Posted on 03/21/2021 10:03:00 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Because there are more ducks/geese on that arm.
Party pooper, lol.
Black vultures find food by eye, turkey vultures by sense of smell. Generally they mind their own business of eating dead armadillos, cats, and coons on the side of the road. Sometimes small birds harass the vultures and hawks and owls in flight, but last week I saw the table turned and a black vulture that was swooping on a crow [harmlessly as vulture’s feet are not taloned to grab prey as are hawks], but the crow was making a weird crying noise and trying to hide from it in a tree. The vulture made a couple more flyby dives and then went away. Very weird, not sure if it was just having fun, or if the crow was an early fledger with no experience, or if it was an adult that perhaps had been ticking off the vultures by trying to snitch vulture eggs from a rooftop.
That was fun!
Thank you!
I was distracted, as usual...
By the time I posted, it was #14.
Thanks.
“ They created a pin pointed kaleidoscope in the sky for a few moments.”
That is called a murmuration. It is an amazing sight. In England they have huge flocks of starlings that perform these impressively. Lots on YouTube.
Musical notation of birds...how awesome!
I live in Southern California. Every year in the first or second week of October a group (boquet) of yellow rump warblers arrives and roosts in the same eucalyptus tree next to my bedroom window. They fly around the neighborhood in the day time and return to the same tree at sunset. In the first week of February they leave and go back north to Canada or where ever they nest and breed. This happens year after year. Now the cliff swallows have arrived from Argentina and will visit here until the first of July. There little wings must be tired.
Following food sources?
—”Black vultures find food by eye, turkey vultures by sense of smell. “
About 50 years ago, I had a summer job on a cross-country pipeline.
It was said that if you see vultures over a natural gas pipeline... be careful!
A component of natural gas is also produced by decaying flesh, and the vultures are attracted to it.
So, I was told.
That’s called a murmuration and they are beautiful.
I have read that crows have excellent memories, and will recall who or what treated them in some unusual way.
That frightened crow is probably going to ‘tell’ his crow family about that unnerving experience with the vulture.
This may lead to a ‘Payback!’ attack on that specific vulture.
Thank you.
Here in Maryland, on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, we have a gazillion white-tailed deer and, therefore, abundant roadkill for the vultures.
It is not unusual to spot a bald eagle feasting on a carcass along with a group of vultures. In March of last year, however, while driving, I spotted a bald eagle not too far off the road enjoying a solo feast.
Fortunately, I had the time that day, and I spent about 30 minutes slowly
inching up on him and taking pictures with my cell phone through the windshield. He kept eyeing me periodically, but I was able to get within about 20 feet before he bolted.
But he didn’t fly away; he dashed into some nearby bushes to await the pesky human’s departure. The shots would not impress a real photographer, I am sure, but they are precious to me.
Such a blessed experience.
This sounds like a fascinating book...
thanks for that link- that was wicked cool- one of hte best I’ve seen
Had a thought though when watching it- I thought “What would happen if some of the birds were near sighted, or had glaucoma or something?”
That’s just how my brain works lol
Sebastian Sholes, fisherman in diner: Heck, maybe we're all getting a little carried away with this. Admittedly a few birds did act strange, but that's no reason to...Melanie Daniels: I keep telling you, this isn't 'a few birds'! These are gulls, crows, swifts...!
Mrs. Bundy, elderly ornithologist: I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. Why, if that happened, we wouldn't stand a chance! How could we possibly hope to fight them?
And no matter how many invasive starlings I dispatch they always come back.
==”... ornithologist: I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. “
Not to worry!
The birds are awaiting the emergence of the 17-year cicadas.
Just as soon as the soil temp hits the magic number, just like a hot day in the city they come out from everywhere.
I just figured they couldn’t count.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.