A noise from the nest sounds paltry (5)
I believe the answer is:
cheep
'a noise' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cheep that I've seen before include "Chirrup" , "Weak cry of young bird" , "Bird noise" , "Sing like a bird" , "Chirp" .)