World Health Day and the Mockingbird Lives On

Northern Mockingbird. Courtesy Manjithkaini – Wikimedia Commons

This week, the World Health Organization celebrated World Health Day on April 7 and and in the spirit of the day, I’m going to talk about mockingbirds, especially one specific mockingbird who continues to enjoy good health because he’s outside and I’m inside.

This specific mockingbird had decided to regale me and the hubs with his ENTIRE song repertoire in the middle of the night.  When we’re trying to sleep.

I know what’s he doing.  ‘Tis the season for the male mockingbird to come forth and sing to his heart’s content because he’s looking for some chick another mockingbird to be his lifelong mate.  Since this past Saturday night, we’ve been privy to his love songs every night because he’s doing it right outside our bedroom window.  Starting about midnight, he sifts through his memory banks for every song that’s buried there and sings them all.  Every…single…one…of…them.  And then he starts all over again.

Psst.  Dude.  You’re not getting anywhere.  She’s sleeping.  Which is exactly what you should be doing or I’m going to come out there and take care of your little red wagon.

*coughs in hand* Ahem.  Sorry ’bout that.

Anyway, this bird’s called the mockingbird for good reason.  He has learned every song ever sung in the entire bird population of the world and now he’s sharing every one of them with us.  Ok, well maybe not the entire bird population but that’s what it sounds like at two o’clock in the morning when I’m bleary-eyed, frustrated, and ready to throw a brick at him.

This audio/video is very long so I’ll forgive you if you don’t listen to the whole thing.  Besides, I’ve already listened to it live every night so I can tell you exactly what it sounds like.

Awww, what a beautiful creature, you’re saying.  I mean, it’s a bird who’s sweetly singing, right?  NOT!  Why don’t you try to sleep with this going on right outside your bedroom window.  For hours.

I want to reassure you that I’m not a bird hater.  I actually love this species and one of the reasons is because of it’s impressive repertoire.  You should hear its distinctive chirps and how it growls when it’s defending its territory and its young.  You should watch it too.  It will dive bomb and harass the offender, including humans, until they leave.  Classic David vs. Goliath.

Just don’t sing to me in the middle of the night.

Please Mr. Bird?  Please?  It’s after midnight for heaven’s sake.  There’s a time and place for everything and this is neither the time nor the place for you to be doing this.   Besides she can’t see you doing your thing because it’s too dark.  So be reasonable and go to sleep.  You can do this in the morning when she can see your manliness in all it’s glory.

What about you?  Have you been woken up in the middle of the night by a bird that’s supposed to be asleep?  (If not, I’m jealous.)  What about any other creature that should be sleeping?  Tell me!  I’d love to hear from you!

Karina