Living in a 2.5 acres woods for 42 years, we have heard the chucking of the
Chipmunks for a long time. Almost without fail at least here it's always going
to happen when a bird of prey is in the yard. Red-tailed, Red-shouldered,
Broad-wing Hawks all bring about the alarm calls from the little chippies. I
have noticed that the Cooper's hawks and Sharp shinned don't bring about this
kind of behavior. We've found that interesting.
Take care!
Mary Howell CromerOldham County Kentucky
On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 04:47:18 PM EDT, Greg Walker
<gregory.l.walker@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
For those who want to go all the way down this chipmunk hole, this study seems
to be the source of the chucking = aerial threat hypothesis:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233813853_Context-specific_alarm_calls_of_the_eastern_chipmunk_Tamias_striatus
In this study, of 42 chucking chipmunks observed, the "apparent stimulus" was
identified in only 19 cases, but in all 19 it was a bird (although not always a
bird of prey). In the other 23, no reason for the chucking could be determined,
though as we all know, sometimes birds are hard to find:-)
I have also felt that I was the threat being chucked at. But apparently others
believe that you are not the reason for the warning, but the one being warned.
I like knowing that the chipmunks have my back:-)
Greg WalkerLouisville, KY
On Tue, Sep 27, 2022 at 2:38 PM <brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think inaccurate generalizations can be made about this behavior. I feel
confident that *I* have been the "aerial predator" that a number of chipmunks
have "chucked" at over the years . . . my sense has been that it is an
indicator of a certain level of awareness about something disturbing in the
environment. The chuck may be just a "I'm keeping an eye on you," possibly for
the sake of other wildlife, while the more emphatic "whistle" is given in a
much more threatening situation.
bpb, Louisville
-----Original Message-----
From: <jaseelhorst@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sep 27, 2022 2:16 PM
To: BirdKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [birdky] Re: What's this sound?
It is very similar to a cuckoo, which is what I thought it was until the ID. I
know well their warning that (I now know) is for ground predators, but was
unaware of the different warning for aerial predators, which is probably what
I've been hearing the past couple months in Greenup Co. when thinking I was
hearing odd sounding cuckoos. Good to know! Jim SeelhorstSt. MatthewsFrom:
birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Steve
Brown <steve554b@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 8:13 AM
To: BirdKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [birdky] Re: What's this sound? Someone told me that they call
chipmunks "ground cuckoos" because of this chucking call. Steve
Brown,Louisville, KY.
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 11:00 AM Greg Walker <gregory.l.walker@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have been fooled by that one a few times! Even more specific, chucking is
usually a response to an aerial threat. They can make that sound for a LONG
time, as you discovered. The sharp "chip" is more often a response to a
ground-dwelling threat, but is used for both. So when I hear the chucking sound
these days, I look up!
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 9:36 AM Bob Brown <bobbrown474747@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Right.
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 9:35 AM andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yep. Fooled me thoroughly this time, because it was not coming from anywhere
near the ground. Likely warning everyone about the Coop that has been hanging
around feeders recently.
Andrew MelnykovychLouisville KY
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 9:31 AM Bob Brown <bobbrown474747@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Its called chucking. Response to predator sighting.
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 9:29 AM Karol Wilson <karolwithak99@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Andrew, That is a chipmunk. I finally figured it out with certainty several
years ago. I'd heard it before and wondered, but during one long day in a deer
stand I actually saw a chipmunk as it was making that call. Karol Wilson
Lexington
On Mon, Sep 26, 2022, 9:22 AM andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Recorded this about 45 minutes ago in my thoroughly suburban (no woods within a
quarter mile) backyard in the Middletown area in Jefferson County. Couldn't
locate the source, but it was coming from high up in a tree in the next yard or
two. Clip is 30 seconds, but it went on like this for at least three minutes.
More reminiscent of a cuckoo than anything else, but sonogram-wise, not even
close. Which is likely why Merlin steadfastly refused to venture an ID, so I'm
thinking it's not a bird. Although if it's a squirrel, it's got more on-task
attention span than any rodent I've encountered. Anyone??
Andrew MelnykovychLouisville KY
--
Steve BrownLouisville, KY
