This is Bird Note.

A city lake may seem quiet and still at first,

but with a little time, you might start to hear its music.

Female wood ducks call out to each other, keeping an eye out for predators.

Red-wing blackbirds sing from the cat tails.

The males perch high on the stems and show off their red shoulder powers. Redwing blackbirds sing from the cat tails.

The males perch high on the stems and show off their red shoulder patches, while the females search for food deep in the undergrowth.

A belted kingfisher flies the length of the shoreline, rattling and diving at small fish.

Several rattling and diving at small fish. Several pairs of mallards paddle around the shallows, quacking companionably as they dunk their heads in the water looking for food.

From a woody thicket along the bank, male song sparrows belt out their chorus all day long.

But when a red-tail hawk passes overhead,

everyone falls silent.

Stick around long enough, and the music will begin again.

For Bird Note, I'm Ariana Rimmel.

This episode is brought to you by Teton Science Schools, specializing in outdoor learning experiences and education in Grand Teton National Park.

More at teetonscience.org.