July 08, 1962 - The CatbirdThe Cisibird
Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch
by Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven
Focus on Nature
Judd Bennett has created .a
Unique
situation that many of us,
if the truth be known, would
be a bit jealous of. He has the
time, and the opportunity to get to
know many of our birds inti-
mately. In the following article
you will be privileged to know
the catbird as he does. PS
THE CATBIRD
By JUDD BENNETT
Somewhere in a thicket near
my house is a nest crowded with
Catbird fledglings. I hope when
these young birds come forth
with their parents one of the lot
will be a special replacement,
in part, of a beloved bird I call-
ed "Jenny ".
The remarkable Catbird Jenny
lived around here quite a few
years ago when the house was
torn open for altering and in it
she found a haven she seemed to
love more or as much as she
loved the outdoors. The dwelling,
such as 'it was, became some-
thing we shared equally.
The ordinary healthy Catbird
is full of curiosity and has a
matching spunk to go with it
while always being an ever alert
busybody. My bird, after she at-
tached herself to me, soon be-
came, in my opinion,. anything
but ordinary. Far from it. She
did so many little 'things to set
her a p a r t that I could only
swing along with the charm of it
all and become a captive o f
sorts.
In her every action there ap-
peared an intensification - some -
thing which. enhanced the 'things
common to all Catbirds. For
Jenny everything called for your
best - your best for the joy
found in cheerful singing of in-
volved .songs - for the spirit felt
in full and sudden outbursts of
flight - for the lively delight in
vocal mimicry — for the definite-
ness in the plain harsh complain-
ing outcrys that sound cat -like in
their hint of warning. For, also,
the happiness and the ease of
living in the activity of yards
anal gardens - be it shanty or
chateau.
Jenny seemed to live with a
keen diligence. She always seem-
ed to be at the job of keeping
her cherished place in the setup.
It was important to be constant
lya notch above all the other
birds and especially all the other
Catbirds. Among them is a caste
system strongly felt although not
often anything like that insisted
upon by other birds when they
battle out ownership of living
apace. But, again, , what Jenny
claimed as her own was dutifully
insisted upon with vigor. There
by Poul Stoutenburgh, Cutchogue
was little shirking those . long
summers.
During this time a garden was
made from a jumble of "over-
growth" and freshly opened soil
was always attractively exposed
for the birds in the vicinity -
which meant Jenny and a f e w
more. It was then we became
full partners of house and gard-
en. She sought for me at all
times of the day when not busy
pulling rank and performing oth-
er duties. She seemed always
the larger part of the scene.
The mother of the fledglings I
am now anxious about is perhaps
the last of a brood Jenny raised.
At least it is the only one I
am reasonably sure about. All
last year I hoped there would be
born one, free of that touch of
fear, that makes you take notice
of them in particular. All Cat-
birds are fairly close to an easy
acceptance of anything, but not
wholly so; as the old bird was
naturally. Jenny died soon after
the planes carrying the aerial
sprays droned away.
Because this bird liked "me
I loved her. Anyway, by remem-
bering Jenny I find a mellowed
joy strong enough not to include
all Catbirds. All are special to
me.
In the yard this tummer there
are about ten of them all busy
as usual, jumping into and out
of bath water, then flying off so
- drenched 'they can barely lift.
themselves to a tree branch for
the shake and flutter of a preen-
ing. The Catbird is a real o 1 d
busybody. Several of the birds
around now sail up to me and
take food from my hand while'
others dash with a quick stop to
beg from the - ground. Some of
them catch a toss before it falls
all the way. When they are that
close you can see how really
nervous, high-strung and flitty
they are basically. Thoseman-
aging to conquer this instinctive
wariness are, for that reason, all
the more remarkable.
"Being so "yardwise" all Cat-
birds learn to eat oddly. Most of
them will take from any direct
food offerings, and relish the
morsels to, such assorted scraps
as bits of beef and bread along
with boiled potato, suet, raisins
and apple -cuts - and, some seeds
mainly limited to the hemp.
At the time of earliest May
they arrive markedly subdued,
quite without song and weary.
Before the start for Long Island
they have spent a winter at a
sort of "wai'ting out" in the
southern part of this continent.
When they first come they look
for insects and later seek fruits
as they ripen in the wild. A
growth of wild cherry trees, ma-
ture and shady - thick, were this
story all takes place is a belov-
ed hangout. The cherry seed pits
are coughed up anywhere and
everywhere and many of them
start new trees.
During May and June I like
to watch my Catbirds when they
p a u s e briefly with fat . juicy
w o r m s dangling from their
glossy black bills. They dash so
pointedly from one spot to anoth-
er by fast direct flights to perch
With what seems to be an after-
thought and then peak out. Their
beadli$e, keen eyes shine as
..they scan all to see, for the ino-
men't, just what is going on. Aw-
ful to miss anything.
,Any' bird which bends down in
a crouch with head poked out
of the hiding leaves and then
peers about so eagerly almost
makes me laugh. When a Cat-
bird does just that it always
seems an even better show. They
seem to do i't with more comedy
and perhaps this added touch is
enhanced by their fine shape,
size and slate - neutral color all
to give them, along with the
black cap and russet under- tail -
coverts, the edge. To me they
are the best of the "peaking
curious" '- and the most truly
bird -like of all the birds.
One could but off - handedly be-
gin to realize the value of a
gathering of these diligent birds
and the good they do by their,
day after day, attack on en-
dangering pests. It must be as-
tonishing in totals. I am con-
vinced one can see the better
appearance of plantings for the
take they are responsible for
during this pursuit.
The most friendly approach
made by the Catbird comes af-
ter the four or five plain deeply
bluish green eggs have hatched.
Then the rat -race 'of parenthood
quickly becomes ceaseless duty.
From the earliest hint of dawn
to dusk they are haunted by the
s i g h t of those big wide -open
mouths and the press these hung-
er demands make upon them.
I look forward to the time of
this stint. They do it so well. As
each year comes all my fe-
male Catbirds show a behavior
similiar to old Jenny during this
rough period. With all the acti-
vity this makes it is often diff-
cult to attempt a watch -out for
another favorite. 'the Warblers.
Also, all this friendliness gives
no chance to ignore them.
It is one of the best moments
ever in being around birds to
feel the touch of their feet on
your fingers. A handsome wild
bird confidently right in your
hand! You can almost sense the
great dullingdown of the learned
instinct to fear an above every-
thing else on 1arth. A Catbird
really started me on the now
serious study of birds which in