February 1 2002

Today I noticed that the Thrushes have joined in the early morning song. They are not as tuneful as the Blackbirds. The blackbirds tune is quite varied though it may contain a phrase that will keep recurring within the tune. The Thrush on the other hand has a short one-phrase tune which he repeats 3 or 4 times in the one song. The next time he sings, the song is likely to be the same as the last time. Some people can't tell the difference between the blackbird and the thrush because their voices are so similar, but it's their songs you should be listening for. Repetition with the Thrush, variety with the blackbird.As I type I can hear a thrush being very very vocal somewhere out the back and it is now 13:50 in the day. So I expect this singing to increase in frequency throughout the next many weeks until the blackbird finishes off the day singing his heart out at the top of one of our trees at dusk.The blackbird I spoke of earlier in his thorny cage is still sleeping there at night. The slamming of car doors and people passing by within one foot of him doesn't seem to bother him. As yet of course there are no leaves on the bush so he is quite visible. He must know that he is quite safe within all those thorny branches for he goes in and sleeps on exactly the same branch every night sometimes even before it is fully dark. Just below his perch the bluebells and daffodills are coming up and will soon give a lovely showing of flowers. Roll on Spring!!