Veery and Swainson’s Thrush are both single-brooded. Hermit Thrush typically
breeds much earlier and can be double-brooded but usually this happens if the
first nest fails. Sometimes, a very early nesting of Hermit Thrush will allow
time for a second brood. Third broods have been reported by some but good
verification of this is lacking. Veery males will sometimes help raise a second
brood with a second female, but each female has only one brood.
Dan Gleason
Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited of Eugene
Ornithology Instructor, retired, University of Oregon
dan-gleason@xxxxxxxxxxx
On Jul 19, 2021, at 6:33 PM, Jack Williamson <jack.williamson.jr@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Dave/Bob,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here.
I've had a couple of other people reply privately. The most compelling of
which, in my opinion, was from someone who posited the first brood might have
succumbed to high-temps at the time when the chicks would likely have been
most vulnerable. This person also wanted to make sure tape-play-back was not
used during this encounter - which it was not.
I assume that we have a pair of adults on territory well beyond the time we
expect them. So why is the mating came being played again?
Sorry for the low-brow reference, but wouldn't they go about their business
and hook up again without the falderal (foreplay) associated with the first
breeding.
Hoping to learn something about the pre-mating behavior of (any all species)
raising multiple broods.
Jack Williamson
Black Butte Ranch
On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 6:05 PM Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Swainson's thrush which Nest here annually but are almost never seen is now
singing again in the early morning. Possibly the second explanation? I'm
pretty sure it found a mate for the first nesting. Bob O'Brien Carver Oregon
On Monday, July 19, 2021, Dave Mellinger <David.Mellinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hello Jack,
Some ideas: The Veery's behavior difference relative to last year might be
due to the bird not finding a mate this year, and it's continuing to sing
in hopes of finding one. Alternatively, it's possible, though unlikely,
that the bird is exhibiting territorial behavior now because it's already
bred once and it's hoping for a second brood before the end of the summer.
This could have happened because it bred earlier this year than last year
and its brood has already dispersed, or perhaps the chicks died. Not all
species can have multiple broods in a year, and I don't know whether Veery
does or not.
Dave
On 7/16/2021 6:05 PM, obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:*******
From: Jack Williamson<jack.williamson.jr@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:37:30 -0700
Subject: [obol] A Veery Interesting Inquiry - I hope
This morning I went to Black Butte Swamp in Deschutes County to look for
Veery.
When I arrived, two birds perched up on opposite sides of the meadow,
singing their hearts out. I picked the bird furthest from the tree line to
approach, and low and behold, and it let me and my dog Remy walk right up
to it. Which we watched, listened to, recorded, and photographed for 30 to
45 minutes. The birds' behavior seemed (not) out of place but rather out
of time - if that makes sense.
I spent many hours last year monitoring a Veery nest in the same area, and
by this time (July 15th), the entire family had dispersed. None of the
birds observed last year exhibited what I characterize as the territorial
display watched today. Last year, the adult Veery stayed low, foraged, and
interacted with the fledglings in deep thickets.
This morning I was thinking maybe the adults were calling to their
fledglings hidden in the brush, but in all the time there, I did not see
either bird gathering food or even foraging, for that matter. A behavior
that is common to my observations of most species staking out their
territory.
Thoughts on what's going on with the Veery here will be much appreciated.
https://adobe.ly/3igonYr Too many photos of the Veery ;(perhaps)
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91786278 Checklist of all birds seen
The best, most intimate portion of this observation that I hope comes
through in the photos is how the Veery uses its throat to vary its song.
Jack Williamson
Black Butte Ranch
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