Where is the song thrush gone?

YurOK2

Hi there,

I live in a very rural area and have huge trees all around my land, most of them are evergreen. The trees are quite literally alive with birds. I have seen pretty much every type of common garden bird out there, including babies learning to fly. I put out all different types of food, mixed seed, peanuts, suet, fat balls, all bought from the pet shop and the variety of food seems to attract all the different species.

Among the birds, there was 2 very vocal song thrushes and a few less vocal ones.
I saw that one of the song thrushes appeared to have had babies about 2 months or so ago. I saw the babies when they appeared to be learning to fly, I could see them walking to the ends of branches and flying back in towards the trunk, doing this over and over again.

Most people will know that song thrushes have a very distinctive song, which I love listening to. Unfortunately, over the past 2-3 weeks the song thrushes appear to have gone somewhere else. I can't hear them singing in the garden anymore.
I'm just wondering would there be any particular reason for them leaving? The trees haven't been disturbed and nobody goes in poking at the birds or their nests, I only observe them when they are out on the branches singing.
Is there anything I can do to get them back in the garden? Will they come back on their own?

Thanks.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

It's called Post Breeding Movement. After the young fledge the family group moves territory. This can be up to 20km. They'll be back.

Jayzesake

Dariel Polite Ear wrote: »

It's called Post Breeding Movement. After the young fledge the family group moves territory. This can be up to 20km. They'll be back.

Thanks Dariel Polite Ear, I've never heard of that.

Any idea what the reason for it is? Is it to encourage the young birds to spread into new territories?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Jayzesake wrote: »

Thanks Srameen, I've never heard of that.

Any idea what the reason for it is? Is it to encourage the young birds to spread into new territories?

Yes, plus new feeding area and away from predators attracted to the smell of the nest. All supposition of course - who knows what Nature really intends or thinks!

Jayzesake

Dariel Polite Ear wrote: »

Yes, plus new feeding area and away from predators attracted to the smell of the nest. All supposition of course - who knows what Nature really intends or thinks!

I'd say there's a bit more to that than just supposition!

YurOK2

Thanks Srameen.
Now that I think of it, some swallows moved in a few weeks ago, could they have contributed to the song thrushes leaving?
I hope they come back, there's plenty of room for everybody as the swallows seem to be living in the main (disused) farm shed. The garden is really quiet without them

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

YurOK2 wrote: »

Thanks Srameen.
Now that I think of it, some swallows moved in a few weeks ago, could they have contributed to the song thrushes leaving?
I hope they come back, there's plenty of room for everybody as the swallows seem to be living in the main (disused) farm shed. The garden is really quiet without them

Nothing to do with the swallows.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Jayzesake wrote: »

I'd say there's a bit more to that than just supposition!

I know that but in my career I learned that why things happen in Nature often is our interpretation of logic.

Jayzesake

Dariel Polite Ear wrote: »

It's called Post Breeding Movement. After the young fledge the family group moves territory. This can be up to 20km. They'll be back.

Do most land-based birds behave in this way, or just members of the Thrush family?

What about more specialised woodland birds like Treecreepers, Jays and Woodpeckers?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Jayzesake wrote: »

Do most land-based birds behave in this way, or just members of the Thrush family?

What about more specialised woodland birds like Treecreepers, Jays and Woodpeckers?

Most species engage in post breeding dispersal.

Notice the general drop in bird numbers in most gardens in July and August.

Birdnuts

I think a lot of birds tend to go very quiet and keep to cover when the chicks are a certain age

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Birdnuts wrote: »

I think a lot of birds tend to go very quiet and keep to cover when the chicks are a certain age

That's a different thing. Post breeding, many species move from a area. As I said, have a look at the garden bird numbers in July and August - they have moved and are not just keeping quiet.

Capercaillie

Corncrake disperse as well. Male sets up a territory. When he is successful in breeding with female(s), he relocates to another area. Females nest and rear the young with 95% of females nesting within 100m of the calling male.

Birdnuts

Dariel Polite Ear wrote: »

That's a different thing. Post breeding, many species move from a area. As I said, have a look at the garden bird numbers in July and August - they have moved and are not just keeping quiet.

I suppose I was referring more to the dawn chorus