Cat Television
Phoebe watching Cat TV
Being off from work this week has allowed me to spend some valuable time watching Cat TV with my kitties. They needed some bonding time and “they” say I have been ignoring them past few months. I figured I could take this opportunity to watch for winter finches that everyone “else” has been seeing (and not been to my feeders yet).
Would you like this looking at you if you were a bird?
These birdies really don’t seem to care that on the other side of the window my kitties are purring, glaring and chattering at them. The cats do get bored at times but even “then” they are just pretending they are not watching . . . . but they really are! Below is a sample of my Cat TV but “Don’t let your cats watch too close, they will step on the keyboard“!
Never did find any winter finches this afternoon but did locate a Fox Sparrow (That is a good bird!). Then while laying back reading my book, I heard this crash-bird-scatter sound. (Sorry, side note and almost forgot to tell you!! My Cat TV has sound coming from my external bird microphone that I have . . . . cats love the bird the sounds!)!! I quickly looked outside and saw a Coopers Hawk flying away with a songbird in its talons. I looked down on the ground and saw a pile of Junco tail-feathers where the attack happened. I have not seen that banded Junco since the attack and sure hope it wasn’t that bird (I never did catch it to see if it’s one of my banded birds or someone else’s band)!!
Fox Sparrow
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Well, that was both funny (the cat part) and interesting, as usual.
8 November 2007 at 7:15 pm
You have given your cats a great life. TV and all. Love the movie.
8 November 2007 at 7:24 pm
What a gorgeous cat – those eyes! I’m guessing these are strictly ‘indoor’ cats – you nice man :0)
Tom, I have a speaker, also – I heard my birds going nutso in a way that was completely different than the sounds they make when the local cats are prowling.
A Cooper’s Hawk was clambering around in my lilac bush. I instinctively went howling out the door like a banshee. Was I wrong? :0(
8 November 2007 at 8:18 pm
Fox sparrow is a really good bird for us. We don’t see it every year. We have only had it in our garden a couple of times. You are indeed lucky.
If I was a bird I wouldn’t want to see those piercing green eyes gazing at me with those whiskers twitching as fast as the tail.
8 November 2007 at 8:34 pm
OMG, the close-up of the cat, it’s breathtaking. So beautiful. That is such a wonderful photo!
I feel compelled to say, that among all your amazing photos, this one is my absolute favorite. It’s so perfect, stunning, magical, dramatic — it has this multi-layered beauty in it. I see the Earth in that gorgeous eye, it’s like it encompasses all 🙂 Gawd, I just love that photo!
Okay, maybe all that was a bit manic (lol), but I can’t help it — that photo is totally awesome 🙂
8 November 2007 at 8:44 pm
I have never had a cat, but your picture could sell me on one. I saw my first fox sparrow last month but have never had one to my feeder (to my knowledge). Glad you were able to take a week off.
8 November 2007 at 8:52 pm
Love, love, love this post. I bookmarked it. Because did you notice how obnoxious the Chicadees are? In and out – in a flash, but I still think they are the sweetest bird in birdland. LOL!
I remember the kitties chattering at the windows, when I had cats. You have had a great week!
Wonderful post with a beautiful photo of the Fox Sparrow, which, I am proud to say I have SEEN.
Sad about the little Junco…
8 November 2007 at 8:54 pm
@ Rondi – thanks and was a fun post to do!
@ Sandy – They sure do and eat better than I do!
@ Cathy – thanks and they are indoor cats! Don’t you love your bird microphone? I think you were fine howling like a banshee!
@ Lisa – I was very happy for the fox sparrow! Truth, I got the fox sparrow picture and then tried to figure out how to do a post with it in it! This is what I ended up doing! LOL
@ Dove Love – thanks and I know my mother will love that one also! She doesn’t normally look at the camera for me, I got lucky! Thanks!
@ Ruth – thanks and you just might come to a liking of a cat! But do keep it indoors if you do get one!
@ Mary – thanks and an honor you bookmarked this! I am not a big fan of Chickadees but that has more to do with banding than anything! They are just as obnoxious! Lazy is more of a chatterer than Phoebe! But, when we had the turkey in the yard, wow Phoebe was really chattering!
