Seems to me it IS nature’s way. Hawks kill to live. Small birds hassle hawks with lots of flutter and noise to spread the word to potential prey that a hawk is present.
As to hawks turning and grabbing tormentors, that rarely happens as smaller, fleeter, more acrobatic birds use their talents to avoid just that outcome.
“We’re the boys from Camp Kookamonga. Our mothers sent us here for to study nature’s ways. We learn to make sparks by rubbing sticks together. But if we catch the girls it’ll set the woods ablaze.” —Homer & Jethro, “The Battle of Kookamonga”, hats off to Johnny Horton and “The Battle of New Orleans”
Just a reminder to folks that despite this strip highlights (again) that Caulfield deliberately sets out to be disruptive in class to his teacher, it’s not because he’s in any way mean spirited, it’s because he’s a bored genius and it’s all the educational system’s fault. Also, it’s just a comic strip, etc.
It’s not always about protecting the nest. I have had ravens follow me for several blocks, buzzing me from behind and cawing just as they pass my ear (a raven heard from 2 feet away is LOUD!). After 3 or 4 blocks of this I was clearly nowhere near its nest. Also, don’t know if this was territorial or not, but I once saw a raven harassing an eagle in the fashion described above; the raven kept it up, even though the eagle appeared to be just trying to leave the area. Needless to say, the raven never got below the eagle and generally just outmaneuvered it; eventually it just stopped, and the eagle went on its way unaccompanied.
We have a lot of eagles around here as well as crazy little birds playing dodge with them. I rarely see the eagles pay them much mind, but very occasionally one will get fed up and fly upside down with those sharp talons outstretched, and the little birds scatter like fragments of a bomb!
Elmer Gantry Fudd about 6 years ago
I like it when I find the wings of little birds, that the big birds have bitten off, so they could swallow their prey head first. That’s nature’s way.
cabalonrye about 6 years ago
And then you watch the big bird make a quick turn and grab the little one…
Ontman about 6 years ago
The smaller birds that are ‘mobbing’ the larger birds are usually only protecting their nests.
Buck B about 6 years ago
The difference is attitude. Just like a small dog telling a big dog to stay out of its yard.
sandpiper about 6 years ago
Seems to me it IS nature’s way. Hawks kill to live. Small birds hassle hawks with lots of flutter and noise to spread the word to potential prey that a hawk is present.
As to hawks turning and grabbing tormentors, that rarely happens as smaller, fleeter, more acrobatic birds use their talents to avoid just that outcome.
matzam Premium Member about 6 years ago
an old Spirit song
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member about 6 years ago
Maybe Frazz is just promoting an eco-friendly cleaning product…
Darwinskeeper about 6 years ago
I think she wants Caufield to understand that while he can get away with hassling his teachers, bosses are a DIFFERENT matter entirely.
Richard S Russell Premium Member about 6 years ago
“We’re the boys from Camp Kookamonga. Our mothers sent us here for to study nature’s ways. We learn to make sparks by rubbing sticks together. But if we catch the girls it’ll set the woods ablaze.” —Homer & Jethro, “The Battle of Kookamonga”, hats off to Johnny Horton and “The Battle of New Orleans”
Ubermick about 6 years ago
Just a reminder to folks that despite this strip highlights (again) that Caulfield deliberately sets out to be disruptive in class to his teacher, it’s not because he’s in any way mean spirited, it’s because he’s a bored genius and it’s all the educational system’s fault. Also, it’s just a comic strip, etc.
childe_of_pan about 6 years ago
It’s not always about protecting the nest. I have had ravens follow me for several blocks, buzzing me from behind and cawing just as they pass my ear (a raven heard from 2 feet away is LOUD!). After 3 or 4 blocks of this I was clearly nowhere near its nest. Also, don’t know if this was territorial or not, but I once saw a raven harassing an eagle in the fashion described above; the raven kept it up, even though the eagle appeared to be just trying to leave the area. Needless to say, the raven never got below the eagle and generally just outmaneuvered it; eventually it just stopped, and the eagle went on its way unaccompanied.
Kind&Kinder about 6 years ago
We have a lot of eagles around here as well as crazy little birds playing dodge with them. I rarely see the eagles pay them much mind, but very occasionally one will get fed up and fly upside down with those sharp talons outstretched, and the little birds scatter like fragments of a bomb!