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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / May 2007Chatter Chatter Chatter... Birdies on a Platter!
Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the patio early this morning. And there was a plethora of birds! A mated pair of cardinals came around and ate from the hanging feeder, along with the usual smattering of little brown sparrows. They were joined by a pair of mourning doves who ate from the stationary feeder (the cat with the fork & spoon!) that sits on the fence post. A mockingbird was eating from the suet feeder. Then there was a bird that looks like a blackbird but in the right light isn't black at all. It's head is a very dark purple down to the top of it's wings and down to the breast, sort of like like a 'hood'. The rest of the body is a very dark iridescent olive green. Quite striking! And when it wants to chirp/screech it puffs itself all up first which made me laugh. Yep, Persia had plenty of birds to make those little squeaky chattering noises at this morning! Dreaming of being a big bad (albeit grey) panther, no doubt! :) Jill >Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the patio early >this morning. And there was a plethora of birds! [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >body is a very dark iridescent olive green. Quite striking! And when it >wants to chirp/screech it puffs itself all up first which made me laugh. Is it a biggish, slender bird with a long tail? Could be a grackle. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Grackle.html They are intelligent and social. >Yep, Persia had plenty of birds to make those little squeaky chattering >noises at this morning! Dreaming of being a big bad (albeit grey) panther, >no doubt! :) > >Jill Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War >> Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the >> patio early this morning. And there was a plethora of birds! [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > They are intelligent and social. That's it! Until you get the right light they truly look simply shiny black. Some people consider them a nuisance and I suppose if they are in a large flock that could be true. But (so far) I've only seen two of them at a time. Jill >>> Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the >>> patio early this morning. And there was a plethora of birds! [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Jill I have to admit with shame that I kind of enjoy some birds that are regarded as nuisances-- like those grackles and crows, too. The qualities that make them nuisances in the wrong places-- like being smart, opportunistic feeders and highly social-- also make them fun to watch. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > I have to admit with shame that I kind of enjoy some birds that are > regarded as nuisances-- like those grackles and crows, too. The > qualities that make them nuisances in the wrong places-- like being > smart, opportunistic feeders and highly social-- also make them fun to > watch. I feel the same about gulls, who are generally considered a nuisance here in Helsinki. It's people's own fault for feeding them in the first place - now they hang out around the market place and nearby coffee houses with pavement/sidewalk service and steal food from plates and even from people's hands. But I still love gulls. They remind me of the island. Crows are also among my favourite birds. They're so smart, and they obviously have a sense of humour.  SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. >> I have to admit with shame that I kind of enjoy some birds that are >> regarded as nuisances-- like those grackles and crows, too. The [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >island. Crows are also among my favourite birds. They're so smart, and >they obviously have a sense of humour. I read a piece about ravens once that interpreted some of their behaviors as trying to think stuff up to impress each other. Dolphins do the same thing. Of course when hoomins do that it doesn't seem so smart. :P Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > I feel the same about gulls, who are generally considered a nuisance > here in Helsinki. It's people's own fault for feeding them in the first > place - now they hang out around the market place and nearby coffee > houses with pavement/sidewalk service and steal food from plates and > even from people's hands. But I still love gulls. They remind me of the > island. I do, too. I love hearing a whole bunch of gulls squawking together - it reminds me of the beach, or riding on a ferry to an island off Massachusetts (either Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard - I've been to both many times). Oh wow - after writing the above, I was just seized by an intense surge of nostalgia! I really miss New England beaches and the islands. Northern California has a gorgeous, dramatic coastline, but you don't go to the beach to swim around here. The water's too cold, rough and brackish, and often the coastal area is cold and foggy, even if it's very hot just a few miles inland. Now I'm feverishly trying to think how I could possibly fit in a trip to Nantucket this summer, both vacation-timewise and financially... Joyce > > I feel the same about gulls, who are generally considered a nuisance > > here in Helsinki. It's people's own fault for feeding them in the first [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Now I'm feverishly trying to think how I could possibly fit in a trip to > Nantucket this summer, both vacation-timewise and financially... We share a longing. I keep wanting to go to the beach. Charlie somehow thinks the coast (California, Oregon, etc) is the same thing. I even want my ashes scattered in the gulf stream when I die. Love the Atlantic. Jo > Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the patio > early [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > body is a very dark iridescent olive green. Quite striking! And when it > wants to chirp/screech it puffs itself all up first which made me laugh. Dark brown/black bird with head/neck that has the irridescent purple sheen to the feathers is a Gracle. http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/grackle-common-lg3.jpg They and the European Starlings http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/graphics/t_starlings1.jpg (a bird imported by hoomins) are considered "nuisance" birds as they bully the songbirds away from the feeders > Yep, Persia had plenty of birds to make those little squeaky chattering > noises at this morning! Dreaming of being a big bad (albeit grey) > panther, > no doubt! :) > > Jill Weebs said that he is glad the His Precious Persia enjoys watching the birdies! He said the he also dreams of stalking them, but in his dreams he is a *big* black panther, and there is always a very pretty grey one by his side ;) >> Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the >> patio early [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > sheen to the feathers is a Gracle. > http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/grackle-common-lg3.jpg Yep, it's the Grackle. And I mistakenly replied to Theresa they are consider a nuisance, I forgot about the blasted Starlings! > They and the European Starlings > http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/graphics/t_starlings1.jpg (a bird [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > dreams he is a *big* black panther, and there is always a very pretty > grey one by his side ;) Awwww... Persia wuvs her handsum Weebs! > Once again great weather so Persia and I were sitting out on the > patio early this morning. And there was a plethora of birds! > > A mated pair of cardinals came around and ate from the hanging > feeder, along with the usual smattering of little brown sparrows. I heard a loud thud in the hallway about an hour ago. I found a small conference of cats with Marblecake sitting beside a very fat and very dead thrush with Ishtar and Chloe looking at her as if to say "we'll be having some of that". I haven't even seen any live thrushes yet this year. ============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ============== Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760 <http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975 stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557 <snip> >Yep, Persia had plenty of birds to make those little squeaky chattering >noises at this morning! Dreaming of being a big bad (albeit grey) panther, >no doubt! :) > >Jill We installed a bird feeder on our deck railing to give Five some live entertainment on Cat TV. Instead of sleeping on the couch, she'll lay at the patio door and run around & chatter all day! Signatureannoyed@net.spammers Craig, Kathi & "Cat Five" the tabby girl |
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