This Bird Can Sing

Whether it's a bird, a child, or you.

Fairly recently I learned that when you hear birds chirping and singing, you can assume that all is well in the surrounding area. I really did not know that was a thing. But, of course, it makes total sense. Like when I fly (no pun intended), and there’s turbulence, I always watch the flight attendants. If they’re smiling, we’re flying. If they look worried, start praying.

As I walked Philly, our dog, one morning last week on a glorious spring day that only this part of Pennsylvania can produce, the birds were assuring me that all was as it should be, spring has sprung and life was good.

But on this day, I heard a bird singing that was distinctly new to me and soared over every other. It literally sang - s a n g…. I have been a vocalist all my life and am (if you didn’t know) a certified early childhood educator. I notice “tune”. This bird was singing three distinct descending notes in a minor third - slowly - methodically - rhythmically. Then silence. Then back to the chorus. Every fifteen seconds or so.

The beauty. The joy. The glory! It was the first time I really heard and knew the bird was truly calling out to another - sending a message. Usually minor keys in musica represent the not so happy messages but this was eloquence. Composition. Creation.

For the first time I downloaded an app because I had to know what the bird was.

And the minute I did that, that dang bird stopped singing. I’m not kidding. It was like it was watching me and wouldn’t play. I waited two more days to catch its tune.

I would so love to be able to say it was a little yellow bird. (Though my LYB did show up several times chirping on the app!)