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hermit thrush
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: hermit thrush
- From: HALWB@aol.com
- Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 23:11:54 EST
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Cbirders,
A few weeks ago, when the snow was still around but melting, I had an odd
encounter with a hermit thrush. I did not think to post it until Barbara
Roth asked if others were seeing these birds at feeders.
As I filled my tube sunflower seed feeder, a hermit thrush landed on a limb
right in front of my face, turned, looked me in the eye and said, "What's up?"
Avian linguistic purists will try to convince me he said, " Tsup?." But, I
was there. The bird spoke to me. I admit he did not clearly enunciate the
words, but as he is not from around here, I attribute the contracted
syllables to an above the Mason-Dixon line accent.
Although I can explain the lingo and I otherwise have no problems with birds
greeting me with inquisitive salutations, I am a little surprised that a
hermit thrush would be interested in black-oil seeds.
As for the bird, I responded to his query with, "Not much. Tsup with you?"
He flew off without a response. I never did see him eating sunflower seeds.
In fact, I have not seen him at all since the snow melted down in the woods
by the creek.
Hal Broadfoot
halwb@aol.com
Buies Creek, NC