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Gordon Crow ran the Bird Table
A place where all birds could meet,
To chit and to chat, talk about this and that,
And, of course, get something to eat.
Nuts were amazingly popular,
As were seeds of all different kinds.
Some went for his special, fat juicy worms,
But they weren’t that easy to find.
Then one day our Gordon had problems.
‘I’m in trouble.’ he said ‘There’s no doubt.
'Cause I’ve one or two worms and plenty of seeds,
But of nuts I’ve completely run out.’
When the birds came the whole flock was livid,
‘How could this happen?' cried one.
‘I want some nuts.' called another.
‘Gordon what on earth’s going on?’
‘I’m sorry.’ said Gordon quite shaken.
‘But the thing is I’m quite low on stock.
I can’t work out how many nuts I should get,
Or worms or seeds for the flock.'
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 | ‘Course you can’ said a voice from above him.
And down flew the wise old owl Sam.
‘You can work out how many want worms, seeds or nuts,
By using a Bird Pictogram.’
‘Pictogram?’ said Gordon, quite baffled.
‘What’s that then?’ said one of the birds.
‘Now how can I show you?’ said Samuel,
‘Cause its quite hard to explain it in words.’
Now Nut Folk get up on that branch there.
It’s quite strong, you can take it from me.
And stand on each others' shoulders,
If you need to, hang on to the tree.
Now Seed Birds, go up there next to them,
And you do exactly the same.
That’s it. Very good, not so many,
But your getting the hang of the game.
Now then, that only leaves you two birds here.
What do you like? Worms deary me,
But then there’s only two of you.
Up you go. Now, Gordon, you see
The tallest column is Nut Birds. Right?
And I think if you count them there’s six. Right?
Then four for the seeds, two for the worms.’
Said Gordon ‘Eee I’ve seen some tricks.
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But this just about takes biscuit.
It shows me just what I should get.
Six lots of nuts, four lots of seeds,
And two worms. It’s easy, no sweat.’
So for sometime all went quiet smoothly,
Everything according to plan.
Gordon just ordered the things that he needed
Using his Bird Pictogram.
But then one day a new flock turned up there.
They’d heard that the table was good.
But this meant lots of birds,
And of course, as you’ve guessed,
Once more Gordon ran out of food.
‘Oh Sam’ he called ‘Now I’m in trouble.
I can’t put this lot on a branch.
I mean, the weight of these birds just might break it.
Oh Samuel, I can’t take the chance.’
‘Calm down. Don’t get in a lather’
Said Sam ‘I’ve got a new scheme.’
We won’t use the birds, we’ll use pictures.
Look, I’ll show you just what I mean.’
Then he told each pair of birds to draw pictures
Of one bird on a piece of card.
And the birds, being birds, could all draw birds of course
So no one found it all that hard.
‘Now wings up the Nut Birds‘ called out Sam,
‘Eight, good. Now listen to me;
Each picture represents two birds
So stick four pictures up in the tree.
Now Seed Birds I know you’re quite clever,
Can you work it out for yourselves?
Come on, off you go… ah six pictures
So how many like seed? Of course… twelve.
This pictogram’s looking quite flashy.
Now Worm Birds how many are you?
Oh yes, I see three pics up the tree
So there’s six of you, good that’ll do.
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 | ‘Amazing.’ said Gordon delighted.
‘Once again I know just what I need.
Eight lots of nuts, six juicy worms
And twelve lots of very good seed.’
Samuel, you’re truly fantastic.
What can I offer you?
‘Nowt’ said Sam 'I’m strictly a mouse man.'
And he flew off with a loud Twit Twoo.
Now Gordon the crow runs the Bird Table,
A place where all birds can meet,
To chit and to chat, talk about this and that,
And, of course, get something to eat.
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