Are you looking at me? Birds can tell if you are watching them - because they are watching you.

Wild Biology ^ | 4/30/08

[Lazamataz]

This ant won't stop staring at me.

[woollyone]

bird brains!

[Nathan Zachary]

I don't know about that. Every morning there is a whole flock of pine grouse (ruffled grouse) sitting in one or another of the ornamental apple trees around my house and yard. As soon as I look out the window at them and notice they are there they all bugger off. I could be on the couch 10 feet away from a window, not move a muscle, just my eyes, and they either blast off or freeze up solid, ready to blast off. It's amazing just how sensitive they are. You'd think they'd be used to me by now, and I never hunt them to make them leary.
This flock has existed around here for about 15 years now, (the original birds offspring now of course) and they always seem to maintain a healthy number of about 25 birds or so that survive the winter.

I suppose many of the spring chicks fly off elsewhere in the fall; (they usually have have 2 hatches during the summer of about 10-15 chicks each female) I've often seen some scooped up by owls and coyotes, or find a pile of feathers here and there, but out of the hundred or so that literally infest my forest in the fall, (I have a 2500 acre spread of which about 1500 is forest) there always seems to be a group of 25 or so that hang around all winter eating from the fruit trees in my yard site.

[CDHart]

I am having a problem with brown-headed cowbirds. They are a species of blackbird, but are parasites in that they lay eggs in other birds' nests and go on their way. The birds that stay with the eggs end up feeding the cowbirds, sometimes to the detriment of their own young, as the cowbirds are bigger.

I have tried shooting them with a BB gun, but they are smart and fast and I've had no luck. An online publication suggested not feeding any of the birds at all for about a week and maybe the cowbirds would go somewhere else.

Does anyone have a practical suggestion for me?

Carolyn

[El Gran Salseron]

Anyone who has watched birds even as a passing idle glance in the back yard knows this.

Why did they have to spend money on a useless endeavor? All they would have had to do is to ask anyone who watched birds even for a few moments.

Idiots.

[Nathan Zachary]

"This research describes the first explicit demonstration of a bird responding to a live predator's eye-gaze direction." grouse always have a few guards sitting in the trees around a feeding area. as the feeding birds get their share, they switch places with the guards.

When a big old owl hawk or eagle comes however, there is no eye contact. Just a soft "thud" sound and a bunch of feathers fluttering to the ground as the stealth bomber swoops in a snatches one of the guards or feeders.
the predator birds are incredibly fast, especially the owls. They are like bullet. All those fluffy feathers fold up real tight when they dive in.

Someone gave us a guinnea pig to babysit one time, and not thinking, I put it out in the yard to feed on a clump of fresh clover. I turned my back for just a second to tell my dog to lay down; then I heard the "thud" and the guinea pig was no more...

[KarlInOhio]

Predators have read the story and are quickly developing countermeasures.

[trussell]

Your pictures and captions are TOOO FUNNY!
Thanks Laz!

[LibWhacker]

Fearless, flying cat. Will travel.

[LibWhacker]

LOL

[relictele]

[woollyone]

Never heard of this!

Just did a cursory glance about them and the first thing that came to mind was to make lots of fake nests and put ‘em EVERYWHERE in your yard.

Then the cowbirds would have to try and figure out which are the real nests and which are the offering plates for the local snake populations and other predators.

[LibWhacker]

The snows tell many stories...

[redhead]

This is true. My African Grey parrot, Buster, even when his back is turned, can tell if I have turned to look at him, and has his eye on me instantly.

As prey creatures, it's in their best interest to be fully aware of their surroundings. That surely includes any loving gazes from their adoring humans.

Buster, you ROCK!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I have tried shooting them with a BB gun, but they are smart and fast and I've had no luck.

You need more "BBs" per round.

[CDHart]

That's not a bad idea. I'll think about it.

Carolyn

[Nathan Zachary]

LoL! well, maybe sometimes wing tip marks. That one must have grabbed the overweight easter bunny and his basket of eggs...

[CDHart]

I thought about that. But I'd probably blow holes in the deck where the feeders are. I guess I could throw the seed on the ground and lie in wait for them. I'm not one to go around shooting things, but these birds are making me mad.

Carolyn

[alarm rider]

You need a fully equipped male barn cat. I promise you, your problem will be solved.

[CDHart]

But then the cat will get all the birds, not just the cowbirds.

Carolyn