To Tweeters,

I have been watching crows mob an eagle and wondered why. I have read
that crow's harassment is proactive, alerting other crows to the
predator and showing inexperienced juveniles which predator might eat
them. Mobbing might also discourage the predator from hanging around or
from like attacking. Any other reasons for this behavior?

I have also read that birds are motivated to mob by fear and anger, as
well as in some cases a kind of compulsive attraction. One author
compared this action to "that which prompts many humans to gather and
stare at accident victims or to look at, and very often also to tease or
torment, any captive or helpless animal of a species they fear." Is this
mere speculation? Again, any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David Williams
Seattle