[TN-Bird] Birds - Play and Prey
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: missbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, ARBIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, albirds@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:45:39 EDT
July 18-19, 2007
Shelby Co. TN
Yesterday, we were trying to get some bird recording for Cornell but the fog
and overcast skies shut that down. Later, we were up in the tower at Eagle
Lake Wildlife Refuge, when I asked Joe if he had ever seen swallows play
feather tag. I hustled up a few white feathers and started letting them fly in
the
wind as a few Barn Swallows passed under us. Immediately one bird snatched a
feather out of the air and the tag game started. We started with 3 or 4 birds
but the excitement brought in more until there were a dozen birds in
pursuit. In trying to grab the feather it would be dropped and another bird
would
pick it up as it fell and he or she would become the object of all the others
attention. The chase game went on for ten minutes with the birds even flying
by and between us as though to show off. You cannot view such antics without
knowing these birds are really having fun at this game. I've seen it quite a
few times but this was the first time I had instigated the game.
Today, while talking to a friend in the Home Depot parking lot in mid-town,
I noticed two Mississippi Kites swooping around at tree top level over the
street just to our west. I also noted a Chimney Swift frenetically flying in
the
same air space. I realized the kites were in pursuit of the swift and called
the chase to Bert's attention. As we watched, one adult and one immature
kite were diving on the swift and swirling almost right over our heads. The
circles got tighter and the swift was being cut off at every turn; suddenly
from
above and behind us another adult Mississippi Kite came out of nowhere and
snatched the hapless swift out of the air. The three kites circled a few more
times with the skilled catcher seemingly showing off the prey and then all
three departed back to a tree line to the east.
I've seen Mississippi Kites snatch young Black-necked Stilts off the ground
at the pits plus mice and lizards from the ground and trees but this was my
first for the taking a flying bird, although I've seen them chase a few
swallows. Bert then told me he had seen one, years ago, in the same location,
take
a swift and another birder I know had reported that one took a Cow Bird from
the ground in their back yard in Little Rock, AR.
You just never know what will be revealed when you pay
attention...................
Good Birding !!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN 38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the heavens.
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