Birds and Nature

Yesterday I walked about a mile of the Canon City Riverwalk while the weather was pleasant. Hadn't walked it in over a week as I have been fighting off bronchitis but this was a great day as it was the first day the Black-headed Grosbeaks were back. Also saw my first Gray Catbird of the year. They usually stay the winter but it was an unusually hard winter and none were seen. SeEtta

My neighborhood Gray Catbirds have been visiting me for a long time. It started a number of years ago when a pair of Gray Catbirds nested right under my dining room window–what wonderful intimate views I had. Unfortunately I had to clean up the very overgrown shrub in which they nested so they haven’t nested in my yard since; but they do come to visit–well, they come to eat here anyway. They like insects as well as small fruit and berries so planting those and avoiding the use of pesticides is important in having a catbird-friendly yard. And the male, or males, engage with me in duetting–or I engage them. They have also brought their offspring back to my yard each year–though I like to think they bring them to show them to me, it is most likely for the food and safety that is provided in my bird-friendly yard. Two days ago I was visited by one or both adult Gray Catbirds and at least one fledgling. Both the male and female adults look alike so I don’t know if only one or both pa...

I have had Gray Catbirds visit my yard for past 8 or so years since a pair nested in an overgrown shrub (laced with invading vine) right under my dining room window. I like to think it is either the same pair of birds or their offspring who visit and often engage in counter-singing with me (yes, the catbird would sing, pause and I would whistle their song, the catbird would sing again, alternating sometimes for several minutes). I cleaned up that shrub so they don't nest in my yard anymore but appear to nest somewhere close in my neighborhood as one and sometimes two adult catbirds pay frequent visits in the spring. They also usually bring their offspring to meet me--well, that's what I would like to think but I realize they like all the fruit bearing plants and trees plus nice thick vegetation to hide them in. Several days ago I heard what sounded like fledgling calls coming from a shrub in my next door neighbors front yard. After carefully approaching I spotted an adul...

This is my neighborhood Gray Catbird that visits my yard and others around me frequently. I expect this is the male as I was engaged in some counter-singing with it when it popped out of a shrub less than 10 feet from me--it appeared to just have to see who/what was doing that terrible whistling that mimics catbirds. I got only one quick shot as it looked at me for less than 20 seconds then flew off--in a huff(now that's really anthropomorphizing ). I have had Gray Catbirds visit my yard for several years beginning the year after a pair nested in a messy shrub under my dining room window (that was really cool). SeEtta