By Bruce Fischer

A few years ago when I first started Birding I participated in a study to discover the effects of development on Swainson's Thrushes. I had spent a lot of time in the woods before this but had never seen a Swainson's Thrush so I was quite surprised to learn I was not only going to try and find one but I was actually expected to count more than one at each spot. To my delight, the first day of training not only did I find my first one but I counted 6 from one spot in a park near our house. It's amazing how many birds you can find when you know what to look and listen for.

The secret to Swainson's Thrushes is their beautiful voice. Their song, as described by the National Geographic bird guide, is an ascending spiral of varied whistles. It sounds more like something you'd find in a symphony than in a forest. When not busy singing they often give out their call note which is a short "whit".

The Swainson's Thrush is a fairly plain looking bird best identified by their voice. At 7 ½ inches they are slightly smaller than a robin. The Northwest coast form of the Swainson's Thrush has reddish-brown upperparts and all forms have a spotted breast. Their most identifiable physical characteristic is their conspicuous buffy eye-ring. The species most likely to be confused with the Swainson's Thrush is the Hermit Thrush - both are similar in size and shape. If you can get a good view the rufous tail on the Hermit Thrush is a tip-off to this species.

Swainson's Thrush are summer only birds in the United States. They migrate south to South America between Southern Mexico and Argentina. A long trip which the average bird makes 3 times in their life. They come up here to raise a family. Their nests are a well-formed cup made of twigs, grass, and bark and lined with lichen and animal hair. Like other thrushes they lay "robin's egg blue" eggs, usually 3-4 which the female incubates. But once the eggs hatch the male shares the load of feeding them berries and insects such as mosquitoes and crane flies.

These shy birds can be found in most wooded areas in Grays Harbor County throughout the summer. You just need to listen for them. If you haven't seen or heard one before head out to Friend's Landing near Montesano. You should hear them along the trail around the lake and with luck you might even glimpse one.