Yoo Hoo Bird

May 2, 2013

A quick entry in MamaKat’s Writing Workshop today answering the prompt: Share something you think is funny.

Mama’s Losin’ It

Thanks to my friend Suzicate, who read my post about the mysterious yoo-hoo bird and took action. The girl actually Googled “yoo hoo bird,” which is awesome. Due to her efforts, I now know that we have a Black Capped Chickadee in our midst. Intrigued, I googled it and stumbled upon this hilarious website, which phonetically attempts to mimic bird calls, so weirdos like me who are obsessed with some random bird can scan the possibilities. Some of these bird calls are hilarious!

Example: American Bitterns make this call: gulp-a-pump; woonk-a-chunk.  Sounds like electro-pop music, does it not?

Some warbles are downright educational, too. For instance, I’m sure that in a former life I was a Barred Owl. The proof is in the bird call: who-cooks-for-you; who-cooks-for-you-all…

Freaky, right?

If you are bored today and need a giggle, or if you are dying to know which bird you were in a past life, you should check it out. It will make you smile, I promise.

I hope you readers had a good May Day? I’d love to say that I did, but the reason I had so much time to waste on bird-call websites yesterday was because it snowed like crazy. On May 1st.

How can a girl dance around a Maypole when she’s decked out in mukluks and a parka?

{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Shannon May 2, 2013 at 5:48 am

I remember calling a barred owl during camp in the sixth grade. “Who cooks for you?” and you have to have your spit in exactly the right place. It happens to be the memory that stands out most about the camp – laying on the floor of the evergreen forest at night gathering spit and calling a bird. I hadn’t thought about that in years. Funny!

Sorry about the snow. Boo.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:13 am

Shannon,

I think this is proof that we are sisters from another mister!

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Jennifer May 2, 2013 at 7:00 am

This sounds like a website 3 boys could have a “Hoot” with….literally! I like the Whip-poor-will here in Texas. So much fun to listen too and then copy. Well, try anyway?

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Contemporary Troubadour May 2, 2013 at 7:37 am

Yesterday, I was a white-eyed vireo because the cat, who has been working on a hairball for a week, keeps trying to hork the darn thing up but can’t manage it after I grab her and move her off the carpet when she starts making those unmistakable gagging sounds. “Spit and see if I care; spit!”

I also got doused for the first time in projectile vomit from O., but at least he got it over with instead of faking me out for days.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:15 am

CT,

Is it only my cat who goes, “yeowyeowyeow” and then spits up a hairball? It’s the weirdest sounding thing…

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Dyanne @ I Want Backsies May 3, 2013 at 2:23 pm

My cat makes an “ng-gak, ng-gak” sound when he’s preparing to hork up a hairball. Can wake me out of a dead sleep, no matter where in the house he is!

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sister sister May 2, 2013 at 7:48 am

ha! that sound cats make (I use to have cats but no longer) when they’re trying to get out a hairball sends chills up and down my spine.

hi from mk’s

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madamdreamweaver May 2, 2013 at 12:08 pm

I like the Cardinal call that goes “V-ger, V-ger, V-ger,” just like the name of the
lost satelite that became an intelligent machine in the first Star Trek movie from 1980-81. That’s how I remember it.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:16 am

madamdreamweaver,

I love a good Trekkie.

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D. A. Wolf May 2, 2013 at 12:24 pm

A little bird told me? And to think I must have been a larger creature howling at the moon… I’m winging my way to checking this out… (Watch, I’ll end up being a titmouse.)

xo

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:21 am

Wolfie,

Well, titmouse, what were you?

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Jamie May 2, 2013 at 4:17 pm

Who doesn’t love staccato tits? From the website:

“Barn Swallow
twittering (rapid)
tit-tit-tit-tit (rapid staccato)”

Also, call me a skank but I’m pretty sure I’ve given a Barn Swallow or two in my day. (Couldn’t resist. I’m the worst.)

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:21 am

Jamie,

I love you, Skank!

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Katybeth May 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm

I grew up with serious birdwatchers. I suspect I have seen every wild chicken ever born….that made it across the road, and didn’t from the back seat of a car and don’t even get me started on the Black Capped Chickadee! Add it to your life list, tho…because it might be kind of fun to grow up and be a bonafide auduboner…..just be sure you explain to your girls that it is AUDU and not AUTO….or they may be confused at your sudden interest in cars, like I was when my dad went to his meetings. Oh yes, there is a post….someday. :-D In the meantime, I will visit the site to find out what bird I was in my past life…more than likely some kind of chicken.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:22 am

Katybeth,

Dying to know–what were you?

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Lisa @ The Meaning of Me May 2, 2013 at 7:40 pm

Can you please post pictures of May pole dancing in mukluks and a parka? I think that would be spectacular.

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes May 3, 2013 at 4:55 am

urgh, no bird will venture past my garden gate. I have my lovely cat to thank for that.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:23 am

Tinne,

My cat is so worthless and lazy that we have all kinds of birds around here!

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Sam May 3, 2013 at 6:42 am

Pretty sure my best friend would say I’m a Black-bellied Plover (pee-a-wee!; whee-er-wee!) given that I have to pee so frequently!

And yes….who the heck does Mother Nature think she is anyway? Snow? In May? It’s completely absurd. At least we have blue skies and sun in the Colorful state today.

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:24 am

Sam,

Just saying “a black-bellied plover” makes me grin.

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Barbara May 3, 2013 at 8:20 am

Bird calls?
Bird call websites?
TKW? Hello?

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TKW May 3, 2013 at 8:24 am

Barbara,

I know. Clearly, winter has taken its toll on me. I’m now bona-fide nuts.

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unicorn May 4, 2013 at 9:27 am

You crack me up.

Carolina Wren says “Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Cheeseburger”. Well, the modern Carolina Wren does. Their grandparents said “Tea Kettle Tea Kettle Tea Kettle” like ours yell GET OFFA MY LAWN.

American Bitterns sound like leaky faucets. Love them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAxAEoAVmuc

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May May 4, 2013 at 9:28 pm

We had snow too! There were geese overhead trying to return north and squawking some angry squawks that I referred to as “fowl” language.

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SuziCate May 6, 2013 at 10:06 am

When the hubby and I hike we always hear the “who cooks for you?” . I love that he can identify every call I hear…I find that fascinating! We woken up each morning for the past three days by a kamikaze eastern blue bird who keep flying into the window attacking himself…crazy bird!

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faemom May 7, 2013 at 12:13 am

I’m so bad to listening to bird calls. This site wouldn’t help me at all.
Example:
Me: Huh, isn’t it too late in the day for an owl?
My dad: Fae, that’s a pigeon call.

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