He was shy. He liked to stay out of sight in the high country, but snowy winters drove him to lower elevations. He liked deep cover, the brushy areas where he could stay away from hungry eyes, and where the ground was protected from the snow. His first stop was the golf course in the foot hills. There were houses all round it with well landscaped gardens and the pickings were good there.
He found a nice thicket where he spent most of his time. He picked at the leaf mould and found tasty little insect snacks and flavorsome seeds and leaf fragments.
His second day there he saw the cat. It was hard to miss the cat. She was pure white and she stuck out of the landscape where ever she went, though she didn't know it. The cat feared nothing except the dog, Boss, who lived in one of the houses.
The cat was in hunting mode, crouching low with tail end lashing. The bird hopped a foot or so up in an azalea bush and said ``Get real, cat, I can see you coming a mile away!''
The cat sneered ``That's what you think. I make my living off birds like you. You can't always be watching. Turn your back on me for an instant and I'll have you!'' One more sneer and the cat was gone.
The snow lasted late that year. By the time it had gone the bird was in love. They built a nest in a lilac bush.
An old lady was spending her last days in the spare room of her son and daughter-in-law's house on the golf course. She loved to watch the birds.
``They keep her alive,'' said the daughter-in-law, not without regret.
When she first saw the hermit thrush the old woman was excited.
``I thought he was a towhee at first,'' she said, ``then I thought surely not a robin then I saw that neck band and I knew. Hermit thrush no doubt. They don't usually come around here.''
When they built their nest the old lady's eyes became bright again.
The cat had a plan. She was salivating at the thought of new hatched baby birds. All warm and juicy with their crunchy little bones. Yum. She watched the nest day and night.
When the baby birds hatched the hermit thrushes were frantic with joy. They foraged constantly for dainty snacks for the little creatures. There were five at first, but one was jostled out of the nest early on. He fell to the ground and was soon cold. The cat didn't fancy the chilly little morsel, but a possum chomped it down in no time.
One afternoon when the babies were vociferous fledglings, the cat prepared her strike. She approached from below when both parents were away.
The old lady watched in horror. She dragged herself up and opened the french windows and called to Boss who was napping under the kitchen table.
``Boss! Kitty cat! Go get the kitty!''
Boss leapt to his feet and raced outside. The cat took off like a white streak. The old lady fell down and couldn't get up.
When Boss was safely back in the house the cat reappeared and sneered at the hermit thrush family.
``OK you win that round, but there's still plenty of time. I'll get you yet!''
He lashed his white tail in a threatening manner and slunk away.