Bird Behaviour in Action
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the horbills are quite large birds used to feed on fruit and mainly insects,arachnids and small vertebrates.
but they are not used to kill aduld birds.
in this case an African Grey Hornbill (tockus nasutus) has cought and killed a social weaver.
"a strange behaviour"
Etosha National Park ,Namibia
original 3K file here:
Seagulls are fondly remembered in Utah for helping Mormon settlers deal with a plague of crickets. The seagull is now the state bird of Utah and a monument in Salt Lake City commemorates the event, known as the ‘Miracle of the Gulls’. Seagulls are very clever. They learn, remember and even pass on behaviours, such as stamping their feet in a group to imitate rainfall and trick earthworms to come to the surface. Seagulls’ intelligence is clearly demonstrated by a range of different feeding behaviours, such as dropping hard-shelled molluscs onto rocks so that they break open so they can eat them, and following ploughs in fields where they know upturned grubs and other food sources will be plentiful.
Birds of prey are fascinating and majestic animals. They can generally be defined as birds that feed on animals that they catch alive. Representatives of these two orders can be found almost everywhere in the world. Although these groups are distantly related, the behavioural and anatomical characteristics they share appear to be mainly the result of parallel evolution.
Mute Swan taking flight on the frozen lake of Saint-Point, Jura, France.
Swan, largest waterfowl species of the subfamily Anserinae, is generally classified in the genus Cygnus. There are around 7 different species of swan found around the world. The size, colour and behaviour a swan individual is largely dependent on it's species and the area in which it lives.
Today swans are a threatened species of animal mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. Pollution (mainly water pollution) is also a major reason as why the swan populations are declining.
A long billed Corella bird with a surprised facial expression captured at the Kings Domain , Melbourne. It's head was down digging for bulbs and when it raised its head...I am much nearer !
Best view enlarged for details of the face.
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Happy Sunday
Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps Cristatus
The great crested grebe has an elaborate mating display. Like all grebes, it nests on the water's edge, since its legs are set relatively far back and it is thus unable to walk very well. Usually two eggs are laid, and the fluffy, striped young grebes are often carried on the adult's back. In a clutch of two or more hatchlings, male and female grebes will each identify their 'favourites', which they alone will care for and teach
Unusually, young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The adults teach these skills to their young by carrying them on their back and diving, leaving the chicks to float on the surface; they then re-emerge a few feet away so that the chicks may swim back onto them.
The great crested grebe feeds mainly on fish, but also small crustaceans, insects small frogs and newts.
This species was hunted almost to extinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate hats and ladies' undergarments. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species, which is again a common sight.
The great crested grebe and its behaviour was the subject of one of the landmark publications in avian ethology: Julian Huxley's 1914 paper on The Courtship‐habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
Population:
UK breeding:
4,600 pairs
UK wintering:
19,000 individuals
I was observing a group of sea gulls next to the Yarra River when I took this shot.
I am sure you would have seen these postures and calls before.
I was also curious about these postures and their meanings.
Here you can see two common postures.
The gull in the front is showing the Forward Posture.
As the name implies, this posture is all about displaying a forward motion by holding the body roughly horizontal or slightly diagonally with the neck kinked characteristically.
The tail can sometimes be spread; the bill is either slightly opened or closed.
The Forward posture is used in the following situations:
1) hostile encounters
2) pair formation sequences
3) as a response to a bird approaching in flight
When used in hostile encounters on land, it often includes running towards an opponent, whereas in a pair formation sequence both gulls move parallel to each other
The Gull behind is doing the Mew Call
The Mew call is accompanied by a characteristic Arch-posture in which the head is held down and the wings are held slightly away from the body.
It is usually performed while walking but can be performed while standing, flying, or swimming as well.
The Mew call is used in both aggressive and non-aggressive situations:
Aggressive
1) In defense of food or territory, aimed at an opponent
2 )To attract a mate for support in territory defense
Non-aggressive
1) To attract a partner (also for courtship)
2) To call chicks that have wandered too far from the nest
3) To gather chicks for feeding or after they have been hiding after a disturbance
4) As a nest-relief invitation
5) As a call performed upon landing.
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Peaceful Sunday
Dove and Red-headed Finch.
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From the "senses" series: Vision
If someone sees something, they react. Cause-effect. According to Pavlov, reflexes could be conditioned. If you don't see, you don't react. But if vision is deprived from you and you know and watch that you don't see because someone doesn't want you to see, you react. Cause-effect.
Australian pelicans have a really fascinating behaviour. We watched a group of them in the bird park Walsrode, and their many different faces were amazing!
This juvenile is very different from the others.
He has always eyes closed
He is all white
He always stay hidden (very hard to do few photos)
This is the first Albino Nutria that I have ever seen.
