Three days ago I was working on yet another project in my kitchen (adding shelves and repainting my pantry) when I heard a loud and sickening thud that came from my dining room window. I immediately knew that a bird had flown into the window. Window strikes are rare for me (the last one I remember was at least two years ago – a starling that recovered and flew off within seconds of me getting to it) but that sound is unmistakable.
I went outside and found the bird beneath the window, in the dead space between my deck and the side of my house. It was on its back with its eyes closed and its legs twitching, appearing to be in its death throes. With my bad back I couldn’t get to it but neighbor Shane and his mother were visiting on Shane’s patio so I called them over and asked Shane to retrieve the bird, which he did.
He placed the bird in the only safe and confining space available, an old planting tray that I’d apparently used in a painting project at some point. I was surprised and encouraged that it could stand, but it could only do so while squatting down and using its spread tail for support.
It appeared to be a thrush of some kind but at first I wasn’t sure which species it was.
But eventually, based on its rusty-red tail and rump, I decided it was a Hermit Thrush – a species I’ve never seen in my yard before and only photographed once, years ago.
As the three of us stood there and watched the bird, it showed no immediate signs of recovery so I was beginning to consider my options – if it survived for a little longer, which I doubted. I was trying to decide which bird/wildlife rehab center I could take it to when, with no warning, it took off, circled around and came back, and then landed about 20 feet away from us at the base of one of my large ornamental grasses. For the first time, I was hopeful.
Maybe two minutes later it took off again and this time it was gone for good.
Miracles happen. Before it took off the first time I’d have given it virtually no chance of survival, at least not without professional intervention.
Ron
Notes:
- This Hermit Thrush was apparently migrating. This fall I’ve been getting more unusual migrators in my yard and neighborhood than usual. Earlier this week, neighbor Shane had a Red-breasted Nuthatch at his feeder, which is highly unusual.
- As I mentioned, bird strikes have never been much of a problem for me but if that tide is turning I’ll have to consider placing markers of some kind on my windows.
Ron, in regard to the different fall migration it is, I agree. I am in Baker NV, Great Basin National Park. The most unusual is the number of raptors, all Coopers and Sharpie, with a few dark Merlins thrown. Pine Siskins are all over. Then some many of the usual migrants. It is nice. We have many Lewis’s Woodpecker passing through, here in town. Almost forgot the hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers in the whole area.
No hermits seen at this time.
jake
Jake, I’ve camped at GBNP three times, beginning when it first became a National Park. Your comment makes me want to go back. Right now!
You would probably have been upset had it not survived. Your caring nature, I’m sure, is what brought it back. Whether or not – it made another very interesting story. Thanks!
“You would probably have been upset had it not survived.”
No “probably about it, Judy. I would have been.
I am glad the dear little thing survived. I am also glad you were there to offer aid, if needed.
Happy October,
Kaye
Me too, Kaye. On both counts.
I hate bird strikes, and have a large, long window sitting just above the sliding glass door — both have been the death of several birds (including doves and a yellow-ramped warbler) over the years, most being chased by or just trying to escape the notice of Cooper’s Hawks that drop in here regularly. I have put reflective rainbow/mirrored decals (shaped like leaves & hummers) on the unscreened door and that has helped. I’m glad to say I’ve watched more fly off from the “safe box” after resting for an hour or so than not. Always a relief. 🪶
Chris, I’ve yet to see one of ‘my’ three Cooper’s Hawks chase a bird into one of my windows. Thankfully.
I have 2 picture windows at a right angle to each other facing E and N. Also have house plants in those windows so bird strikes are common at certain times of the year thinking they can fly through. I have outside shades in summer but REALLY like my daylight and view of my flower garden/pond soooooooo. Amazing what they will survive. Brown paper bags are good for recovery of the smaller birds. Worst one that did survive was a rooster pheasant after his reflection one day! Amazing he didn’t take out the window!
Judy, I once hit a rooster pheasant while driving U-Haul’s biggest truck 70mph on the freeway. ‘My’ pheasant most certainly did not survive and neither did the huge passenger side mirror, which was broken and bent all to hell.
That awful thud, just makes your heart drop. I’ve got the cording curtain on my big front window, like Catherine Keegan – it’s helped a lot, thank goodness. Beautiful bird.
You said you were considering which wildlife/bird rehabber to take it to – wonderful that you have choices! Is WRCNU still an option? If I remember correctly, that used to be near you, but then they were kicked out of their space and had to move.
Interesting/sad/scary that you are seeing migrants you don’t normally get – things are too messed up!
PS – I was away so didn’t see your post about your mama squirrel until yesterday – what a fun thing to see.
Carolyn, there are a couple of smaller rehab centers here in Salt Lake but I’m most familiar with WRCNU. Yes, they’ve moved but they’re still in the Ogden area, which isn’t particularly close to me.
And yes again, more atypical migrants than usual is a two-edged sword.
