----------------------------------- Original Message
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Subject: Some birds know when people are watching them
From:
Date: Sat, April 4, 2009 11:30
To: "Scot Mcphee" <>
Cc: "L&L Knight" <>
"Birding Aus" <>
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I agree with Scot. I think most birds are well aware of whether they are
observed or
not. When trying to approach a bird which may be flighty, I find the best
approach is
not to walk directly towards it, with a sudden change of direction, but to try
to drift
past it to a better position, while not looking directly at it more than
absolutely
necessary. Using one's peripheral vision and looking through one's eyelashes
can help.
Birds use their eyes all the time and as Scot says, we are potential
predators. For
predatory species such as Currawongs we can be useful beaters. I believe that
human
observers taking obvious notice of a nest can give away its location to them
and to
Ravens, Kookaburras etc.
Anthea Fleming
>
> On 04/04/2009, at 09:57 , L&L Knight wrote:
>
>> See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402124238.htm
>
> Absolutely. I have always found that Torresian Crows, to name just one
> example, definitely get even more nervy and jumpy when they notice you
> are observing their behaviour. This includes a characteristic "what
> are you looking at?" posture they adopt before moving off. Also, rock
> pigeons always seem, to me, to be nervous of humans actually noticing
> them, especially when they are perched above the ground (where I
> expect they expect not to be noticed).
>
> Besides, noticing a potential predator looking at you would have a
> certain evolutionary advantage I'd imagine.
>
>
>
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