For too many years some claim I have spent too much time sitting on my ass watching my birds eat and drink.
I disagree. I find it extremely entertaining like some do TV.
Decades back I named my old Adirondack Chair the "CatBird Seat".
Naturally when Rosey (R.I.P.) and I build this bird house to keep the rain off us, we named it the 'CatBird House'.
The Gray Catbird is secretive but energetic. It hides in the bush and is heard more than seen. I have some that moved back to SC when I did. (maybe they were already here?) According to this map I should not have them all year, but I do.
I hate to hear him. He sounds like a cat caught in a trap. I now know it is him, but his call always unnerves me.
Like his cousins (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) he can copy the sounds of other birds.
The oldest known Gray Catbird was at least 17 years. I have been here 17 years, maybe it is the same one?
So WTF is going on with him this week?
The guy is off the porch every day in plain sight which is not normal. Most times if I see him it is at my Frog Pond for water.
After a couple days I realized he was by my Turtle Pond due to the Leatherleaf Mahonia which puts out fruit in Spring.
These are the size of a grape. Surprisingly, he can easily swallow a few of these whole.
This is a fun bird and believes he is the master of all.
Here he is today:
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