Jo and Tweeters:

Jo, you are entirely correct that "clam dropping" from the air
onto hard surfaces is a common behavior in Glaucous-winged and
possibly other gull species. In fact, it was described in detail in
an article in the Wilson Bulletin about 1976, and probably elsewhere
in the scientific literature. My apologies to the author of the 1976
article, whose name I forget, but I am sure it concerned observations
on Glaucous-winged Gulls in the Puget Sound area. If anyone can supply
the exact reference, I'd be grateful.

Wayne Weber
Kamloops, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico,ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Joaw9 at aol.com <Joaw9 at aol.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:; <undisclosed-recipients:;>
Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 1:58 AM
Subject: Re: "Bird Brains" - on KCTS


>I watched Bird Brains. What I found disconcerting was the part where
the crows were breaking the clam shells by dropping them on the rocks
below. The over-voice showed a gull and said that they never exhibit
this behavior. Maybe the over-voice was only talking about that
specific gull (and like Lydia, I have no idea what species they
showed).
>I have definitely seen gulls dropping clam and mussels shells from
the air to crack them on the rocks below. Has anyone else seen this
behavior in gulls?
>-- Jo Waldron
>-- Everett, WA
>-- joaw9 at aol.com
>