[TN-Bird] Questions for the group

Last night at the NTOS meeting it was the time to ask questions about birds 
that you were afraid to ask. I have thought of two since last night and they 
are the following:
Are there any mimic migrants who pick up the songs of tropical endemics and 
then sing some of those songs here when they return? This would include any 
birds native to North America north of the Mexican border - so even possible 
mimic migrants in the western USA would be candidates for my question.

And I know how much some birders "love" cowbirds ;-) So I'll ask this 
question - Have there been any studies done as to what happens that causes 
cowbirds 
(or actually any other nest parasites - cuckoos, honeyguides, etc) to suddenly 
realize they are cowbirds and not the same species as the host parents? I am 
wondering if some kind of DNA is dormant within them and maybe it suddenly 
becomes activated? Or as they grow, does their change in appearance cause the 
parents to drive them away?

Okay those are the questions that I would have asked, had I thought of them 
at the time.

Barry Jernigan
Murfreesboro, Rutherford, TN


=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the count in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual date of observation should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

_____________________________________________________________
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp

_____________________________________________________________

Other related posts: