We have birds that stay with us throughout the year, like the Cardinals and Finches. We have birds such as Cedar Waxwings and Eastern Towhees that just stop by to say hello and we have some seasonal birds. The Snowbirds, for example, come in late fall and leave in the spring. Our Hummingbirds, of course, are summer visitors and the Brown Thrashers leave in the fall and return in the spring. So do the Catbirds, but until this week, they were no-shows, not a trace, not a single “meow”. I was concerned.
We have been blessed with Catbirds for the past 8 or 10 years. One pair has always found our backyard accommodations to be satisfactory and it doesn’t hurt that we have multiple bird baths and feeding stations.
Three days ago, they appeared, a pair of Catbirds. Catbirds are beautiful, graceful birds, if not very colorful, mostly gray and black, but they are among the friendliest of my backyard birds, rarely concerned with my presence. Last year, they raised two clutches and I hope that history repeats.
I have heard them several times with that strange cat-like call they make. They have also spent a lot of time at my new peanut bar feeder.
Even though they do not stay all year, it’s great to have them back where they belong.
