Song of a Blackbird

Do people realise that the Common Blackbird (Terdus merula) does not sing all year long, but only for a season? It is something I noticed on my daily walks around my neighbourhood in Coromandel Valley. The realisation came during the Covid pandemic when the Valley seemed deserted, still and quiet, except for the unmistakable calls of birds, the regular diesel buses and the occasional truck travelling along the Main Road. Out of curiosity I decided to study the habits of the bird life. I also met a neighbour, Geraldine Sturrock. We discussed politics, the pandemic and many other topics while sharing bottles of wine. This is an account of my observations and the events and circumstances over a two-year period.