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.
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!
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. 🐦
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
No doubt they know all the crow swear words too ))))
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. 🐦
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?
🤣 Probably. You know how birds get about productivity.
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.
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.
Very cool, Sharron. The mockers around here must be related to those in your sister's backyard. Same accent. Nice yard, too!
Probably all Northern Mocking Birds. Comical, but very aggressive birds. I have seen them chase a hawk in flight five times their size.
How creative and interesting… I do not speak or chirp ‘bird’ but found the translation interesting.
They are right out your window, Wade. 'Tis the season!
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.
Thanks, CJ for reading about and listening to birds with me this morning.
Oh, and I LOVE the image you included. Just beautiful.
Thanks!
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!
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.
The rhythm of translation tempts to create words from song notes and a poem is born.
Right you are, Richard! Thanks for your comment.
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!
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.
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…
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.
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.
How lovely. We have the desert thrush here, but we haven't had one in the neighborhood for many years. I miss him terribly.
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.
Thanks, Jim - It helps balance out the annoyance of leaf blowers, two-stroke engines, and Justin Bieber.....
Amen to that!
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
Thanks for reading this bird thing, Jim I was so glad to have that little video clip to add to it.