Friday, June 3, 2022 Exit Glacier Swainson’s Thrush

Seward, Alaska

I drove out Exit Glacier Road on this beautiful summer’s evening in a quest for the SWAINSON’S THRUSH. While town was in mountain shadows, the sun still poured over the glacier and mountains, and the temperature had cooled into pleasant mid-60s. Traffic was extremely light, allowing me to idle along at 3-4 mph with all the car windows open, listening while shooing away delighted mosquitoes. Meals on wheels!

The rich wetlands and streams habitat between the Park boundary at the bridge and just past the welcome sign rang with birdsong: YELLOW, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-RUMPED, WILSON’S WARBLERS, AND NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. I again heard the GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, and the soothing woodland flute of the HERMIT THRUSH.

Along the edge of the road, a pumpkin-bright male VARIED THRUSH hurried along, busily pecking at something: basking flies? Gravel bits? A short way farther, a HERMIT THRUSH did the same, hopping across the road to continue foraging. Unfortunately, this attraction causes their untimely death by vehicle collisions. I buried a beauty in the duff a few days ago.

In the parking lot, a few vehicles waited as their owners trickled back after their adventures. More warblers serenaded from the alders and cottonwoods surrounding the parking lot, impossible to see among the fresh green leaves, yet seemingly close enough to touch. 

As the mountain shadows caught up, I finally heard a distant SWAINSON’S THRUSH’s rich upward-spiraling song. I’ll bet there are a lot more unheard notes if played back at half speed. So sweet to hear and know they survived a long and treacherous migration from Central and South America as far as Argentina. 

Check out this article: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/dividing-via-migration-swainsons-thrush/

I again idled back to the bridge, enjoying the continuing evening concert. These musicians work long hours with few breaks. Such a busy time to establish territories and find a mate before the real work begins of raising a family and no time (or need) to sing. 

“THANK YOU FOR VISITING YOUR NATIONAL PARK. Experience your America,” says the back of the welcome sign. It’s my pleasure; I so appreciate our public lands and this inspiring national park in my back yard.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter