Fortunately for this mockingbird, I'll (for now at least) take Atticus Finch's advice to Jem and Scout literally that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because it is innocent and is only singing for me.
Some interesting facts from various sources:
- These birds are non-migrating--so it won't be moving on soon.
- They learn more sounds/songs the older they get--maybe I can teach it something new. (Erica points out that sometimes it is singing the song of a car alarm.)
- They are very territorial and will fight off hawks, cats and people--so I'm not going out there with any bad intentions very soon.
- This is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, all southern states.
- Hush little baby, don't say a word,
- Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
- And if that mockingbird don't sing,
- Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
Ain't gonna be no diamond ring buying goin' on around here. This crazy bird sings cheerfully all night. If I disconnect the street lights, will I get some rest? We should start a branch for birds to find mates through e-harmony.com -- so two birds could fly off together singing in sweet harmony and let me sleep!
ReplyDeleteMost of Florida isn't a southern state, I'm told, though I've never been there, and it's south of the southern states.
ReplyDeleteAt least you don't have a nest nearby, yet. We had one, and the bird would get mad at us every time we would go out on our front porch (as if it owned it).
What interesting information that I didn't even know I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteOur neighborhood nuisance is the parrot, or psittacidae. Them dang ol' things screech like banshee-siren-children.
ReplyDeleteCindi, I can't afford a diamond anyway. That bird is still singin! But, it might have been quieter last night.
ReplyDeleteGregg, South Florida is culturally distant from any other southern state and northern Florida. Northern Florida seems a lot like "the south" outside of the Orlando resort area. People in Miami-Dade County note that the change to the "south" begins at the Broward County line. I clearly noticed the change when I stopped at a gas station on the way to the Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Miami most resembles Los Angeles in my mind. Orlando reminds me of Anaheim in the 60's. Except is really warm and muggy.
All of Florida historically fit into the Confederate South when it declared its independence from the United States in 1861.
Mom, yup, interesting is interesting.
Rob, you can keep your Parrot. I have been awakened by them too. In Maui, not Whittier.
Wow, it's good to have all that straight. One thing, though, it's Greg, rather than Gregg (that would be too redundant).
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Glen (yesterday)
Yeah, Glenn. When you add the extraneous consonant to the end of a name, it sounds pretentious.
ReplyDelete-Robb
Some of my friends, with a similar name to mine, have the silent 'n' at the end. I agree it sounds pretentious. I think the silent 'g' and the silent 'b' as presented within the comments above add a sense of sophistication. Wadda ya think?
ReplyDeleteI think it would take more than a silent consonant to add sophistication to this group, though I think sophistication is overrated.
ReplyDelete