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Re: Hermit Thrush Behavior



One strategy that might deter a thrush (or cardinal, mockingbird, etc.) from 
attacking its reflected image is taping narrow strips of cloth or plastic 
close together on the outside of the glass at about bird's eye level. This 
will break up the bird's image, and also the material swaying in the breeze 
may startle and distract the bird.

Dennis Burnette
Greensboro, NC
burnetted@aol.com

In a message dated 1/1/03 10:30:39 AM, Wenbirdy@aol.com writes:

<< Happy New Year to All:
    As this new year dawns rainy in Charlotte, NC, my backyard birds, who are 
known for their tenacity in all weather, are scarce this a.m. - save for the 
persistent Hermit Thrush who has been relentlessly flying into the windows of 
our porch for the past 4 days.  Perhaps longer actually, since my family and 
I only returned from holiday Saturday night!  
    He does a predictable rotation on 2 sides of the porch, landing in the 
same spots, giving two distinct calls all the while, tail cocking and wing 
flicking.  Reading Sibley's Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, I am led to 
believe he may be defending his winter territory against himself who he sees 
reflected in the glass.  I have tried to discourage him, but finally I have 
given up since nothing seems to have an effect.  
    I put out fruit for him, which he seems to appreciate during his 
exhausted breaks from trying to displace the "interloper" who looks so much 
like him!
    May 2003 bring us all interesting and abudant birding!!!
    Wendy Ross Kaplan 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendy Ross Kaplan
Charlotte, NC
Wenbirdy@aol.com
"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." - old African saying