The kids get booted out

["Philip Veerman" <>]

I know I'm making a diversion from Martin's topic here. A lot of people think that parent birds push or otherwise force their chicks to leave the nest. I have a little discussion point that whilst there might be some obscure species somewhere that does that, typically it isn't true. So where does this common fallacy come from? Most chicks leave the nest of their own timing and parents do not force them out, although with some birds (usually the precocial ones like ducks) it is by following the lead and encouragement of parents. This is of course a different thing from Martin's story which is about parents pushing out grown young from their territory when they are able to look after themself and lots of birds (certainly not all) do that.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Butterfield [
Sent: Tuesday, 23 December 2014 9:41 AM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] The kids get booted out

The Whiskers Creek Frogmouths have been absent - or at least unlocated by me- for the past 16 days.  This is not unusual for this time of year and reflects the adults teaching the chicks about the extent of the territory.  Being a tad anthropomorphic I get the impression that the chicks are eventually led over the edge of the territory and the parents bolt back to home base, confident in a job well done.  

Whatever.  This morning the parents were back in the roost they used most frequently this year, and the chicks were nowhere to be seen.

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/