[Birdtalk] Cold Dove

[John Morgan]

Thanks Dave.
Good information about brain fat. I've observed that in humans. Myself, for 
example :)

It's obvious birds don't process social interactions like we do, or rather, 
like we're conditioned to do. (Or, maybe we're not that different--consider 
human reaction of the past in holocaust-like situations where life's 
meanings are denigrated to animal-like levels, or consider the crowds that 
gather at accident scenes). Thus, they see the Kestrel is no longer a threat 
and everyone eats and roosts together for a few hours.

Other than for the basic need to eat, one wonders why a Kestrel would take 
such large prey and leave so much wasted. The Kestrel left the carcass and 
flew to the fence top before I went outside so his mealtime had already 
ended. Plenty left for other predators, I suppose.

Appreciate your response!
John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Rintoul" <drintoul at ksu.edu>
To: <birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 7:26 AM
Subject: RE: [Birdtalk] Cold Dove


> John Morgan asks:
>
> A Kestrel is eating a Dove just 40' away from where 15 Doves were parked,
> roosting on the ground in plain sight, AND THEY'RE OK WITH THAT????
> A Kestel eats snips the head, eats the back/shoulder area and leaves the
> white meat?
> A Kestrel attacks a sleepy Dove (his same size), gets full and leaves the
> mess in my yard?
> What? No Magpies to heckle the Kestrel or pick at the remaining carcass??
>
> WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??
> ====================
>
> The few times I have surprised a raptor off a freshly killed bird, the 
> head
> was the only part missing. One possible explanation is that the brain 
> (with
> all of that fatty myelin) is very high in calories, and bird skulls are so
> thin that it is simple for a raptor to access and eat that high-fat meal
> quickly. If it had killed a cow, for example, it might not have started 
> with
> that thick-skulled end :-)
>
> If the raptor has time, and is hungry, it will start plucking and then 
> feed
> on the breast meat. But raptors don't think like people (or at least like
> present-day Americans), and high-fat meals are preferred over high protein
> meals!
>
> I dunno about the other observations (i.e. why the other doves were 
> ignoring
> the predator). But hopefully I can at least provide a plausible 
> explanation
> for the head-eating behavior.
>
> cheers
>
> Dave
>
> Dr. David A. Rintoul, Associate Director        <drintoul at ksu dot edu>
> Biology Division - KSU                               ICBM: 39.19N, 96.58W
> Manhattan KS 66506-4901                                 VOX: 785-532-6615
> http://www.ksu.edu/biology                              FAX: 785-532-6653
>
> "It is the task of leadership to end our illusions."    - Morris K. Udall
>
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