from a nearby tree
by Elouise
from a nearby tree
a catbird sends waves of song
spilling to the ground
Have you ever heard a catbird? If so, you already know their song is unmistakable. Loud, almost hyper mimics, they punctuate their unending songs with sharp ‘catcalls.’ Sort of like the sharp ‘meow’ of a cat. Unlike other mimics (thrushes or mockingbirds), they don’t usually repeat their songs.
We hear them every day. Especially now, when birds are nesting and nests need defending. They crank up their musical contributions before sunrise, and continue past sunset. We heard one yesterday evening when we went out walking. It was perched in a tree just above our heads, well past sunset.
Catbirds don’t seem worried about running out of songs. Instead, they’re worried if you come too close to a nearby nest. When that happens, they aren’t shy about dive-bombing around your head, descending from a nearby thicket to cajole you into leaving the area. They don’t give up, and they aren’t bashful.
God doesn’t swoop down from heaven to defend us or to scare intruders away. Still, there’s something god-like in a common catbird’s defense of its nest and determination to frighten off or redirect the attention of possible intruders.
My real-life intruders are often discouragement, fear or loneliness. Sometimes God descends to my aid when I listen to music I love and let it fill the airwaves, spilling into my heart and tense body. A sign that majesty and power are present in ways I don’t understand.
This doesn’t solve my problems. It simply makes things bearable, and invites me to relax, knowing I’m never out of the range of God’s care. I think another way of naming it is Sabbath rest.
Elouise ♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 20 May 2017
YouTube video found on Google
Response to WordPress Daily Prompt: Descend
It would be nice if the only intruders were as pleasant as song birds.
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So true…
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I’ve never heard a catbird sing. Very lovely!
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Isn’t it though! So glad you enjoyed hearing it. 😊
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In our discouragement, fear and loneliness we are so like other people, ironically. 🙂
I was sitting one day, thinking, ‘so this is all up to me, then…..Oh, well, just me and God…..’
And then I realised how silly that sounded and cheered up immediately. 😀 XXX
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Yes, we’re probably like more people than we realize at any given moment. It’s a good thing God is greater than any of us, not bound by making one house call at a time! Or even office hours. Thanks for your cheering comment Fran! 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever heard a catbird….just my cat toying with a bird 😦
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Oh dear…poor bird. This past week Smudge finally figured out what to do with a small mouse in the house. Which he later probably wished he hadn’t done when it all came back up to haunt him. To say nothing of us! Makes me laugh now, but….:(
Elouise
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Coco came and listened, I think though that he was fancying a nice dinner. Another dive bombing bird, Coco would like that too, he loves Magpies, they dive bomb in mating season, trouble is they are a lot smarter than what he is, try as he might he can’t catch them.
Good job I feed him he;d starve if he had to depend on his bird hunting skills.
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I forgot, I did enjoy the catbirds song. 🙂
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It’s got its own beauty! 🎶
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Too funny 😂! Our Smudge perks up every time I play one of my birdsong CDs! He actually caught three mice 🐭 last week. Young ones. Tried eating one, licked his cat lips and then decided several hours later that it didn’t agree with his tummy. Hope he remembers the lesson. 🤢🙀
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If he remembers the lesson then he will stop killing them, I imagine his idea of killing the mouse is for some tucker, and if he doesn’t enjoy the fresh meat then he’ll stop. Only humans kill for the pleasure and fun of it, well that’s what I think 🙂
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I’m counting on him remembering the lesson! 🙀😊
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don’t you want him killing all the little mices? 😈
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Kill is OK. Eat is not!!!!! 🙂
Actually, he’s done an outstanding job keeping down the mouse population as well as ladybugs, stink bugs, crickets, house spiders, black flies, and even gnats! Amazing. He even caught a little shrew once. He doesn’t usually eat these critters–except for the spiders and flies. Just toys with them until they’re too tired to fight back. Fortunately I’m not usually around to see it–just pick up the carcasses in the morning and toss them. Spring and winter are especially yummy times of the year for him. Lots of babies and warmth-seekers.
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Nothing wrong with Lady Bugs surely, they’re pretty little things, the English & Australian children recite
“Lady bird Lady bird fly away home, Your house is on fire, Your kids all alone,”
and then we blow gently upon them to help them on their way.
We call Lady Bugs, Lady Birds because they do fly.
Theres nothing wrong in eating what they kill, it’s what they’d have to do if we didn’t feed them.
Trouble with cats though is they are not natives to Australia and they have killed off many small animal species and are driving much of the native fauna into extinction. Too many people have cats and don’t keep them in and they go feral, almost as many feral cats as there are kangaroos methinks
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Correct. Feral cats are one of our world environment’s major problems. Especially, but not only for the bird population. Our Smudge was abandoned in a state park next to our son’s house. Thankfully, he was too young (about 4-5 months old) to have gone feral.
As for lady bugs, I love them. They’re a great asset to any garden outside. The problem here is that they proliferation by the hundreds inside the house when it gets warm. I’ve spared many when they were fewer in number. But the great hoards are just too much. Especially when they expire all over the floors beneath the attic windows!
I love the little children’s verse above. I haven’t heard them called Lady Birds before. That was what we called President Lindon B. Johnson’s wife! I liked her spunk and her support for the environment.
E. 🙂
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