Hi Bob,
What an interesting observation. I can't comment on how common (or rare)
this behaviour is, but I've not seen it before.
What prompted me to write is that earlier this year I conducted a review of
the impacts of transparent or partly-transparent noise barriers along roads
on bird mortality.
As part of this review I was interested in finding out the actual causes of
death of birds striking windows and other transparent barriers. Veltri &
Klem (2005), the only study that I'm aware of that has forensically examined
victims of window strikes, state that the usual causes of death are head
trauma, intracranial pressure and blood in the brain. So I'm hoping that,
although your Eastern Spinebill regained consciousness and flew away, it did
not have significant haemorrhaging in the brain which may have caused it to
die later. Let us know if your friend sees this pair of birds again!
Kind regards,
Stephen
Stephen Ambrose,
Ryde, NSW
Reference:
Veltri, C.J. and Klem Jr, D. (2005). Comparison of fatal bird injures from
collisions with towers and windows. Journal of Field
Ornithology.76(2):127-133.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Bob Ashford
Sent: Wednesday, 13 August 2008 4:50 PM
To: Birding- Aus
Subject: Birds 'caring' for each other
Hi Folks
I had a local resident (Berry, South Coast, NSW) describe to me an
interesting incident recently.
A female (presumed) Eastern Spinebill had knocked itself out by hitting a
house window. As it lay stunned on the deck a male (again presumed) ES
arrived and proceeded to flutter and call around the female.
After about 30 seconds it landed on the female still fluttering and calling.
It then proceeded to gently prod and push the female, which was lying on its
back. About a minute and a half after the collision the male physically
turned the female over so that it was lying on its stomach/breast still
stunned but showing signs of revival.
For about another minute the male continued to flutter, call and gently prod
the female which then quickly got up and flew off to the bushes accompanied
by the male.
Im fascinated by the effort put in by the male while trying not to read too
many anthopomorphic conclusions in to it all.
Has anyone else seen similar activity in birds ('caring' for want of a word
at this stage) and in particular can anyone refer me to where I can get more
info on this sort of activity.
Many Thanks
Bob Ashford
02 4464 1574
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