The Wild Robot, #1
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Contents
CHAPTER 49: THE FLIER
Overview
Brightbill’s flight training with Roz pays off as he becomes a clever and talented flier by studying the techniques of many birds. His growing skill earns admiration from the goslings and establishes him as a natural leader, even while the adult geese disapprove of his showy methods.
The chapter shows Brightbill maturing rapidly and using intelligence, observation, and teamwork to prepare for life beyond Roz’s care.
Summary
With Roz coaching Brightbill, the young goose becomes an unusually skilled flier. Because Brightbill is not the largest or strongest, Roz and Brightbill focus on intelligence and observation, studying how hawks, owls, sparrows, and vultures move through the air.
After watching other birds for hours, Brightbill practices on the grassy ridge. The lessons quickly change Brightbill’s abilities: he learns to dive, swoop, dart, and soar around the island with impressive control.
Brightbill’s tricks make the adult geese disapprove, but the other goslings admire him. Each morning, a group waits for Brightbill to lead them into the sky, showing that Brightbill has become a leader among the young birds.
Brightbill returns to Roz after each outing and excitedly reports what he has learned and taught the others. Brightbill uses updrafts to conserve energy, reads weather signs to avoid a lightning storm, and practices formation flying, often leading because the goslings prefer to follow him.
Who Appears
- BrightbillYoung gosling who becomes a skilled, inventive flier and leader among the goslings.
- RozRobot mother who coaches Brightbill by helping him study other birds’ flight techniques.
- The goslingsYoung geese who admire Brightbill’s flying and follow him on daily aerial adventures.
- The adult geeseOlder geese who disapprove of Brightbill’s flashy flying tricks.