interesting bird behavior

[Linda S Butler <lindasbutler at juno dot com>]

I've recently observed some interesting and intriguing bird behavior.
First: Last week a friend and I were potting up some plants in her back
yard. We heard a distinct "meow" and looked around but couldn't see a
cat. Then we heard a variety of chirps, cackles, and other bird
sounds--it sounded like an escaped parrot. Then we heard a raspy little
voice say "don't cross, don't cross." At this point we looked up and, on
the fence, was a starling that had been making all these sounds and even
talking. What's even more interesting is that this friend lives three
houses away from an elementary school crosswalk, complete with crossing
guards, who are likely telling the children "cross" or "don't cross." Has
anyone ever hear a starling talk?
Second: This afternoon about 4 p.m. I watched two sparrows, possibly
chipping sparrows (I'm terrible at ID.) on my lawn beneath the feeders.
The more colorful of the pair was feeding seeds to the other one, which
was similar in size, though drab in color. The "feedee" would open its
beak wide and chirp, expecting food. I thought it was a fledgling, though
the two birds were similar in size. Looking at the Golden Field Guide to
Birds, I think it was a male/female pair. When the birds were startled,
both flew with equal agility onto (or over, I couldn't see from my
window) my roof. So I'm now tempted to rule out that the bird being fed
was a fledgling. Any thoughts on this behavior?

_______________________________________________

"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
     BirdTalk:
To subscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To unsubscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-unsubscribe@utahbirds.org
To send a message, e-mail:  birdtalk@utahbirds.org
_________________________________________________