Re: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
Hi Martin, I once spoke to a Geologist and an Australian museum curator about this. Apparantly some birds actually eat stones to aid in digestion. Go figure! ;-) Cheers, Jeff - Original Message - From: Martin Altmann To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 12:52 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds... Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a stone hitting the roof and rolling down, recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped. I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping stones. Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour? Martin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a stone hitting the roof and rolling down, recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped. I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping stones. Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour? Martin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
RE: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
I know for a fact that this is true having witnessed it myself. They do this mistaking them for nuts (still in the shell). The rocks happen to resemble the shape and color of a nut, so they will often drop them from high up hoping that they will shatter. Crows are the main culprit. I have also seen crows dropping rocks and walnuts onto the road, hoping that cars will run them over and reveal the meaty interior. Smart creatures! Now if only we could train some pigeons to go to NWA and hunt for dark colored 'Nuts' in the sand... Kind regards, Mike Bandli www.Astro-Artifacts.com A Destination For Space Related Artifacts -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin Altmann Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 5:52 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds... Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a stone hitting the roof and rolling down, recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped. I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping stones. Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour? Martin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
What some birds, such as the magpie and crows, is that they are attracted to bright and shinny objects. One species, and I can't remember which it is, will actually collect things to line his nest to make himself more attractive to the female. If they are disturbed in anyway while flying, they will drop whatever they are carrying. Another possibility is that some of these rocks are from birds just taking off. Birds will eliminate feces at takeoff to lighten their load and of course, gizzard stones do get passed when they become too smooth Hope this will help a little. Mark Ferguson - Original Message - From: Martin Altmann [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 8:52 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds... Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a stone hitting the roof and rolling down, recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped. I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping stones. Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour? Martin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
On Thu, 9 Nov 2006 02:52:03 +0100, you wrote: Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? There are types of birds that collect objects for some reason or another. http://archives.stupidquestion.net/sq11702.html http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bowerbird/odd.html __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
AW: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
Thanks Mike, Mark and Mark! Indeed crows, ravens, magpies are very intelligent, do have compared to mammals a developped idea of numbers and are even able to use tools. I prefer the nuts-thing, as the stones aren't directly decorative. I remember a little tropical bird, who accurately sorted by colours decorates in front of his nest objects like petals, beetle elytrons ect. to impress the ladies. Most crazy are the Keas, they easily get bored and like to play half of the day. Chirp! Martin -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Im Auftrag von Mike Bandli Gesendet: Donnerstag, 9. November 2006 03:03 An: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Betreff: RE: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds... I know for a fact that this is true having witnessed it myself. They do this mistaking them for nuts (still in the shell). The rocks happen to resemble the shape and color of a nut, so they will often drop them from high up hoping that they will shatter. Crows are the main culprit. I have also seen crows dropping rocks and walnuts onto the road, hoping that cars will run them over and reveal the meaty interior. Smart creatures! Now if only we could train some pigeons to go to NWA and hunt for dark colored 'Nuts' in the sand... Kind regards, Mike Bandli www.Astro-Artifacts.com A Destination For Space Related Artifacts -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin Altmann Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 5:52 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds... Hola list, I have a stupid question for the ornithologists. Does it happen, that birds are throwing with stones? At least once per year I get an email from people, who swear to have heard a stone hitting the roof and rolling down, recently again and the stone even should have had a red mark, where it hit the tile. The stones are quite small, often round or egg-shaped. I remembered an article years ago, reporting that a group of magpies caused troubles in the Netherlands, frequently damaging parking cars in dropping stones. Can this story be true and if so, what are the reasons for such a behaviour? Martin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Falling stones and birds...
Ok Meteorite Trivia Buffs...Wasn't there a meteorite recovered which had been nesstled into the lining of a penguin nest(sic) or other species of sea bird? Elton __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
