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From: <mailto:naturens-owner@chebu --0000000000008577bb05a617f101 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I could imagine a sticking point at your panel discussion being the definition of a "bird study". If I am casually walking in the woods and *pssh* out a bird or use a callback because I'm curious, that would be me practicing my hobby. But if I then upload the observation to *ebird,* does that make it a study? Regards *Dave in Curry's Corner* David Simpson (902) 580 8007 david.sonsimp@gmail.com On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 2:06 PM John Kearney <j.f.kearney@gmail.com> wrote: > A meeting on this subject seems like a great idea! > > > > *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca *On Behalf Of *Diane LeBlanc > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 20, 2020 13:39 > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > > > Your point is well-taken John, thank you. I understood the ABA as lumpin= g > playback and mob calls together as =E2=80=9Crecordings and other audio me= thods.=E2=80=9D > Given that using audio in the field is stressful for birds, why doesn=E2= =80=99t the > ABA Code of Ethics state that audio is only acceptable for bird studies a= nd > not for hobby birding? > > > > I would love to have a members meeting on this topic, a panel discussion > on the pros and cons of using audio (with regard to the birds needs and n= ot > our own). And while I am dreaming, an outline of what the =E2=80=98limit= s=E2=80=99 are: > when it is okay and when it is not okay, assuming it is okay at times. > > > > I will admit (gulp!) that I have used audio and have been a bystander to > its use. A clear ethical code and explicit agreements about its use in > Nova Scotia may help change practices here. > > > > > > > > *From: *"naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> > on behalf of John Kearney <j.f.kearney@gmail.com> > *Reply-To: *"naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > *Date: *Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 1:07 PM > *To: *"naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > *Subject: *RE: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > > > Please note Diane that I directed my remarks about unethical birding to > the play-back of mobbing calls, which does not avoid but instead aims to > stress birds. I do agree with you that many dimensions of birding and > ornithology disturb birds. We need to reassess our actions continually. H= ow > much of our intervention in the life of birds stems from meeting their > needs or our needs? Science-based evidence is a useful tool, but it is no= t > enough. We also need to decide what kind of relationship we want to have > with them. If it is one of respect, and understanding our lives as > intertwined with theirs, then many of our practices may have to be called > into question. > > John > > > > *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca *On Behalf Of *Diane LeBlanc > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:50 > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > > > With regard to playback and mob calls, the ABA Code of Ethics limits but > does not ban the use of audio: Here is an excerpt from their Code of Ethi= cs: > > > > =E2=80=9CAvoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger. Be particularl= y > cautious around active nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display sites, > and feeding sites*. *Limit the use of recordings and other audio methods > of attracting birds, particularly in heavily birded areas, for species th= at > are rare in the area, and for species that are threatened or endangered*.= * > Always exercise caution and restraint when photographing, recording, or > otherwise approaching birds.=E2=80=9D > > > > Audubon is more lenient: Here is an excerpt from their website: > > > > =E2=80=9CPlayback is one of the most powerful tools in a birder=E2=80=99s= struggle to see > birds in the wild. It will arouse the curiosity of any species at any tim= e > of year, but it works best on territorial species during nesting season. > Birds that might otherwise be too shy to come into the open can be > attracted by the sound of a potential rival. Whether this trickery has an= y > significant impact on the birds is not so clear. > > > > Fundamentally, birding disturbs birds. Everything we do has an impact on > them. But in some situations playback can be less disruptive than other > methods of attracting birds, at times even less disruptive than sitting > quietly and waiting for a bird to show. Proponents argue that playback > reduces the need to physically enter and disturb a bird=E2=80=99s habitat= and, > unlike pishing, targets a single species.=E2=80=9D > > > > So, it is no wonder that birders may feel that it=E2=80=99s okay to use m= ob calls > and bird recording to attract birds. > > > > I suggest that changing this birder behaviour requires scientific evidenc= e > followed by strong peer pressure. I=E2=80=99d be very interested to see = studies, > and, in particular, meta-analyses on this topic. The NSBS is strongly > committed to putting birds first but we need to be in a defensible positi= on > before making recommendations. > > > > Just my thoughts! > > > > Diane > > > > > > *From: *"naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> > on behalf of Shouty McShoutsalot <desolatechair@gmail.com> > *Reply-To: *"naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > *Date: *Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11:04 AM > *To: *naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > *Subject: *Re: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > > > Education is incremental. However there birders who should know better > who still employ pishing. > > > > On Wed., May 20, 2020, 08:08 John Kearney, <j.f.kearney@gmail.com> wrote: > > That is unfortunate, and those who are doing so are not following the > ethical guidelines of Birds Canada and the American Birding Association. = In > some cases, judicious use of playback is considered permissible for > conservation research. However, as noted in an earlier discussion in this > forum, this is increasingly unnecessary with the availability of autonomo= us > recording units. > > > > *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca *On Behalf Of *Shouty McShoutsalot > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 20, 2020 07:21 > *To:* naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > > > Re mobbing calls regrettably it is still a common practice among birders. > With cell phones and birding apps its easy to produce and playback them a= t > will. > > > > On Tue., May 19, 2020, 21:38 John Kearney, <j.f.kearney@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi Burkhard, > Many bird species have mobbing calls. You may have seen the Black-capped > Chickadee doing this many times. Perhaps you thought it was curious about > you but more likely, it was letting other birds know of your presence. On= e > of the fascinating things about mobbing calls is that some species > understand the unique mobbing calls of another species as a mobbing call > and will join in multi-species harassment of a predator. Mobbing works, i= t > is believed, not so much because the predator is frightened, but because = it > has been outed. It has lost the advantage of a surprise attack. In the > past, birders would play recordings of mobbing calls to attract a wide > variety of species, and with the hopes flushing out a rare bird. Birders > have abandoned this practice since it causes unnecessary stress to the > birds and distracts them from more important tasks such as feeding young = or > building up fat reserves for their migration. > John > > -----Original Message----- > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca On Behalf Of Burkhard Plache > Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 18:59 > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour > > Hello fellow naturalists: > > We have a pair of starlings is raising its brood in a former hairy > woodpecker cavity in our front yard. Today, there were some 10-12 starlin= gs > scattered in the nearby branches. A few minutes later, a big ruckus broke > out, with a squirrel departing the tree at high speed pursued by some 5-6 > of the starlings. > > My question is: Are starlings known to band together in times of trouble? > If so, they must have some means of calling for help in case of a threat. > > Curious, > Burkhard > > --0000000000008577bb05a617f101 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div>I could imagine a sticking point at your panel discus= sion being the definition of a "bird study". If I am casually wal= king in the woods and <i>pssh</i>=C2=A0out a bird or use a callback because= I'm curious, that would be me practicing my hobby. But if I then uploa= d the observation to <i>ebird,</i>=C2=A0does that make it a study?=C2=A0</d= iv><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div><div dir=3D"ltr" cl= ass=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"= ><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><di= v dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-siz= e:small"><i style=3D"color:rgb(255,0,0);font-size:large">Dave in Curry'= s Corner</i></div><div style=3D"font-size:small"><i style=3D"color:rgb(255,= 0,0);font-size:large"><br></i></div><div><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><font c= olor=3D"#000000" size=3D"2">David Simpson</font></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><fon= t color=3D"#000000" size=3D"2">(902) 580 8007</font></div><div><font color= =3D"#000000" size=3D"2"><a href=3D"mailto:david.sonsimp@gmail.com" target= =3D"_blank">david.sonsimp@gmail.com</a></font></div></div></div></div></div= ></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></= div><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmai= l_attr">On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 2:06 PM John Kearney <<a href=3D"mailto:= j.f.kearney@gmail.com">j.f.kearney@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><block= quote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1= px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div lang=3D"EN-CA"><div class= =3D"gmail-m_6053234362529438407WordSection1"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span s= tyle=3D"font-size:12pt">A meeting on this subject seems like a great idea!<= u></u><u></u></span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:12p= t"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></span></p><div><div style=3D"border-right:none;bord= er-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225);paddi= ng:3pt 0cm 0cm"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span lang=3D"EN-US">From:</span>= </b><span lang=3D"EN-US"> <a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" = target=3D"_blank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dia= ne LeBlanc<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 20, 2020 13:39<br><b>To:</b> <a h= ref=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.= ns.ca</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour<u>= </u><u></u></span></p></div></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></= u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Your point is well-taken John, thank you.=C2= =A0 I understood the ABA as lumping playback and mob calls together as =E2= =80=9C<span style=3D"font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif= ;color:rgb(66,66,66);background:white">recordings and other audio methods</= span>.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 Given that using audio in the field is stressful for = birds, why doesn=E2=80=99t the ABA Code of Ethics state that audio is only = acceptable for bird studies and not for hobby birding?=C2=A0 <u></u><u></u>= </p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I= would love to have a members meeting on this topic, a panel discussion on = the pros and cons of using audio (with regard to the birds needs and not ou= r own).=C2=A0 And while I am dreaming, an outline of what the =E2=80=98limi= ts=E2=80=99 are: when it is okay and when it is not okay, assuming it is ok= ay at times.=C2=A0 <u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u= ></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I will admit (gulp!) that I have used audio= and have been a bystander to its use.=C2=A0 A clear ethical code and expli= cit agreements about its use in Nova Scotia may help change practices here.