Re: Bird Behavior

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@sabatini wrote:

@drizzellla, thanks for the update, & @gardenman, you're right about nature. Kill or be killed.

Watching birds and learning about their respective habits is so fascinating, isn't it?

My mom was a bird lover, always fed them, & I can remember her shooing away the starlings when they'd descend on her feeder. If she didn't like them, then neither did I. Plus, they looked so ordinary.

Maybe you both already know about the incredible starling murmurations, but I only became aware of them about 15 years ago. Wow, just wow!

They truly filled with me with a deep, spiritual awe & I marveled at another one of God's creations.

Starlings aren't so ordinary after all!

IMO, this is the best video of a murmuration, or perhaps it's just the music which makes it more special to me.

I hope the video won't be removed.

OK @sabatini I want to know how all those birds did not go crashing into one another. They were changing direction so often. I expected to see one or more falling with each direction change. And how were they able to predict what the next change would be. Amazing to watch.

I learned that Starlings were "imported" to the US. Guess that explains why that video is from England. They have even more Starlings than we do in the US.

There is a park near our house where we often walk. And on the phone we have downloaded a site. It is able to pick up the sounds of each individual bird. Sometimes there is a list of at least 10 different birds. Some birds just come to the park this time of year to mate and then they leave.

Patriot3 · ‎06-07-2010

I have taken down my bird feeder for a couple of weeks. The starlings are just terrible. It seems like there is no way to get rid of them. Anyone have a solution? They eat anything I put in the feeder.

Even tho I took down the feeder, I still hear them squawking. They are so mean. They scare away all the nice birds.

sabatini · ‎06-29-2015

@drizzellla wrote:

OK @sabatini I want to know how all those birds did not go crashing into one another. They were changing direction so often. I expected to see one or more falling with each direction change. And how were they able to predict what the next change would be. Amazing to watch.

I learned that Starlings were "imported" to the US. Guess that explains why that video is from England. They have even more Starlings than we do in the US.

There is a park near our house where we often walk. And on the phone we have downloaded a site. It is able to pick up the sounds of each individual bird. Sometimes there is a list of at least 10 different birds. Some birds just come to the park this time of year to mate and then they leave.

@drizzellla, the murmurations are incredible, aren't they? I wondered the same thing back when I first saw them.

Imported birds are a HUGE problem! Some folks have short sighted ideas & mess things up, big time, by importing both flora and fauna.

Look at the kudzu in the South, wild pigs in Hawaii & did you know that pigeons & sparrows were also imported?

All of them have wreaked havoc.

TTYL, nice chatted with you, @drizzellla.

p.s. I'm sure you noticed that the video was removed. I guess it was a very bad & dangerous thing to share. The thoughtful mods are surely looking out for us!

It is fascinating, though, that inflammatory or vicious posts by some don't seem to bother the mods, even a little bit.

Muddling through...

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@Patriot3 wrote:
I have taken down my bird feeder for a couple of weeks. The starlings are just terrible. It seems like there is no way to get rid of them. Anyone have a solution? They eat anything I put in the feeder.

Even tho I took down the feeder, I still hear them squawking. They are so mean. They scare away all the nice birds.

We have given up. The woodpecker liked the peanut suet. So we would always filled the suet holder with peanut suet. Well the Starlings also liked it. They would eat all the suet before the woodpecker knew it was there. So the poor Woodpeckers would try their best feeding on the Finch feeder. It didn't work well.

We fill the largest birdfeeder and I swear the Starlings have a scout and they know as soon as the feeder is filled. So a large group of Starlings descends and a gallon of birdseed is on the ground within minutes.

We have given up. So we load up the birdfeeders everyday and feed everyone that comes around.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@sabatini wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
OK @sabatini I want to know how all those birds did not go crashing into one another. They were changing direction so often. I expected to see one or more falling with each direction change. And how were they able to predict what the next change would be. Amazing to watch.

I learned that Starlings were "imported" to the US. Guess that explains why that video is from England. They have even more Starlings than we do in the US.

There is a park near our house where we often walk. And on the phone we have downloaded a site. It is able to pick up the sounds of each individual bird. Sometimes there is a list of at least 10 different birds. Some birds just come to the park this time of year to mate and then they leave.
@drizzellla, the murmurations are incredible, aren't they? I wondered the same thing back when I first saw them.

