[NatureNS] Bizarre Raven Behaviour

Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2015 07:45:34 -0700
From: Margaret Fraser <m_fraser65@yahoo.ca>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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"Anting" is a well described bird behaviour. It is thought that the formic =
acid secreted by the ants may have some beneficial effect for the bird,poss=
ibly by inhibiting parasite numbers in the feathers (or so I was taught in =
ornithology class in the late 80's). Cheers,=0A=0AMargaret Fraser=0A=0ASent=
 from Yahoo Mail on Android=0A=0AFrom:"Shouty McShoutsalot" <desolatechair@=
gmail.com>=0ADate:Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 11:37 am=0ASubject:[NatureNS] Bizarr=
e Raven Behaviour=0A=0ARavens are such interesting birds.=A0=0A=0A=0AI have=
 a sandstone stone fire pit behind my cottage.=A0 To the side is an unmown =
area we keep wood, kindling etc.=0A=0A=0AThis morning I observed a Northern=
 Raven hunkered down in this area, almost as if he was taking a dirt bath o=
r incubating an egg. Occasionally he would twitch erratically, take a small=
 leap, and then preen some part of his anatomy, pick around the debris a li=
ttle, then resettle in position and repeat.=0A=0A=0AThere were two other Ra=
vens in the trees close by.=0A=0A=0AMy first thought was he was entangled i=
n something and trying to get free. However, after about ten minutes of thi=
s, he flew off, apparently no worse for wear. =A0=A0=0A=0A=0AWhen I examine=
d the immediate area of action I observed hundreds of red ants, highly agit=
ated, roaming around the rocks and logs and looking for trouble.=0A=0A=0ACl=
early defending the nest from the Raven.=A0 My theory is the bird deliberat=
ely stirred them up so he could eat them, at the cost of many bites.=0A=0A=
=0AIt looked like a painful investment for a small return but I can't think=
 of anything more probable?=0A=0A=0AAnts must taste some good!=0A=0A=0AJami=
e Simpson=0A=0A
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<table cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tr><td valign=3D"t=
op">"Anting" is a well described bird behaviour. It is thought that the for=
mic acid secreted by the ants may have some beneficial effect for the bird,=
possibly by inhibiting parasite numbers in the feathers (or so I was taught=
 in ornithology class in the late 80's). Cheers,<div id=3D"yMail_cursorElem=
entTracker_0.9548130037728697">Margaret Fraser<br><br><p><a href=3D"https:/=
/overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=3DAndroid">Sent from Yahoo Mail on An=
droid</a></p> <hr><table cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"> =
<tbody> <tr> <td valign=3D"top"> <div style=3D"font-family:Roboto, sans-ser=
if;color:#7e7d80;"><b>From</b>:"Shouty McShoutsalot" &lt;desolatechair@gmai=
l.com&gt;<br><b>Date</b>:Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 11:37 am<br><b>Subject</b>:[N=
atureNS] Bizarre Raven Behaviour<br><br></div> <div dir=3D"ltr">Ravens are =
such interesting birds.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I have a sandstone stone f=
ire pit behind my
 cottage.&nbsp; To the side is an unmown area we keep wood, kindling etc.<d=
iv><br></div><div>This morning I observed a Northern Raven hunkered down in=
 this area, almost as if he was taking a dirt bath or incubating an egg. Oc=
casionally he would twitch erratically, take a small leap, and then preen s=
ome part of his anatomy, pick around the debris a little, then resettle in =
position and repeat.</div><div><br></div><div>There were two other Ravens i=
n the trees close by.</div><div><br></div><div>My first thought was he was =
entangled in something and trying to get free. However, after about ten min=
utes of this, he flew off, apparently no worse for wear. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>=
</div><div><br></div><div>When I examined the immediate area of action I ob=
served hundreds of red ants, highly agitated, roaming around the rocks and =
logs and looking for trouble.</div><div><br></div><div>Clearly defending th=
e nest from the Raven.&nbsp; My theory is the bird deliberately
 stirred them up so he could eat them, at the cost of many bites.</div><div=
><br></div><div>It looked like a painful investment for a small return but =
I can't think of anything more probable?</div><div><br></div><div>Ants must=
 taste some good!</div><div><br></div><div>Jamie Simpson</div></div></td>  =
</tr>   </tbody>   </table></div></td></tr></table>
--737196383-847591780-1435502734=:82004--

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