Subject: Re: Ants/termites and birds
Date: Aug 26 09:38:00 1996
From: Dennis Paulson - dpaulson at mirrors.ups.edu


Jerry Blinn wrote:

>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?

Well, my view of the phenomenon would be that flying ants and termites are
about the easiest prey possible, as they don't take evasive action when
they are swarming. All over the world, it's well known that just about
everything eats these critters. They are called a "superabundant resource",
and not only birds but many animals on the ground eat them too.

Sure can't rule out "new chemical or nutriton agent," but my guess is
against it. I'm not sure how natural selection could favor those birds
that ate termites or ants for a few days each year over those that didn't.
And certainly I can't see how the chemicals in the insects could become
essential, or even highly prized, when they can be obtained for only those
few days. Hmm, that reminds me, I feel the need to go out and get a Dove
Bar.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416