Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 04:56:53 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Frank Boyle Subject: Re: unusual bird behavior; atlas query In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Male Red-Wing Blackbirds on territory will agressively chase anything (including me!!) they feel is intruding or hindering their chances to mate. I have seen Red -Wings chase hawks many times their size, and certainly other birds such as Mockers will pursue dogs, cats, humans, Blue Jays and any species they do not want in their turf. Perhaps the atlas is a bit too rigid in it's species accounts; I have found that while breeding bird atlases are nearly indispensable, the accounts are often too brief or too succinct, as if they were "rushed" into publication. Cowbirds have an amazing array of songs usually used while courting. In combination with tail-bobbing and other behaviours it would seem that Cowbirds sing more often while directly engaged in securing a mate, from my observations. ********************* Frank Boyle ravenfrank@earthlink.net Burlington, VT (for now) ********************* -----Original Message----- From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On Behalf Of Linda Baker Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 7:52 PM To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] unusual bird behavior; atlas query MDOsprey-- While working our blocks in Dorchester County, Dotty Mumford and I watched an interaction that we both found unusual. A male Red-wing blackbird was vigorously chasing another bird around a small field. Checking the ID of the "chasee" we found it to be a female Brownhheaded cowbird. The chase continued in and out of trees and around this small meadow for a few minutes. The red-wing put an impressive amount of energy into this pursuit. Query: Territory seem a strange word to use when describing the actions of cowbirds and if I recall the definition in the atlas handbook correctly, territorial disputes are defined as between members of the same species. Any suggestions how to code this behavior? Similarly, when a male cowbird sings, is it considered territorial? Linda Baker quiltbird@annapolis.net PS Will post some of the other interesting sightings later. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================