In Arizona:
These species tolerate each other at the feeder but their relationship is rocky elsewhere.
In Donna Memon’s backyard two curve-billed thrashers wanted this round-tailed ground squirrel to step away from the mealworms. Though they poked her she wouldn’t leave. This squirrel is so feisty that she chased a roadrunner!
Away from the feeders it’s all out war. Ground squirrels raid bird nests to eat eggs and nestlings.
Curve-billed thrashers try to avoid predation by nesting in cholla cactus.
Steve Valasek found an occupied nest at Hassayampa River Preserve northwest of Phoenix.
Safe from ground squirrels, heat is the big problem at the cactus nest sites.
How do the chicks fledge? Very carefully!
(photo credits:
curve-billed thrashers with ground squirrel by Donna Memon
cholla cactus photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original.
curve-billed thrashers’ nest by Steve Valasek)