Boas & Backyard Birds

schatzie001 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 12:18 AM

OK, this may sound silly but I just have to ask. I take Shaidar Haran, my 6' female bci out on supervised yard walks in my backyard. Quite a few wild birds gather in my backyard to eat and frolic and it seems that some members are more curious than others.

Members of the Mockingbird family mostly. I watched a mockingbird do his wingflashing* once for Shaidar. He got pretty close to her, but not too close that he was in danger of becoming a meal. Checked out my girl, then left.

Today, a grey catbird came even closer to being a meal that his cousin the mockingbird. Then a song sparrow checked her out from afar. I swear it seemed as though they were sizing her up for a meal. Normally, when a bird senses a threat in its area it will start chattering and fussing up a storm, but these guys today were as calm as a steamy Georgia summer night.

So what is my point? Where am i going with all of this? Here's my question-- Do our native species of birds not recognise my bci as a predator? Has anyone else notice the same behaviors?

NOTE: I am always within 5-6 feet of my girl during these outings just in case anyone gets too curious because I don't want anyone, snake or bird, getting hurt. I always examine my girl before taking her back in to make sure no hitchhikers have come on board.

Thanks, T

*Wing-flashing is most commonly seen as the bird runs along the ground foraging for insects. The mockingbird stops abruptly and spreads both wings simultaneously, thus briefly exposing the white wing patches. It is generally thought that it does this to flush insects, but the behavior may have other functions as well; it is also seen in young birds when they are exposed to a situation new to them.

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"When I speak, you may consider that you hear the voice of the Great Lord of the Dark.... I am his hand in this world, ... When you stand before me, you stand before him." Shaidar Haran, TPOD: 12, New Alliances, 267

BWSmith · #2 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:32 AM

I would think that ANY bird would see a snake as a predator. Maybe he was laying on a worm [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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Kent K25 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:41 AM

My Ball Python (used to have) once got checked out by a blue jay who didnt seem to scared of my BP. My BP lifted his head about a foot off the ground to make himself look bigger i assume, but the bird just checked him out for about a minute then took off
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schatzie001 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 12:12 PM

Now, there was a time that I was sitting out back reading a book and the birds went nuts and were making such a racket that I looked up, looked around, and sure enough there was a black snake cutting through the yard.
That is why I am thinking they don't recognise these non-indigenous snakes as a threat. I could be wrong but I would like to hear more stories from people here.

_________________
"When I speak, you may consider that you hear the voice of the Great Lord of the Dark.... I am his hand in this world, ... When you stand before me, you stand before him." Shaidar Haran, TPOD: 12, New Alliances, 267

eddie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 02:57 PM

Julius told me about when he had his snake outside and all the birds were rolling out of the trees laughing at it!
j/k!

Man, this neighborhood has way too many fireants to trust taking them out side..
Then the bonus, treat for the ants and can't take them out anyways......

So i am no help at all except for that true story from the SqueezerMan in Ga.
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schatzie001 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:04 PM

I am a little disappointed in Juluis for not sharing that story with me. He knows how much I enjoy hearing bird stories, and this one had a snakie in it too! Oh well, maybe I can get him to tell me the next time I see him.
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dlamphere · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:10 PM

The birds around my house see a predator they will try to distract it from there nests. Maybe that was what they were doing. I have a jay that will "dive bomb" my cat to try to get him away from the tree his nest is in.
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Ed_r · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:13 PM

I haven't noticed it with birds by me, but have noticed squirrels to be awful curious instead of fearful. May be because by me the squirrels are so used to people and dogs, that they don't see anything as a predetor.
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trinitywolf · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 08:15 PM

I think the reason is b/c they don't see them as predators. In general, most snakes of North America do not prey on birds (that I am aware of in my limited knowledge). I would hypothesize this is yet another reason that feral species can be introduced into an area and decimate the wildlife in a short period of time. Animals have to adapt to a new predator so it makes the prey an easy catch. Of course, I have nothing to back this up except deductive reasoning...so that theory may be WAY, WAY off. Anyway, it's a thought. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Ted
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schatzie001 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 12:55 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I am open to theories since I am really clueless on this one. Maybe over the summer I can gather more information via observation.

The birds and squirrels harrass my cats too, which is kinda funny because my Fred cat cannot hear all their complaining [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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