Mimicking in Mimico
I like birds, Ms J. I've discovered a fondness for them as I've grown older. When I was a boy, Dad would point out a bird and patiently urge me to stop and look at it. But I wasn't interested.
"Yeah, Dad. A bird."
"Not just a bird," he'd say. "It's a grackle. Look at his pretty head."
"Yeah. Pretty head. Throw the frisbee, Dad."
This morning, I heard the unmistakable song of a red-winged blackbird. He was nearby. When I located the source of the sound, I saw not a blackbird, but a mockingbird. How odd it was to hear a blackbird's song coming from something other than a blackbird! He stopped for a moment and then began again, this time as a cardinal. After a bit, he changed his tune again and sounded for all the world like a robin. I was mesmerized, Ms J!
At home here just now, I searched the internet for mockingbirds and stumbled upon this:
The Lyre Bird. Absolutely amazing!
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3 Comments:
I thought it was great, but I guess the girlie birdies didn't agree.
Camera and chainsaw noises?! That IS amazing!
As for mocking birds, they are the state bird of Texas and are everywhere. They make me smile. :)
I couldn't hear/see the clip, but I love birds now too. It's funny and almost exactly the same story as yours: my Dad loved birds and was always watching and IDing them while I just thought they were OK. Now I refilled my bird feeder and watch them from the window when I can!
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