Weird Bird Behavior

[Virgo10]

We have ospreys all over the place down here. About 45 minutes ago I was heating up my coffee and I could hear one screeching. It sounded really close and sure enough, there it was hovering right over my backyard. Now while these birds can and do make noise, I'd never heard anything like what this one was doing. I grabbed the binoculars and could see it had a fish in its talons. All the while the screaming just went on and on.

Finally after about 5 minutes or so it stopped and there it was on a light pole out in front of my house, having breakfast. By the time I went to get my camera, it had taken off and disappeared.

Noisy little bugger, it sound like someone was getting murdered. Insert Fainting smilie. Eh, this will do.

 

[Stitchfans]

technically when you think about someone was getting murdered. that poor little fishy. Circle of life.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually a lot of birds are doing strange things around this time of year. DH and I are birders and have seen lots of "odd" behavior lately. It's just that it's springtime and the birds and the bees and all that stuff. They just have very strange ways of attracting each other's attention. Right now we have a bunch of cormorants in the canal in back of us who have daily burping contests (at least that's how they sound). How that could excite any female is beyond me, but I guess to a female cormorant....

 

[minnie411]

We have a bird that all summer attacks our front window and our cars. He must see his reflection or something but he goes crazy. The kids will start yelling "mom, the crazy bird is back"

 

[Seahunt]

When we lived over at the beach we had an Osprey come and visit us one morning - I took all kinds of pictures and he didn't seem to mind me looking at him! Right after that, at the local baseball field a pitcher from the Daytona Cubs baseball team threw a ball at an Osprey that was perched on one of the field lights and knocked the bird to the ground. They rushed it to a vet and it didn't die right away, but did die pretty soon after. I always hoped it wasn't "my" Osprey....

 

[SwedishMeatball]

There are a lot of people around here with bird phobias. They are probably reading this and whimpering.

Seahunt, I LOVE your signature pic.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Okay, maybe it's just me, but could it have been a bird version of Eddie Murphy's "IIIII got some iiiiiice creeeeeeeeeam youuuuuuuu got no iiiiiice creeeeeeeeeam" standup bit?

 

[Virgo10]

When we lived over at the beach we had an Osprey come and visit us one morning - I took all kinds of pictures and he didn't seem to mind me looking at him! Right after that, at the local baseball field a pitcher from the Daytona Cubs baseball team threw a ball at an Osprey that was perched on one of the field lights and knocked the bird to the ground. They rushed it to a vet and it didn't die right away, but did die pretty soon after. I always hoped it wasn't "my" Osprey....

What an idiot! I would have called the ASPCA.

Just found this in reference to an incident in 2003.

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A minor-league pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization has created a major flap after aiming for and knocking down an osprey from its perch with a baseball.

Jae-kuk Ryu of the Daytona Cubs could face animal cruelty charges for striking out at the bird Monday night at Florida's Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

"The bird's eye was gushing blood," Chad Efron, a trainer with the Port St. Lucie Mets told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "I started yelling at [Ryu]. I got all fired up."

The bird, known locally as Ozzy, had been nesting with its mate and chicks on a 40-foot light pole over left field, when it was struck after several pitches by Ryu during pre-game practice time.

"He laughed when he missed," Efron, said. "Then he acted like he was sorry when the bird was laying there."

The osprey is being treated for a serious eye injury at the Animal Clinic of Edgewater, Fla., where veterinarians are using anti-inflammatory drugs and are trying to get Ozzy to eat.

"We're just keeping him warm and quiet," said technician Jennifer Rosenfeldt. "It's unfortunate that people don't have respect for nature."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are tight-lipped about its investigation into the incident, but it says ospreys are recognized by the state as a species of special concern, meaning their habitats are vulnerable.

Wounding or killing one is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.

"You can't intentionally harm an animal," said Daytona Beach Animal Control officer Melody Baum. "If somebody deliberately threw the ball, it's animal cruelty."

Team officials are still trying to determine details of the incident.

"I've got to look and see what happened," Cubs manager Rick Kranitz said. "I'm sure the intention was not to kill the bird."

According to WKMG-TV in Orlando, angry phone calls and e-mails have been pouring into the park, with most messages suggesting the pitcher be punished for his actions.

I wonder if the Vet will report it? Animal cruelty is unacceptable!

 

[Simba's Mom]

It does seem rather uncalled for for the pitcher to do that if the bird was just sitting there, not bothering anyone. I mean, I'm petrified of snakes, but if I saw one, I wouldn't go out of my way to kill it. That's cruel!