Subject: Re: Varied Thrush Calls
Date: Jun 05 19:38:29 1996
From: "Jack Bowling" - jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca


Wes asked -

>Yesterday my wife and I were enjoying the sunshine on an old logging road
>near Mt. Shuksan. I told her on the way up that I hoped to see some
>varied thrush once we got up higher. We weren't disappointed. I got to
>watch one with binoculars from pretty close. I was hoping to see what
>they looked like when they make their peculiar call. The one I was
>watching barely opened its beak during times we could hear the call. But
>I couldn't tell if the call was coming from that bird or one of many
>others all around. Can any of you fellow tweets tell me if a varied
>thrush only opens its beak just a little when it calls?

Well, I just watched a Varied Thrush singing this past Sunday at Mt. Robson
Park in the B.C. Rockies. It did the old "throw back the head and let 'er
rip" version of a songster rather than the subdued exhibit you witnessed.
However, the bill was never very wide open - just enough to see the vibrating
tongue (which I believe is what causes the tremolo effect). I have also seen
the rather perfunctory displays so I guess there is a wide range of singing
"styles" depending on (anthropomorphic warning on) mood.

Incidentally, if there is anyone wanting to do something the first weekend of
June 1997, come on up and join in the 10th anniversary of the Mt. Robson Bird
Blitz. A Saturday and Sunday spent scouring the park for anything with
feathers. Managed to turn up 106 species this year. Firsts for the park
included 3 Red-throated Loons on Kinney Lake Saturday, and a Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher passing close enough to the campsite to be seen and heard on the
Sunday morning. Where else can you munch your lunch in the splendor of the
mountain scenery while a pair of Harlequin Ducks dabbles and dives in the
river in front of you? If you have never been to this gem of a place, you owe
it to yourself to go. B.C. Parks offers free camping to birders and coffee in
the morning at the visitor's centre. Everyone welcome.

- Jack

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*Jack Bowling *
*Prince George, BC *
*jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca *
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