozy and safe. and warm.
Father! That's amazing! But wait, there's more.
That petite beak of yours will grow long and tough.
So long and tough that you can root deep into the earth to eat all the creepy creatures. crawly critters who live down there.
And your sense of smell will be so keen, that you'll know exactly which critter is lurking beneath the soil before you've even begun to dig.
This is incredible! Father, I don't know what to say other than thank you.
No, my child. Thank you. From that day forward, Kiwi became the shaggy, brown, long beaked stout-legged, wingless bird that lived on the floor of the forest.
But what she lost in beauty, she made up for in strength, skill and speed.
Kiwi became so beloved in the country of New Zealand that she became the official national bird.
Kiwi has had sports teams named after her.
Her picture has been engraved on coins. And you may know that people in New Zealand even refer to themselves as Kiwis. as a symbol of pride, love, and admiration the brave, selfless, and noble bird who came down from the sky and saved the trees.
Thank you. Now it's your turn. Kiwi showed a lot of bravery in today's story.
What are some ways you've shown bravery?
Think about one time you were especially proud of yourself for being courageous.
Then find a piece of paper and something to draw with and make a picture of you being brave.
Once you're finished, share your picture with someone who's at home with you.
Then together... Think of a picture you can draw that shows you being brave in the future.
A picture of you doing something that perhaps you're not quite ready to do just yet. but that someday you'll work up the courage to achieve.
After you've drawn your two pictures, you can share them with us.
You grown-ups listening can find Circle Round on Instagram at circleroundpodcast.
Woohoo! This week's story, The Birds and the Trees, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Circle Round's executive producer, Catherine Brewer.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Our artist is Sabina Hun. Sabina has made a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, and you can print them out and Color them in while you listen or anytime.
Ask a grown-up to visit our website, wbor.org slash circleround. and click on Soundtrack and Coloring pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, James Konacek, Adam Mastriani, Maurice Emanuel Parent, Gamalia Farms, and Chris Marshall.
Grown-ups, you can see Chris Marshall on Apple TV's fictionalized version of the 1960s Race to the Moon for all mankind.
Chris is also a mentor with the Young Storytellers Foundation. which seeks to inspire young people to discover the power of their own voice.
The featured instrument in today's story was the flute.
You can learn more about this member of the Woodwind family and see a picture on our website. wbur.org slash circle round.
Never want to miss an episode of Circle Round?
Ask a grown-up to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast app they use.
And please leave us some stars, write us a review or just tell your friends about the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you.
Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories. and we're excited to share some of their voices with you.
Hi, my name is Clara and I live in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.
My favorite story is The True Mother because I just think it's a really good story.
Hi, my name's Eleanor and I like The True Mother.
I think it's really cute because there's a baby in it.
Hi, my name is Simon. My favorite story It's the very busy fairies.
And because it's very funny. Did someone mention an episode you missed?
No problem. You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
That's wbur.org slash circle around or wherever you and your grownups get your podcasts.
