This week I noticed that the birds aren’t singing as much as they did a month ago. Song sparrows and American robins are vocal but Baltimore orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks have fallen silent.
Gray catbirds have been on and off. They sang all spring but were quiet in mid-June. This week they began singing again. Birds of North America online told me why.
Gray catbirds sing from the moment they return in the spring until late in incubation, then become quiet when the eggs hatch and young are in the nest. Their first brood fledged in mid June and now, in late June, they’re nest-building and incubating their second brood. That’s why they’re singing again, though not as often.
Other birds have never stopped. Northern mockingbird “lonely bachelors” are still singing all night. John Bauman heard this one outside his window at 1:30am Friday morning!
By mid-July most birds will stop singing.
Maybe the midnight mockingbird will take the hint but it’s possible he’ll continue into August. Yikes!
(photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original)
Well I was impressed, I can’t believe no bird ladies were!!
I have a Carolina wren nest in my flower pot. I believe they have been poisoned. There are 2 of 3 who still appear to be barely alive & seem swelled & suffering. Some advice on what to do would truly be appreciated. I am heartbroken.