Re: Flock Carnivores Discovered!

[FEUKAC@PLU.edu]

On Sat, 4 Feb 1995 Tompaleo@aol.com wrote:

> Well it seems that we DO have a bird species that is beginning to pack hunt
> (more like flock hunt). I was reading the Metropolitan Times section of the
> Washington Times Newspaper (p.c11)an lo and behold there was this article
> about Black Vultures that have turned to preying on livestock in farms
> surrounding a large Virgina military base where these birds migrate to during
> the winter. (Paraphrasing)  One farmer has stated that he has lost 20 animals
> to these birds over the last 30 years! This year alone, 16 farmers allege
> loosing livestock to the vultures. They are becoming a nuisance to homeowbers
> because they flock to roofs and peck away at the shingles and caulking, cars
> vinyl seats and boats etc. The birds sometimes congregate in a flock of
> hundreds of birds near areas where young  first time heiffers are giving
> birth. It seems that these youg heiffers regularly become paralyzed shortly
> after calving and that's when they strike.
> 
> In short my fellow dinophiles here is a reputed scavanger that has apparently
> learned to kill. Since deer will also be dropping fawns in another couple of
> months, I would be very interested to see if they apply their tactic to
> _wild_animals as well!
> 
> Comments anyone?
> 
>                                      Thomas R. Lipka
>                                      Paleontological/Geological Studies
>                                      Tompaleo@aol.com
> 
Don't Crows and Ravens pack hunt? or maybe some form of pack hunting.
I've personally seen a flock of crows numbering in the hundreds. I didn't 
notice any form or structure. 
 Aaron Feuk 
Preparator,Earth Sciences Dept.
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma Wash.