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Blackbird catches a ride from Osprey (Original Post) milestogo May 2023 OP
Cool photo! True Dough May 2023 #1
The behavior is called mobbing Easterncedar May 2023 #3
Thanks for the info True Dough May 2023 #9
I wouldn't have believed it Easterncedar May 2023 #2
Amazing. Thank you for sharing. niyad May 2023 #4
I always wonder about the people who get amazing captures like this. CrispyQ May 2023 #5
They go where the birds are, with a camera milestogo May 2023 #6
I stumbled across "The Big Year" on night & it was a fun movie! CrispyQ May 2023 #8
Cool pic... thanks for sharing!! InAbLuEsTaTe May 2023 #7

True Dough

(20,607 posts)
1. Cool photo!
Sun May 21, 2023, 10:24 AM
May 2023

This reminds me, I've seen crows divebombing eagles in mid-air. I've also witnessed smaller birds (starlings, I think) divebombing crows in mid-air. Why is this? And why do the larger birds seemingly tolerate it without counter attacking?

Easterncedar

(3,614 posts)
3. The behavior is called mobbing
Sun May 21, 2023, 10:26 AM
May 2023

The smaller birds drive larger predator birds away from nesting territory. The larger birds can’t attack in flight.

True Dough

(20,607 posts)
9. Thanks for the info
Sun May 21, 2023, 11:30 AM
May 2023

It is fascinating to watch, but also a little disturbing because it appears that it's done with intent to injure at times.

CrispyQ

(38,450 posts)
5. I always wonder about the people who get amazing captures like this.
Sun May 21, 2023, 10:27 AM
May 2023

Do they carry a camera everywhere? How many pics have they taken to date? Do they have other amazing shots?

milestogo

(18,073 posts)
6. They go where the birds are, with a camera
Sun May 21, 2023, 10:31 AM
May 2023

They wait a lot, and they take a lot of pictures.

And after all that, there's luck.

I have asked people who are nature guides (and spend all day out in nature) if they've ever seen certain birding behaviors- and they've only heard of them.

CrispyQ

(38,450 posts)
8. I stumbled across "The Big Year" on night & it was a fun movie!
Sun May 21, 2023, 11:03 AM
May 2023

I had no idea there was a competition like that. Jack Black was a delight.

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