I *think* that’s a male brown-headed cowbird in the center, possibly flanked by females or juveniles. Please DO correct me if you know the correct ID. Birds – especially LBJs – aren’t even on my list of known-about critters.
Speaking of critters, they’re on the “critter ladder” in the trough at the main/original water catchment in Spring Creek Basin, built 20-plus years ago. The “ladder” is a bit of metal mesh that allows birds, ground squirrels – critters – to get to the water to drink without drowning. I was super tickled to see them using it with horses (that’s Tenaz in the background) napping around it after an evening mosey to the water cooler, err, trough. (All of the troughs at all four water catchments in the basin have some form of critter ladder.)
Fun bonus pic of the male actually standing on the rim of the trough as photographed through the legs of a napping mustang. 🙂
Everything in the wild needs water. Mother Nature could be a little (!) more helpful in the delivery of said water, but we do our best to ensure that it gets where it needs to go.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
That’s cool, TJ – “critter ladder.” You all think of everything when it comes to building those life-giving catchments! And you’re right about those birdies – they are cowbirds. 🙂
It’s an integrated approach, and it wasn’t my idea. BLM was already using them when I got involved; I just make sure they’re working. 🙂 Yay about the cowbird ID (ha!).
So glad the critters have a water source!
It’s huge! 🙂
A critter ladder! I love it! Y’all are awesome to come up with that, TJ! 🥰
And yes, that’s a male cowbird with two female cowbirds… those birds don’t have a great reputation around here in my neck of the woods (South Carolina) …
From the article you linked above: “Even though Brown-headed Cowbirds are native to North America, many people consider them a nuisance bird, since they destroy the eggs and young of smaller songbirds and have been implicated in the decline of several endangered species…”
“The Brown-headed Cowbird is North America’s most common “brood parasite.” A female cowbird makes no nest of her own, but instead lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, who then raise the young cowbirds.”
Nature makes ya scratch your head & wonder why sometimes. Anyway, y’all keep up the good work with the wild mustangs & other critters. 🙂
I’ve read that, too, about the cowbirds. Nature IS sometimes odd and crazy and makes you wonder?! We do have a lot of birds, so just eyeballin’ it, I think they’re all doing well? We’re happy just to provide water to the creatures that need it. 🙂
Very cool photos!
I had fun taking them. 😉
I have water dishes scattered around the property for the ferals and whoever else needs a drink. I have put big rocks in them so there’s a way to get in or out for smaller critters.
Great photo of the birds with napping Tenaz. ❤️
Perfect water dishes! Thinking about ALL critters and creatures is the best way for humans to put our big brains (!) to use. 🙂