When Kiki sees the green and brown Kansas meadow laid out below him like a welcome mat, he knows just what to do - claim the meadow as his own, sing a song, and attract a lovely meadowlark wife.  But Kiki's perfect plan for happiness goes awry when he is lured into a senseless rivalry with the wooden inhabitant of a clock.  "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! I'm the best!" calls the mechanical bird.  "I'm ruined!" wails Kiki.  "That bird sings in MY meadow!"  The story of how Kiki regains his meadow and his self-esteem teaches a valuable lesson about competition.