[NatureNS] re Squirrel Kills Starling

To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <4BCB2473020000250002D3E3@imgate1.gov.ns.ca>
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:14:47 -0300
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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--Boundary_(ID_E98hkUkEeulbDwrpBYsY4A)
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Begin forwarded message:

> From: Mark F Elderkin <ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca>
> Date: April 18, 2010 3:25:39 PM ADT
> To: jimwolford@eastlink.ca, Mike S O'Brien <OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca>,  
> huynh.hm@rogers.com
> Subject: Re: re Squirrel Kills Starling
>
> We have documented predation on passerine birds every few years at  
> bird feeders (evening grosbeaks, purple finches primarily).   
> Certainly R.W. Tufts distinguished the importance of red squirrels  
> as a major bird and nest predators, only surpassed (in his opinion)  
> in importance by domestic cats.  On a .22 rifle Robie owned, he  
> placed the words "DEAD CATS" on one side and "SQUIRRELS" on the  
> other side of the stock.  Each letter had about 100 or more brass  
> tacks representing a predator control franchise he exercised and I  
> would note, that all letters in each word were complete.  I well  
> recall him telling many tales about red squirrel's appetite for  
> birds and eggs from favorite birds.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <huynh.hm@rogers.com>
> To: Wolford, James W. <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
> To: Elderkin, Mark F <ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca>
> To: O'Brien, Mike S <OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca>
> To:  <huynh.hm@rogers.com>
>
> Sent: 4/18/2010 1:47:43 PM
> Subject: Re: re Squirrel Kills Starling
>
> Red Squirrels are more carnivorous than the other arboreal  
> squirrels we have in northeastern North America.
>
> Howie
>
>
> ---
> Hai Minh Howard Michael Huynh
> MSc Candidate
>
> Acadia University
> Department of Biology, Room 402
> New Biology Building
> 33 Westwood Avenue
> Wolfville, Nova Scotia
> Canada B4P 2R6
>
> Tel: 902-585-1334
> Fax: 902-585-1059
>
> huynh.hm@rogers.com
> 090390h@acadiau.ca
> ---
>
> --- On Sun, 4/18/10, James W. Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> wrote:
>
>
> From: James W. Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
> Subject: re Squirrel Kills Starling
> To: "Mike O'Brien" <obrienms@gov.ns.ca>, "Mark F Elderkin"  
> <elderkmf@gov.ns.ca>, "Howie Huynh" <huynh.hm@rogers.com>
> Date: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 12:54 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> From: bev@magickcanoe.com
> Date: April 17, 2010 6:30:08 PM ADT
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Squirrel Kills Starling
> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>
>
>
>
>
> At the farm which I had in eastern Ontario, the Red Squirrels were  
> extremely aggressive toward birds and also rabbits.  The squirrels  
> cached apples high in the branches of one of the maple trees and  
> would spend hours trying to keep Blue jays from stealing a bite out  
> of them.  One winter, a particularly aggressive Red Squirrel would  
> attack a rabbit that would come to eat bird seed spilled on the  
> ground below the feeders.   The squirrel eventually became so  
> terrible about chasing the rabbit that it tore the rabbit's ear  
> quite badly.  After another couple of weeks, the rabbit stopped  
> coming to the feeder.
>  In 2006, I made a little video (.mov format) which is still posted  
> on my server.  I put a joke title on it to show to some friends in  
> my area (Psycho Squirrel vs. Bronco Bunny).  Anyhow, for anyone who  
> would like to see it, here's the link:
> http://magickcanoe.com/psychosquirrel.mov
> For those who can't play the video clip, there are some still shots  
> from the movie, and other shots of the squirrel stalking the  
> rabbit,  in one of my galleries on .pbase.  Here's the URL:
> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/rabbits
>
> Bev Wigney
> (formerly of Osgoode, Ontario, but in the process of moving to a  
> place in the Round Hill area this spring).
>
> -----
>
>
>
> --- On Sat, 4/17/10, Sherman Williams <sherm@glinx.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Sherman Williams <sherm@glinx.com>
> Subject: [NatureNS] Squirrel Kills Starling
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Received: Saturday, April 17, 2010, 3:39 PM
>
>
> This afternoon I happened to be looking out the window near the  
> bird feeder area and noticed what I thought were two Red Squirrels  
> tumbling around having a wrestling match on the ground.  Then I  
> noticed black and feathers?? After a couple more rolls and bounces  
> the squirrel bounded away, leaving the limp body of a starling. I  
> went out and had a closeup look for myself, and sure enough the  
> bird was quite freshly, dead.
>
> It would appear that the squirrel pounced on the starling as it was  
> eating crumbs under the suet block. Lately I have had 2 or 3  
> starlings coming to pound away at the suet block. They knock off  
> chunks that fall to the ground  (although I'd rather they didn't),  
> then they drop down and gobble it up. On various occasions I've  
> observed the squirrel will deliberately make a dash at the birds to  
> run them off, but this is the first time I've seen such deadly  
> contact.
>
> Have any of you witnessed such a squirrel-bird encounter? This is a  
> first for me.
>


