At 21:32 17/11/1999 +1000, you wrote:
>Dear Birding-ausers,
>
>I am forwarding this story from my computer-help group. Perhaps someone
>would like to respond.
>
>Cheers,
>Ros Laundon.
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>From: Kurt <>
>To: "Help List Member" <>
>Subject: [Help] Perplexed {01}
>Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 06:16:35 +1000
>Organization: BKD Marketing Services
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kurt [SMTP:
>Sent: 16 November, 1999 10:53 PM
>To: au'
>Subject: Perplexed
>
>I have just witnessed an event that has me very perplexed.
>When I went outside at 21.50 torch in hand I spotted a possum running along
>the Optus cable.
>Nothing unusual in this as I have enjoyed these antics for the last 2
>years. The possums have gotten used to my presence with the torch and
>scarcely take any notice of me.
>What surprised me was the sight of a crow attacking the possum! At first I
>thought that the light from my torch had disturbed the crow from its sleep
>and it just hit the scurrying possum by accident. But the crow then kept
>going after the possum, and managed to hit it (The possum) and not ever the
>cable the possum was running along.
>I have never seen a day bird fly very far at night, and never with such
>precision carry out complicated maneuvers at night.
>There was a fair amount of moonlight. I still required a torch to see
>adequately though, especially among the tree branches. The crow navigated
>between these, only ever hitting the possum.
>Obviously the crow was defending its nest or territory. And it definitely
>was a crow, if I had any doubts, the ruckus it made soon disspelled them.
>
>Are there any naturalists / zoologists out there who have any ideas on
>this subject?
>
>
>
Dear Ros/Kurt
Birds certainly do mob possums (Sunbird 1994: 24:22-23), although this record of
crows doing it at night is unusual.
They don't seem to particularly differentiate between Ring-tail Possums,
which are
almost entirely herbivorous, and Brush-tail Possums which are much more
omnivorous and which are likely to include chicks or eggs in their varied diet.
Pete
Dr Peter Woodall email =
Division of Vet Pathology & Anatomy
School of Veterinary Science & An. Prod. Phone = +61 7 3365 2300
The University of Queensland Fax = +61 7 3365 1355
Brisbane, Qld, Australia 4072 WWW = http://www.uq.edu.au/~anpwooda
"hamba phezulu" (= "go higher" in isiZulu)
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