365 Urban Species. #128: Gray Catbird

[urbpan]

Photos by cottonmanifesto

Urban species #128: Gray catbird Dumetella carolinensis

The halfway point between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice passed a week ago, so soon we should cease our obsessive tally of Signs of Spring. But not yet. My partner, Alexis (cottonmanifesto), has been most anxious for one particular sign, and I am happy to report the first catbird of Spring 2006, Boston. I can also report the second through fiftieth, as once this bird arrives in the city, they become among the most common avian residents. Their habit of perching fairly low (around eye-level) and the fact that they tolerate close approaches by humans makes them one of the most observable migratory birds. That is, if you choose to notice it. Being fully dark and mostly gray, and preferring thick shrubs rather than trees to perch in, catbirds may be completely passed by, by busy city people.

My first encounter with a catbird was in a postage stamp sized backyard in the Boston borough of Brighton. On the other side of a rusty chain link fence was a scrubby vacant lot, overgrown with ailanthus, knotweed, and bittersweet. I heard a curious "meow," that was strangely uncatlike. To my surprise, a gray bird with shining black eyes was perched right at the edge of the tangled wire and vines, within an arm's length; We regarded one another for short peaceful moment, before it moved on to its business. From then on I looked forward to visits from this bold yet sneaky neighbor.

The catbird can be seen eating fruit from ornamental shrubs, or turning over leaf litter for insects. At other times it can be heard singing its heart out, in a riot of snippets from other bird's songs. The catbird is in the mockingbird family, but unlike the northern mockingbird, which sings its sampled melodies in repetitions of three, the catbird rapidly blurts unrepeated phrases. The effect is similar to a scat singer, or a jazz soloist. Walking along the muddy river, one can pass by half a dozen of these performances, feathered buskers who never ask for change.

Comments

[paxpan-nyc.livejournal.com]

Who wrote this piece? It is incredibly well done via its unusually visual descriptions. I live in Manhattan and have never experienced a catbird sighting (or hearing). Thanks so much for the photo and interesting information!

Paxdora

[maybethecat.livejournal.com]

yeah really nice writing

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That was me.

I bet if you took a long walk in Central Park, paying close attention to the shrubbiest parts, you would see some catbirds.

urban nature friends

[(Anonymous)]

Hi!

I'm working on a project that might interest you -- http://www.naturecalendar.org and soon http://www.naturecommunity.org (nothing on the second site yet).

We're starting in NYC, but will expand to all cities once we get the template right. All free to use.

We'd love to hear your stories of nature encounters in the city, and to link to your sites and work! Just email me a note at erik (at of course) naturecalendar (oh the dot) org!

Warm regards,

Erik

Erik Baard
http://www.naturecalendar.org
http://www.licboathouse.org (another thing I started, this one as a volunteer project)

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Catbirds are so cool. I think they're better mockers than mockingbirds. In my old place, I used to listen to one of them, on a cool Spring/Summer Weekend morning, early, work through his repetoire. Most were other bird calls, but then he did a gull and THEN a Canadian Honker!!!

...which was nothing once you heard him try to imitate that varied-siren car alarm!!!!

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

That's the little guy that was haranguing me while I was doing yardwork a couple days ago. Thank you! I thought he seemed somewhat mockingbird-like.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Glad to help!

[artemii.livejournal.com]

i love catbirds. through my semi-obsessive reading about bird/human interactions in the northeast in the past hundred years, i have read indications that catbirds used to shy away from people, but that fruit-planted gardens and suet-laden birdfeeding stations seem to have made them increasingly less shy in their behavior in cities and suburbs.

or, as a book put it, "if you have fruit planted in your garden, you've probably already met your local catbird."

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

great information! thanks.

[artemii.livejournal.com]

a lowercase comment?? has your wife hijacked your account? ;-)

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Wow, didn't realize our comment styles were distinct. I was probably just being lazy--or my account was hijacked by e.e. cummings.

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

I saw one in my backyard today! We've got some kind of berry bush out there it was snacking from. I wouldn't have known what it was if not for the wife's lovely photo.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday Barb!!!

Been to get your mail today?

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks Sweetie! I actually just got my mail now. It was very late, which was a mean thing for the mailman to do on my Birthday. I didn't get anything from the Great North, though. Maybe tomorrow.

Can't wait to see you next week.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Holy cow, is that next week already?

Stupid unnamed online retailer and their promises of next-day shipping! A curse on them.

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

Oh! UPS just delivered it just now! YAY! Thank you!

Yes, it's next week, I'm not sure how that happened myself. I get into town on Wed. so I'll have plenty of girlie time with Carrie, which makes me happyhappyhappy. I don't get to see you any other time than the wedding, right? I thought I heard you couldn't make it to the rehearsal dinner. Wah!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

No, no rehearsal dinner for me, I don't think. Although I should talk to the wife about it. Originally I was going to stay home and watch the dogs, but as our dog-sitter has busted her leg and is staying with us as she recovers, maybe things are different. Actually, I think there was a time thing, too. It's on Friday before I get out of work, I think.

Anyway, I hope I get to talk to you for a while at least! You need to hold us to the promise that we are going to plan our visit. I mean to say, while you are up here, Alexis and I will plan our visit to North Carolina with you. Maybe late August/September? We're talkin' like a long weekend, 4 days or so.

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

The rehearsal dinner is on Thursday, which is one of the reasons I'll be in town so long. I do hope you can come, although a broken leg is a tough price to be paid for it.

And I will definitely hold you to your plan-making, trip-taking promise. If you come in August you'll get to experience first hand the hothothot Summers down here, and if it's Sept. you'll see that that is still Summer!

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the dinner is on a thursday and rehearsal starts at 5 - i need to meet up with renee and get to salem before 5!

Connecticut Cat Bird

[(Anonymous)]

I have a catbird who follows me around the house, but I'm "inside". He watches me through the window! He or she is hilarious. If he sees movement, even our (indoor) cats get a close-up view of this beautiful and charming bird. He doesn't holler at us, he chirps in a friendly manner. If we go outside, he follows us at a distance of about 5-6 feet. He's not afraid, and we talk to him. Last few years it was a Carolina Wren that followed us and nested outside the backdoor, but we made renovations, so she's gone, but around the yard somewhere.

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