When will we hear it?
Today is World Wildlife Day – wouldn't it be a great day to hear the first varied thrush of the season? The call of the varied thrush has been compared to a flute, a referee’s whistle, a harpsichord, a telephone ringing, even squeaky car brakes. What does it sounds like to you? Listen here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/132171 More than anything, for residents of northwest Montana, this is the sound of spring. The varied thrush is a robin-sized bird with striking orange and black or brown markings. You may see one foraging on the ground, using its bill to toss leaf-litter as it searches for hidden insects underneath. Although varied thrushes can stick around during mild winters, they often migrate to warmer climates where food is more abundant. Once March arrives, residents are on the alert for the whistling call of the male, indicating that the breeding season (and spring) is on its way. Park staff have kept records of when the first varied thrush of the season was heard on the west side of the Continental Divide. In 2017, it was heard on February 17; in 2018, it was heard on March 14th, and last year it was heard on March 21. When do you think it will be heard this year? [alt text: First image shows a striking black-and-orange bird perched atop a pile of snow. Second image shows a striking brown-and-orange bird hidden among dense foliage]
