[Tweeters] Fireworks, Motion - and birds ... ?

[HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters]

I think responses to noise, human presence, and such is species and individual specific.  Just returned from 3 weeks in Kenya, which was our fourth trip to the Continent.  On safari, one of the primary rules is stay in the vehicles. Nothing has seemed to give a rip about our presence except for a bull elephant or two. One lioness was surprised when she looked up and saw us about 5m away.  The birds similarly tended to appear to ignore us unless the vehicle almost hit them.

Having hunted deer a lot I have been within 10' of some with no issues and had some run when I was 100 yards  away.  I have seen deer walk across an active rifle range; just ambled through. 

I think it has to do a lot with what the individual perceives as natural threats and experience with humans. I think, as Dennis says, a calm approach and slow movement probably does a lot to not scaring them.
 

Hal Michael
Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/)
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
ucd880 at comcast.net


> On 07/06/2024 10:49 AM PDT Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

>  

> Jim, I agree with everything you said. I have found that motion is much more important in disturbing birds than what color clothing you where when out in the field. Our feeder birds also vary greatly by species in how easily disturbed they are. For example, flickers are much more nervous than Downy, Hairy or Pileated Woodpeckers when in our yard. I think it’s because they are ground feeders, programmed to be much more cautious about predators.

> 

> Dennis Paulson

> Seattle

> 

> > On Jul 6, 2024, at 9:55 AM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> > 

> > Hi all,

> > 

> > 

> >   I did not see much change, if any at all, in the presence of birds at our feeders

> > 

> > (seed and hummer) on the morning after the 4th (the 5th).  And the same is

> > 

> > true today.

> > 

> >   I'm guessing - and would like confirmation - that unless the fireworks are very

> > 

> > close to the bird (roosting/other) that they pretty much don't notice.

> > 

> > 

> >   As an overall observation - in terms of birds flushing what I've noticed is that

> > 

> > sound and color of clothing make very little difference - and it is motion that is

> > 

> > the most important.  With motion that is either fast-and-big (waving your arms) or

> > 

> > in the direction of the birds (getting closer) ... that matters the most.  If I move

> > 

> > slowly or away from the birds at my feeder/in the field - they seem to not flush.

> > 

> > Additionally, each species seems to have its own comfort zone - in fact what I've

> > 

> > noticed is that if I have a particular lens on my camera, most of the time, the

> > 

> > size of the image of the bird on the camera is pretty much the same ... no

> > 

> > matter which species it is.

> > 

> >   Individual birds within a species can vary a LOT - the above are "rules of

> > 

> > thumb".

> > 

> >                                                            - Jim

> > 

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