Friday, May 26, 2006

a bird that sang all night

Night before last, I tossed and turned; I was awake several times, and when I was sleeping, it was a light sleep.  Part of the problem was a loud-mouthed bird outside my window.

Now, all the birds I've ever known of, from chickens to robins, started their singing about an hour before daylight, sang all day long, and shut their pesky little beaks at sunset.  This critter was LOUD, although if I hadn't been trying to sleep, it would have been a pleasant sound.

When I got up yesterday morning, as soon as the computer was on, I googled a few phrases unsuccessfully.  Then I went to ask.com and typed in "bird sings at night". 

This led me to a message board of some sort where a person had posed this question:  "One night in June, at about 1:30 a.m., I was awakened by the loud singing
of several robins. To my amazement, the robins were shortly joined by many
other species of birds that normally sing during the day. The birds never
stopped singing, and it was so loud that I never slept that night. Is this
normal, and if so, why did it occur? "

Here's the answer that person received: 

"Many species of birds use their songs to attract perspective mates.   The
instinctual drive to this end sometimes overrides the usual night/day
agenda. Early June, the time you observed this, is the onset of mating
season for several birds.

Typically, in order to get a jump on the competition, a bird will sing from
the crack of dawn well into twilight.  But if the moon is shining or there
is a nearby street lamp, some birds (in particular, the Mockingbird) will
sing all night long.  Mockers also use their songs to mark territory."

Ah.  We have a dusk-to-dawn light in the yard that could qualify as a "street lamp".  I guess on that particular night, it inspired a mockingbird; we have plenty of them around.

On another subject, I guess I'll quit griping about all the walking I did in the heat yesterday.  I'm two pounds lighter this morning.  It just goes to show, every cloud has a silver lining.  I won't complain about the sunburn on my shoulders.   

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, those mockingbirds are known to do that.  They just go on and on.  I sleep with earplugs, I have for years, its a habit now but it helps!  Linda

Anonymous said...

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Weekend!
Hugs,
SUGAR

Anonymous said...

You should have yelled out your window..."Stop mocking me!"  It might have helped.  Try it next time. Barbara

Anonymous said...

I have heard mockingbirds sing in the night. We have some babies now that do the peep peep thing all day long. Sometimes it gets on my nerves. I love to hear their song but at night that can get worrisome. I get aggravated at how they try to keep the other birds away from the yard. This spring they and the blackbirds have run off other birds from the suet cake, I have taken the cakes up for now. You and Cliff have a good weekend. Helen

Anonymous said...

we used to have a wren that woke us up too early every day... we thought it would be nice to put the wren house next to our bedroom window.... we learned and the next year moved that house further in the yard..... beautiful singing but we didn't want to wake up that early. I can imagine the bird all night. I bet you are tired today. Sandra

Anonymous said...

Glad you posted this!  We have had birds singing at night around here from time to time.  Pretty songs.  Thankfully, they haven't kept us awake.  But we have gone out and tried to find them, to identify them and never could.  Robins and Mocking Birds both are plentiful here.  And many others of all kinds as we are right beside the Jack Gore Baygall Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve.  -  Barbara

Anonymous said...

You are right, it's a mockingbird........we have them in Arizona and when I would take Luke for a walk we would hear the bird. Thanks goodness he wasn't around our house, it would drive me mad.  Yes, the light attracts them.   Anne

Anonymous said...

Well at least you got SINGING ! We have the yumack birds here in our area and during the mating season we can here the female of the species in the trees calling out all hours of the night.......is that YOU, MACK?   (tee hee)

Anonymous said...

We had a mockingbird that used to sing at night all the time. It would drive Mama crazyand my daddy would laugh and tell her that he sang for her. Strange thing , the year my daddy died he quit singing at night.

Anonymous said...

I havent heard of birds singing at night. So the bird was just hunting a mate.
Terrie

Anonymous said...

Oh this was interesting about the birds.  It's rare here, but I have heard them singing at night and yes it seemed to be late spring.  Hot here too.  Hope the summer is not too steamy if it is starting off this way.  
Sonya

Anonymous said...

I hope he found someone to mate with already and let's you sleep. LOL.

Anonymous said...

my dog scratches and hollers all night. We are going to the vet tomorrow to get flea medicine so we can both sleep.
Marti