Whippoorwill

We heard whippoorwills last night! A sure sign that freezing weather is past. What music for a soft Spring evening. The redwing blackbirds have returned too. I think we'll put some beans in and take a chance on an early crop.

The whippoorwill reminded me of this poem I wrote three years ago:

listen to the whippoorwill
calling in the green soft night
alone in some deep hollow
he calls out for his love

listen to his music echo
from mountainside to sky
a lovelorn ballad from long past
singing in his blood each spring

hear his song and feel the yearning
of heart to heart, song to song
as far off in the quiet distance
an answer calls in faint reply

hear her voice lift and tremble
in dark and scented air
hear his quick and hopeful singing
calling her, calling her, to his side

listen to the whippoorwill
he brings the song of spring
hear his music in your heart
sing along with him

Whippoorwill Lullaby

There are many of them this year--whippoorwills singing their hearts out for love (or lust, take your pick). I cannot remember hearing so many whippoorwills in years.

I wonder what is driving the increase. Is it that the land, once cleared almost completely for crops, has now reverted to more forest than clearing? Has something else made the habitat more friendly for these shy night-time birds?

Although it can be annoying to have a lovesick bird calling immediately below your window at 4 AM, there is nothing like listening to their calls as dusk turns to night and the song of the whippoorwill echoes from one ridge to another.

These are some of the measures of true country for me--the song of the whippoorwill, the calls of multitudes of birds just before daybreak, and the utter quiet of moonless night when not even a light breeze is stirring. If only we still could hear the drumming of grouse and the scream of bobcats now and then, it would be perfect. But these wild creatures seem to have been driven further back into the hills now that there are more than two houses on the ridge.

Times change, and with change comes some loss. Personally, I would prefer less change, and more wildness about me. But at least there is a change for the good with the increase of whippoorwills. I'll take what I can get. I'll be content to sit on the deck and listen to the whippoorwills.

Whippoorwill's song

Click above to hear the whippoorwill's song. I also added it to the post with the whippoorwill poem.