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Cold winters drive great tits to eat bats, reports expert
timesonline ^
| September 9, 2009
Posted on 09/10/2009 4:41:56 PM PDT by JoeProBono
A much-loved garden bird has been exposed as a ruthless killer after being observed seeking out and eating hibernating bats.
The great tits were provoked into the unusual behaviour after suffering food shortages during particularly harsh winter weather.
Over the course of two winters, ornithologists observed the birds searching for, killing and eating 18 bats in caves in the Bükk Mountains in northeast Hungary.
The birds normally live on seeds and insects such as caterpillars and spiders but during the winter these can be in very scarce supply. In particular, snow cover can make it impossible for the great tits to find food.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: aheartthisthread; godsgravesglyphs; nocomment; tits
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To: Slings and Arrows
I can’t believe you have not been not pinged yet.
To: JoeProBono
How big are these birds? The little titmice around here, mainly chickadees, couldn’t manage killing bats.
To: JoeProBono
I’m just here for the pictures.
63
posted on
09/10/2009 6:31:34 PM PDT
by
Rocky
(OBAMA: Succeeding where bin Laden failed.)
To: SunkenCiv
You didn’t seriesly think that this thread would be about birds and climate change, did you?
It’s more fun the other way. These guys are funny!
To: Protect the Bill of Rights
“Mmmm...am I supposed to feed mine?”
Only during a cold winter. Here’s hoping we have a global warming disproving winter
65
posted on
09/10/2009 6:39:12 PM PDT
by
Figment
("A communist is someone who reads Marx.An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx" R Reagan)
To: Protect the Bill of Rights; Salamander; Slings and Arrows
"Mmmm...am I supposed to feed mine?"
Hmmmmm. Not sure.
You'll have to post a picture so we can see if they look undernourished.
66
posted on
09/10/2009 6:46:17 PM PDT
by
shibumi
(" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
To: JoeProBono
This ought to be a titillating thread.
67
posted on
09/10/2009 6:46:30 PM PDT
by
Redcitizen
(Zartan for President 2012)
To: Rocky
In the interest of fairness and diversity, I offer this...
68
posted on
09/10/2009 7:03:58 PM PDT
by
airborne
(Don't let history record that, when faced with evil, you did nothing!)
To: SunkenCiv
If it's cold, shouldn't they be blue tits...
...instead of great tits?
69
posted on
09/10/2009 7:13:14 PM PDT
by
ApplegateRanch
(The Great Obamanation of Desolation, sitting in the Oval Office, where he ought not...)
To: Figment
I love these threads. :-)
To: airborne
Looks like all her silicone ran down hill.
71
posted on
09/10/2009 7:18:26 PM PDT
by
ApplegateRanch
(The Great Obamanation of Desolation, sitting in the Oval Office, where he ought not...)
To: ApplegateRanch
72
posted on
09/10/2009 7:24:02 PM PDT
by
airborne
(Don't let history record that, when faced with evil, you did nothing!)
To: Yaelle
73
posted on
09/10/2009 7:26:01 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: TheOldLady; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
What about the boobys?
To: airborne
75
posted on
09/10/2009 7:37:35 PM PDT
by
Rocky
(OBAMA: Succeeding where bin Laden failed.)
To: Slings and Arrows
I knew, KNEW you would find this thread. ;-)
76
posted on
09/10/2009 7:42:51 PM PDT
by
Freedom2specul8
(I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
To: TheOldLady
LoL I Was going to see how long it took for him to be pinged or find the thread- I bet myself it would take 4 hrs max.. I lost. :)
77
posted on
09/10/2009 7:48:26 PM PDT
by
Freedom2specul8
(I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
To: airborne
78
posted on
09/10/2009 7:51:46 PM PDT
by
Ronin
(Nemo me impune lacesset)
To: Ronin
No junk in that trunk!
Treasure!
79
posted on
09/10/2009 8:02:15 PM PDT
by
airborne
(Don't let history record that, when faced with evil, you did nothing!)
To: JoeProBono
This would be a great thread if not for all the damn bird pictures slowing down loading!
80
posted on
09/10/2009 8:03:32 PM PDT
by
The Cajun
(Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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