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
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