I thought today would be another blah one like yesterday, but for some reason both the neighborhood birds and some on their way elsewhere decided to come out of the woodwork and cheer me right up. There’s a pair of goldfinches, both fully and brightly yellow, hanging around today. My area didn’t get the dozens and dozens of them this January and February that I’d gotten used to in past years. I’d counted maybe five at a time this winter, only a few times, and of course they were only yellow in patches, not fully decked out. By the time they’re very yellow, they’ve usually moved on to Iowa and other northern states that claim them as their state bird. So having yellow goldfinches in my back yard is a major treat! Of course, if you don’t have much interest in birds except eating them, this would not thrill you. They’re very small, usually 4.5 to 5.5 inches long. You could barely get a good sandwich out of that, I suppose. But why would you want to? Go eat a chicken or a turkey, bozo!
Along with these out-of-place visitors, some of the birds that are more normal for this location and time are here, too. I just saw the first catbird of the season and he was looking fine. It looks a little like a mockingbird, only a slightly darker gray with an almost black cap and rear, for those who are unfamiliar. We’ll be talking Catbird to each other before the season is over. If you don’t mind neighbors and passing strangers thinking you’re crazy, you can meow at the catbird and he’ll sit on a low branch and answer back. (In the catbird seat—you’ve heard that phrase, haven’t you?) In fact, he’ll go through quite a few exchanges with you, sometimes, before he gets bored or realizes that you’re not his sweetie, after all. The catbird is not limited to this peculiar sound; like his cousin the mockingbird he’s very musical and can imitate the songs of other birds. But no sound can be as distinctive to most listeners as the sound that gives the catbird its name.
Otherwise, the yard’s been alive with house sparrows (plentiful, a drug on the market) and a good number of cardinals. Though there’s only one male red-bellied woodpecker, he comes and goes all through the day lately, so I’ve seen him a dozen times already today (before noon). Also seen, bluebirds, blue jays, chickadees, house finches (the males with red heads), hummingbirds, Carolina wrens, and titmice. (Ever get the impression that tit used to mean something different? In this culture, some of us talk about “big” ones and I don’t think anybody means a couple of bird the size of Buicks.) Ah, well—people worried about etymology may get worry-wrinkles today, but it’s a good day for birders.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. -- Willl Durant
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Abandon hope, all ye who enter here! (At least put on your socks and pants.)