A few nights ago, the temperature allowed us to open the windows. As I was getting ready for bed, I realized that I was hearing a bird sing. It was nearly midnight:
What the heck is singing at midnight? I listened harder...definitely not an owl.
Suddenly I heard a phrase that I recognized: A red-tailed hawk cry. A hawk? At night?
Then, the song changed again: A cardinal.
Then, the song changed again: A cardinal.
What the Hell?
The song went on to confuse me...blue jay, hawk again, and so on through a list
The song went on to confuse me...blue jay, hawk again, and so on through a list
about 7 birds long, until I was actually getting mad at the damn thing.
What bird sounds like 7 different kinds of birds?
It took me until the next day to figure it out.
It took me until the next day to figure it out.
I remembered reading a line in Birds of Ohio that male mockingbirds, when defending their territory and trying to get the ladies' attention, will, in the Spring, sing day AND night.
I felt pretty stupid that it took me so long.
I felt pretty stupid that it took me so long.
*That's why they're called Mockingbirds, ding-a-ling!*
1 comment:
Mockingbirds here seem to do that midnight singing thing during mid-summer when all the windows are open - the better to hear them!
Great way to learn birdsong!
Post a Comment