Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Brown Thrasher genus toxostoma rufum

The brown thrasher is one of my favorite birds.The bird count for our area was near none when I first became interested in the bird.The melodies he sang were so beautiful that I ran through the woods looking for where this beautiful sound was coming from.I found the brown thrasher.His coloring is not really brown,it is a beautiful rusty brown color.His eyes,a strange yellowish color.I now have a pair that comes every spring the week of April 20th.They have had 1 baby in 2009 ,just 1 brood.Last year they had 2 broods,1 baby in each nest that suscessfully fledged.They are not very patient parents though.Once the baby can fly & is out of the nest,they want him gone.The baby in 2009 spent a whole day in our garage after his parents drove him there.The dh finally said if we don`t help him get out,he`ll die,so we did,& he flew off.
Last year was a dry year,& I had upturned a barrel of water,intending to hose it out,but didn`t when I discovered tree frogs in it.So,I`m going over to the goats pen to give them fresh water,& I hear this,cheep,cheep.I thought,that sounds awful close,stood still & looked & looked,still could not spot this "new"voice.I drag the hose back again & check on my frogs,they weren`t there,in their place was a tiny brown thrasher baby.He had gotten inside,but was facing the bottom of the barrel,not knowing how to get out.I dumped him & he scuttled through the grass in the flower beds.I look up & see Mama watching all of this & I`m wondering,did she drive him in there to get a drink?So,I dutifully pull the hose back out & put just a small amt.of fresh water in the barrel & left it on its side.After all,babies can drown in an inch of water my mind was telling me,hah.They went on their merry way,her feeding the baby,then days later before his eyes turned color,she was driving him out of the yard.

11 comments:

Mike Mottram said...

A wonderful set of photographs.

Mike
http://cheshirewildlifewatcher.blogspot.com/

Mary said...

Wonderful photos! I haven't seen one of these yet this winter.

holdingmoments said...

Fascinating facts about the Brown Thrasher. I'm always learning new things through blogs.

V.L. Locey said...

Great photos, thanks for sharing!

theconstantwalker said...

What a lovely bird. A new bird for me also. Many thanks for sharing.

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

Thanks everyone.I will try to use my sony bloggie to get their songs when they come this year.They migrate here in April,then around the end of Sept.they leave for the south & winter there,sometimes traveling as far as Texas.They seem to love the sound of running water too,I usually put out a barrel with a pump so the sound of running water is here till winter.phylliso

Unknown said...

A great series of photos!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River,Canada.

Larry said...

Great shots of the Brown Thrasher Phyllis! You are so lucky to have them visiting your yard. We have the California Thrasher here that has a beautiful, melodious song too. I have yet to photograph it though.

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

Thanks Gary & Larry.They seem to like the suet I put out,I put that out all year around,sometimes it melts in the heat of summer,but the birds seem to like to feed it to their babies.phylliso

Aleta said...

What great pictures! I became interested in this bird a few years back when you sent me pics of one that was in your yard, and then I saw one on our property, in the driveway, but only one or two times. Perhaps other birds that we have in great numbers, like phoebes, drive them away? Anyway, they sure are pretty birds. I especially love your pic of them on the fence!

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

The brown thrasher drives other birds away,I`ve seen them fly at robins & thought to myself how they bully.I think it is unique that they come so close to the feeder,I don`t believe that they are birds that let you get close.You have springs there in Tenn,Aleta,& they like the running water so are probably nesting close to it.phylliso