Saddly the only opportunity I had to see this animal was during a bad end of afternoon.
(_DSC0089_DxO-2048N_2 )
Although they are not the only birds to engage in similar behaviour, gannets are famous for "billing" or “mutual fencing.” While it can happen any time both birds from a mated pair are at their nest site, it is quite routine when one bird returns to the nest after foraging for food or nesting material. The two gannets will face each other, often touching and calling. They then shake their heads side to side with their bills clacking together. They often bow, rub necks, and preen each other’s neck before taking up the more mundane activities of nesting in colonies, such as bickering and fighting with neighbors.
On this day 11 years ago I noticed this Goanna lizard hanging out at a popular picnic spot. Goannas are one of several species of lizards of the genus Varanus found in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Being predatory lizards, Goannas are often quite large, with sharp teeth and claws. They survive on smaller prey, but combine predatory and scavenging behaviour, which is why they are attracted to places where people gather and may feed them.
Like most lizards, goannas lay eggs. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. This offers protection and incubation; additionally, the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. Unlike some other species of lizards, Goannas do not have the ability to regrow limbs or tails.
RKO_9069.
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As we await the findings of the Grey Report here in the UK we hope that the behaviour of those who govern us will no longer be a 'grey area'. Despite this being a Pied Wagtail it aptly presents so many shades of grey as well as some definite black marks!
Thank you all for your kind response
This pair of twin calf North American Moose (Alces alces) were observed in a behaviour not expected this early in their life cycle in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.
25 October, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20121025_5388.CR2
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© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Courtship behaviour of the great crested grebe.
great crested grebe
Haubentaucher
[Podiceps cristatus]
Mud-puddling is a feeding behaviour displayed by butterflies. Although they primarily feed on nectar they seek out other essential nutrients including minerals and amino acids in moist substances such as rotting plant matter and mud. Where the conditions are suitable, butterflies form aggregations while mud-puddling.
There are six species of butterflies in this photo taken at Phnom Kulen National Park, Cambodia. I have identified two species. The large butterflies are yellow helens, Papilio nephelus. The white butterfly in flight is the same as the yellow and white butterflies with a dark edge at the edge of their wings. They are chocolate albatrosses, Appias lyncida.
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A living dino - The caiman. This is a small one, but its behaviour is the same as the large have - laying in the water, waiting for a prey. It's amazing how long they could just be there without the smallest move.They are real perfect hunters.
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I first saw this behaviour earlier in the year. On that occasion the adult spent ages trying to get to the flesh of the starfish.
This youngster once it had seen off all it's rivals didn't mess about and simply swallowed the starfish whole.
Starfish - Asteroidea
Herring Gull - Larus Argentatus
Oban Bay Scotland
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One side of Timmy is the adventurer: today a wall was newly concreted at the construction site at the creek behind the house. Two hours later Timmy checked the quality of the work. Fortunately, the concrete was already solid enough so that he did not leave paw prints :-)))
Happy Caturday 2.10.2021 "Signature behaviour"
see all photos: meine.stimme.de/heilbronn/kultur-freizeit/das-maeuerchen-...
Wasn't sure whether to post this or not! Bit of a crop and the sky was very white/bright,which posed lots of problems,but hey ho it is Hobbys. This is a dragonfly pass from the adult to the young bird. I was very fortunate to witness this let alone get any shots of the behaviour!.................Len.
I made a quick trip to the nature reserve after work and met this beautiful and friendly girl. After moving to a very photogenic spot on the grass she spent several minutes turning, preening and generally showing off all her best sides for the camera! It was hard to pick a shot in the end :)
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Grey-headed Flying-fox
Scientific Name: Pteropus poliocephalus
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is one of the largest bats in Australia with a wingspan of over 1 m.
Identification: The Grey-headed Flying-fox is mostly dark brown, except for a grey head and orange-red mantle encircling the neck.
Habitat: The Grey-headed Flying-fox urban areas, forests and woodlands, intertidal mangroves.
Distribution: The Grey-headed Flying-fox is found in eastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Feeding and diet: At night the Grey-headed Flying-fox searches for food and may travel 50 km to its feeding areas. It eats fruit from a range of native and introduced species, particularly figs, and for this reason it is sometimes called 'Fruit Bat'. It also feeds on nectar and pollen from native trees, especially gum trees.
Other behaviours and adaptations: The Grey-headed Flying-fox spends much of its time hanging from the branches of trees in forests or mangroves. Groups known as 'camps' can be made up of many thousands of animals.