--Boundary_(ID_E98hkUkEeulbDwrpBYsY4A)
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">Mark F Elderkin &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca">ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;</font></div>=
<div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">April 18, 2010 3:25:39 PM ADT</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>, Mike =
S O'Brien &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca">OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;, <a =
href=3D"mailto:huynh.hm@rogers.com">huynh.hm@rogers.com</a></font></div><d=
iv style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Subject: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica"><b>Re: re Squirrel Kills Starling</b></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> <div style=3D"margin-top:=
 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">We have =
documented predation on passerine birds every few years at bird feeders =
(evening grosbeaks, purple finches primarily).<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Certainly R.W. Tufts =
distinguished the importance of red squirrels as a major bird and nest =
predators, only surpassed (in his opinion) in importance by domestic =
cats.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>On a .22 rifle =
Robie owned, he placed the words "DEAD CATS" on one side and "SQUIRRELS" =
on the other side of the stock.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Each letter had about 100 =
or more brass tacks representing a predator control franchise he =
exercised and I would note, that all letters in each word were =
complete.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>I well =
recall him telling many tales about red squirrel's appetite for birds =
and eggs from favorite birds.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">-----Original Message-----</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">From: &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:huynh.hm@rogers.com">huynh.hm@rogers.com</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To: Wolford, James W. &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;</div=
><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To: Elderkin, Mark F &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca">ELDERKMF@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To: O'Brien, Mike S &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca">OBRIENMS@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To:<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; =
</span>&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:huynh.hm@rogers.com">huynh.hm@rogers.com</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Sent: =
4/18/2010 1:47:43 PM</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: Re: re Squirrel =
Kills Starling</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Red Squirrels are more carnivorous than the other =
arboreal squirrels we have in northeastern North America. <span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">Howie</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">---</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Hai Minh Howard Michael =
Huynh</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">MSc Candidate</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Acadia =
University</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Department of Biology, Room =
402</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">New Biology Building</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">33 Westwood Avenue</div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">Wolfville, Nova Scotia</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Canada B4P =
2R6</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Tel: 902-585-1334</div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Fax: =
902-585-1059</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><a =
href=3D"mailto:huynh.hm@rogers.com">huynh.hm@rogers.com</a></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><a =
href=3D"mailto:090390h@acadiau.ca">090390h@acadiau.ca</a></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">---</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">--- On Sun, 4/18/10, James W. =
Wolford &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt; =
wrote:</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">From: =
James W. Wolford &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;</div=
><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: re Squirrel Kills Starling</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To: "Mike O'Brien" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:obrienms@gov.ns.ca">obrienms@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;, "Mark F =
Elderkin" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:elderkmf@gov.ns.ca">elderkmf@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;, "Howie =
Huynh" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:huynh.hm@rogers.com">huynh.hm@rogers.com</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Date: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 12:54 AM</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Begin =
forwarded message:</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; =
"><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">From: <a =
href=3D"mailto:bev@magickcanoe.com">bev@magickcanoe.com</a></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Date: April 17, 2010 6:30:08 PM ADT</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">To: <a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></div><=
div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Squirrel Kills =
Starling</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Reply-To: <a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></div><=
div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">At the =
farm which I had in eastern Ontario, the Red Squirrels were extremely =
aggressive toward birds and also rabbits.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>The squirrels cached =
apples high in the branches of one of the maple trees and would spend =
hours trying to keep Blue jays from stealing a bite out of them.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>One winter, a particularly =
aggressive Red Squirrel would attack a rabbit that would come to eat =
bird seed spilled on the ground below the feeders. <span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>The squirrel eventually =
became so terrible about chasing the rabbit that it tore the rabbit's =
ear quite badly.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; =
</span>After another couple of weeks, the rabbit stopped coming to the =
feeder.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>In =
2006, I made a little video (.mov format) which is still posted on my =
server.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>I put a joke =
title on it to show to some friends in my area (Psycho Squirrel vs. =
Bronco Bunny).<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; =
</span>Anyhow, for anyone who would like to see it, here's the =
link:</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a =
href=3D"http://magickcanoe.com/psychosquirrel.mov">http://magickcanoe.com/=
psychosquirrel.mov</a></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">For those who can't play =
the video clip, there are some still shots from the movie, and other =
shots of the squirrel stalking the rabbit,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>in one of my galleries on =
.pbase.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Here's the =
URL:</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a =
href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/rabbits">http://www.pbase.com/croco=
dile/rabbits</a></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Bev Wigney</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">(formerly of =
Osgoode, Ontario, but in the process of moving to a place in the Round =
Hill area this spring).</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">-----</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">--- On Sat, 4/17/10, Sherman =
Williams &lt;sherm@glinx.com&gt; =
wrote:</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">From: =
Sherman Williams &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:sherm@glinx.com">sherm@glinx.com</a>&gt;</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: [NatureNS] Squirrel Kills =
Starling</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To: <a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></div><=
div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Received: Saturday, April 17, 2010, 3:39 =
PM</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">This =
afternoon I happened to be looking out the window near the bird feeder =
area and noticed what I thought were two Red Squirrels tumbling around =
having a wrestling match on the ground.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Then I noticed black and =
feathers?? After a couple more rolls and bounces the squirrel bounded =
away, leaving the limp body of a starling. I went out and had a closeup =
look for myself, and sure enough the bird was quite freshly, =
dead.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">It would appear that the squirrel pounced on the =
starling as it was eating crumbs under the suet block. Lately I have had =
2 or 3 starlings coming to pound away at the suet block. They knock off =
chunks that fall to the ground<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;=
 </span>(although I'd rather they didn't), then they drop down and =
gobble it up. On various occasions I've observed the squirrel will =
deliberately make a dash at the birds to run them off, but this is the =
first time I've seen such deadly contact.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Have any of =
you witnessed such a squirrel-bird encounter? This is a first for =
me.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> =
</blockquote></div><br></body></html>=

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