Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 13:40:34 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Spring time bird behavior Comments: To: shaffer3@erols.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit While birding over the last several weeks I have enjoyed witnessing several fascinating examples of bird behavior related to springtime mating and breeding which reminded me of why watching even the more common birds can be so fascinating. 1. I saw two male Cardinals engage in what appeared to be a territorial dispute in which they chased vigorously after each other and even squared off against one another on a branch with each assuming a threatening posture towards the other, with both wings partially unfolded and held out. I had never seen a Cardinal assume this type of posture before. 2. I also saw one of the Mute Swans at the pond go after a group of young Wood Duck chicks, at which point the adult female Wood Duck vigorously went after the Mute Swan, hissing, flapping, and pecking at the Swan until she drove it off. 3. While watching the many swallows over Schoolhouse Pond at lunch one day, I and a friend saw two Barn Swallows collide with each other while zipping over the water. Both were uninjured. 4. I enjoyed watching two Gnatcatchers fuss over a small, cup shaped nest low in a tree at Patuxent Ponds. Also, on Friday just after dusk I enjoyed listening to a Whip-poor-will call off and on for about half an hour, and also saw two Barred Owls in the nearby woods at Patuxent Ponds. Highlights recently at Schoolhouse Pond have included beautiful views of a Baltimore Oriole (today) and a pair of Yellow Throated Vireos (Monday). Fred Shaffer Crofton, Anne Arundel Patuxent Bird Club Pamthept@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================