Mockingbirds Will Ferociously Protect Their Eggs and Young; They Will Even Swoop Down Breast and Attack Cats Or People

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WHERE THE Texas Wildlife Association presents.... WILD THINGS ARE. FEBRUARY 11 - 28, 2016 TEXAS WILDLIFE EXPO February 2016 Kid’s Quarterly Mini-Mag! Vol. 10 No. 1 You may know that the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo hosts one of the most prestigious professional rodeos in the world, and is home to the world’s largest junior livestock show. But did you know that we Postcards from Nancy....By Meredith Balzen encourage responsible management and the use of our beautiful Texas wildlife and natural resources through Hey there TWA Pals! the Texas Wildlife Expo? Through interactive educational exhibits and hands-on demonstrations that make Brrr…it’s cold here in Texas. This long, cold winter hasn’t When I got closer to Grant’s house, I begun to subside just yet, but now that it’s February there is heard the same “Whit – whoo!” again. This time it learning fun for the entire family, you’ll see that our commitment to Texas youth just comes natural. one holiday that lands on February 14 that I can’t help wasn’t coming from my new friend; it was coming but love…Valentine’s Day! from Grant who was sitting on the back porch, My Valentine’s Day plans this year started when Grant preparing our tea. the Gopher invited me over to his house for some tea. “Hey Grant! What are you doing?” I asked Since he only lives a short walk away, I decided to set laughing at his slight embarrassment. off on foot through the woods. “Hey Nancy, I was just practicing my whistling,” As I started my journey, I heard a strange sound that was similar to a he said as his fur turned red. whistle in the trees. “Whit – whoo!” it said with a slightly mocking tone. I “Have you been practicing long?” I asked. “The only reason I’m curious stopped my steady pace and looked up at the treetops to see if I could is because my new little friend has been mocking you!” I pointed up to the find the source of the noise. There was no one in sight. The only thing I saw tree where the little gray bird whistled “Whit – whoo!” when I looked up was a little gray bird perched on He laughed and replied, “Your new little a tree limb looking down at me. Shrugging, I kept friend is the state bird of Texas, and he got his name walking and this time I picked up the pace. If there from doing exactly what he’s been doing – mocking. was someone hiding out there, they would have to That bird is a Northern Mockingbird, Nancy.” keep up. “Good to know. The Texas State Bird is After a few more quickened steps, I heard the something of importance and now that I know it’s sound again. “Whit – whoo!” it said, taunting me. specialty is mocking sounds around it, it’s one of my I stopped again and looked at my surroundings. new favorites!” This time I listened carefully to see if I could hear the Until next time, sound again. When I looked up, there sat the little gray bird but this time it was on a different limb. I Nancy Nine-band didn’t move a muscle hoping the whistle would ring through the trees once again and to my luck, it did. “Whit – whoo!” I heard again and Aha! It was the little gray bird sitting on the tree limb. I wondered how in the world a bird could mimic a sound so similar to a whistle. I tried whistling my own tune, and a minute later the little gray bird whistled back to me. Now that I knew the culprit, I could finally relax and keep walking with the little gray bird following closely behind me, flitting from tree to tree and whistling my tune.

