Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Squeaky Gate Bird...

The blossoms are just beginning to bloom on the Japanese plum tree outside my treehouse window, and it's filled with birds, all competing with each other for territory. There is one little bird which I have always called the "squeaky gate bird" but in fact I'm not sure what it is really called. Whenever I hear it, I always feel really happy. To me, it's the cheeriest sound in the world. I took an audio of it and have posted it here, in case any of you folks know the name of this little fellow.

Here he is, the cheery little squeaky gate bird...

12 comments:

Alicia said...

Don't birds just fill you with joy? I have a squeaky type bird outside my window as well. He's also a peck at the window, roof, rain gutter bird! He's one noisy critter!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh my! He does sound like a squeaky gate, doesn't he??? :-)

We used to have a plum tree and the blossoms were a heavenly smell, when they came out. -happy sigh-

Gentle hugs...

fiftyodd said...

Oh that was lovely, and to hear your voice too! We have a pigeon that coos every morning outside our bedroom window, so repetitively and for so long that my husband wants to shoot it.

ABranch said...

That is the territorial song of the chickadee. Some say he is singing "springs here" "springs here"

Pamela Kieffer said...

I'm not sure but it sounds like a Phoebe. They are one of our early birds and sometimes they make a nest out under our back deck. They especially like to build nest under bridges.

Pauline said...

I agree with ABranch - it's the little two note song of the northern chickadee. You can hear it here: http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=12&osCsid=p06ht8l0fvlrvcc8defbl7l4s5

Leslie: said...

I hear that bird here, too, and I call it the "Yoo Hoo" bird. To me, it sounds like it's calling to everyone to let us know he's around. YOO-HOO!!! lol

Thanks to ABranch for letting us know what it really is! :D

Pauline said...

FYI - the eastern phoebe can be heard here:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/htmwav/h4560so.mp3

heartinsanfrancisco said...

What a happy sound! Like a very happy squeaky gate. He makes me laugh, too.

June said...

I have been wondering FOR YEARS which bird that is!
So now it's narrowed down to either a phoebe or a chickadee. I thought phoebe's calls were quicker than that, and I never knew a chickadee said anything other than chickadee-dee-dee!
But I do love that call, too, Jo.
I used to have a cat named Sebastian, who's nickname was Seeber. I always fancied that the birds were calling SEE-ber! SEE-ber!

DJan said...

I have always thought the sound of the chickadee (the mating call) sounds like "Pick Me! Pick Me!"

I don't have my sound turned on (being in bed with a sleeping husband) so I couldn't listen to it quite yet. I suspect from the comments it's a chickadee.

Doll Lady said...

I hear those all the time and do they ever get my budgies singing - sometimes a little too much and too early. I think it is a true sign of Spring when these birds start in the mornings - much better than the sound of rain!