Who says birds don’t have a sense of humor?
Not me.
I was out for a walk one morning. Ahead of me, on a low tree branch, was a robin. He had his eyes closed and he was singing at the top of his lungs- obviously in the zone.
robin
I stood and watched, fascinated. It was the expression on his face that captured my attention. The best way I can describe it is to say it was blissful. This robin was in a state of utter and absolute bliss, completely oblivious to everything around him.
As I watched the robin sing, a blue jay approached. A big blue jay. And he approached the robin like a sneak thief. He stayed quiet, his movements slow. He landed near the robin and slowly moved closer and closer. The robin, of course, still had his eyes closed. He was still singing away.
Blue Jay
Eventually the blue jay stood directly behind the oblivious robin. And that’s when he made his move. He poked the robin in the bum.
The robin let out a loud squawk and flapped his wings. He was shocked, surprised, frightened and when he turned around and saw the blue jay, furious. He gave him such a haranguing! And then, indignant, he flew off.
The blue jay seemed pleased as punch. He took over the robin’s spot and preened for a good ten minutes. He’d played a terrific joke on the robin and he thought it was hilarious.
So, what have we learned? Two things. Birds appreciate music in the same way we do. And. Birds like a good joke at another’s expense.
Our usual bird families are raising babies in our backyard- towhees, jays, hummingbirds and robins. The towhees already have two fledglings which means they will have at least one more family this summer. Towhees are my faves because they are so friendly. They like to hang out with me in the garden.
Towhee
Ya’ll have a lovely weekend bird watching! Julia
LOL Hey at least birds have fun too.
Makes me happy to know this, Amber!
Thanks for the story. I’ve always admired birds - rearing babies with a beak and a claw, and getting to fly, too.
They are frighteningly intelligent - and some of them survive outdoors all winter long. When I’d freeze solid in an hour.
Now I find out they’re comedians too? Sweet.
I was a BIG robin fan, Julia, until two years ago when robins decided that all the cars in our neighborhood were monsters that needed attacking. They’d see their reflections in the windows and side mirrors and poop-attack our vehicles. Every morning-and again in the afternoons- you’d see everyone out with buckets of soapy water and hoses. It was a mess. One neighbor sat in front of his window and watched for them to zero in on his truck, and when they got started he would set off his alarm. It worked for startling them…and all of us.
Finally I bought a king-sized fitted flannel sheet, sewed long tie-strips at the corners and covered my FJ Cruiser entirely and tied the strips at the bumpers. It worked. but I had to take it off and put it on several times a day.
I was cheering for the Blue Jay in your story!
Funny, Marylin! We do get big flocks of robins in the winter but they aren’t especially destructive. Don’t seem to mind much of anything. I suspect your issues have to do with spring fever. Now swallows, on the other hand, are vicious!
Oh yes, Alicia, birds are brilliant. Just no conscience. I mean they are old - dinosaurs after all.
Great bird story! I love watching birds.
I love birds - all birds. I like to feed and watch wild birds and all of my pets have been parakeets.
Birds are endlessly fascinating and intelligent.
Bring on the birds!
I have trees outside my window with a whole passel of birds. All sorts. Including somebody’s pet dove that escaped. Love the sleepy twittering early in the morning…
I love bird song, Anny. Our outside birds wake us up about 4:45 a.m. It’s both annoying and cool.
Me too, Roberta! I think birds, for the most part- my sister has an idiot cockatoo, are genius! But they are quite narcissistic.
Yes, me too, Sandra!
Yeah! Yeah! Birds are great! I have not tweeted or chirped (keeping in the bird thing) in in a while because for some bird brained reason this blog keeps kickin me outta the nest so I never get your blog alerts. Caw(n’t) you do something about this egret(ous) problem!!! Well I think I’m finched(ed) with this before it just becomes too hard to swallow (heh). Sea gull ( >^O ) you soon.
Ray - LMAO! I’ve missed you so! Have my IT person working on the feed. Sorry!