You've probably heard the advice, "take time to stop and smell the roses." It's great advice right now, and so is this: take some time over the next few days to stop and listen to the birds as they sing. You'll find it to be a comforting, encouraging, refreshing exercise.
And we're about to make it educational, too, because we're going to help you identify which birds you're hearing. Of course, it's a bit more complicated than one song per species; in addition to songs usually used to attract a mate, birds also have various distinct calls to warn of danger or identify themselves. But at least this gives you a place to start.
Northern Cardinal
Cardinals sing a cheerful song of slurred whistles and trills. "Cheer, cheer, cheer; birdie, birdie, birdie," they seem to chorus.
Tufted Titmouse
A tufted titmouse sings "peter-peter-peter-peter."
American Robin
An American Robin sings "Cheerily, cheer-up, cheer-up! Cheerily, cheer-up!"
Eastern Towhee
The Eastern Towhee admonishes: "Drink your tea!"
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebirds sing "trrrrr-u-ly" (or "puuuurrrrity" or "cheeerr-i-lyyy") and "pew-pew-pew."
Chickadee
The chickadee knows its own name: "chk-a-dee-dee-dee." Sometimes it calls for its friend, Phoebe.
Barred Owl
A barred owl queries, "Who cooks for you?"
We recognize that this is only a handful of hundreds of backyard birds you could be hearing right now, especially in West Virginia, a state famous for her birding opportunities! What are your favorite birds to listen for, and what do they sound like? Share a YouTube link in the comments!
To encourage backyard birds, consider adding a bird feeder and some birdhouses to your landscape.
And if you're looking for a great place to go birding besides your own yard, try the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory!
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