By tom and barbara wilson on Friday, November 10, 2000 - 8:44 am: |
Has anyone else seen that small yellow bird (jerry L. would kill me for not ID'ing)in Washington Park. It is totally inamored with the side rear view mirrors of vistors autos. This pretty bird came and sat right by the drivers window and kept flying up to the mirror. Then over to the passenger side and on to other cars.
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By Peggy Bowen on Friday, November 10, 2000 - 7:10 pm: |
Getting back to that yellow bird from a few posts up.
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By Philip Wansley on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 - 1:15 pm: |
My wife and I also got to enjoy the antics of one of the yellow warblers at the dive site "Ol Blue" this past July. We were having a snack and off-gassing in our rental truck and while waiting noticed a bird that was busy jumping around inside another couples van. Those folks had left the windows down in their van, and the bird was having a great time flying from window to window and pecking at both outside mirrors. At one point it even got into a cookie or cracker box on the dashboard and scattered the contents about. When the owners returned they were less than excited about what the bird had done, but it was great entertainment for us!
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By Ellen Muller on Sunday, January 21, 2001 - 2:36 pm: |
Peggy has already given a good description of the yellow warbler. I took these pictures of a yellow warbler last weekend in Washington Park at Pos Mangel. They really tire themselves out in the car door mirrors.
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By Kerri Freeman on Sunday, January 21, 2001 - 4:28 pm: |
Ellen,I've said it before,and no doubt will say it again,You're amazing! A million dollar shot!Or pair of shots!I've been laughing since I saw them. Reminds me of my littlest Shi-Tzu, Xia Xia. Heaven help those 'invader' dogs who show up on 'our' television. 7 lbs of dog is on guard for me. Come to think of it, she's blonde,too.Hmmm... Somewhere in some birdie bar,a little bird is chirping to his friends....I'm telling you,featherbrain....You should see the other guy..:-)
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By Wendy S. Bolognesi on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 5:24 pm: |
Ellen,The Friday before you took your photo I was at Pos Mangel and I believe the exact same little guy was at our side view mirrors from the time we arrived until we left. Correct me if I'm wrong in assuming his bright coloring makes him a male. Does he think he's fighting off a competitor, or found a long lost buddy?
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By Ellen Muller on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 10:08 pm: |
Wendy, you are correct in assuming that he is a male. I think that he is defending his territory but that stubborn bird in the mirror just doesn't seem to get the message! Did you see the BIG iguanas at Pos Mangel?
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By Kerri Freeman on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 10:27 pm: |
Yes,Wendy,it is defensive. Little garden sparrows in the back yard, fight and drive off even much larger birds,like crows. Unless the 'mirror' bird flies away, our friend can't quit. He'd lose his girl, his territory and his reproductive rights in the Darwinian hierarchy of 'suvival of the fittest',I believe.
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By Niki Harris on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 10:33 pm: |
Ellen, as amazing as that picture is, it makes me think I might bring something to cover up the side mirrors temporarily so that the "rivals" could enjoy a cease-fire. At least until the next truck comes along... Keep up the great wildlife photos; we love them!
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By Glen Reem on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 11:22 pm: |
Fascinating!!! How did he learn to see a bird in
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By Ellen Muller on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 12:34 am: |
Glenn, a lot more than one of the yellow warblers are doing this. I had parked my car at the main entrance to Washington Park to make the trip through the park in my son's pickup truck. As soon as I left the car a male warbler started his ritual with the side door mirror. When we were half way through the park I asked my friend if the bird would tire at some point and stop and was told he would not. Unfortunately only then did it dawn on me that I could have covered the mirrors and saved that poor bird a lot of aggravation! Five hours later when we got back to the entrance he was still there. Needless to say my car door was covered in bird droppings( I should have taken a picture of them for Cecil!).
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By Kerri Freeman on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 1:59 am: |
Well,fools step in where angels fear to tread,so I'll add what I remember,speculate and have observed. You all will correct any errors,please. I think we have a mix of instinctive,learned and maybe adaptive behaviour here. If I remember correctly, a bird's eyes are differently constructed than ours.They,I think,also see forward and back.And since the Warbler feeds on insects, he catches them on the fly as well as 'landed'. Probably,in swooping for an insect, his excellent bird's eye sight catches the reflection of his own movement,or himself in the truck mirrors. (Or,he might be looking for those crumbs,maybe a learned appreciation,or just learned behaviour about a food source) With a covered mirror likely nothing happens. He sees no 'mirror'bird,and he's not 'challenged' by a Suzuki. It's once he sees the 'bird' and perhaps signals like ruffled feathers,which make him look bigger to his enemies,that he, or in this case,from what Peggy Bowen says,both sexes,attack to defend their territory. It would be interesting to know if they've 'learned' that Suzuki trucks are a food source.If anybody wants to do a study,I'll be happy to assist Bonairean observers. Specially this winter.J Okay,corrections come NOW!
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By Kerri Freeman on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 2:09 am: |
Moderators Sorry. Got so nervous trying to do an image I clicked the wrong button. Hope I didn't mess up your stuff. You don't accept gifs from me?No.
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By Wendy S. Bolognesi on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 5:32 pm: |
Yes Ellen, We did see the Big Iguanas at Pos Mangel. There were alot of them too. We took still and video shots of them. The video came out really nice, one close up shows an iguana nodding his/her head up and down. If I can figure out how and where I will post it.
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By Kerri Freeman on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 5:52 pm: |
Glen Reem As you are interested in nature, further to the discussion of Jan23-24, "bird in the mirror",you might like the following reference which involves mirrors and Bottlenose Dolphins.If you haven't seen it:Project Delphis,"Evidence of Self Awareness in Bottlenose Dolphins" by Dr.Kenneth Marten and Suchi Psarakos,from the book 'Self Awareness in Animals and Humans;A Developmental Perspective.The chapter is reprinted courtesy Cambridge University Press(95) A few tables and commentary on the 'Mirror/Mark Test' \Try Project Delphis or Intelligence in Dolphins Maybe just 'Dolphin Intelligence'.Enjoy!
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By Glen Reem on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 12:41 pm: |
Kerri,
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By Glen Reem on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 1:09 pm: |
Kerri,
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By Michelle Ryan on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 3:15 pm: |
Similar experience with a yellow warbler back in 1999 at Washington Slaagbai National Park. The photo is here:
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By Niki Harris on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 4:20 pm: |
Michelle, a nice selection of land and sea photos, and your descriptions are great. This is a good introduction for anyone wondering what are some of the creatures you see on Bonaire. (There are many more, as well...) Thanks for adding your link.
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By Ellen Muller on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 10:15 pm: |
Very nice photos, Michelle and I second Niki's thoughts.
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By Niki Harris on Saturday, July 7, 2001 - 10:56 pm: |
We saw yellow warblers in many places, and at Pos Mangel they were quick to locate the side-view mirrors on the truck.
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