Long Bird Competition

What are the Bookles? asks Terence.

Good, thinks the carrot. Someone has asked.

We'll be off then, says Roo-kai.

Roo-kai grasps the carrot by the o-ring, and takes off, before the carrot can hear the answer.

A lovely park, says Belle, with the river meandering through it. The meanders are the Boucles.

It is a beautiful park, where many birds can be spotted, says Nico.

You love birds, don't you, Terence, says Belle. How about making a list of all the birds that we see on our journey?

Okay, says Terence. I've already seen fifty.

We haven't even started, says Belle.

These ones, says Terence, indicating his new sweet-potato-coloured shorts with their pattern of birds.

They are all the same bird, says Nico. There might be fifty of them, but they must only count as one bird.

They don't count at all, says Belle. And Terence should know the difference. 

I do know the difference, says Terence. Give me some paper.

No one has any paper. 

But wait, Belle has a damp paper bag. The one with Terence's old shorts in.

And Nico has a pen, being a person who works in a Musée des Beaux Arts.

Don't lose it, says Nico. 

What shall I do with the wet shorts? asks Belle.

Clip them onto your back pack, says Nico. They'll dry in the wind.

Good idea, says Belle. 

Nico clips the shorts to Belle's pack. Belle hands the damp paper bag to Terence.

Ideally, says Belle, you should wait till it gets dry.

Let's wait here then, says Terence.

No, we need to get going, says Belle. Hold the bag in the air as we go. It'll dry in no time.

And keep a list of the birds you've spotted, in your head, says Nico.

Okay, says Terence. 

They cycle out of Rouen, and soon enter the park known as Les Boucles de la Seine Normande.

The first bird they see is Roo-kai gliding down into a loop of the Seine with the carrot.

One parrot with a carrot, says Terence.

Roo-kai needn't be on your list, says Belle.

I'm making two lists, says Terence.

Stop! Listen! says Nico. 

They stop and listen.

A melodious warbler, says Nico.

How do I write that? asks Terence.

Is the paper bag dry? asks Belle.

Nearly, says Terence.

Okay. M... E.... L...O... begins Nico.

Stop, say Terence. 

Have you made holes in the paper? asks Belle.

No, says Terence. But that's a long enough name.

I guess it will do, says Nico. Its other name is even longer.

What's that? asks Belle.

Hypolaïs polyglotte, says Nico.

What a pretty name, says Belle. But it's not that much longer.

Belle and Nico count the letters. Sixteen for the warbler and eighteen for the polyglotte.

And four for the MELO, says Nico.

Does that mean I win? asks Terence.

No, says Belle.

She's not going to indulge him.