Credit - Google Search "Aberts Towhee" Images |
Dr Desert Flower was able to preliminarily identify it via our Stokes Western Bird Guide, but the Stokes North American Guide has more pictures, and Cornell once again assisted for a positive ID. Very protective parents they are, these Towhees. SEEP! SEEP! SEEPING!!! about when I've approached the pool filter and pump. Though they've used burst latex balloons, dryer sheets, as well as left over foliage to make a nest. I hope the brood of chicks makes it to maturity, and I don't fish out a drowned one from the pool =(
That blue in the background, is the pool, 5 feet away. |
For those of you who have never seen an Abert's Towhee before, they resemble a dull colored cardinal without the big head crest. They love hanging around the pool, and have been doing a bang up job eating the crickets, beetles, and flies that tend to be drawn to the water's environ. (read more here) If only they'd start eating the black widows... but the widows typically hide during the day coming out only nocturnally, and by then, the Towhees are sleeping.
Bushmills is the current preference. Makes for a good marinade if willing. If not available, Jameson is worthwhile. Both are smoooooth.
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