= =C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p = class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><div style=3D"border-right:none= ;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(181,196,223);= padding:3pt 0cm 0cm"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p clas= s=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">From: </span>= </b><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">"<a href=3D"mailto:natu= rens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<= /a>" <<a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_b= lank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a>> on behalf of John Kearney <<= a href=3D"mailto:j.f.kearney@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">j.f.kearney@gmail= .com</a>><br><b>Reply-To: </b>"<a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.= ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>" <<a href=3D"m= ailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a= >><br><b>Date: </b>Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 1:07 PM<br><b>To: </b>&quo= t;<a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@che= bucto.ns.ca</a>" <<a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target= =3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>><br><b>Subject: </b>RE: [NatureN= S] Question: Starling Behaviour<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class= =3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><s= pan style=3D"font-size:12pt">Please note Diane that I directed my remarks a= bout unethical birding to the play-back of mobbing calls, which does not av= oid but instead aims to stress birds. I do agree with you that many dimensi= ons of birding and ornithology disturb birds. We need to reassess our actio= ns continually. How much of our intervention in the life of birds stems fro= m meeting their needs or our needs? Science-based evidence is a useful tool= , but it is not enough. We also need to decide what kind of relationship we= want to have with them. If it is one of respect, and understanding our liv= es as intertwined with theirs, then many of our practices may have to be ca= lled into question.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span st= yle=3D"font-size:12pt">John</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">= <span style=3D"font-size:12pt">=C2=A0</span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div sty= le=3D"border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt = solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0cm 0cm"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span= lang=3D"EN-US">From:</span></b><span lang=3D"EN-US"> <a href=3D"mailto:nat= urens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca= </a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Diane LeBlanc<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 20, 2= 020 11:50<br><b>To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target= =3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NatureNS] Q= uestion: Starling Behaviour</span><u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class=3D= "MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">With regard to p= layback and mob calls, the ABA Code of Ethics limits but does not ban the u= se of audio: Here is an excerpt from their Code of Ethics:<u></u><u></u></p= ><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><spa= n style=3D"font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:rgb= (66,66,66);background:white">=E2=80=9CAvoid stressing birds or exposing the= m to danger. Be particularly cautious around active nests and nesting colon= ies, roosts, display sites, and feeding sites<b>. </b>Limit the use of reco= rdings and other audio methods of attracting birds, particularly in heavily= birded areas, for species that are rare in the area, and for species that = are threatened or endangered<b>.</b> Always exercise caution and restraint = when photographing, recording, or otherwise approaching birds.=E2=80=9D</sp= an><u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p clas= s=3D"MsoNormal">Audubon is more lenient: Here is an excerpt from their webs= ite:<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p cla= ss=3D"MsoNormal">=E2=80=9CPlayback is one of the most powerful tools in a b= irder=E2=80=99s struggle to see birds in the wild. It will arouse the curio= sity of any species at any time of year, but it works best on territorial s= pecies during nesting season. Birds that might otherwise be too shy to come= into the open can be attracted by the sound of a potential rival. Whether = this trickery has any significant impact on the birds is not so clear. <u><= /u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"Ms= oNormal">Fundamentally, birding disturbs birds. Everything we do has an imp= act on them. But in some situations playback can be less disruptive than ot= her methods of attracting birds, at times even less disruptive than sitting= quietly and waiting for a bird to show. Proponents argue that playback red= uces the need to physically enter and disturb a bird=E2=80=99s habitat and,= unlike pishing, targets a single species.=E2=80=9D<u></u><u></u></p><p cla= ss=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">So, it is n= o wonder that birders may feel that it=E2=80=99s okay to use mob calls and = bird recording to attract birds. =C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNor= mal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">I suggest that changing= this birder behaviour requires scientific evidence followed by strong peer= pressure.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99d be very interested to see studies, and, in par= ticular, meta-analyses on this topic. The NSBS is strongly committed to put= ting birds first but we need to be in a defensible position before making r= ecommendations.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u= ></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Just my thoughts!