Date: 12/31/25 12:55 pm From: Tom de Boor via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Bird music
The last couple of months, as migration wound down and our winter birds settled in, I've occasionally played human choral music with close harmonies for the birds on Regional Water Authority land in Northford, just to see what would happen, and wanted to share my experiences so far.
Song: Born To Be With You, The Chordettes
Response: 10-11 juncos and one cardinal, previously hidden, more or less immediately popped up out of the brush. I fully expected them to fly away, but instead they kept hopping higher and higher, first in the brush, then nearby trees. The Cardinal and a couple of the Juncos ended up fairly high up, directly overhead.
Song: There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart), Eurythmics, Annie Lennox
Response: Initially, it seemed like the only bird around was a Blue Jay making odd sounds, far enough away that it wasn't clear if it was responding or even listening. Then I noticed two female Cardinals about 20 feet in front of me and 60 feet up in a tree, sitting quietly and looking down. A male Cardinal appeared, and by flying at the females caused them to fly, then a second male appeared, got into an altercation with the first one, and one male fled with the other in hot pursuit. Shortly thereafter, both females returned and appeared to be listening again.
Song: In Stiller Nacht (not Silent Night), an old German folk song, beautifully arranged in four-part harmony by Pink Martini and the Von Trapp Singers (grandchildren of the original)
Response: 4-5 titmice, 4-5 chickadees, 2 goldfinches, a Downy Woodpecker, and a nuthatch flew in or approached almost as soon as I started playing it. After about 30 seconds, one of the chickadees and an unseen Carolina Wren (soon joined by a second) began singing in full voice (this on 12/31), and continued to do so, one of the wrens continuing until I turned the music off.
I'm assuming I'm not the only person who has done this. Wondering what the experience of other members of the CT birding community has been if/when you did...
Best, as always,
Tom de Boor Northford, CT
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