Date: 9/16/26 9:31 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge
Dear Tweets. It's that time of year again: September 22 is the Fall Equinox (thank you PPL), and as regular as rain, "The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge" becomes evident!
Wait! Did that Anna's hummingbird male just execute a "J-dive" display?! Have you been hearing bird song or observing somewhat out-of-season behavior lately? We have begun to enjoy the annual avian phenomenon that's based upon partial reactivation of breeding behaviors. Whether triggered by the effects of the changing "photoperiod" on birdy hormones (the prevailing explanation) or other factors, the shift has poetically become known as, "The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge." Please honor Susan Stiles, who gave us this lovely bit of verse (and with thanks to Dennis Paulson, from whom many of us first heard Stiles' poem):
"The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge" - by Susan Stiles (December 1973)
When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge
Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge.
It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge,
But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
When the frost is on the punkin' and when leaf and branch diverge,
Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge.
What's the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year splurge?
The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
The scientifically best and yet ‘readable’ article on the general topic, in my humble opinion, has been one by the wonderful GrrlScientist (https://about.me/grrlscientist): "Why do songbirds sing in autumn? Many songbirds sing in autumn. If these birds aren’t breeding in the autumn, then why are they singing?” I’m sorry to find that the author has placed a paywall around this article since last year. https://grrlscientist.substack.com/p/why-do-songbirds-sing-in-autumn
