Steve Young's description of the Catbird and cicada reminded me of an
incident at our home more than 15 years ago. It had been a big cicada
year, with the insects all over everywhere. A pair of Bluebirds gathered
their recently fledged young on a stone bench in our front yard and
offered them a cicada. If a look on a baby bird's face could be
described as "incredulous", maybe even "horrified", then that is how I
would say the baby birds looked....sort of like the first time that I
suggested to my daughter that she might like to try broccoli. Anyway,
the male Bluebird tore up the cicada, and offered bits to the young, and
they did eat it. This went on most of the afternoon, with less
resistance from the young, and when everyone left, I went out to look at
the bench. The top of the bench was covered with the red eyes of the
cicadas...maybe 20 or so...the babies had not eaten that part.
Thelma Dalmas