<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"= MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Diane<u></u><u></= u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"= >=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><div style=3D"border-right:none;border-bottom:none= ;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(181,196,223);padding:3pt 0cm 0cm= "><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">From= : </span></b><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">"</span><a hre= f=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D= "font-size:12pt">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</span></a><span style=3D"fon= t-size:12pt;color:black">" <</span><a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner= @chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">naturens-= owner@chebucto.ns.ca</span></a><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">&= gt; on behalf of Shouty McShoutsalot <</span><a href=3D"mailto:desolatec= hair@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">desolatech= air@gmail.com</span></a><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">><br>= <b>Reply-To: </b>"</span><a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" ta= rget=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</spa= n></a><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">" <</span><a href= =3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-s= ize:12pt">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</span></a><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;c= olor:black">><br><b>Date: </b>Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11:04 AM<br><b>= To: </b>naturens <</span><a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" targ= et=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</span>= </a><span style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:black">><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: = [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div>= <p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNo= rmal">Education is incremental.=C2=A0 However there birders who should know= better who still employ pishing.<u></u><u></u></p></div><p class=3D"MsoNor= mal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">On Wed., May = 20, 2020, 08:08 John Kearney, <<a href=3D"mailto:j.f.kearney@gmail.com" = target=3D"_blank">j.f.kearney@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></d= iv><blockquote style=3D"border-top:none;border-right:none;border-bottom:non= e;border-left:1pt solid rgb(204,204,204);padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6pt;margin:5pt= 0cm 5pt 4.8pt"><div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:1= 2pt">That is unfortunate, and those who are doing so are not following the = ethical guidelines of Birds Canada and the American Birding Association. In= some cases, judicious use of playback is considered permissible for conser= vation research. However, as noted in an earlier discussion in this forum, = this is increasingly unnecessary with the availability of autonomous record= ing units. </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"f= ont-size:12pt">=C2=A0</span><u></u><u></u></p><div style=3D"border-right:no= ne;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225= );padding:3pt 0cm 0cm"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span lang=3D"EN-US">From:= </span></b><span lang=3D"EN-US"> </span><a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@ch= ebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank"><span lang=3D"EN-US">naturens-owner@chebuct= o.ns.ca</span></a> <b><span lang=3D"EN-US">On Behalf Of </span></b><span la= ng=3D"EN-US">Shouty McShoutsalot<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 20, 2020 07= :21<br><b>To:</b> naturens <</span><a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.n= s.ca" target=3D"_blank"><span lang=3D"EN-US">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</span>= </a><span lang=3D"EN-US">><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NatureNS] Question: S= tarling Behaviour</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2= =A0<u></u><u></u></p><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Re mobbing calls regrettab= ly it is still a common practice among birders.=C2=A0 With cell phones and = birding apps its easy to produce and playback them at will.<u></u><u></u></= p></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class= =3D"MsoNormal">On Tue., May 19, 2020, 21:38 John Kearney, <<a href=3D"ma= ilto:j.f.kearney@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">j.f.kearney@gmail.com</a>>= wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style=3D"border-top:none;border-= right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:1pt solid rgb(204,204,204);paddin= g:0cm 0cm 0cm 6pt;margin:5pt 0cm 5pt 4.8pt"><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D= "margin-bottom:12pt">Hi Burkhard,<br>Many bird species have mobbing calls. = You may have seen the Black-capped Chickadee doing this many times. Perhaps= you thought it was curious about you but more likely, it was letting other= birds know of your presence. One of the fascinating things about mobbing c= alls is that some species understand the unique mobbing calls of another sp= ecies as a mobbing call and will join in multi-species harassment of a pred= ator. Mobbing works, it is believed, not so much because the predator is fr= ightened, but because it has been outed. It has lost the advantage of a sur= prise attack. In the past, birders would play recordings of mobbing calls t= o attract a wide variety of species, and with the hopes flushing out a rare= bird. Birders have abandoned this practice since it causes unnecessary str= ess to the birds and distracts them from more important tasks such as feedi= ng young or building up fat reserves for their migration. <br>John<br><br>-= ----Original Message-----<br>From: <a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebuct= o.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a> On Behalf Of B= urkhard Plache<br>Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 18:59<br>To: <a href=3D"mailt= o:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br= >Subject: [NatureNS] Question: Starling Behaviour<br><br>Hello fellow natur= alists:<br><br>We have a pair of starlings is raising its brood in a former= hairy woodpecker cavity in our front yard. Today, there were some 10-12 st= arlings scattered in the nearby branches. A few minutes later, a big ruckus= broke out, with a squirrel departing the tree at high speed pursued by som= e 5-6 of the starlings.<br><br>My question is: Are starlings known to band = together in times of trouble?<br>If so, they must have some means of callin= g for help in case of a threat.<br><br>Curious,<br>Burkhard<u></u><u></u></= p></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></blo= ckquote></div> --0000000000008577bb05a617f101--
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