Yesterday the boss had occasion to visit a shopping center near here. As is normal I stayed in the car and counted parking lot birds and watched the tourist season sideshow unfold.
There was high drama.
A murder of crows raced by, the leader making a getaway with a slice of some breadly material en beak. I think it may have been pizza.
Hot on its tailfeathers was a hungry Ring-billed Gull with the menu on his mind.
He nailed the fleeing bandit right in his feathery fanny, right in the center of the lot, square in front of our car.
The snack landed in a well-traveled spot, confounding both gull and bandits. They perched on nearby roofs or sailed in slow circles, peering down at it, but afraid to land 'n' grab.
Meanwhile a little brown female House Sparrow hop, hop, hopped out from under a nearby car and proceeded to taunt them merrily as she nabbed bite after bite.
Not of fan of those nasty little bluebird killers, but it was still pretty funny.
Most of the bread-thing was still there when we left.
Filed under happy dance, we found the Sandhill Cranes that were seen earlier in Broadalbin. Thanks to the boss's eagle eyes we discovered that they were on the opposite side of the road from where I had been looking. I know they are common enough to be annoying in a lot of areas, but here they are rare and exciting.
Made my week.
I love your vivid account of the avian warfare and the sneaky little bystander who took advantage of the occasion. Proof that there's always SOMEthing interesting going on if you look for it.
ReplyDeleteGreat description! Gave me a chuckle.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of House Sparrows here, didn't know they go after bluebirds- probably because we don't have a lot of bluebirds here.
This post MADE my Day
ReplyDeleteJacqueline, thank you! I much enjoyed watching the show. The passing tourists weren't bad either. lol
ReplyDeleteShirley, thanks! Yes, they will attack nesting bluebirds and kill both parents and young to steal nest sites. Horrible birds.
Linda, thanks!