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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: The Cajun
Birds? What birds?


81 posted on 09/10/2009 8:05:04 PM PDT by airborne (Don't let history record that, when faced with evil, you did nothing!)
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To: JoeProBono

Are the Tits any link to the Great Areola genus? I’ve been “rack”ing my brain, but my “mammary” fails me.


82 posted on 09/10/2009 8:15:30 PM PDT by TruthHound ("He who does not punish evil commands it to be done." --Leonardo da Vinci)
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To: freedumb2003

They look well fed.


83 posted on 09/10/2009 8:17:07 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: andy58-in-nh

They seem like rather small tits to me...
Just saying....


84 posted on 09/10/2009 8:20:09 PM PDT by NonLinear (If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.)
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To: JoeProBono
A bra in search of great tits...

85 posted on 09/10/2009 8:23:04 PM PDT by NonLinear (If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.)
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To: Batman11
Can anyone help me with my html?

86 posted on 09/10/2009 8:24:51 PM PDT by NonLinear (If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.)
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To: Rebelbase

87 posted on 09/10/2009 8:27:06 PM PDT by NonLinear (If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.)
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To: NonLinear

bttt


88 posted on 09/10/2009 8:30:10 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: airborne

One little piece of thread in the center stopping them birdies from being free. (Says The Cajun as he puts Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird into the DVD ;^)


89 posted on 09/10/2009 8:30:20 PM PDT by The Cajun (Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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To: NonLinear

LOL — that is SO stolen!


90 posted on 09/10/2009 8:36:35 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; TheOldLady

I was taking a nap. :^(


91 posted on 09/10/2009 8:57:54 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
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To: freedumb2003

I think you meant “not bat”.


92 posted on 09/10/2009 9:40:41 PM PDT by Pelham (Obammunism)
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To: Pelham

>>I think you meant “not bat”.<<

Tit’ll have to so....


93 posted on 09/10/2009 9:56:33 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: Pelham

>>I think you meant “not bat”.<<

Tit’ll have to so....


94 posted on 09/10/2009 9:56:38 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: JoeProBono

Reference bump! ;-)


95 posted on 09/10/2009 9:59:59 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: SunkenCiv

Thanks for the ping. Er - I think?

LOL!!!


96 posted on 09/10/2009 11:58:25 PM PDT by sneakers (Indiana (Pa) Patriots: www.standtoo.com)
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To: sneakers

;’)


97 posted on 09/11/2009 2:56:51 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: ApplegateRanch

Thanks, I nipple looked at it that way before.


98 posted on 09/11/2009 2:56:55 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: TheOldLady

It’s the nest idea anyone has had in a while.


99 posted on 09/11/2009 2:56:59 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: JoeProBono
These are the only *tit* birds around here and I don't believe they eat bats.
100 posted on 09/11/2009 4:58:05 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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