The Backyard: Bach or Beethoven for Bluebirds?
We know that birds are auditory creatures. We know a female selects her mate based on the quality of his song. We know that when we go into the woods and play birdsongs on our iPods, birds will come investigate.
But will they sing to classical music?
An Eastern Bluebird surveys his surroundings.
Well, this little story unfolded in my mother’s backyard. Here it is, as she describes it:
“On the first warm day of spring my patio doors, which open to the deck in the backyard, were wide open. I sat at my kitchen table listening to some classical music and I guess the sound wafted out into the backyard.
I casually glanced up through the sliding glass doors and noticed a bluebird sitting on a wrought iron candle stand at the corner of our deck, only 15 feet away from the door. They nest about 75 feet away, but this was as close as a bluebird ever came to our entry.
The bird sang loudly from this little perch, almost in response, then flew to another stand on the opposite corner of the deck. He looked at me and continued to sing. It was like he was meeting my classical with his own song.”
It’s extremely interesting to think the bird recognized some inherent beauty in the composition and was moved to warble his own rendition. But rather than communing with my Mom over great composers, the bird was more likely somewhere between perplexed and threatened by the music and came closer to measure the threat. Perceiving there was none, he lifted off.
But what counts is that time stood still for a moment while Mom and her bluebird shared a splash of musical ebullience.
How about you: have you ever had a similar backyard bird moment?
Unfortunately nothing so culturally sophisticated, but there is a video way back on my blog of a Fieldfare in my garden. With my back turned one of the kids hit the on button on the stereo after fiddling with the volume button and ‘Albatross’ by Fleetwood Mac leapt out at huge volume giving the Fieldfare a big scare even through triple glazed windows.
What a delightful story! I love your word choice–I’ve heard “splashes” of ebullience in my yard, too.
Kay
Thanks, Kay. : )
And thanks for sharing your story, Alan. I’m a fan of 70s music and thought I knew most of Fleetwood Mac. But had to look up Albatross and see it is a “guitar-based instrumental” released as a single in 1969 — a LONG time ago–, later featuring on the compilation albums The Pious Bird of Good Omen (UK) and English Rose (USA). The WIKI further instructed that…
“The composition suggests a relaxing sea setting, with cymbals imitating the sound of waves and a dreamy solo from Green’s guitar. It contains only two chords, Emaj7 and F#m, and could be seen as an early ambient work. It is often assumed that Green used his Les Paul but he said it was his Fender Stratocaster, as there is subtle use of the vibrato bar. The Les Paul that Green used in Fleetwood Mac has a nasal tone like that achieved in the in-between positions of a Stratocaster, and heard in the song.”
Great description all the way from ‘relaxed sea setting’ to ‘Les Paul’ and ‘Stratocaster…’
BTW: WIKI says “Albatross is the only Fleetwood Mac composition with the distinction of having inspired a Beatles song, ‘Sun King’ from 1969′s Abbey Road.”
The things one learns from blogging.
Whoa, going back to “Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac”. . . ah, that awesome, bluesy era when they were really amazing (before the late ’70s more “pop” sound). Those early days don’t come across radio too often.
More to the point, what was the classical piece? Was it Bach or Beethoven? Enquiring minds, or those with an acoustic bent, want to know!
-Mike
This is very interesting Laura. I have several birdhouses around my house and several feeders as well. I think I will have to see what happens when I play some classical music through my deck speakers! It will be interesting to see if it has any affect on the Hummingbirds (they are closest to the speakers). I will make sure not to blast it though.
@Mike: I have it on good authority that bluebirds prefer Bach while blackbirds prefer Mozart’s Requiem. ;- ) (Mom doesn’t remember the exact piece that played).
@Larry: Let us know what happens. Not sure if the timing matters, but this happened early in the season when the bluebirds had tentatively chosen their nestbox. It’s possible they were involved in an early assessment of nearby threats and therefore more prone to investigate. But that’s a guess. Let us know what happens, and let Mike know which piece you played!