I am always delighted to find a new posting of The Big Yard in my inbox and today's feature on Hermit and Swaison's Trushes was particularly welcome. In my spruce and alder-filled big back yard in south-central Alaska we frequently enjoy the descending lute-like song of a hermit thrush. The ascending song of the Swainson's are far less common now than they once were because they prefer to nest in a canopy of dense spruce, which were decimated by spruce bark beetles in the 1990's. I loved your photos, and feel more confident now in identifying these treasured birds. Thanks so much for your postings. They add levity to what is often a grim litteny of news feeds.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I love the sound of these thrushes too. I imagine for you they evoke the same wonder as do our canyon wrens in the desert. Thanks for reading! Much more to come...
Beautifully written - omg, I needed this today: "In his poem, “Our Real Work,” Wendell Berry says that when we no longer know which way to go, we have come to our real journey. “The impeded stream is the one that sings.”"
And lovely pictures of the thrushes! Such shy birds but beautiful singers!
Thanks Karen--love all of Wendell Berry's poetry! I would have included mention of the thrush's song, but we only get the "chirp." Maybe because this isn't breeding territory?
I've been lucky to have one of each this year. Swainson's was a new yard bird too.
I am always delighted to find a new posting of The Big Yard in my inbox and today's feature on Hermit and Swaison's Trushes was particularly welcome. In my spruce and alder-filled big back yard in south-central Alaska we frequently enjoy the descending lute-like song of a hermit thrush. The ascending song of the Swainson's are far less common now than they once were because they prefer to nest in a canopy of dense spruce, which were decimated by spruce bark beetles in the 1990's. I loved your photos, and feel more confident now in identifying these treasured birds. Thanks so much for your postings. They add levity to what is often a grim litteny of news feeds.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I love the sound of these thrushes too. I imagine for you they evoke the same wonder as do our canyon wrens in the desert. Thanks for reading! Much more to come...
Beautifully written - omg, I needed this today: "In his poem, “Our Real Work,” Wendell Berry says that when we no longer know which way to go, we have come to our real journey. “The impeded stream is the one that sings.”"
And lovely pictures of the thrushes! Such shy birds but beautiful singers!
Thanks Karen--love all of Wendell Berry's poetry! I would have included mention of the thrush's song, but we only get the "chirp." Maybe because this isn't breeding territory?
Oh so interesting!