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Re: Slightly OT: Revenge of the Cowbirds

From:

Fred Pierce

Reply-To:

Fred Pierce

Date:

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:10:54 -0400

Interesting. If, as I think I read somewhere, Cowbirds evolved their
parasitic behavior because they were followers of the buffalo herds and
couldn't hang around to raise their own broods, then I'm wondering how they
would have evolved the nest monitoring and retaliatory behavior. Could it be
new behavior learned since moving east and settling down?

Speaking of nesting - I've been going to look this question up but haven't
had a chance. Do Carolina Wrens build decoy nests like House Wrens? Or, how
long a time elapses between their completing their nest and egg-laying? My
birds finished their nest over a week ago and have hardly been seen since. A
pair of Chickadees have been coveting the nest box, even while the Wrens
were working on it. Now I see them (the Chickadees) visit it several times a
day, looking in the hole with a wistful expression (ok, I made that part
up).

Unfortunately my sloppy note-taking doesn't indicate clearly whether there
was an interval between nest completion and residence, so I'm a bit
puzzled - and wishing I had room for a Chickadee box.

fdp

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Pierce (DNRC)- avialantic.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of F Lovelett
> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 8:08 PM
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Slightly OT: Revenge of the Cowbirds
>
>
> Why don't more songbirds just toss cowbird eggs out of their nests?
>
> http://news.ufl.edu/2007/03/05/mafia-cowbirds/
>
>
> Felicia Lovelett
> Sykesville, MD
>