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Index of Subjects --737196383-847591780-1435502734=:82004 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable "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 --737196383-847591780-1435502734=:82004 Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <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" <desolatechair@gmai= l.com><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. <div><br></div><div>I have a sandstone stone f= ire pit behind my cottage. 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. </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. 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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