Critter Connections is made possible by a grant from the Attention Teachers: San Antonio Livestock To receive a free one-year subscription, go to: Exposition. SARODEO.COM http://www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/ FOLLOW US ON subscribe-to-critter-connections. Join TWA Today! TWA is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate all people, especially the youth of Texas Wildlife Association Texas, about the conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat on private land. All programs are made possible through memberships and grants or donations. TWA HAS RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - CLASSROOM TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOL TEACHERS, Your consideration of support is most appreciated. INFORMAL EDUCATORS, AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES, AND CAMPS! Last year, we provided programming for over 288,000 youth across the state through Distance Learning, Discovery Trunks, Wildlife by Design¸ Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.), and Texas Brigades. Contact us to find out how Wildlife by Design - FREE presentations for grades K-8 we may help you incorporate wildlife and natural resources into your classroom! brought to your location by a TWA Educator. Each Most programs are free for teachers. program includes a hands-on, inquiry based lesson and activity, 30-60 minutes in length, for a group of 20-45 For information on our educational programs, please contact us at 800-TEX-WILD (800-839-9453). students, and can be repeated up to six (6) times that day. Joining TWA is optional. Each membership helps support TWA programs but it is not required to participate in our programs. Presentations are available regionally. http://www.texas- wildlife.org/program-areas/wildlife-by-design Join us at www.texas-wildlife.org

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Did you know... puzzles.....mazes.....oh my! go ahead.....give it a try! ...that the Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas? Mockingbird ...that the mockingbird is a common songbird that is found across North America. It lives in a variety of habitats, including Mockingbird Word Find farmlands, roadsides, thickets and towns? Directions: Find and circle the words. ...that the mockingbird eats fruit, insects (like grasshoppers and beetles), spiders and other small animals (like crayfishes, snails, lizards and snakes)? S L G A C T V E M C O C N M N CLUTCH ...that the mockingbird has a variety of calls? W A K R E G L M T L N L S O X FARMLANDS It mimics many other birds’ calls and the GRASSHOPPERS sounds of other animals (including insects) E I Q X A I I T K H B U E C M and can sing loudly for hours. An individual N J A S N S W J L E P T D K B JUVENILE mockingbird can know dozens or hundreds of H S H E D W S K D O I C I I G LIZARDS different songs. The mockingbird’s scientific X A V Z Q N W H L Y C H S N C MIMIC name, Mimus polyglottos (genus and species), S U M I M L A Y O I O K D G X MIMUS means “mimic of many tongues” in Greek. J E I K E W G L V P Z G A B Y MOCKINGBIRD NEST

word searches...... W F D G G L G S M S P A O I P T G X N O R T H E R N E R R C NORTHERN Photos by Grady Allen S R O T C E T O R P A X R D I POLYGLOTTOS E X T J P I G M U A A F K S S PROTECTORS N O O B Z J M I B H V G X I I ROADSIDES S D K R B X A I Z R L R Q D G TEXAS Y Y C Y K G K N M H X W F J O Photo by Grady Allen

Mockingbird CLUTCH Read and Answer Activity Label & Color Me (Mimus polyglottos) The mockingbirdFARMLANDS is a common songbird that is found across North America. It lives in a variety of habitats, including farmlands,GRASSHOPPERS roadsides, thickets and towns. The mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee JUVENILE Adapted from Ann Treacy’s Doodles and Jots.com and Texas. Photos by Meredith Balzen Dark eyes surrounded by LIZARDS yellow eye ring Song:MIMIC The mockingbird has a variety of calls. It mimics many other birds’ calls and the sounds of other animals (including insects)MIMUS and can sing loudly for hours. An individual mockingbird can know dozens or hundreds of different songs. The Gray head mockingbird’sMOCKINGBIRD scientific name, Mimus polyglottos (genus and species), means “mimic of many tongues” in Greek. Gray feathers NEST with large white Anatomy: The mockingbird is from 9 to 11 inches (23 - 28 cm) long. It has a slim body, a long bill and a relatively patches and white NORTHERN wing bars long POLYGLOTTOStail (up to 6 inches = 15 cm long). The wing span is 13 to 15 inches (33-38 cm). It weighs from 1 to 2 ounces (28-56 g). ThePROTECTORS mockingbird is mostly gray, with large white patches on the wings and tail. Males and females are similar in Gray upper appearance.ROADSIDES The juvenile has a spotted breast. Long, thin, parts Diet:TEXAS The mockingbird eats fruit, insects (like grasshoppers and beetles), spiders and other small animals (like crayfishes, black, snails, lizards and snakes). pointed bill Photo by Grady Allen Nest and Eggs: The