TWO BIRDS

Two birds, mentioned in the opening paragraphs of this issue, -- the Nuthatch and the Varied Thrush -- deserve more than passing noticed for their calls as well as their habits are very distinctive. Both birds prefer the wooded regions of the Park, for it is here that they find their livlihood although the Nuthatch is quite common among the sub-alpine trees during the summer. Here his nasal "yank! yank!" can scarcely be confused with the call of any other bird and upon seeking him out we will find him employing tactics as different from his associates as his call is. For with the aid of his sharp claws he climbs about the branches in search of insects, now right side up and now up side down apparently defying all the laws of gravity. His long, sharp bill explores the hiding places of various insects and in the course of these antics we note that he is a small bird with slate grey back, dark head and light grey breast and underparts.

In contrast to the Varied Thrush the Nuthatch seems to be a rather friendly individual, not entirely unafraid to satisfy his curiosity by scanning the two legged individual who came to scan him. The Varied Thrush, on the other hand seems to be afraid that if he makes his appearance in plain view that his being "scanned" might result in his being skinned. And so he is noted for his elusive habits -- and his long, clear, bell-like call which is one of the poetic features of the dense, moist woods which he inhabits. The notes are as elusive as the bird itself, enticing one along the woodland trail like a vertible will-O-the-wisp. They are quite active at this time and seem to have lost some of their timidity but later on they will retire to the forest depths where their call, ringing down the quiet forest aisles, never fails to arouse interest. The Varied Thrush is a handsome bird about the size of the well known Robin. In fact he is a close relative of that bird and his numerous aliases include "Winter Robin", "Oregon Robin", "Alaska Robin" and "Painted Robin". The latter term probably results from his characteristic markings -- slate grey back with a breast of bright orange-yellow, across which is a band of dark brown. Orange stripes are found above the eyes and markings of the same color are on the wings.