YOU SAID:
Once upon a time a cat was sitting on a tree and a bird pood on it
INTO JAPANESE
かつて、猫が木の上に座っていて、鳥がそれに乗っていた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Once a cat was sitting on a tree, a bird was on it
INTO JAPANESE
一度猫が木の上に座っていたら、鳥がそこにいました
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Once the cat was sitting on the tree, the bird was there
INTO JAPANESE
猫が木に座ったら、鳥がそこにいた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
When the cat sat on the tree, the bird was there
INTO JAPANESE
猫が木に座ったとき、鳥がそこにいた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
When a cat sat on a tree, the bird was there
INTO JAPANESE
猫が木の上に座ったとき、鳥はそこにいた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
When the cat sat on the tree, the bird was there
INTO JAPANESE
猫が木に座ったとき、鳥がそこにいた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
When a cat sat on a tree, the bird was there
INTO JAPANESE
猫が木の上に座ったとき、鳥はそこにいた
it is unlikely that this phrase will ever reach equilibrium