mockingbird’s nest is made of twigs, moss and grass and is lined with feathers. The nest is from 3 to 10 feet (1-3 m) high and located in treesCreated and shrubs. The by female Puzzlemaker lays 3 to 6 greenish at eggs DiscoveryEducation.com with dark spots in each clutch White-gray (a set of eggs laid at one time). Mockingbirds will ferociously protect their eggs and young; they will even swoop down breast and attack cats or people. Long black, white Questions: and gray tail 1. What does the mockingbird’s scientific name, Mimus polyglottos, mean? ______2. How many different songs can a mockingbird learn? ______Image adapted from ZoomSchool.com 3. Why would a mockingbird attack a cat? ______Black legs and feet 4. What color are mockingbird eggs? ______5. What do mockingbirds eat? ______

6 3 corner elderberries and rose hips. Their favorite insects include butterflies, The Northern Mockingbird is scientifically known as Mimus polyglottos, beetles, ants, bees, wasps and grasshoppers. which means “many-tongued mimic” in Latin. The name refers to the Northern Mockingbirds will visit feeding stations, especially in ability of the bird to produce numerous calls and mimic various birds, winter where they dine on fruit, mealworms and suet. They often animals and artificially made sounds. bully other birds away from feeding areas, even if it contains foods They have been known to so they do not like. skillfully imitate sounds such as squeaky A Northern Mockingbird is a gate hinges, sirens and barking dogs medium-sized bird that is gray in color that even a sound machine could with black and white wing feathers. Its not tell the difference between the c underside is white, the bill is relatively mockingbird and the original sound. short and black and its eye is yellowish- With the ability to produce up to orange. A typical mockingbird 200 different calls, it continues to add measures between 8-11 inches long and new songs to its collection throughout weighs 1.4-2 ounces. Males are a bit its life. Their songs are composed of bigger than females, but other than phrases that repeat two to six times. r that they look the same. Males sing more than females and Like most birds, they are migratory they are especially loud during the birds and spend the winter months in breeding season when they sing both the southern part of the United States. Their breeding season takes during the day and night. During place during the spring and summer months. their long nocturnal songs, Northern The males arrive first and claim territory. When the females Mockingbirds are capable of singing i The Northern arrive, the males show off their territory and wings by flashing their over 1,000 songs per hour. white outer tail feathers and white Not only is the mockingbird the state bird of Texas, it’s also the state wing patches while flying around bird of Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas. and singing loudly. On January 31, 1927, the mockingbird was named Texas’ official state Mockingbird Northern Mockingbirds mate bird. The Texas Legislature noted that the mockingbird, “... is found in all for a lifetime. Both the male and parts of the State, in winter and in summer, in the city and in the country, By Meredith Balzen All photos this page by Grady Allen the female build the nest in the on the prairie and in the woods and hills ... is a singer of distinctive type, t trees or shrubs. The female lays a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the only species two to six green eggs with red- like any true Texan ...” of mockingbird commonly found in the country. Known for its loud, brown spots. The female incubates The next time you’re out enjoying the sunshine or taking a hike mimicking song, they can often be heard during spring and summer nights the eggs for approximately two through the hill country, keep a look out for this little trickster of a in suburban neighborhoods. weeks, and when they hatch, both bird. You may hear a screeching car alarm, but it may just be your Since the early 1900s, the Northern Mockingbird has been expanding the male and female bird will assist in neighborhood Northern Mockingbird sounding off! t its range northward along the east and west coasts of the United States feeding them. After about 10 days, the and into southern Canada. The increased development of farmland and chicks are independent. The lifespan of suburban areas, along with the planting of fruit-bearing ornamental a mockingbird in the wild is 8 years. shrubs and trees has aided their move northward. Mockingbirds are Northern Mockingbirds will have located all throughout the United States and Mexico and parts of Canada. two to three broods of young per They reside in fields, forest edges and year. Each brood will overlap with the backyards. They sit high in trees, on female incubating the next set of eggs e fence posts and on utility lines and while the male tends to the needs of sing loudly. They also hop along on the the new fledglings from the previous ground looking for food. nest. Mockingbirds are omnivorous. Their Northern Mockingbirds aggressively defend their nest and are diet consists of about equal amounts know to attack and mob potential predators (and people) that of fruits and arthropods (insects and approach too close. They have been known to identify individual r spiders). The fruits consist of wild people who repeatedly encroach into their nesting territory and Sources: and cultivated varieties including will selectively harass them. In contrast, they will ignore new people “Northern Mockingbird Information, Photos, and Facts.” American Expedition. Ideaman, Inc., n.d. Web. “Carol & Jim Oldham.” Wild Birds Unlimited. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2016. grapes, apples, barberries, hawthorn, just passing through their territory. “Northern Mockingbird Facts.” Northern Mockingbird Facts. Soft Schools.com, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2016. corner elderberries and rose hips. Their favorite insects include butterflies, The Northern Mockingbird is scientifically known as Mimus polyglottos, beetles, ants, bees, wasps and grasshoppers. which means “many-tongued mimic” in Latin. The name refers to the Northern Mockingbirds will visit feeding stations, especially in ability of the bird to produce numerous calls and mimic various birds, winter where they dine on fruit, mealworms and suet. They often animals and artificially made sounds. bully other birds away from feeding areas, even if it contains foods They have been known to so they do not like. skillfully imitate sounds such as squeaky A Northern Mockingbird is a gate hinges, sirens and barking dogs medium-sized bird that is gray in color that even a sound machine could with black and white wing feathers. Its not tell the difference between the c underside is white, the bill is relatively mockingbird and the original sound. short and black and its eye is yellowish- With the ability to produce up to orange. A typical mockingbird 200 different calls, it continues to add measures between 8-11 inches long and new songs to its collection throughout weighs 1.4-2 ounces. Males are a bit its life. Their songs are composed of bigger than females, but other than phrases that repeat two to six times. r that they look the same. Males sing more than females and Like most birds, they are migratory they are especially loud during the birds and spend the winter months in breeding season when they sing both the southern part of the United States. Their breeding season takes during the day and night. During place during the spring and summer months. their long nocturnal songs, Northern The males arrive first and claim territory. When the females Mockingbirds are capable of singing i The Northern arrive, the males show off their territory and wings by flashing their over 1,000 songs per hour. white outer tail feathers and white Not only is the mockingbird the state bird of Texas, it’s also the state wing patches while flying around bird of Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas. and singing loudly. On January 31, 1927, the mockingbird was named Texas’ official state Mockingbird Northern Mockingbirds mate bird. The Texas Legislature noted that the mockingbird, “... is found in all for a lifetime. Both the male and parts of the State, in winter and in summer, in the city and in the country, By Meredith Balzen All photos this page by Grady Allen the female build the nest in the on the prairie and in the woods and hills ... is a singer of distinctive type, t trees or shrubs. The female lays a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the only species two to six green eggs with red- like any true Texan ...” of mockingbird commonly found in the country. Known for its loud, brown spots. The female incubates The next time you’re out enjoying the sunshine or taking a hike mimicking song, they can often be heard during spring and summer nights the eggs for approximately two through the hill country, keep a look out for this little trickster of a in suburban neighborhoods. weeks, and when they hatch, both bird. You may hear a screeching car alarm, but it may just be your Since the early 1900s, the Northern Mockingbird has been expanding the male and female bird will assist in neighborhood Northern Mockingbird sounding off! t its range northward along the east and west coasts of the United States feeding them. After about 10 days, the and into southern Canada. The increased development of farmland and chicks are independent. The lifespan of suburban areas, along with the planting of fruit-bearing ornamental a mockingbird in the wild is 8 years. shrubs and trees has aided their move northward. Mockingbirds are Northern Mockingbirds will have located all throughout the United States and Mexico and parts of Canada. two to three broods of young per They reside in fields, forest edges and year. Each brood will overlap with the backyards. They sit high in trees, on female incubating the next set of eggs e fence posts and on