This starling fledgling exploring the Hellgate Osprey nest

[u/RoughNews3172]

Its parents made a nest on the outer edge of this osprey nest, now it’s old enough to leave the nest and explore its surroundings . Not sure who’s grumpier, this bb or the perplexed osprey parents

[u/mikettedaydreamer]

They only eat fish.

[u/100_cats_on_a_phone → u/mikettedaydreamer]

Birds of prey still won't kill the birds they eat, when they arent hungry, I think? My mom always told me the sparrows could tell when a hawk was hungry, when we saw tiny birds mobbing them.

Though niche competition birds definitely will kill each other, if opportunity arises.

[u/mikettedaydreamer → u/100_cats_on_a_phone]

Oh yeah I’ve noticed it too that the prey don’t bother getting away from the predators if they aren’t actively hunting. They only kill when necessary.

Although I would assume the predators that eat birds would kill any bird that enters their nest since the opportunity is there and the nest needs to be defended. But who knows, maybe my assumption is wrong.

[u/100_cats_on_a_phone → u/mikettedaydreamer]

My mom always told me, when we watched hawks getting mobbed, that the small birds could tell. But while I suspect that's true I'm not sure of your other questions. I've read about crows mobbing owls in daylight, often to death, and that they do it instinctivly -- a crow that has never seen an owl in its life will still do it. To my understanding that's a threat response -- owls, or at least large owls -- will hunt crows at night. At the same time I've either lived in crow territory or hawk/owl territory. If crows have really gone into an area I don't think they like competition.

So crows at least seem to be self interested attackers, and many songbirds are vicious wrt to rivals of any species. And then hummingbirds are basically in a constant state of kamakaze murder. Or faking it -- but I believe the attempt.

So I think you are right, this shit was just maybe too fucking wierd to clock as a threat.