birding-aus
As to Grey-fronted Honeyeaters bombing a pefectly harmless, non-predatory
bird, I guess there are couple of general explanations:
1. better safe than dead, that is it's better to chase away birds which have
even the remotest resemeblence to predators than risk a misidentification
and allow a predator to approach too closely
2. if my experience of having human 'fledglings' around is anything to go by
the amount of stress and anxiety that's generated by this is enough to make
you want to go and relieve them by having a go at something else, no matter
what (human parents are dangerous creatures, especially in shopping centres,
and I expect the same is true for avian ones too).
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John Leonard (Dr),
PO Box 243,
Woden, ACT 2606,
Australia
"If they could tell you in advance exactly how much
shit you're going to have to take it wouldn't be so bad;
then you'd be prepared." Ralph Bridges
http://www.spirit.net.au/~jleonard
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