I can't believe a wood thrush is nesting in our kousa dogwood,
which is right next to the house. The nest is similar to a robin's,
though with a deeper cup, and the thrushes made use of scraps of
plastic backing from the roof shingles that were replaced last spring.
We thought we'd picked up all the trash, but the thrushes have found
several pieces we missed. They have been woven into the nest,
but one long piece dangles down, which is what caught my eye
the other day. I was looking at the tree in dismay, because its
lower branches have all died. I thought kousas were resistant to the
fungus (anthracnose?) that has attacked so many dogwoods
in the Southeast. Maybe our wet spring and very hot summer have
made even this kousa susceptible. Unfortunately, it also makes
the nest much more visible. I can see the nest from inside the house;
I hope these birds will be successful. Is this late for an active nest?
Mom thrush is sitting on it as I type this.


--Pat

Pat Valdata, Elkton, MD | 
"The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards
and carry that which is heavy up to the place where dwells the race of gods.
More than any other thing that pertains to the body
it partakes of the nature of the divine." --Plato