A correspondent from Arizona (on another service) remarked that, while he was
waiting for action at a Peregrine nest, a number of Gila Woodpeckers were
frantically flycatching flying ants (or termites) -- something he had never
observed before (and this is a very observant person).

My response to Norm, below, reflects on my posts re: a numer of
"non-flycatching" birds going crazy flycatching flying ants around here.

(*****************************)

Norm, you may recall my posts a couple months ago about a wide variety of birds,
who ~never~ flycatch, going crazy flycatching flying ants around here.

I think there is something worth study going on here. There is something in the
makeup of those ants/termites that makes them irresistable to birds of all
kinds, in all latitudes.

One of those doctorate students of yours might find this an interesting subject
for a dissertation. I'll bet she could come up with a new chemical or nutrition
agent that's highly prized by birds.

(*****************************)

Dennis, since you are a bit of a "bug person," could there be some chemical or
nutrition agent in these bugs that just drives normally well-behaved birds
crazy? We know ants are chemical factories. Is this worth some study if the
subject is not well known? Are these the Dove Bars of the insect world? Or are
they just low and slow, inspiring otherwise aberrant behavior?

Jerry


E-mail from: Jerry Blinn, 23-Aug-1996