utility lines and while the male tends to the needs of sing loudly. They also hop along on the the new fledglings from the previous ground looking for food. nest. Mockingbirds are omnivorous. Their Northern Mockingbirds aggressively defend their nest and are diet consists of about equal amounts know to attack and mob potential predators (and people) that of fruits and arthropods (insects and approach too close. They have been known to identify individual r spiders). The fruits consist of wild people who repeatedly encroach into their nesting territory and Sources: and cultivated varieties including will selectively harass them. In contrast, they will ignore new people “Northern Mockingbird Information, Photos, and Facts.” American Expedition. Ideaman, Inc., n.d. Web. “Carol & Jim Oldham.” Wild Birds Unlimited. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2016. grapes, apples, barberries, hawthorn, just passing through their territory. “Northern Mockingbird Facts.” Northern Mockingbird Facts. Soft Schools.com, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2016. Forgot username or password? Passcode/Create New User Help username password LOGIN

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6 3 Join TWA Today! TWA is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate all people, especially the youth of Texas Wildlife Association Texas, about the conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat on private land. All programs are made possible through memberships and grants or donations. TWA HAS RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - CLASSROOM TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOL TEACHERS, Your consideration of support is most appreciated. INFORMAL EDUCATORS, AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES, AND CAMPS! Last year, we provided programming for over 288,000 youth across the state through Distance Learning, Discovery Trunks, Wildlife by Design¸ Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.), and Texas Brigades. Contact us to find out how Wildlife by Design - FREE presentations for grades K-8 we may help you incorporate wildlife and natural resources into your classroom! brought to your location by a TWA Educator. Each Most programs are free for teachers. program includes a hands-on, inquiry based lesson and activity, 30-60 minutes in length, for a group of 20-45 For information on our educational programs, please contact us at 800-TEX-WILD (800-839-9453). students, and can be repeated up to six (6) times that day. Joining TWA is optional. Each membership helps support TWA programs but it is not required to participate in our programs. Presentations are available regionally. http://www.texas- wildlife.org/program-areas/wildlife-by-design Join us at www.texas-wildlife.org

Membership Levels: Discovery Trunks - Statewide Discovery Trunks are full of hands-on, program-enhancing, natural resource materials ____ Life Member $2,400 ____ President’s Council $1,000 and lessons, geared for grades K-8. Seven (7) trunk topics ____ Corporate $635 ____ Patron $375 are available in two-week reservation periods and are available at no cost! Designed for groups of 40 students ____ Family $230 ____ Active $145 or more. Reserve your Discovery Trunk online http://www. ____ Associate $50 ____ Student $20 (up to age 22) trunks.texas-wildlife.org/ ____ Online $35 All members receive a one year subscription to our monthly magazine, Texas Wildlife. Critter Connections - An educational, Educator and Volunteer Workshops & Trainings - interactive newsletter targeted for youth Are you interested in including conservation, natural ages 13 and younger. Subscribe online for resources, and wildlife education in your classroom? a free class set (25 copies) or an individual Would you like to help advance natural resource literacy Let’s Make a subscription (1 copy). All issues available in your community? For more for free online. Several issues also available information go to: http:// Bird Feeder in Spanish! Quantities limited. http://www. www.texas-wildlife.org/ texas-wildlife.org/resources/publications/ programs-areas/category/ category/critter-connections/ educator-and-volunteer- Materials That You Will Need • popsicle sticks resources • 1 large popsicle stick (tongue depressor) Distance Learning - Watch TWA’s programs to spark your student’s interest in wildlife and private land stewardship. • 1 bag of bird seed Available as On-demand Webinars and via videoconferencing (also online). Programs are interactive, TEKS-aligned • 1 tub of outdoor paint (optional) for grades 1-6, and free to view! http://www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/youth-videoconferencing • 2 long pieces of hemp cord to hang the bird feeder • 1 Elmer’s Glue Stick Viewing On-demand Webinars: • Hot glue gun and glue sticks http://www.texas-wildlife.org/ Viewing Videoconference programs: programs-areas/youth-on-demand-webinars Visit www.connect2texas.net Procedure • Line up 12 popsicle sticks. Glue 2 sticks