Co-birders:
First off, I too have witnessed a couple of Sharp-shinned/Magpie
confrontations which I thought remarkable enough at the time to record. The one
I remember best was a Sharp-shinned I came across one time sitting on the
ground in a Russian Olive thicket, wings spread out submissively, before a
harassing Magpie. As I approached the Sharpie flew off, followed by the Magpie.
There was something kind of sad about it...
I saw some rather perplexing Turkey Vulture behavior yesterday. About 20 or
30 birds were just endlessly circling a large cottonwood tree in City Park. (On
the far eastern end where that deep ditch is) I first saw 'em about 3:30 P.M.
and when I came back up from the Goodnight Trail three hours later, they were
still doing it. A couple appeared to be roosting ? in the cottonwood, but
quickly flushed as I approached and began circling with the others. I wonder if
this was some kind of preroosting ritual, akin to that of the Vaux Swift maybe?
I've seen that phenomenon in Oregon, where they swirl round and round high in
the sky before funneling down into a chimney for the night. I can see why the
swifts would do it to keep the flock together so as not to miss the chimney.
But why would turkey vultures do it? Maybe they were just enjoying chasing
around in the thermals on a beautiful summer evening...but for three hours?
Does anybody have a clue? Mymm
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