Life history cycle: The young Grey-headed Flying-foxs are usually born in September to October and are carried by the mother for the first three weeks, clinging to her teat with their special curved milk teeth and gripping her fur with their strong claws. As they grow larger and become too heavy to carry on feeding expeditions, they are left behind in special 'creches' in the maternity camp. After about three months the young are able to fly and by five to six months of age they begin to feed independently.
(SOURCE: australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/bats/grey-headed-fl...)
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This is the typical behaviour of this Eagle Owl - it hides in plain sight and is so easy to miss. It finds the edge of a small quarry pit, and hides in the grass. Sometimes people pass by it within a few feet and not realize its presence. I have seen it dozens of times and by now am able to find it in and around the quarries.
This is a medium sized Owl around 50-55 cms, that frequents rocky areas near green vegetation. Often found on rock edges sitting silently and active at night, the bird is very easy to miss. It primarily hunts rodents, but also eats snakes, lizards, frogs and maybe other agricultural pests.
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To me, darters always look happy, and this cheery-looking chappy is no exception.
The farmer helpfully dug a small pond next to our house about two years ago, and the common darters didn't take long to find it (also saw common hawker this year!).
I do find these very tricky subjects, because they are either zipping about and never landing (when it's sunny), or completely hidden (when it's cooler). In my few attempts, I haven't found any willing to pose this year ... so here's a shot from last September of a male resting on a post.
Eurasian Jays have very particular and interesting behaviours, and some of them make them excellent forest gardeners.
Examples include the use of gifts provided by males for females in mating rituals. This behaviour is performed by a few species. In most cases, it means that the species understands the desires of other individuals, which is quite complicated.
Their most important and interesting behaviour is their ability to store seeds, especially acorns or nuts. They do this to prepare themselves for the cold season and the harsh months that await them.
Experts suspect that this behaviour may be much more complicated than it seems. They proved, through different experiments, that the Eurasian Jay’s habit of keeping food is due to its ability to plan for the future, something experts thought that only humans could do.
This behaviour is what makes it a very important animal for our forests. In many cases, these birds don’t consume all their stores, or they just forget about them.
Thus, the seeds germinate and the forests expand as they move these heavy nuts and seeds, which can hardly be spread otherwise.
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) flight_w_2278
Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) male female
Just time for a quick visit to the Vic Uni Pond today. The Grebe chicks should hatch any day now. A difference in behaviour in that both male and female (and I can't tell which is which) didn't venture very far from the nest, giving me some opportunities to get some images with both in the frame.
The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the family Corvidae in the passerine order of birds. It is found in the Palearctic, its range extending from Scandinavia and western Europe to eastern Siberia. It is a large, gregarious, black-feathered bird, distinguished from similar species by the whitish featherless area on the face. Rooks nest collectively in the tops of tall trees, often close to farms or villages, the groups of nests being known as rookeries.
Rooks are mainly resident birds, but the northernmost populations may move southwards to avoid the harshest winter conditions. The birds form flocks in winter, often in the company of other Corvus species or jackdaws. They return to their rookeries and breeding takes place in spring. They forage on arable land and pasture, probing the ground with their strong bills and feeding largely on grubs and soil-based invertebrates, but also consuming cereals and other plant material. Historically, farmers have accused the birds of damaging their crops, and have made efforts to drive them away or kill them. Like other corvids, they are intelligent birds with complex behavioural traits and an ability to solve simple problems.
Not sure what,s going on here.At first i thought the ants were moving their larvae to another location,but the first larvae is clearly a plant hopper nymph! So moving plant hopper larvae for security,or food?
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Taken within the Mabula Game Reserve, Ouklip, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Giraffes can safely eat from spikey bushes like acacia trees due to their long, flexible tongues and thick saliva. These adaptations allow giraffes to strip leaves from spiky branches without causing harm to their mouths.
The tongue's prehensile nature enables them to hold leaves securely, while the saliva helps lubricate the spines, making it easier to swallow. This unique feeding behaviour is a key adaptation that allows giraffes to thrive in their natural habitat.
watching the Jackdaws.
One from yesterday evening. The Jackdaws were doing thier usual thing, mobbing the owl until it perched.
After watching their behaviour now for a number of years, I'm sure they do it simply for fun!
Swallow Tanager is an unusual species and the only member of its genus. (It was formerly placed in a family of its own.) It is unique among tanagers in the behaviour of sometimes digging a nesting hole in a bank. It is primarily frugivorous but will also sweep out (swallow-like) after insects. This is a male with a black mask and mainly blue plumage with white breast. It was seen near the town of Minca in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, South America.
This little guy was one of an unusually tolerant flock of eight little beauties.
We had listened for some time to the gentle sound of their named behaviour as they sifted for food along the shore line.
Turnstone - Arenaria Interpres
Oban Bay - Scotland
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