Warblers

In my area warblers appear

for no more than five weeks

and wow what a colorful show they put on

so what I’d like to know is

where do they vacation the rest of the year?

The Shrike Tree

There’s a tree in the middle of a field I call the Shrike Tree

as often that is where those littlest of predatory songbirds I see.

The first time today I passed by that tree it was strike one

as there were none

and the second time is was strike two

but the third time is was shrike three.

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The Scarlet Macaw

The Scarlet Macaw is the most colorful bird I ever saw

as I experienced them with jaw dropped awe

but to get a perched picture is pretty darn hard

so gorgeous Scarlet

at least for one time

couldn’t you please pose like a gorgeous starlet?

Manakins

A Manakin performs a ritualistic mating dance in their lek

hoping with any luck

to attract a female-akin

who will choose only them

The Green Bee-Eater

If I were a Green Bee-Eater

at certain uncertain times

I’d give serious thought

to being

an Unseen Bee-Retreater

The Dodo Bird

I give you my word

I’d want to be extinct too

if my name was Dodo Bird

Avian Discrimination

Humans label birds in such nasty ways

saying

cuckoo like a cuckoo

or

you’re such a jerky turkey

or

crazier than a loon

so to those people

this is what I have to say:

Your ancestors were big fat baboons

Masked Ducks

Why are they called Masked Ducks?

I don’t know

so you should ask it

but only if you’re lucky enough to see one or more

in Mexico through South America

but definitely not Alaska or Nebraska.

The Cedar Waxwing

Elegant-looking

yet hardly ever seen relaxing

not made of wood

and not really waxing

so

just asking

how did the Cedar Waxwing

get its name?

The Boobies

Binoculared I obsessively voyaged far

in hopes to view a booby

but no voyeur is me

not one

but two did I see

Blue-Footed and Red-Footed

when I went out to sea