Stats -We had a good response for “Bird Box” and received 43 submissions. Of those who submitted, 38 got the full grid score of 28 and 26 people got the maximum possible score of 36. Here’s the Solution grid.
The following special instructions were given to the solvers..
Many birds can be seen below, Identify these as you solve the clues
At only one place do three birds cross, then together they fly to another spot
Identify where and when and you’ve aced the Bird Box:
On the ???? ???? at ????
(Hint: on the Redwood when two hands meet)
Two bonus questions were asked at the end of the puzzle
-
- (1). Name 5 birds seen in the grid
- (2). Where/ when do the three birds land (on the ???? ???? at ????)
The correct answers were
(1) Any 5 of GULL, HEN, TERN, LARK, LOON, CROW, CHICK, TEAL, COOT
(2). “TALL TREE AT NOON” is an anagram of (TERN+TEAL+LOON)*
Here are the Annotations.
Across:
8 Secret coteries busted! (8) – COTERIES*
9 Crop and wings of extinct bird found earlier (6) – GULL+E(-xtinc)T
10 As an alternative, lawyer’s available to make will (6) – OR+DA+IN
11 Eastern, hybrid ant’s in window (8) – ORIE (ANT*)L
12 Outfit says a toast to end of war (3-5) – HP TO PEACE
13 Article on sibling, in brief or an essay? (6) – DD / THE SIS
14 We heard flier at Delta, banned from port, was the inspiration for De Mestral’s invention (7) – HP BIRD (-D)OCK
17 Rescue tailless, small bird and revive (7) – FRE(-E) S HEN
20 Duty of ‘Doctors Without Borders’:Treatment and essential aid (6) – (-D)OCTRO(-S)+(-a)I(-d)
22 Lights devices emitting lead to catch bird (8) – (-P)LAN (TERN) S
25 Mother bird in the middle of alleyway finds rubbish (8) – MA LARK (-all)EY(-way)
26 South American bird’s watering hole (6) – SA LOON
27 Are motels somewhat secluded? (6) – T
28 First off, works hard-gets strong as rock (3,5) – (-T) OILS +HALE
Down:
1 Bond turns corner with bird (6) – ES<+CROW
2 Son’s ambushed and beaten (8) – S + TRAPPED
3 Avant-garde item of jewellery’s in iron casing (6) – F(RING)E
4 Oddly, see royal outside bird transport (7) – S(-E)(COOT)E R
5 Sparkling silver fragments (8) – AG+LITTER
6 Extremely boastful, one without a bit of delicacy, but fair (6) – BL ON(D)E
7 Vet’s aide administered tranquilliser (8) – VETSAIDE*
15 One abandoning education idly, that’s like a bitter pill perhaps (8) – EDUCATION-I*
16 Bird gets fruit mostly, and legume (8) – CHICK+PEA(-R)
18 Furtive, scared at first, bird’s extremely hungry, accepts a bit of tuna (8) – S+TEAL+T+H(-ungr)Y
19 Womanizer uses wile to ensnare a young celeb.ultimately (7) – PL(A Y (-cele)B)OY
21 Object about an issue (6) – RE A SON
23 Players, let’s reassemble and huddle! (6) – NE+LETS*
24 New boy quits band, he’s an idiot (6) – N+(-B)OODLE
Here is the scorecard (sorted by total score and then in Alphabetical order)
The first entry was submitted by Ramki Krishnan, and it was also the first all-correct entry. The last all-correct entry was received from Tulika Das.
Congrats to all of the 26 people who managed to max the score.
25 out of the 43 people rated the puzzle as “Excellent” and the remaining 18 rated it “Good”. No one rated the puzzle as “Average”. The top clues, picked as favorites in the puzzle were for “Octroi” which got 13 votes, “Burdock”, which got 11 votes and “Malarkey” and “Two-Piece” which got 10 votes apiece. 25 out of the 28 clues got at least 1 vote from a solver.
Thanks to “Mythical” for an entertaining puzzle. I loved your hint for the “end game” and Octroi was one of my favorites too. We are looking forward to more puzzles in the future.
Did you enjoy the puzzle? Do you have any feedback for us or for the setter. Do comment in the blog and let us know.