Catbird Countdown

It won't be long before the catbird summer comes to an end. Around these parts, I typically observe Gray Catbirds slipping away into migration around the start of the third week of August. They've had a good run -- since late April -- with a successful breeding season and the usual hijinks at the feeders and mahonia bushes. They've even eaten the lion's share of suet. As annoying as they can be, I will miss these rascals once they leave. Summer is not the same without their interesting repertoire of mews, hisses and eccentric notes. So we will enjoy the last views in this last full week.