Wear a hardhat when visiting nesting seabird colonies (such as those off
the NE coast of Maine.) Seabirds are much bigger, more numerous in place,
and even more cantankerous than blackbirds to perceived intruders. A few
years ago, when attending a shorebird workshop via Wings, Inc., a
birding tour company, we were being dive-bombed by tiny Piping Plovers
near a nesting sanctuary on a TX gulf-shore coast. Parenthood can give
extraordinary courage to defenders of the nest or the den and dependent
young in most all critters. Mother rabbits have been seen attacking even
mountain lions threatening young.
And so it goes, me2
****************************************
Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
Woods Lab, Toxicology Group at Roos 1, Box 354695
Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938 Email: mj2ephd at u.washington.edu
DEOHS, SPHCM, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
****************************************
"The highway of life is full of flat squirrels that
couldn't make up their minds." ____unknown

"To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities
as you do at conclusions." ____Ben Franklin

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ____Ghandi

On Thu, 25 May 2007, carenp at totalise.co.uk wrote:

> red-winged blackbirds will also do the same thing. leading tours at
> juanita bay park, especially along the western boardwalk, can be a
> challenge during this time, as there are normally several nests within 5
> feet of the boardwalk, and both mom and dad don't appreciate the bipedal
> activity so close...
> for what it's worth, i've seen them attack other species as well, from
> eagles to herons...
>
> 00 caren
> http://www.parkgallery.org
> george davis creek, north fork
>
> On May 24 2007, hughbirder at earthlink.net wrote:
>
> >On Monday while manning the ELWAS office in Kirkland a woman called
> about Brewer's Blackbirds attacking people outside the place where she
> works. My wife and I went to check it out about 2 p.m. The address is
> 9430 Willows Road in Redmond. If you go north on Willows Road the large
> office building will be on your right, east side of the road. In front of
> the main entrance is a small tree in a circular area and there is a 4-5'
> hedge along the west edge of the parking lot. Apparently, the birds must
> have nests in both areas, altho I couldn't find any nests. When you walk
> close to either area the birds attack you by hitting you on the back. You
> can feel a definite thump on your back.They don't go after your face or
> in front of you. The people that work there cannot get to/from their cars
> without being attacked. They apparently just put up with it until the
> young leave the nest and the attacks stop. They said this is not the
> first year it has occurred. It is interesting that they!
> > would go back to the same area when they get bothered by so many
> people. I went to Google and put in "Brewer's Blackbirds attacking
> people" and got a number of hits. Apparently it is fairly common if you
> go near where they are nesting.
> >
> >Hugh Jennings
> >Bellevue, WA
> >hughbirder at earthlink.net
>
>