I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with this bird midday yesterday as well. It was originally found at the Louisville Arboretum on November 19. I initially dipped on the bird on the 20th, only having 15 minutes or so to spend there that day. Finally, I was able to revisit the site again yesterday. On my arrival I was a bit worried I might not find it as there was a town of Louisville work crew clearing a lot of bushes and vegetation along the ditch on the North side of the arboretum and they were actively working chainsaws on a few trees along the ditch closer to Via Appia.
Regardless, I made my way to the South side of the Arboretum where a lot of the reports have mentioned finding the bird amongst the fruit trees. However, I only found a few House Finches. After wandering around for about 20 minutes, I returned to the South end and camped out, watching a Red-tailed Hawk devour a rodent for lunch. As I was videoing that, out of my peripheral I noticed several birds fly into the fruit trees -- one of which was the Curve-billed Thrasher. It didn't spend very long in the fruit trees, as there were several dog walkers that came by, flushing it up to the nearby Pine tree.
After a few minutes it flew across to the Northwest part of the Arboretum where I eventually refound it foraging underneath one of the large pine trees. There were a few Northern Flickers also foraging along the ground in the same area. I observed the bird foraging for around 15 minutes before I decided to leave while it continued foraging. So in addition to the ample supply of fruit, it also seems to be enjoying whatever sort of tasty treats it's finding in the ground.
The Thrasher does have an injured left eye, though does appear to use it at times even though it appears to favor the healthy right eye. I also agree that it could spend quite some time in this nice arboretum, as I thought it surely would have left during the snow & coldsnap we had last week.
I added a few short video clips of the bird foraging along with the video of the Red-tailed Hawk enjoying its lunch.
Good Birding,
Jeff Percell
Erie, CO
On Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 5:01 PM John Tumasonis <snakemonev@gmail.com> wrote:
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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