Planet_Rock_Lofts
35 posts
Apr 20, 2006
4:20 PM
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Hello Everybody,
I know people have made this statement before, but has anyone ever come up with the answer to the following:
Why do hawks, falcons and other birds of prey chase after rollers when there is a whole flock of COMMIES sitting on my neighbors roof or the telephone line?
Does anyone have any idea why this happens?
Planet Rock Lofts
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
481 posts
Apr 20, 2006
4:32 PM
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They hit the commies too. I have commies across the street from my house and I've seen the coopers hit them.
Most bird eating hawks are aerial attackers, by the time they are adults they are very good at in-flight attacks and that is their preferred method if given a choice.
Rollers fly around in the "attack zone" for the entire time they are flying. They are bait, dangling in the target zone whereas Homers are in route and commies just sit around keeping an eye to the sky or maknig a few laps around their hang out.
It is a matter of opportunity. Rollers, if performing, appear wounded or sick by their actions of rolling or flipping, prime candidates for a predator, and their preferred choice given they will assume it will take less effort to "thin the herd".
Think like a raptor. What would be easier to catch? A commie that sits on a roof, conditioned to being attacked from above or flying in a straight line out of the area, just like a homer. Or a tasty looking wounded bait that just flys around in one area and won't leave?
Brian.
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Planet_Rock_Lofts
36 posts
Apr 20, 2006
5:17 PM
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Thanks Brian
That makes sense!
Planet Rock Lofts
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fhtfire
421 posts
Apr 20, 2006
7:44 PM
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I have had coopers take out the commies in my neighborhood too. I have even seen a cooper land on a house..hop over to an eve and pull out a squeeker and fly off with it. So they do attach commies. Brian is right...rollers just hang around the same area. I kind of use the commies as a guage to let out my birds. During hawk season...if I get up to let the birds out and the commies are all over the sky..flying in every direction...I can pretty much bet that there is a hawk around...and there usually is.
rock and ROLL
paul
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