Subject: [Tweeters] Unusual bird behavior at night
Date: Apr 8 22:02:58 2011
From: notcalm at comcast.net - notcalm at comcast.net


Hello Tweeters,


I observed two unusual bird behaviors, Tuesday and this evening, Friday. Have any of you seen anything like this in past years or recently?


Tuesday evening at 8:55- 9:05PM, Community Center at Mercerview, I ( and others) saw and heard, calling loudly- apparent distress calls, two, then three Killdeer flying in circles over the parking lot at about 70-100 feet. The next day I talked to someone that had been sitting outside at the same location before I walked into the parking lot. They stated that five birds were calling and flying in circles above the parking lot, with some diving behavior.


This evening, when leaving work at 8:25 PM, I heard a group of crows calling after dark. When I arrived home, I was standing in my driveway with my dog, when a single Crow began calling loudly and flew over our neighborhood at 125-150 feet and began flying in circles and continued a distress call- (9:20- 9:28 PM). I have never seen a crow do this.


So my immediate speculation was predators- perhaps a Barred owl had startled the Crow or a dog the Killdeer. In the case of the Killdeer, perhaps migrating birds had disturbed the resident pair at the community center which responded by taking flight. Or perhaps some Seismic activity- however unlikely. I have no idea as I have never seen or heard birds do this at night.


Anyone wish to share or inform?


Thanks,
Dan