Re: cooperative hunting on the wing

[@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu:murphy!acmcr!vr@uunet.uu.net (Vicki Rosenzweig)]

Around here, the crows going after hawks tend to be several birds
in the air, calling, at once; one may take the lead, but the rest
are active, not sitting on branches waiting their turn. Amusingly,
the same is true of bluejays chasing crows away. I also saw a
kestrel trying to chase a hawk (species uncertain--there are a _lot_
of immature hawks that look essentially the same) out of a tree
in which it was eating a mouse. Whether because there was only one
kestrel, or because it had already made its kill, the hawk gave no
sign of being aware of the kestrel's existence. I'm curious about
the crows vs. great blue heron--great blues turn up in my neighborhood
occasionally, usually staying only for a day or two and fishing in the
shallows, and the crows don't even seem aware of their existence. (In
case this matters, it's an estuary, somewhat salty, not pure fresh
water.)

This may not have anything to do with dinosaurs, in which case I apologize
to the rest of the list.

Vicki Rosenzweig
vr%acmcr.uucp@murphy.com
New York, NY