Monday, April 27, 2009

Lying low, up high


Maybe some of us are just better at concealment that others.

But, one would expect something as small and feathery as a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) to be an expert at the craft. Then again, maybe not. After all, their whole life is about getting attention.

This fellow was hanging out on the electric line in my brother Gary's backyard in Baton Rouge where we stayed this weekend. He would land and start singing his imitation of about 15 or so different bird songs from other species(However he sang them about twice as as loud as those he was mocking would sing).

Then, he would fly up about as 5 feet, as conspicuous as he could be and then fluttering slowly back to the wire about 10 feet further down the line. This would go on for about a half an hour, before he would fly up to the top a a huge oak He had an appointed round on specific branches that he would move through-- singing on each one.

But this one time, he suddenly got silent and crouched down. I don't know what he saw, but I was thinking "It serves you right you big show off.

--steve buser
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2 comments:

Ms M said...

Sounds like he wanted to be the "primo uomo" of this stage :>)
Great photo -- he has lots of attitude.

Lynette said...

So sweet, Steve.