by Judy Yoder
I close my eyes for the night,
the metronome starts beating:
kreck-eck . . . kreck-eck . . .kreck-eck 1
Worries of the day take flight.
Disturbed from my peaceful rest,
by a mournfully rich baritone duet:
hoo . . . HOO . . . hoo . . . HOO 2
Snuggle deeper in my warm nest.
Dawn chorus announces new creation,
soloists grandstanding in the quiet:
chirping . . . whistling . . . clicking 3
Heart bursting with joyful anticipation.
Spirit overjoyed with song I rouse
to be scolded by nature’s alarmist:
chee chee chee chee chee 4
Back to the reality of my house.
1. The Pacific treefrog can be heard at any time of day, but large choruses are most common at sunset. In the spring breeding season, a “kreck-eck” shows their prowess and is intended to attract a mate; a “krrreck” is a warning to other males.
2. The barred owl is most active at night. Their rich baritone hooting may be courtship with a mate, marking their territory, or a call for their mate to switch places on the nest.
3. The Pacific wren, American robin, and Black-capped chickadee are the most vocal of the symphony at sunrise. The most robust songs are males hoping to attract a mate. However, it might be their enjoyment of their own song that carries farther in the quiet, calmer air of early morning.
4. The Douglas squirrel is very vocal and makes different sounds for defending their space: sounding the alarm, courtship, and defense; most common is the continuous chattering and chirping done out of excitement or annoyance.