Orville’s First Flight
Characters: Orville Oriole, Chelsea Chickadee, Wilbur Wood Thrush, Storm Cloud.
Props: suitcase prop, sign saying “That Evening,” cookie sheet for thunder, palm tree prop.
Orville Oriole Mmm, there’s a bug, yum! I know I’m putting on weight, but this cold weather’s making me ravenous. I wonder when it’s going to warm up.
Chelsea Chickadee Warm up? Orville Oriole, you mean cool down, don’t you? Another month and there’ll be snow on the ground and ice in the ponds.
Oriole Well, I won’t have to worry about that! I’ll be far away when winter comes.
Chickadee Really? Where will you be?
Oriole I’ll be on migration. We orioles fly to a warm place where there’s lots of food to eat, and then we come back in the spring.
Chickadee That sounds good, but how do you get there?
Oriole Well, I don’t know actually. This is my first migration flight. I’m sure it’ll be loads of fun. Want to come along?
Chickadee No thanks, Orville. Traveling’s really not my bag.
Oriole But how are you going to stay warm here when everything’s frozen?
Chickadee I’ll just fluff up my feathers, and I can sleep in a hollow tree.
Oriole Well, what about finding food?
Chickadee Oh, finding food’s easy if you join a flock. We know all the bird feeders around. And don’t tell anyone, but I’ve been hiding seeds all over the forest!
Oriole Really? How will you remember where they are?
Chickadee Easy! I’ve been growing extra brain cells. I’m getting smarter every day.
Oriole That’s using your brain! But seeds aren’t really my kind of food. I like insects, and there’ll be lots of them where I’m going. Sure you don’t want to come?
Chickadee No thanks, Orville. Too risky for me, but you have a good trip! (exits)
Oriole Too bad. Here comes Wilbur Wood Thrush. I wonder if he’s migrating.
Wilbur Wood Thrush Hi, Orville. Ready for the big trip? We’re all going to Mexico for the winter.
Oriole Mexico! Yay! When do we leave?
Wood Thrush Tonight at sunset. This north wind will help us on our way.
Oriole Great. Wait, did you say tonight? You mean fly in the dark? How will we find our way?
Wood Thrush Oh, lots of ways. The sun sets in the west, so if we have the sun on our right wings, we’ll know we’re going south.
Oriole Okay, I can see that. But after it sets, it’ll be dark. Then what?
Wood Thrush We can listen for the waves on the shore when we follow the coastline, and we can use the stars to find our way.
Oriole Okay. Sun, waves, stars. Wait, what if it’s cloudy?
Wood Thrush Well, we can always tell where we are by sensing the earth’s magnetic field.
Oriole Oh. That makes sense. I’ll just use my animal magnetism!
Wood Thrush And there’ll be other birds flying, too, so we’ll listen for their calls.
Oriole Okay! I can’t wait to get to Mexico tomorrow!
Wood Thrush Very funny, Orville! It’s a long way to Mexico. It’ll take many days.
Oriole Oh. Right! Well, I better go pack. See you tonight. (both exit; put up sign saying “That Evening”)
Oriole (with suitcase) Here I am ready to migrate! Got a suitcase full of energy food.
Wood Thrush Orville, you can’t carry that! It’s too heavy. Besides, our fuel is body fat.
Oriole Oh! Well, I’ll be fine then. I’ve been eating so much I’ve doubled my weight!
Wood Thrush Now remember to fly by night and rest by day when you can see to find food.
Oriole Okay. Night flight, day rest. I’m ready. Bye! See you in Mexico!
Wood Thrush Wait, Orville. Be careful! There are lots of dangers out there! (exits)
Oriole Dangers? This is a piece of cake. Well, I’m off! (move puppet up and down) It’s easy with the wind behind me. Wheee!
Storm Cloud If it’s too easy, maybe I could help. How about a storm, some wind, rain?
Oriole Gee, I’m not sure…
Storm Cloud Or thunder, lightning and high winds? That’ll liven things up! (exits; thunder sound)
Oriole Now I’m in for it! It’s hard to fly in this storm, and that lightning is scary!
Wood Thrush (enters flying behind Oriole)
Orville! Look out for those tall buildings ahead! You’ll crash into them! (tilts up)
Oriole (tilts up) Yikes, that was close! Is that you, Wilbur? I can’t see you in this fog.
Wood Thrush Yes, I’m here too. We’re about to head out over the sea now.
Oriole Gee, Wilbur – storms, buildings, fog, and now a sea to cross?
Wood Thrush Just listen for my flight call, breet-breet! It’ll help you stay on course.
Oriole Thanks, Wilbur. This is really hard!
Wood Thrush Well, don’t get discouraged. We’ll be there soon! (both exit; re-enter with palm tree prop) Here we are at last.
Oriole Phew! That was quite an adventure! Flying through dangers of all kinds, testing my skills and endurance? I felt like a well-oiled flying machine!
Wood Thrush There’s nothing like flying, is there, Orville? And this is a great place to relax and rest up for our flight back home in the spring.
Oriole Sure is! I just hope spring doesn’t come too soon!
Nearby Nature 