[obol] Western Scrub Jay, Norther Flicker and Song Sparrow Behavior

[Mike Patterson]

I don't know that I've ever seen flickers mob a predator (which
is not to say that it doesn't happen).  More usually when I see
a mob of flicker they've found a food source to share, an ant mound, 
a downed log full of termites, crab-apples.

And the scrub-jays had probably keyed in on the activity of the
flickers, because they like ants and termites, too.

Had the first Rufous Hummers at the feeder this weekend.  White-
crowned Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets have started singing
full songs...

sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> Hi.  Yesterday on my walk along the Columbia River Slough I saw a flock of Western Scrub Jays.  There were at least eight, and come to think of it there were also three or four Northern Flickers.  So I immediately started looking for what they were mobbing.  Then, all of the Jays took off in one direction sort of chasing and bickering and the Flickers went a different direction.  They continued to chase and bicker until they flew out of sight.   I can only surmise this is some sort of courtship behavior, would this be young birds that do not have partners?
> 
> There were pairs of Song Sparrows along the trail yesterday, buI also saw six or seven Song Sparrows chasing and bickering.
> 
> I have this question because the Western Scrub Jays in my garden seem to be an established pair.  They've been around for years.  Same with my Norther Flickers, my Song Sparrows and Bewick's Wrens.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Sandy Leaptrott
> NE Portland


-- 
Mike Patterson               
Astoria, OR                    
celata at pacifier.com  
 
Dr Strange-gull
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/uggu20080302.html