In massachusetts, we had several reports of male ruffed grouse dsiplaying
aggressive behavior toward birders. Wild turkeys are also notorious for
this. Likewise, barnyard roosters. It's the same pattern.
My most memorable experience along these lines was a canoe trip in northern
Maine as a Boy Scout leader. We were challenged by a bull moose who was
courting a nearby cow. He stood in the middle of the stream, glared at us,
and then put his head down in the water and charged toward us. He then
tossed his head in the air, scattering a spray of droplets, Once he was
sure we had gotten the message, he walked casually into the bushes behind
the cow. It was an unforgettable sight. The call of the hormones is pretty
strong, sometimes overcoming all caution.
Gene Bullock
Poulsbo
---- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Smith" <esmith at coastaccess.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 1:06 AM
Subject: Car Chasing Pheasant


> Has anybody ever heard of car chasing behaviour in pheasants? A pheasant
> has recently moved into my neighborhood and I was vaguely aware of it
> running alongside my car until one day last week when I was afraid it was
> venturing out too far into the pavement. I stopped the car and it stopped
> too. When I started again it started too. Again and again. I finally
had
> to gun the car to get ahead of it. Since then it has chased after my car
> each of the several times I passed it. Today, it was walking south as I
> approached going north. When it saw my car it spun around and chased
north
> after me. Any ideas?
>
>