8 November 2007 at 9:32 pm
My cats chatter at the window, too. If I put speakers outside I wouldn’t hear birds but instead the neighbors and cars….sigh..that’s why we drive to the country every weekend. I loved watching the birds eating the seeds in your video. That is one wonderful photo of your cat. She’s beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fox sparrow. They are very striking.
8 November 2007 at 9:41 pm
Gosh Tom, some weird psychic thing happened tonight because I also posted about my kitty watching birds at the window….. I really enjoyed watching that movie on Cat TV.
So, what kind of outside microphone do you have? I got to test a prototype while I was working at Wild Birds Unlimited that worked really great, but had to give it back. It was great to hear the birds chirping inside the house without opening a window.
8 November 2007 at 9:46 pm
@ Erie – don’t you love when they chatter! LOL at your neighbors, I hear them also! You can add to my list Raccoons fighting, Geese Squawking and Coyote’s Howling!
@ Ruthie – Great Minds Think Alike and love your post with your pets! I am not sure what kind it is! Use to be in a bird feeder and I removed (feeder was hit by ice)! Microphone works perfectly with a little duck tape and it is probably over 10 years old! It is even light sensitive and will turn off when it gets dark outside!
8 November 2007 at 11:00 pm
Our (inside) cat LOVES our birding VCR tapes, I bet she would love an external mike too!
8 November 2007 at 11:12 pm
Two things; first, your ability of creating drama is really getting awesome… I was hanging on the edge of my seat your cat looks so cool and well, hungry. And, Second (as a really rabid birder… the guy with the natural looking sunglasses? photo three? in the back? who is that guy? I took shots of him all summer and I just wanted to call him the guy from the “bird mob”… dunno.. Sibley isn’t talking…) I’d love to solve that mystery. Gorgeous shots!
9 November 2007 at 2:59 am
Bad hawk! Bad! Poor little birdie.
9 November 2007 at 3:14 am
I love this post! I guess because I love watching my cat, Lily, watching the birds. She has one spot downstairs and one in my studio.
A microphone outside! Hmmm may have to look into this. Sure would be better than radio or TV.
And I absolutely love the photos of your cats. Adorable.
9 November 2007 at 7:36 am
the video and pictures were totally amazing. i loved the cat photos, she stole my heart with her green blue eyes, you did good on those. and the video… just neat. who can resist the tufted titmouse indeed. ~nita~
9 November 2007 at 8:31 am
I wish I could watch cat tv at your house! 🙂
That second shot of your cat is amazing, by the way. The eyes are just stunning!
9 November 2007 at 11:01 am
Gee, my cats are wild enough in front my own “cat TV” without adding more sound to the mix. It is fun to watch them, though.
Carolyn H.
9 November 2007 at 11:18 am
@ Veery – the microphone keeps me in focus with the birds outside for sure! It is easy to forget them when you can’t hear anything!
@ Aullori – blush, thanks! Are you talking about the Tufted Titmouse?
@ naturepalette – I guess the hawks need to eat also!
@ toni – thanks and I enjoyed typing it! For sure you should get one, they are very nice!
@ Nita – thanks and she steals everyone elses who see her! Those titmice are great for sure!
@ Lisa – I had thought about doing a webcam but between the cost, etc.. . not sure if I could pull it off!
@ Carolyn – truth might be that the sound is probably more for me than the cats! LOL!
9 November 2007 at 1:37 pm
Cat TV … I had never thought of it that way, but it’s so true.
A question about the banded birds – do you ever find remains with only a band left, or does that usually get eaten with the birds?
9 November 2007 at 2:29 pm
I LOVE Cat TV. You sould make a DVD and show it in the nursing homes / hospitals for people that can’t go out!
Great job!
9 November 2007 at 5:28 pm
@ Marty – all the cats are doing it now day! LOL! Regarding the banded birds, http://winterwoman.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/a-little-bit-gross-but-interesting/ Jen from Passion for Nature found a banded bird while out hiking! But, rarely they are found! I also knew someone that would check a Screech Owl box near a banding station! He would find some in the pellets!
@ Chicago – sounds like a great business!
9 November 2007 at 9:54 pm
Do I detect a little winter-finch envy?
10 November 2007 at 9:11 pm
@ Zen – well I have finally found some!! Yeah
10 November 2007 at 10:48 pm