[cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose Takeoff Protocol

[Suan Hsi Yong]

So during last month's Snow Goose gathering at Cayuga Lake State Park,
I took a number of videos, and this one in particular showing the
explosive takeoffs, repeated in slow motion, I found particularly
interesting:

  https://youtu.be/3hRIJEPQ7qM

When the geese on the far side first take off, you'll notice that the
geese on water all turn around almost in unison to face away from the
takeoff and orient themselves more or less in the direction of flight.
They are also adhering to a strict protocol of not taking off early
before their turn (there is some flapping by one closer bird, but it
does not take off), as they wait patiently for their immediate
neighbors to take off before they do so themselves. After the initial
re-orientation, some geese do move around a bit, perhaps to make some
more space for a safer takeoff, or perhaps just a little impatient and
getting a better look at the oncoming wave of takeoffs?

In all these mass tight-flying birds (snow geese, starlings, various
shorebirds), it always seems incredible how they are able to stay so
tight without bumping into each other. This seems only possible with
what we might characterize as protocols or rules. This video shows a
glimpse of something like this happening for takeoffs; no doubt some
more complex protocol is happening mid-flight that's hard for us to
discern watching from the ground.

By the way, it has always been hard to capture the initiation of these
takeoffs, because they usually happen seemingly without warning. In
this instance, however, I'd noticed the approaching fishing boat and,
anticipating the flush, pointed my camera in that direction and hit
record.

Suan

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[cayugabirds-l] Bird on Transmission Tower

[Patrick Owen McNally]

Bird on high voltage transmission line along NYS Thruway 4/5/2021


[Image]




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[cayugabirds-l] feeder birds

[Colleen Richards]

We have multiple feeders outside our kitchen windows, including a 1' x 2' 
windowsill extension platform. In the past hour, chickadees, junco, cardinals, 
song and fox sparrows, blue jay, mourning doves, white-breasted nuthatch, and a 
male red-winged blackbird have all sat just outside my window to eat. The 
goldfinches, house finches, starling, downy, and robin prefer the other feeders 
or mealworms on the ground. Colleen Richards 


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