Ein Spatz, ein Satz. (Nala’s Adventures #32)
(Published on 14. March 2026, 17:09 by SandraNala)
"Ein Spatz, ein Satz."
One thing that never gets old for Nala is to jumpscare sparrows that are having a chill time at the lake. She loves it when they fly away while cheeping insults at her. Since the lake we visit today is part of a protected landscape we must not disturb nature as we take our walk. Easier said than done with all the sparrows around!
Normal Sudoku rules apply: Place the digits 1-9 in every row, column and box exactly once each.
Additionally the grid is partially covered in fog. Placing correct digits will clear the fog from surrounding cells, possibly revealing more clues.
Draw an orthogonally connected looped path around the fenced lake area. The looped path is not allowed to touch itself orthogonally and does not branch. The looped path functions as parity line (even/odd) for the digits on it.
Since there are lots of sparrows scattered everywhere, there will be some unavoidable accidents, but if we see a sparrow in time, the path is not allowed to enter the sparrow cell or any of its 4 orthogonally neighbouring cells because otherwise Nala will charge at them. Successfully dodged sparrows are maximum cells where each of its 4 orthogonally neighbouring cells is smaller than the digit in the sparrow cell.
Some sparrows appeared seemingly out of nowhere and we were way too close once we noticed them coming. Those will unavoidably be charged at. The path, once it has entered into one of the 4 cells surrounding a sparrow, must go into the sparrow cell as well. Attacked sparrows are minimum cells and each of their surrounding 4 orthogonal neighbours have to be higher than the digit in these sparrow cells.
Digits separated by a white dot are consecutive. Digits separated by a black dot are in a 1:2 ratio. Not all possible dots are given. (There is no negative constraint.)
Solution code: Digits from column 9 (top to bottom):
Comments
on 16. March 2026, 13:21 by firespire
Very interesting idea, this one was a must try the minute I saw it.
I got stuck after forgetting one of the birds, a wild sparrow chase that went nowhere. Nala would be much more observant than me. Glad it wasn't as hard as I was trying to make it.
on 15. March 2026, 18:17 by JVA
The puzzle was very enjoyable regardless and the birds are adorable
on 15. March 2026, 17:50 by JVA
I am with yahhavp, never had absolute confidence that a sparrow was avoidable or unavoidable (unless the max/min constraint made it clear). It must have been very difficult to make sure the jumped-on sparrows couldn't be discovered prematurely
Sandra here!
I definitely understand both your concerns and how this can come with a level of uncertainty during the solve! Hope you still enjoyed it! :) it took a lot of extra care to set and of course to draw the birds in.
on 15. March 2026, 10:54 by Yahhavp
It was a nice puzzle, though I'll admit I'm not particularly partial to the constraint about the sparrows... I was always unsure about whether the sparrow was actually forced, or if I just missed some logic somewhere. That's especially true for the last sparrow, since the graphic for it (which was very cute, btw) was different from the others.
Anyway, thanks!
Edit: I removed a minor spoiler from the comment, sorry about it!
on 15. March 2026, 06:17 by ShaftESR
A beautiful puzzle, about a beautiful walk. Having the sparrows seen or unseen was a fantastic spin.
on 14. March 2026, 22:53 by Exigus
A lovely walk, thanks!
on 14. March 2026, 22:53 by Eleder
Sandra, I LOVE your (and Nala's) adventures, your creativity and the pleasantness of your puzzles!! Thank you for them!!
on 14. March 2026, 22:50 by Symphony
Delightful! Very cool idea to weave the fog unveiling into an interaction with the clues.
on 14. March 2026, 22:38 by faltenin
So creative. Thanks!
on 14. March 2026, 20:52 by zeniko
That‘s a clever interaction between fog and sparrows. And nicely approachable for a pleasant breather. Thanks for sharing.
on 14. March 2026, 19:05 by balpha
Loved the story, enjoyed the solve. Thank you for setting this puzzle!
