Signs of Spring

Nothing says Spring like a kettle of Turkey Vultures! Where I live in Albuquerque this is one of the most reliable signs of Spring. In fact, a large group of about 100 arrived in my neighborhood on the first day of Spring, March 20. March 21 is my birthday, and is sometimes the first day of Spring. I met from friends for a walk in the Bosque in Corrales. Right where we parked there was a large roost of Turkey Vultures in the trees. Some of them stretched their wings to sun. Soon, most of them took to the air, flying in the circling motion called kettling. I thought it was a fantastic start to my Spring birthday.

 

And So it Begins: Again

  

 

This evening on my walk, Wild Curve-Billed Thrasher song was bursting forth from just about every single known nesting territory that I passed. 4 out of 5, actually. And I found a pair in three of the four territories. Last Spring around this time, I was just beginning to search for neighborhood Thrasher nests. How gratifying to be able to so quickly confirm activity in all but one territory this year. 

The first pair I encountered at the very first active nest I confirmed last Spring. As I approached, this one was sitting on a tree above the cholla where they nest last year, listening to another singing nearby. Then this one started to sing, at first a few soft notes, clearly a communicative response to the other. A 2nd Thrasher then landed on the ground below the first, gathered some grass, and took it to the nest. I didn't see where the 2nd Thrasher went. The 1st one (pictured), jumped up higher in the tree and began singing loudly and persistently. Another was singing across the street. I couldn't confirm that the nest-building Thrasher was the 2nd singer, but there was no singing while s/he was working on the nest. So, though not confirmed, I do wonder if this is an example of male/female call and response. 

Further down the street at the corner, another Curve-Billed Thrasher was singing loudly right next to their nest. 

Further on, in Mirraceros Park, I found another singer on the way in. On the way out, both were on top of this Cholla. One hopped down to the ground before I could get a picture. Soon they were both poking around the ground. As far as I could tell they were foraging, rather than gathering materials for their nest.

On my way home, the 2nd nest I found was quiet, but peeking into the cholla, I found both of the pair near the nest. 

Home again at dusk, the Curve-Billed Thrasher I've often heard from my balcony (nest site unknown) was still singing away. 

I'm looking forward to how the season unfolds. In my next entry, I hope to share my adventures in observing the nests and territories last Spring. Til then!