Bird Mobbing
Jan 6, 2024 11:07:52 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jan 6, 2024 11:07:52 GMT -5
Reasons for Bird-Mobbing
Bird-mobbing refers to the harassment of bigger birds by smaller ones. It might seem at first to be purposeless and unfair. After all, what harm can there be in another bird innocently flying by? Well, it might seem an innocent flyby to us, however, the resident birds know better. They know that there is danger because the bigger bird is probably calmly scouting out the area for hunting or nesting purposes. So they attack to discourage such plans.
Nothing unusual, its the same reaction that lions display when other large predators, such as hyenas, wild dogs, or leopards, appear on their hunting range seemingly just passing by. They try to make sure that such predators don't decide to stick around competing for available food or endangering their cubs. The cubs cannot be totally safe while hyenas are ravenously prowling around.
Likewise, birds also strive to reduce the competition by mobbing or harassment of any avian intruders who might compete for available resources such as nesting- sites, food, and in order to reduce danger to their chicks.
Below are videos showing bird-mobbing in progress.
Why don't larger birds fight back? The larger birds don't choose to fight because the cost in expended energy trying to catch and kill the more agile birds isn't worth the reward. However, raptors such as eagles and hawks they will fight if their nests and chicks are involved.
centerofthewest.org/2019/01/21/mobbing-what-it-is-why-birds-dont-defend-themselves/
centerofthewest.org/2019/01/21/mobbing-what-it-is-why-birds-dont-defend-themselves/