A hermit thrush hidden deep in the trees sings its flute-like song, sweet yet haunting, the notes floating across the clearing in early evening. A few seconds later, another unseen thrush responds with the same "ee-oh-lay" tune at a lower pitch. After a pause, the first come back with the song lower still, and the second bird jumps in with higher notes before its neighbor's song has decayed.
Soon the songs are tumbling over each other across the clearing, and all the world is enveloped in the overtones.
Ah ... ee-oh-lay ... trill
Oh ... ee-oh-lay ... tinkle
For half an hour, the singing contest continues until the sun slants low through the trees, and profound silence settles over the woods.
See "May 30 - Veery" in this blog for more about the wood thrush family of birds.
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