ScienceOctober 9, 2026

Hidden Birds at Miami Airport: Short News for English Learners

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

underwear/ˈʌn.də.wɛər/

clothes worn under outer clothes next to the skin

"The tubes were hidden inside his underwear."

smuggle/ˈsmʌɡ.əl/

to move goods secretly and illegally

"He tried to smuggle birds into the country."

inspection/ɪnˈspɛk.ʃən/

a careful check by officials

"Officers sent him for a secondary inspection."

Listening

Hidden Birds at Miami Airport: Short News for English Learners

Two men arrived at Miami International Airport with hidden live birds. Customs and Border Protection officers found the birds during inspections. One man arrived on October 4, 2026 and a second man arrived on October 6, 2026.

Officers discovered ten birds in plastic tubes sewn into a traveler's underwear. Agents found eleven birds hidden in a belt-like concealment garment on a different traveler. The birds included yellow-faced grassquits, blue grosbeaks, Cuban bullfinches, and melodious finches. The men face federal charges for smuggling goods and for bringing protected birds without proper paperwork. Officials warned that moving wild birds this way can spread disease and harm local wildlife.

106 words

Quiz

1. Where did the birds arrive?

2. Who found the birds?

3. When did the first man arrive?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you keep any pets at home? What pets do you like?

Have you ever carried a special item from another country? What was it?

What do you think when you hear that animals were hidden in clothes?