31 Comments
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Kate Henry's avatar

Looks like a grey bluejay. They both have a lot to say. Must be relative to my old old old Goldie cat who used to walk the driveway reciting the encyclopedia. Retired now.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Jays and Mockers are very similar in size and shape. The mocking bird wins in a battle for territory, though. I have seen mocking birds gather together to chase crows twice their size!

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Kate Henry's avatar

No doubt they know all the crow swear words too ))))

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Being a Starlin, I can speak Bird. You did a good job translating. Except the first one is “nerf” (ball) not “nerd.” Its southern accent probably threw you off. 🐦

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes, you may be right! However there are a LOT of nerds in our local environment. Just saying. This morning in the tree across the way, he was singing Shirt! Shirt! Shirt! Laundry! Laundry! Was he trying to tell me to get busy?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

🤣 Probably. You know how birds get about productivity.

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T. D. Wolf's avatar

I am sitting in my library right now, listening to a mockingbird in the backyard. Your transcription is perfectly accurate.

“Did it did it did it” is exactly what a mockingbird would say.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Hah! This must be a special time of year for them. There are a couple of them nearby competing for novelty and stamina. I have all my windows open.

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James Ron's avatar

Very cool, Sharron. The mockers around here must be related to those in your sister's backyard. Same accent. Nice yard, too!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Probably all Northern Mocking Birds. Comical, but very aggressive birds. I have seen them chase a hawk in flight five times their size.

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Wade Terry's avatar

How creative and interesting… I do not speak or chirp ‘bird’ but found the translation interesting.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

They are right out your window, Wade. 'Tis the season!

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palmisanocj@yahoo.com's avatar

I love this, Sharron. It was so much fun to read your translations. Spot on! I think if I was (were?) one of these birds I'd be the one "chirping" "nerd nerd nerd." And your sister's recording was a delight; thank you for including it. I love bird sounds--my alarm is set to go over with the sound of a chorus of birds.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, CJ for reading about and listening to birds with me this morning.

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palmisanocj@yahoo.com's avatar

Oh, and I LOVE the image you included. Just beautiful.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks!

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Loved this one-bird performance! He is brilliant, and so is your translation! One of my pleasures, is to sit on my porch, early morning and at dusk, close my eyes and listen to the birdsongs. I feel like I’m in the middle of the Amazon forest!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ah. Porter Gulch. Home to so much wild life and only one mile into rural Santa Cruz. Turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, mice, coyotes, mountain cats, and so many birds large and small - all hang out at the Gopher Farm. A daily parade.

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Richbee's avatar

The rhythm of translation tempts to create words from song notes and a poem is born.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Right you are, Richard! Thanks for your comment.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Oh Sharron, this is beautiful - thank you so much - and to Susan for making the recording.

I'd never heard a mockingbird and had only come across them before in song lyrics. I love your transcriptions - very evocative!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I think Northern Mocking birds have only been spotted a couple of times in the UK. In the 1980s! There is info on line about the rare sightings. Conversely, we do not have Rooks here in the US, a bird seen everywhere in the UK.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Ooooh, I must find out about those mockingbird sightings - that’s amazing! Thanks, Sharron.

We have lots of rooks around here - they’re very noisy. They roost in the very tall conifers across the way - and they’ve just all had babies, so there’s even more noise at the moment…

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

LUVLUVLUV this and mockingbirds too. Heard my first while visiting SIL in San Jose. Deep in the night his song awakened me. I sat up and listened, enthralled. Such joy in the darkness.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Something magic about a bird that sits ALWAYS at the highest point on a tree and sings all night long. I leave my windows open and giggle myself to sleep.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

How lovely. We have the desert thrush here, but we haven't had one in the neighborhood for many years. I miss him terribly.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Your translations are hilarious and right on the money. I hear them right now as the sun is going down along with the roosting doves and the trilling geckos. Nature can be noisy but it's good noise.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, Jim - It helps balance out the annoyance of leaf blowers, two-stroke engines, and Justin Bieber.....

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Amen to that!

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Excellent Sharron. There is no bird quite like them. They are everywhere here too. As you said, day or night, they can go on and on almost endlessly, never repeating the same pattern or sound. - Jim

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks for reading this bird thing, Jim I was so glad to have that little video clip to add to it.

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