[cobirds] curve billed thrasher and diving mallards

All:

        Observed the Curve-Billed Thrasher today (12/3/24) at the Louisville CO arboretum.  This bird was gorging itself on "Stonehill Pear" fruit (Pyrus calleryana?).  The bird would fly up into the tree, test for ripeness by poking a hole in the bottom of a select fruit, and then pick it, crush the fruit in its beak, and somehow, swallow the whole fruit down without choking to death.  Amazing.  I got photos of it extending its tongue out past its bill, while swallowing the fruit.   After filling up on several large fruits, it would fly up into the nearby ponderosa pine, to hide, rest, and digest its food.  I'm guessing with the continued warm weather and ample food supply, it will remain in the area for several more days.     Note also:  house finches are also there in good numbers eating the fruit of crab apples and hawthorn - not the seeds, but the fruit.     If a sudden cold snap occurs at this location, then expect waxwings, robins, and solitaires to appear for the many fruiting crab apples.  

Diving Mallards:   this is new to me:   Up at Nymph Lake in Rocky Mt. National Park about two weeks ago a friend and I observed diving mallards - both males and females - submerging several feet completely underwater to get at long strands of a species of algae.  This may not be new to some of you, but I was surprised to see it.   I had to look it up - apparently mallards do indeed dive deep occasionally to get at select food sources. 

And:  Hybrid x Snow Goose and adult Snow Goose seen at Plaster Reservoir, Broomfield, the last week among masses of cackling geese.     

John T (Tumasonis)

"I'm not a real birder, but I pretend to be one on CoBirds."  

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