Brown Thrasher still showing in SSM

Ken McIlwrick photo

The Brown Thrasher that I first reported back on Dec 6th, 2009, and counted during the CBC is still alive and well. It continues to come to a feeder in town (86 Essex Lane in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario ) where it consumes meal-worms, suet, seeds, nuts and oatmeal. It has been feeding at this backyard location since the middle of Nov 2009.

It is pretty skittish to the presence of humans, but is now becoming a dominant bird at the feeder (it used to get scared off by Mourning Doves). The best way to observe the bird is actually from inside the house where it appears unaware that it is being watched. Unfortunately photos taken from inside the house are not exactly high quality. It still feeds first in the morning (7:30-8:30am) but now makes brief noon hour appearances on sunny days at its favourite garden Trellis/Bench combo. At night it takes refuge in the Cedar hedges that surrounds this residence.

Here is a recent photo (7:41 am this morning - Feb 10). The photo attached is washed out and not all that sharp or saturated. It was taken in partial darkness through a dirty double pane kitchen window, on an angle while it was snowing.

Ken McIlwrick

Sault Ste. Marie, ON