On June 20, after a long train ride to Chicago, I spent an hour with family in Maggie Daley Park, being entertained on the children's playground by my grandson and by a thoroughly urban male RW Blackbird. The latter was unexpected: many hundreds of active kids, no wetland or pond nearby, but lots of sprinklers, some shrubbery, plus whale tail and ship mast for perches. The RW seemed a serene observer of the chaos, perching, feeding, drinking within a few feet of the churning small humans. But every time the small, quiet, slow-moving playground custodian made her frequent rounds, the bird mobbed her, striking her cap forcefully and scolding. Based on the total lack of response from the custodian, I'd guess this was routine behavior; she must have threatened a nest at some point. There were plenty of other people in pale baseball caps, so this was clearly a personal contest.
Margaret Shepard ________________________________________ From: bounce-120633056-3494...@list.cornell.edu <bounce-120633056-3494...@list.cornell.edu> on behalf of Donna Lee Scott <d...@cornell.edu> Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 2:50 PM To: Mike Pitzrick; Paul Schmitt Cc: Dave K; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Why larger predatory birds flee smaller birds While arriving at CLO for Wed. evening lecture of Spring Field Ornithology class in spring, I attempted to go to the main entrance by walking under the overhanging eaves of the building, when a very aggressive gander ran out and chased me all the way around to the main stonewall walkway ! Somebody should have had a video camera handy to record the ridiculous sight of me running and laughing while the goose chased me, honking all the way! Later, I saw a goose on a nest near the part of that small marsh that is down towards the delivery entrance. Donna Lansing Station Road Lansing From: bounce-120632962-15001...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-120632962-15001...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Mike Pitzrick Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 2:01 PM To: Paul Schmitt <pschmi...@gmail.com> Cc: Dave K <fishwatch...@hotmail.com>; CAYUGABIRDS-L <cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why larger predatory birds flee smaller birds A couple of years ago by the Lab of O I saw a Canada Goose repeated land on the shoulders of a white-tailed deer and peck the back of the neck and head, driving it away from a nearby nest. I seem to recall that some of the Lab staff chose an alternate entrance to the building for a couple of weeks to avoid this aggressive gander. -Mike On Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 1:49 PM, Paul Schmitt <pschmi...@gmail.com<mailto:pschmi...@gmail.com>> wrote: This got me to recalling that last summer I saw a RW Blackbird take offense at some Canada Geese there were too close to a nest at MNWR. The male RWB attached the gander's back, taking hold and riding him out of the area. It appeared the blackbird knew just where to be clear of the gander's beak. Paul Schmitt On Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 1:42 PM, Dave K <fishwatch...@hotmail.com<mailto:fishwatch...@hotmail.com>> wrote: On the Eastern end of Eaton Marsh this AM, Kingbirds were defending against an Osprey. It's the first time I've seen the Kingbirds red crown which, apparently, they use in this situation. https://flic.kr/p/K6Q3AJ https://flic.kr/p/K6NNDN [Image removed by sender.][Image removed by sender.]<https://www.flickr.com/photos/105424358@N06/28289055592/> [Image removed by sender.][Image removed by sender.]<https://www.flickr.com/photos/105424358@N06/28289297622/> ________________________________ From: bounce-120630872-25047...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-120630872-25047...@list.cornell.edu> <bounce-120630872-25047...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-120630872-25047...@list.cornell.edu>> on behalf of Dave Nutter <nutter.d...@me.com<mailto:nutter.d...@me.com>> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:31 PM To: Cayuga Birds Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Why larger predatory birds flee smaller birds As I drove south on NYS-89 west of Cayuga Lake this afternoon I saw a Red-tailed Hawk ahead, flying vigorously alongside the road, apparently having just been persuaded by an Eastern Kingbird to vacate a typical perch atop a power pole. As they crossed in front of me, the Kingbird closed the gap completely and appeared to land and remain between the shoulders of the flying hawk. They disappeared, still attached, behind farm buildings before I could tell what damage the Kingbird inflicted, but I bet it was pretty uncomfortable. Meanwhile second Kingbird had also joined the chase. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Almost a Conversation Mary Oliver I have not really, not yet, talked with otter about his life. He has so many teeth, he has trouble with vowels. Wherefore our understanding is all body expression — he swims like the sleekest fish, he dives and exhales and lifts a trail of bubbles. Little by little he trusts my eyes and my curious body sitting on the shore. Sometimes he comes close. I admire his whiskers and his dark fur which I would rather die than wear. He has no words, still what he tells about his life is clear. He does not own a computer. He imagines the river will last forever. He does not envy the dry house I live in. He does not wonder who or what it is that I worship. He wonders, morning after morning, that the river is so cold and fresh and alive, and still I don’t jump in. [Image removed by sender.] -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
