The Old Oak Tree

An old oak by a riverside shelters a lively community of animals — a rabbit family, a squirrel, an owl, robins, blackbirds, jackdaws, and a heron — who live together in harmony and song. Two noisy jays arrive and, through sharp criticism and intrusive curiosity, unsettle the neighbours and change their behaviour. The landowners shoot the jays, temporarily restoring calm. Later, erosion at the roots and the jackdaws enlarging a hole in the trunk lead the squire to order the tree felled, prompting most inhabitants to relocate. A few stubborn jackdaws remain and suffer the consequences of refusing to leave.