Hello, tweeters.

When I'm working at the computer near a window, I've noticed
something interesting when I stand up. The yard may be full of birds
of a half-dozen species or more (chickadees, juncos, Song Sparrows,
flickers, Steller's Jays, towhees, robins, House Finches), but when I
appear at the window there seems to be only one species that reacts -
the Varied Thrush. We have had continuous Varied Thrush presence in
the yard this winter, as many as four birds at a time. I suspect this
is because we didn't rake up the leaves in the wooded half of the
back yard this year, and that's where they spend a lot of time.
Because they are also addicted to millet and the suet that has fallen
from the suet feeders during woodpecker operations, they are often on
the lawn under the feeders. Anyway, when I appear at the window the
other birds seem not to notice or not to care, but the thrushes
immediately look up and usually fly into cover. They seem
considerably more alert and spooky than the other species. Perhaps
this is because they're feeding out in the open rather than in the
woods where they prefer to be. Woodland birds have large eyes, and
these birds obviously combine exceptional vision with a high state of
alertness. They need it, as there seem always to be accipiters in the
area, yet the other birds don't react in the same way to the movement
at the window.
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382

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