We’ve had a couple in our yard for a few weeks now. Saw it again while eating dinner last night. It loves my tiny deckside pond. At first boyfriend thought it was a Hermit Thrush, but when he posted it to eBird it was suggested he was wrong and it was really a Swainsons. Luckily it kept coming back and he was able to got a better look and a picture that captured the reddish tail. Judging from the spot pattern we’ve had at least two.
That reddish tail is a dead giveaway, isn’t it Linda.
A great resource for your readers is Animal Help Now. The website is ahnow.org, and it provides contact info for licensed rehabilitators in any region. At Wild Bird Rehab, we recommend having a shoe box at the ready for window strikes. Line the bottom of the box with newspaper or paper towels. Take an old t-shirt and roll it into the shape of a sausage. Now bend the ends of the sausage to make it the shape of the letter U. Place it into the box. When a window strike occurs, pick up your bird and place it into the U. This provides a little stability to help keep the bird upright when it feels lousy. If you see that the bird is bleeding go to ahnow.org to find a rehabber near you. If you don’t see blood, take the shoebox into a dark, quiet room and wait for an hour. This gives the bird a chance to recover. After an hour take the box outside and open the lid. If the bird takes off, yay! If it doesn’t, go to ahnow.org to enlist a rehabber’s help.
Hermit Thrush is a winter bird for me. I always enjoy coming across one on a good winter hike. Thanks for giving this one a second chance!
Thanks for the shoebox tip, Diane.
Bird strikes were a disaster for this house when I put in double-pane, highly reflective windows. What a nightmare for birds, especially juvenile, migrating birds. The decals were ineffective, I switched to rods with dangling, reflective tape. Not 100%, I am now training passionvine over the worst window so, during summer, the glass is obscured. Come winter, I prune it back hard. FWIW, the birds seem to be learning. City birds like robins never seem to crash.
“FWIW, the birds seem to be learning.”
I think they do too, Kate.
We have a curtain of cording that goes over most windows. It sways in the breeze. You could set the cords on a rod that you could take down when the birds are finished migrating.
The worst window-strike (for me) was the pygmy owl. It crashed into the garage side door, which is under an awning. That was the only bird that’s ever hit the garage, and I hope it’s the last.
“The worst window-strike (for me) was the pygmy owl.”
Oh geez, that would have been just awful. Any window strike is tragic, at least potentially, but a Pygmy Owl!
Glad of the outcome for this little charmer. There is no mistaking that “thud,” though. I shuddered as I read that part. 🙀
I have UV film on my clerestory windows and that’s cut down on the in-flight collisions. I do have more male birds posturing and pecking at their reflections — especially during mating season (mostly House Finches with the occasional wren or sparrow). I tape up pictures of angry-looking hawks and that seems to deter the taptaptaptap, but my neighbor thinks I’m nuts (though probably not just because of the pictures🤪).
“my neighbor thinks I’m nuts”
Marty, if you knew me better you wouldn’t give me an opening like that… 🙂
Most of ‘my’ birds are regulars that know my yard and house well so I think they’ve learned to avoid my windows. At least that’s my half-baked theory.
I know you well enough, Ron. Take your best shot. 😈😹
😁
Ron,
There have been several Hermit Thrushes at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. You could visit there and probably get some good photos.
I enjoy your posts!
Good to know, Renee. Thanks for the tip.
The last few days there have also been rare Ovenbird sightings at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island.
That would be a new species for me.
Oh, a Hermit Thrush! When I looked at the photo I didn’t notice blood in the naris, which gave me hope. So glad it wasn’t killed.
Every Spring the Hermit Thrush is one of my favorite birds to watch foraging in the yard. They stand and survey the scene and then start throwing this leaf and that leaf – kind of reminds me of my childhood, with Mom coming into my room and saying “Don’t you ever pick up in here?!!” as she throws my clothes up on my bed. Times gone by.
Nina, you’re lucky to have Hermit Thrushes in your yard regularly.
When a bird strike happens here, it’s usually a dove with a hawk hot on its tail. So far, the recovery rate for them is 100%. I’m sorry for your thrush, but pleased that you were able to see something less common than a dove recover.
“pleased that you were able to see something less common than a dove recover.”
Shoreacres, when I heard the crash I fully expected the bird to be a House Sparrow or House Finch.
It is remarkable how birds recover from these strikes. Have had a hummer, a Coops and a Mourning Dove collide with our patio door and all looked like they were on their way out only to shake it off and fly away.
Once there was a group of Mockingbirds harassing a Scrub Jay in low bush. One of the Mockingbirds got a bit too close and the Jay landed a beak strike right on top of its head. The Mockingbird was stunned and spiraled to the ground with half opened wings. When I went over to examine the downed bird, it’s eyes were ascycronously whirling around in their orbits like a cartoon character. After a time it recoverd, no doubt the wiser.
“it’s eyes were ascycronously whirling around in their orbits like a cartoon character”
What a description, Michael. That was one lucky mockingbird.
Nice story Ron, or nice story ending. My wife has gone out and
treated many over the years who have crashed and often was able to revive them and see them fly off. Have never seen a Hermit Thrush.
Thanks, Everett. I believe this is only second Hermit Thrush I’ve ever seen. Or at least identified.