In answer to our challenge about what kind of bird Rachel Maddow heard in the woods this weekend, we present what we believe is the winning response.
It's from Craig Faanes, who writes on our Facebook page:
Rachel - I'm a retired from 31 years as an ornithologist (study of birds) with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. What you were hearing was a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicolis) a common summer resident in your neck of the woods. The voice you heard is described as "poor sam peabody, peabody, peabody" but in Canada they say its "Oh Sweet Canada Canada Canada". You can learn more about White-throated Sparrows at this link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-throated_sparrow/id
We especially love that the white-throated sparrow says one thing in America and another in Canada.
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How absolutely lovely. Thanks for the virtual breath of fresh air, a beautiful feast for my eyes and ears.
Thank you this was driving me crazy!
What beautiful footage.
Im a habitual viewer to TRMS What about here in Florida Ive not seen an ads from Marco Rubio HMMMM Challenge him Rachel we dont need this Jeb Bush WANNABE representing us Please Rachel PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I second that request. We have such a sorry lot running for office here in Florida--it's scary! The only officials I have any confidence in are Sen. Nelson and Charlie Crist.
My vote for inclusion in top ten 'most lovely' blog strings ever on TRMS Blog - thanks Craig Faanes (especially for the video link) and TRMS crew.
Rachel, I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Other than living in a dorm in college, I have always lived in Miami. I am totally dismayed that polls are showing that Rick Scott and Jeff Greene seem to be BUYING their election primaries. Florida only allows voting in primaries by your party registration. I am a yellow dog democrat, and have voted in every election since I turned 21. Please, please investigate the business backgrounds of Scott and Greene to ascertain if Scott's company committed the greatest Medicare fraud in history, and if Greene really made millions from betting against homeowners in the mortgage fiasco. I suspect Scott is going to be our next governor despite the fact that Democrat Alex Sink would be better for Florida. The race for the U.S. Senate is going to be between Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio. I just do not want bought elections to become the norm in Florida.
Karen- As a WPB resident and Democrat, I too am fed up with the race in Florida. Per your request, I looked up "Rick Scott fraud" on Factcheck.org- here are the results: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/07/mccollums-misleading-accusations/
You can also find out about how most of what everyone says is a lie (no surprise) but as a Democrat, I'm disappointed with Alex Sink as well. Judging from her speech at my graduation ceremony, she's not the sharpest tool in the shed (which might explain why she's running on an anti-gay marriage platform).
If it comes to voting for a third party candidate, then so be it.
I wish I knew Craig Faanes. We have so many birds that are migrating through our back yard down here and our books, although helpful, make it hard to recognize who is who.
Just wanted to tell Rachel that I love that story (and many others) and that she was particularly smashing with the "tricorne" hat.
Wow! What a wonderful way to hold a conversation...! Thanks Rachel your the tweets!
Oh yes, and I add to the previous messages: Rachel, please EDUCATE the people of Florida. We need it. Please, we beg you.
Because my husband has taken to feeding the local birds, we have had a huge number of CA Quail take up residence on your acreage. This year there has been a really long breeding season; just this morning, I saw a mom and dad with three very, very small chicks. One on the chicks was running around and got separated. Dad Quail jumped up on a tree stump and repeated his really wonderful call until the wayward youngster came "a-runnin".
I never get tired of the Quail call.
I do get tired of the hummers chastising me when their nectar is gone and the house finches when their thistle seed has run low.
I have worked as a Naturalist for over 15 years, studying northeastern songbirds for most of that time, and I have never heard a White throated Sparrow produce a sound like the one that rachel recorded. Yes, the species does have a whistled song, but I think that the sparrow would have to be under the influence of more than a few fermented berries to make that kind of whistle.
I run a bird sanctuary in Central New York and we have plenty of breeding songbirds on the property. Last week I heard a very "sad" sounding whistle, very much like the one that Rachel recorded. It turned out to be a fledgling Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It was calling - or begging to its parents for some grub. I have the audio of an immature Rose-breasted Grosbeak calling if anyone is interested in comparing the sounds. All I need is an address to send it to.
Thank you again for providing the bird-geek moment.
Hi Matt,
You can upload the file here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27891950/
or email it rachel@msnbc.com
I think I will just put this video on permanent "Play" and listen to it for the rest of the day. What a lovely peaceful sound. This has been the best "click" I made on Facebook or any other website today. We need more peace and joy in our days. Thank you to Rachel, and especially to Craig, for sharing this wonderful song.
Yes, thank you for this thread.
...so, our feathered friend is political - says one thing and then another- lol!
I have now discovered that the easiest way to drive one of my cats crazy is to play this video with my mac volume turned all the way up. I literally just watched him charge all over the apartment trying to find the mystery bird.
Wanna join the subversive bird-watching underground Rachel?
"The conservation movement is a breeding ground of Communists and other subversives. We intend to clean them out, even if it means rounding up every bird watcher in the country."
John Mitchell, US Attorney General (1969-72)
I am going to add this to my top 10 stupid crap people say list. John Mitchell what a douchecanoe.
I think we're all wrong. It was the American bald eagle in chains, weeping.....
yep Cedarflame, I come from a long line of subversive bird watchers, and we are not rounded up just yet!
my New England cousin could probably id the call, but I just like listening to it! I do better with our local birds in NC, native and migratory
huh. Well, that White-Throated Sparrow is one sweet song bird.
My cat approves of the lovely video -- she's been scrabbling at the screen trying to catch the bird....
Thanks for a lovely moment of birdsong and feline mayhem!
I love the song of the white-throated sparrow, but I was going to say...that video was posted for cats, right? The combination of sound and movement was perfect--she came running from the other room and it was pretty amusing watching her alternately pat the screen and check behind it.
This bird song screams Canada to me, as I first noticed it while camping in the backwoods of northern Ontario. It reminds me of lakes, islands, pine trees, and wild blueberries. I'm lucky to hear it now during its spring migration through southern Michigan.
We have them here too. I wonder how many people will look at the top of the mouth or roof of the mouth of the bird and see its teeth? Lots of people do not know a bird has teeth and some have more than others. I got a good picture of this on a grackle on abrahamlincolnsblog.blogspot.com and scroll down and look at http://abrahamlincolnsblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/baby-grackles-teeth.html