When we think of cuckoos, many think of the European version which, like our cowbird, lays its eggs in the nests of other birds.

Shakespeare wrote: The cuckoo then on every tree
Mocks married men; for thus sings he, “Cuckoo”;
Cuckoo, cuckoo” – O word of fear,
Unpleasing to a married ear

Several composers used the two note call (coo – koo) in their compositions; notably Beethoven in his Pastoral Symphony and Delius in “On hearing the first cuckoo in spring.”

The Americas have a cuckoo (in fact we have 2 species) but it is not related to the European Cuckoo. Our cuckoos spend the summer in the North America and then fly to South America for our colder months.

I saw, for the first time, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and took many photos.

Other birds:

8 am group:

NATURE POETRY

Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season,
When nature is all aglow.                 – Emeline B. Smith

Miles Hearn