It was a rather foolish thought, I know, but just the kind of irrational anxiety that emerged when I was faced with leaving my secure nest, home for 23 years. What if there were no birds on the other side of the state to sing to me when I awakened? For years, the morning ritual of bird psalmody erased my night fears, and blessed the start of the day.

Numb and exhausted the first few days after my move, I was only vaguely aware of the trills outside my bedroom window. However by the fourth day, sitting on the deck with my morning coffee, I became aware that I was the captivated audience of a versatile songster, preaching from the top of a dying tree. I recognized the long hooked beak, brown robes, and speckled vest of the brown thrasher. Having most often spied the thrashers sweeping the ground for insects, I was unprepared for the performance of a virtuoso. With little repetition the preacher/songster’s versatile lines seemed to be punctuated with exclamation marks. “I have something to say, something to say! Listen up, listen up!” My delight turned into laughter as the preaching went on at great length. I finally began to think that important messages were being tossed out in the beauty of song.

For a month now the thrashers – there are more than one – have regularly regaled me with the “best of show” and I have listened with intent to translate. Experience tells me that the more I know of creation, the more I can appreciate the unique gift each being offers. Preacher bird, what can you tell me about making my way in the world?

Brown thrashers are collaborative nest makers, who hide their nests in tangled masses of shrubbery, unless of course, it is time to preach. Aggressive nest defenders, they are apt to deliver an intrusive man or beast a hard strike. After nine days, fully feathered nestlings can take flight. While they feast for every variety of bug, berry, or seed, skipping on the ground or in the shrubs, they can just as easily go after lizards, snakes, and tree frogs. Foraging among dead leaves in tree tops, belly full, sun’s warmth rising at the start of the day – well, there just might be something to say.

Through my laughter I could hear my new feathered friend sing: brown feathers have more song; make the best of whatever beak you’ve been given; eat well; skip often; know your territory; keep a keen eye on your turf; collaborate with friend or mate; don’t waste time, unless you feel the song bubbling and the call to entertain the world. Then the songster turned philosophical – from the tree top vantage the preacher sang: Every day I see the wonders of the world and that is cause to celebrate.

Considered the most versatile of songbirds with as many as 1,100 different lines, 100% of brown thrashers spend time in the United States. You can learn so much more at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/lifehistory

“All About Birds”, Cornell Lab of Ornithology