A forester is in the woods to hunt when he finds a baby boy in a bird of prey's nest on top of a tall tree.
When the forester leaves to go hunting the next day, Lenchen informs Foundling-Bird of the evil cook's plan and they run away into the woods.
Afraid of her master punishing her, the cook sends out three servants to bring the missing children back home.
In the woods, Foundling-Bird and Lenchen change their forms when they see the servants coming: the boy turning into a rosebush and the girl into a single rose on it.
Accompanied by the cook, the servants return to the woods where Foundling-Bird turns into a pond and Lenchen into a duck swimming in it.