Bicknell's Thrush question

[forestgnome]

Could we please get comments from any of our birders on what was happening with this BT, high on the Beaver Brook Trail on Sunday. I heard only call, which was quite varied, but no song. Is it a female? She kept gathering bugs, which I think are mosquitoes, then disappearing into a particular clump of thick spruce/fir and reappearing to gather more. Feeding babies?

This was in the exact same spot along the trail where I saw a few BTs last summer.

 

[cushetunk]

Yes, that has to be feeding behavior. Could be either nestlings or fledglings (young that have left the nest, but are still being fed). I'm not sure on the timing for BT, or if they do a second clutch. It seems late to have nestlings from a first clutch, but maybe the tough weather delayed things this year.

Not sure about thrushes, but in many bird species both males and females feed.

If it were a non-rare species, I'd say you could have very carefully headed towards the clump of bushes and probably found the nest and some cute young'uns... in general this doesn't cause any harm. But with the rare ones, no point in risking it.


Edit: Also, the adults will act all nervous if they see you are close to the nest or fledglings. They will chirp constantly, fidget, look at you and then back at the nest, and fidget... etc. They don't usually sing.

And, great photos!

 

[Early Bird]

Wow, great pictures!
I surveyed for Mt. Birdwatch last year on this mountain. Bicknell's often return to the same nesting site and could be feeding young at this time. June is the mating season, but if the first brood fails, they will try again. Males feed the nestlings. The nest could contain eggs from more than one female, therefore two or more males will tend to the nest. The birds fledge in under two weeks. I have heard them singing at this time of year not just calling, though they are more quiet now that the height of breeding season is over. I believe both males and females of this species sing.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Robins will fly straight at you, chirping and squawking, and turn at the last second. I had as many as three at a time do this to me this year with a nest in the front bushes.

In 2007, there was a nest on the back deck floodlights...

Tim