Date:         Tue, 22 May 2001 12:27:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Frank Boyle <ravenfrank@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Unusual bird behavior...
In-Reply-To:  <48.162bd93f.283badce@aol.com>
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Once, whilst out walking my pet dog, Foamy, I witnessed a green heron in a
cornfield.  He was quite agitated as he flew straight down into the middle
of the cornfield, wings bent.  Upon closer inspection, I was alarmed and
aghast to find him picking at the dead remains of a birder, which had
obviously been there for several years...

Very unusual behavior, indeed!

I have also seen them tap dance several times.

*********************
Frank Boyle
ravenfrank@earthlink.net
Laurel, MD
*********************

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM]On
Behalf Of Rick Sussman
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 7:56 AM
To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Unusual bird behavior...


Hi all,
 I witnessed two unusual behaviors yesterday, both from rather common
species, here at our little pond in Ashton, Montgomery County ,MD.

The first was in the AM as I walked our dog around the pond. A pair of
Killdeer raised (only) one young at the pond this spring (a first), and it
was the juvenile that I watched as it swam across the water, towards an
adult
on shore.The young bird is now getting its adult-like plumage, but it's a
bit
duller looking and not quite so crisp as the parents. I know that shorebirds
do swim, but I have never before seen a Killdeer do this. Had the water been
shallower as it was earlier in the week before the rains, I would have
thought it was walking in the water, but the water is now sufficiently deep
that it was indeed swimming!

The second observation also occured while walking the dog, this time after
work about 6:15 PM. There was an adult Green Heron standing along the edge
of
the pond, and as we approached, it flew. Before it got ten feet out over the
water however, it pulled in its wings, dropped to the waters surface, and
caught a small fish (which must've been right at the surface) with its bill,
while its feet dangled in the water. The heron never really lost a wing beat
as it caught the fish (it actually seemed to hover, albeit briefly), and
then
continued to fly across to the other side of the pond! I have never
witnessed
a heron do this!

Comments/questions?

Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
warblerick@aol.com

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