Imported birds are a HUGE problem! Some folks have short sighted ideas & mess things up, big time, by importing both flora and fauna.
Look at the kudzu in the South, wild pigs in Hawaii & did you know that pigeons & sparrows were also imported?
All of them have wreaked havoc.

TTYL, nice chatted with you, @drizzellla.

p.s. I'm sure you noticed that the video was removed. I guess it was a very bad & dangerous thing to share. The thoughtful mods are surely looking out for us!
It is fascinating, though, that inflammatory or vicious posts by some don't seem to bother the mods, even a little bit.

@sabatini I am glad I saw the video when I did. I did not notice it was removed. I still can't believe it. It was so impressive. Thanks for mentioning it.

I sometimes watch a show "To Catch A Smuggler" on the National Geographic Channel. I can not believe all the stuff, especially food items that people fill into their suitcases when they come to the US. Many items have insects because the fruits, leaves or items are raw materials. Even have seen raw chicken. I am amazed how many "hitchikers" that are caught.

Sakuya · ‎02-15-2011

The video was removed because you can't out live links in posts (unless a QVC item, etc.)

But you can post, for example, "search in Youtube for blah blah blah" and then people can go find the video themselves.

Patriot3 · ‎06-07-2010

@drizzellla wrote:
@Patriot3 wrote:
I have taken down my bird feeder for a couple of weeks. The starlings are just terrible. It seems like there is no way to get rid of them. Anyone have a solution? They eat anything I put in the feeder.

Even tho I took down the feeder, I still hear them squawking. They are so mean. They scare away all the nice birds.

We have given up. The woodpecker liked the peanut suet. So we would always filled the suet holder with peanut suet. Well the Starlings also liked it. They would eat all the suet before the woodpecker knew it was there. So the poor Woodpeckers would try their best feeding on the Finch feeder. It didn't work well.

We fill the largest birdfeeder and I swear the Starlings have a scout and they know as soon as the feeder is filled. So a large group of Starlings descends and a gallon of birdseed is on the ground within minutes.

We have given up. So we load up the birdfeeders everyday and feed everyone that comes around.

@drizzellla I have a large feeder that I'm not using right now. I got smaller ones and found the big starlings can't sit on them. Now they've brought their "kids".

The smaller ones try to get on the feeders. When I hear them squawking, I chase them away. I don't think there is a solution. Anything I've seen on the internet doesn't sound like a solution.

Yes, they either eat everything or throw it on the ground and chase away the smaller birds. Hate those things.

sabatini · ‎06-29-2015

@Patriot3, I totally understand, & I also had to quit feeding birds, other than hummingbirds.

What mainly ruined it for me was pigeons. I tried everything to keep them off my feeder, but they were like squirrels. Every thing I tried, they'd adapt to it, & some of their tricks were impressive. When I put a cage around the feeder keeping them from seed, they devised a coordinated plan.

One would fly over & hang from the lower half, there by tilting the feeder. Another pigeon would fly to the opposite side & bang into the cage, spilling the seed to the ground. And the hoard would descend.

I wanted to take a video of it, but never did.

Muddling through...

Patriot3 · ‎06-07-2010

@sabatini wrote:
@Patriot3, I totally understand, & I also had to quit feeding birds, other than hummingbirds.

What mainly ruined it for me was pigeons. I tried everything to keep them off my feeder, but they were like squirrels. Every thing I tried, they'd adapt to it, & some of their tricks were impressive. When I put a cage around the feeder keeping them from seed, they devised a coordinated plan.
One would fly over & hang from the lower half, there by tilting the feeder. Another pigeon would fly to the opposite side & bang into the cage, spilling the seed to the ground. And the hoard would descend.
I wanted to take a video of it, but never did.

@sabatini Oh wow, never had trouble w/pigeons! I bet that was funny, but disgusting more than funny.

sabatini · ‎06-29-2015

Yes, @Patriot3 , exactly!! More disgusting than funny.

Where I live now, we have a massive problem w/ pigeons. Our HOA has even hired falconers from time to time, just to keep them at bay. They come very early in the morning.

I do love raptors!

Intrusive, non native birds are a nightmare.

Muddling through...