across them. Turn it over. L.A.N.D.S. Intensive Program & iTunes U - TWA has • Lay a second row of popsicle sticks going in the opposite direction to strengthen the base. Trinity River Project - With the collaborated with the Texas • Alternate popsicle sticks around the frame once. L.A.N.D.S. Intensive program, Education Agency (TEA) • Glue to the tongue depressor. schools and teachers have to bring our On-demand • Continue alternating popsicle sticks around the outside until you have 6 rows, gluing each popsicle access to natural resource Youth Webinars to the TEA stick down as you go. Set aside to dry. lessons, special presentations, page on iTunes U. Previews • Paint the bird feeder and set aside to dry. field investigation days, and of each On-demand Webinar and corresponding • Parents: using a hot glue gun, attach the hemp cord to the underside of the bird feeder. necropsies, as part of our worksheet are now available right on your iPhone or • Thread the cord underneath the top layer of popsicle sticks (as shown) and again glue using Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.) iPad. https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/texas-wildlife- a hot glue gun. youth stewardship initiative. Trinity River Project, Grades association/id884228948 4-5 — L.A.N.D.S. Intensive Program Grades 7-12. http:// Source: http://101gardening.blogspot.com/2013/08/popsicle-sticks-bird-feeders.html#sthash.Gf4NGVUH.dpuf www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/learning-across- Follow us on: 2 new-dimensions-in-science-l.a.n.d.s. 7 WHERE THE Texas Wildlife Association presents.... WILD THINGS ARE. FEBRUARY 11 - 28, 2016 TEXAS WILDLIFE EXPO February 2016 Kid’s Quarterly Mini-Mag! Vol. 10 No. 1 You may know that the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo hosts one of the most prestigious professional rodeos in the world, and is home to the world’s largest junior livestock show. But did you know that we Postcards from Nancy....By Meredith Balzen encourage responsible management and the use of our beautiful Texas wildlife and natural resources through Hey there TWA Pals! the Texas Wildlife Expo? Through interactive educational exhibits and hands-on demonstrations that make Brrr…it’s cold here in Texas. This long, cold winter hasn’t When I got closer to Grant’s house, I begun to subside just yet, but now that it’s February there is heard the same “Whit – whoo!” again. This time it learning fun for the entire family, you’ll see that our commitment to Texas youth just comes natural. one holiday that lands on February 14 that I can’t help wasn’t coming from my new friend; it was coming but love…Valentine’s Day! from Grant who was sitting on the back porch, My Valentine’s Day plans this year started when Grant preparing our tea. the Gopher invited me over to his house for some tea. “Hey Grant! What are you doing?” I asked Since he only lives a short walk away, I decided to set laughing at his slight embarrassment. off on foot through the woods. “Hey Nancy, I was just practicing my whistling,” As I started my journey, I heard a strange sound that was similar to a he said as his fur turned red. whistle in the trees. “Whit – whoo!” it said with a slightly mocking tone. I “Have you been practicing long?” I asked. “The only reason I’m curious stopped my steady pace and looked up at the treetops to see if I could is because my new little friend has been mocking you!” I pointed up to the find the source of the noise. There was no one in sight. The only thing I saw tree where the little gray bird whistled “Whit – whoo!” when I looked up was a little gray bird perched on He laughed and replied, “Your new little a tree limb looking down at me. Shrugging, I kept friend is the state bird of Texas, and he got his name walking and this time I picked up the pace. If there from doing exactly what he’s been doing – mocking. was someone hiding out there, they would have to That bird is a Northern Mockingbird, Nancy.” keep up. “Good to know. The Texas State Bird is After a few more quickened steps, I heard the something of importance and now that I know it’s sound again. “Whit – whoo!” it said, taunting me. specialty is mocking sounds around it, it’s one of my I stopped again and looked at my surroundings. new favorites!” This time I listened carefully to see if I could hear the Until next time, sound again. When I looked up, there sat the little gray bird but this time it was on a different limb. I Nancy Nine-band didn’t move a muscle hoping the whistle would ring through the trees once again and to my luck, it did. “Whit – whoo!” I heard again and Aha! It was the little gray bird sitting on the tree limb. I wondered how in the world a bird could mimic a sound so similar to a whistle. I tried whistling my own tune, and a minute later the little gray bird whistled back to me. Now that I knew the culprit, I could finally relax and keep walking with the little gray bird following closely behind me, flitting from tree to tree and whistling my tune.