A nine year old is fully capable of knowing what they are doing. We are NOT talking about a three year old here.
But, say she didn't know, hence the FIRST cover up. Okay, accidents happen. BUT FROM THEN ON SHE DID KNOW.
And knowing she purposely covered those birds and killed them.
And your folks are totally letting her off the hook. Just be glad you'll be out of the house before she's a teen is all I'm saying. My folks did the same with my sister and she STILL doesn't take responsibility for herself, OR her THREE children... sidenote that her eldest was conceived at the ripe old age of 16. She does NOT work, never has been able to hold a job more than a couple weeks... won't show up on time, hates being told what to do, etc. there's always some excuse as to why she quit and why it wasn't her fault. She lives off her child support, medicaid, and food stamps and leeching of any friends or family she can. And this week she applied for SS Disability... claiming that it's a mental thing, why she can't keep a job and support herself. Funny, she has the same issues that our mom does and mom's worked every day of her life. OY, that was a ramble... but point being that teaching kids not to bother taking responsibility for their choices (and yes she CHOSE to put that blanket on both times) can become a lifelong, dangerous habit.