Using the four aerial photographs, let's learn how to complete this part of the scorecard. Area 3 fits this well. Area 2 also supplies this type of habitat, but has less area in stage 2 or 3 of plant succession, therefore it is rated lower than area 2. Area 4 has large open areas, but has little interspersion of other plant succession stages and is ranked third. Area 1 does not have any open areas and thus is ranked last.
Thrashers prefer dense shrub thickets.
Area 3 supplies the greatest amount of this type of habitat. Area 2 has more area in stage 4 of plant succession than either area 1 or 4. Areas 1 and 4 are difficult to judge. In this instance, we would assume there is more shrub cover associated with the woodland area in Area 1 than what is shown in Area 4. They like to nest in tree cavities adjacent to open fields and prefer open fields for feeding.