17 Comments

Oh sweet Diane! I think your posts are all I should read on my device. Forget the news and social media. From now on, Iā€™m just going to you, and the birds! šŸ˜š

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Hi Linda. Thank you. If only we could think about birds without reference to world events! That would be sweet. And maybe there was a time when that is possible.

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Jun 27, 2023Liked by Diane Porter

I love brown thrashers and they've been coming to my feeders more this season. Now I'm on the lookout for fledglings! Thanks Diane!

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That is very cool that you're having Brown Thrashers in your yard. They aren't as easy to get, because they mainly eat bugs they dig up in the soil. So attracting them is a great compliment to the variety of your plantings and the health of your soil. Nice going! And thanks for commenting, Gloria.

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I love watching the whole process from nest-building to fledglings. Around here, over the years, I have seen Stellar's jays and robins go through the cycle many times. I love when the Stellar's jays flap their wings, open their mouths and beg for food. For a while, the parents accommodate, but then, it's just the siblings and sometimes they feed each other. So sweet!

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I've never seen sibs feed each other. What a neat observation!

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Jun 26, 2023Liked by Diane Porter

We have one that whose sweet song has gone silent. Will stay tuned visually for babies!

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Are you in Iowa? I think they started singing again and kept it up just long enough to re-mate. This morning I heard not a peep out of a Brown Thrasher. I'm interested in whether others are noticing the same thing. (And thank you for commenting!)

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Jun 26, 2023Liked by Diane Porter

the are such charming singers but now i know more of their private life, it makes me cherish them even more! xoxo jennifer

ps hearing more voices from our bird neighbors as the din of the dratted house sparrows gets less and less. 16 yesterday!

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You have undertaken a huge and noble mission. I salute your work!

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Jun 26, 2023Liked by Diane Porter

Hmmmmm....How about feeding Google-Translate YOUR fun idea of what Mr. Thrasher was singing to his mate: "to eat, to eat ā€” bir-dy-bird ā€” chuck-chuck-chuck ā€” wake up! wake up! ā€” crock-crock ā€” pits-you, pits-you?" Prolly twist it up so badly that it would shut down!! What a beautiful bird, with very interesting (as always) mating, nesting habits! We don't have Thrashers here in Santa Cruz County, California....at least I'm not aware of any, though we do have 25 varieties of wild birds that come to our feeders. Our Brown Towhees are similar, but with plain brown feathers. And BATHE!!! We are sure they are going to drown themselves!! It is really quite humorous. As always, thank you, Diane, for yet another intriguing peek into the life of birds! ;<)))

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We have the towhees here in Washington, too. They are fun to watch!

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Jun 26, 2023Ā·edited Jun 26, 2023Author

Thanks Susan for commenting! AND for reminding me of the first birds of my life, which were all in California. And especially the magnificent California Thrasher (See https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Thrasher/), which I have not seen for over 40 years.

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Jun 25, 2023Liked by Diane Porter

What beauty and romance! I could hear the sweet song he was singing to his mate. Thank you for bringing me such joy today!

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Jun 25, 2023Ā·edited Jun 25, 2023Author

Oh, and how happy I am to hear your voice, Sister Meg! Thank you for commenting.

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I too love the Brown Thrasher and now I will pay closer attention to its calling in groups of two.

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Jun 25, 2023Ā·edited Jun 25, 2023Author

Brown Thrasher sings in twos (mostly). Mockingbird sings more repetitions, maybe 5 or more reps of the same phrase. Catbird doesn't much repeat. These three relatives sound somewhat similar except for those patterns. Thanks for commenting!

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