Sunny’s Night Song
He perched on a branch so high up in the oak he could survey his whole territory. All else was quiet in the yard on this early summer night. Only the night creatures were awake. The mating season was new and Sunny sang his most joyful songs into the night air.
His songs told the story of his search for a nesting mate. One verse proclaimed his promise to stay with her throughout the season. In another verse he chirped of his excellent nest building skills.
He sang verses of all his heart. He imitated other neighborhood birds like the cardinals and the finches — even the morning doves. Every warble, trill, and chickadee-dee-dee. Strung together, he made a symphony of mixed up calls and he did it so loudly and so long, he thought his chest would pop.
“Hey, Sunny. Keep it down.” Sunny’s brother, Racer, pleaded as he joined Sunny on the branch. “Birds are tryin’ to sleep.”
“I know. I can’t help myself. I want all the females to hear me and want to join me. I know my songs will bring my mate to me.” This bird language produced a soulful string of breee-breee-breee and preep-preep-preeps.
Racer wanted to cover his ears, but of course, birds don’t do that. So he flew back to his own nest where his mate had tucked her head beneath her wing.
And so time passed. Night after night, Sunny sang for a mate. Racer and his mate in a nearby tree complained, “For goodness sake, that knucklehead makes such a racket. How in BillyBlueBlazes are we ever going to get any sleep?”
Even Sunny wondered how much longer he could sing. Eating and sleeping weren’t as important as his songs. He had to show what a good match he’d make. He sang of the beauty of his territory–flowering plants, berry bushes, fruit trees and a water bath. His melodies would surely attract a mate.
One night, with the fragrant scent of jasmine in the air, Sunny’s song was extra sweet. He crooned the ancient melodies of love and life, of family and home.
“Finally,” WhiteWing smiled her bird smile. “He’s singing the song I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been interested in Sunny for some time, but tonight, he’s touched my heart.” She sashayed to his tree and watched him display his tawny gray and white tipped wings in the moonlight.
“Hello! Hello! She’s here! Sunny likes WhiteWing! Do you, do you? Like me, like me? Too-too-toooo!”
WhiteWing wanted to be courted the proper mockingbird way, so she flitted to another tree. Mating is a serious decision because the two would be together many, many seasons. Sunny pursued her and made soft, hewing calls. The two sat close together and exchanged contented chants. The more they sang together, the more sure she became that she would choose Sunny for her mate.
“Together! Together! Happy! Happy! Happy!”
Together, Sunny and WhiteWing quickly became mates and danced the happy dance of family making. They filled their days with dancing and singing; of course, Sunny always sang louder than WhiteWing. Now when Racer saw the two new mates he told his own mate, “Well, whaddaya know? Sunny found someone. They’re cuddling and cooing softly together. Maybe we’ll finally get some shut-eye.”