Wednesday, 17 April 2013

On blackbird puberty

See if maybe you can help with this. Der spring is sprung and there's a minimalist blackbird in my neighbourhood. Well I think it's a blackbird. It recently progressed from a three-note scale to four notes. I'm not a musician so there's no more detail on that, sorry. But you're welcome to pop round. Come early.

So for example at ten to five this morning there was the usual modest medley of different chirps - no thrushes I'm afraid, the cat-owners have a lot to answer for - including this occasional incongruous voice, da-da-da-da from high to low as if just tuning up. It's like having Status Quo on stage during a Messiaen concert. A bit like being on twitter I suppose.

Maybe it's a consequence of the protracted winter here in south east England. My daughter says it's a blackbird in puberty, it's the avian equivalent of grunting, get used to it.

 

17 Apr 2013 21:16:45 | Vignettes

2 Comments

I identified this blackbird yesterday and am happy to report that while the trademark four note scale remains unrefined, it's now followed by an impressive varied repertoire suggesting that Charlie Parker may have joined the stage with the others forementioned.

Posted by: Kevin Harris | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 08:40

Must have been Ornithology you heard.

Posted by: Martin | Wednesday, 01 May 2013 at 19:20

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