The Boy and the Nightjar

Sam, an eight-year-old boy who lives in a small house at the edge of the woods, spends his evenings watching robins, sparrows and swifts with his sketchbook and pencil. One warm evening under a big oak tree, he hears a strange churring sound and follows it until he finds a nightjar resting on a branch. Its mottled brown and grey feathers look exactly like tree bark, making the bird almost vanish into the tree.

Sam quietly draws the nightjar's bark-patterned feathers, its flattened pose, large glossy eyes and the small silver ring on one leg. He learns that camouflage is the bird's superpower, hiding it from danger and curious boys alike. The next morning, he brings his drawings to school, where Miss Amara invites him to show the class. His classmates are astonished that they can barely find the bird in the picture, and the whole class goes out into the school garden to look for camouflaged creatures of their own. This gentle tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL is a lesson in careful observation, showing that patience and attention reveal nature's hidden wonders. It can be read on Masal İzle.