topic Re: Mobile Home in Community Chat

Mobile Home

Kachina624 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:06:25 GMT

In this very unusual photo, a pair of Magpies have built a nest on the antlers of a bull elk, apparently sharing his life with him, going where he goes, sleeping when he sleeps. Life must be a challenge when he runs or shakes his head. They're in trouble if he sheds his antlers as they'll find themselves on the ground floor and no longer mobile.

They probably pick ticks off the elk, a true symbiotic relationship?

Re: Mobile Home

Mindy D — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:33:13 GMT

Yes, this is an example of mutualism. Mutualism is the type of symbiosis in which both living things benefit.

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deepwaterdotter — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:44:26 GMT

Very unique and interesting.

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Kachina624 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:53:13 GMT

It's hard to distinguish the birds amid the twigs and antlers. I took this screenshot from a video where both adults were jumping in and out of the nest.

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kindred cats — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:57:32 GMT

That is amazing! Learned something new today Kachina!

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ValuSkr — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:04:25 GMT

Reminds me of the fascinators they wear in England.

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BlueFinch — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:29:22 GMT

Oh, no. That can't end well. Crazy to see, though.

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luvzchiz — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:53:23 GMT

Wow. Just love Mother Nature!

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spumoni99 — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:56:17 GMT

Mother nature is very smart, there must be a reason, the magpie's are probably not going to have an issue with predators?

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On It — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 22:11:50 GMT

I hope they abandon ship before rut season. It could get dangerous in that nest.

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SilleeMee — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:09:15 GMT

Have you ever heard magpies screech? That poor elk! LOL!

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MyShadowLove — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:18:04 GMT

@Kachina624 ...This is absolutely amazing!...You would think that the Elk would have become annoyed with all of the activity going on right on top of his antlers while the magpies were building that nest and why would they nest in such a place....I would think that the nest could be easily disturbed and fall to the ground.

I have so many questions...

Wildlife is such a Wonder!

Re: Mobile Home

MyShadowLove — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:25:54 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
Have you ever heard magpies screech? That poor elk! LOL!

@SilleeMee ...I'm amazed that the Elk even allowed the magpies to build the nest on top of its antlers...I would think that the Elk could easily just knock it's antlers against a tree or something and knock the nest off...Imagine if it got in an altercation with another Elk and they locked their antlers together, as they do.

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Sweetbay magnolia — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:35:59 GMT

Maybe they pick "nits" off his hide.

Nature, undisturbed, has amazing habits.

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MyShadowLove — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:42:34 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
Yes, this is an example of mutualism. Mutualism is the type of symbiosis in which both living things benefit.

@Mindy D ...Well that's very interesting...I'm going to have to do some research on this...It is so fascinating!

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Trailrun23 — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 21:10:34 GMT

I wonder how much weight the nest puts on the antlers that the elk can feel.

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NickNack — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 23:52:28 GMT

@Kachina624 That is so interesting!

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riley1 — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:57:28 GMT

@Kachina624 - Thank you for this Nat Geo moment. I have never heard of this! riley1

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Lilysmom1 — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:16:32 GMT

@Kachina624 , wow! Talk about living dangerously. LM

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jubilant — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 09:43:01 GMT

@Kachina624 How interesting. I've never seen anything like this before. We watch a lot of wildlife programs but this is a new one for me! DH says he has never seen this before either. I wonder how often this happens? I would think it's not all that common.