Ravens chasing Birds of Prey?

orlaf

Hi All,

Why do ravens chase birds of prey?

I was lucky enough to see what looked to be 2 Kestrels in different locations being chased by Ravens/Crows today.

Would the Ravens only chase a Kestrel and not the likes of a bigger bird of prey such as a Buzzard? Surely too the Kestrel could easily lose the Raven if he/she liked?

It was great seeing it. I guess I wouldnt have noticed the Kestrels as easy if they were just flying along and not being followed!

Cardynal

Most Corvids will mob Birds of prey if the come into their territory , for self-preservation or to remove the threat to their young.
They also on occassion try to steal food from the birds of prey by harrassing them into dropping prey they have just captured.
Kestrels and crows would be a very common one , but i've also seen a few hooded crows mob a buzzard , and very often see crows mob Grey herons if they come too near , and i also think they do it just because they can.
Regards Tom.

Kess73

Cardynal is spot on in what he says.

But now that you have noticed raptors being harrassed by crows, keep an eye out for other birds doing the same.


Corvids (Jackdaws, Carrion crows, magpies etc) are obvious choices for mobbing a raptor, but some other birds do so and you might be surprised in what you might get to see.


Swallows, starlings, and even feral pigeons will join in the mobbing of a raptor. The latter I got to see first hand going after a spooked male juvenile sparrowhawk at the weekend, and about thirty pigeon continued to chase and harry the hawk as he made his exit.


I have also seen some great aerial chases involving other juvenile sparrowhawk in the last week, where large numbers of starling got joined by both magpie and jackdaws.

Five or six swallow buzzing a raptor is quite a sight. The little guys use every bit of their speed and agility to sweep in close to the hawk and then back out again. And all the while they are giving out warning calls, and should the hawk try to land and find cover, the swallows will circle madly overhead the hawk's hiding spot and continue to give out warning calls.

trebor28

see this all the time.

love watching the swallows chase the sparrowhawk as he tries to rid himself of the unwanted attention.
alls that missing is the cartoon bubble of the hawk saying "hate these goddamn swallows"

only today a kestrel flew into a shed of mine to escape a few crows.
it was only when i went to investigate what was going on that i startled the poor kestrel and he fled me and the crows got back on his case.

back last winter i was spying on our local buzzard sitting in a tree.
a magpie then came into the tree and was hopping around underneath him cackling, couldnt believe how brazen he was. looked like a robin attacking a crow the size difference was that bad!

John mac

here's a pic i got of one.http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=66682900&postcount=221

MB Lacey

Great question and answers.

I've often seen birds as small as Swallows trying to mob Red Kites! You got to admire their bravery.
I've also been lucky enough to see a flock of Starlings mobbing a Kestrel for over 10 mins.

I've attached a photo I got of a Red Kite being mobbed by crows a few weeks ago.

Connacht

"I've attached a photo I got of a Red Kite being mobbed by crows a few weeks ago."

Great picture, MB.
Love the crow on the right with the 4 wings and 2 tails.

(Sorry, have no idea how ye do the shaded quote box ...

johngalway

Cardynal wrote: »

and very often see crows mob Grey herons if they come too near , and i also think they do it just because they can.
Regards Tom.

I watched two ravens chase a heron over my farm there must be about a year back now, felt sorry for the heron!

Roen

Saw three gulls mob a heron there one month ago.

Birdnuts

johngalway wrote: »

I watched two ravens chase a heron over my farm there must be about a year back now, felt sorry for the heron!

I don't no why corvids like Ravens always seem to give herons a hard time - its not like there a threat to nestlings or young crows

Kess73

Birdnuts wrote: »

I don't no why corvids like Ravens always seem to give herons a hard time - its not like there a threat to nestlings or young crows

Grey herons do actually kill and eat young birds and small mammals when they get the chance. I have seen one kill and eat a duckling, and heard of other heron that have taken adult snipe.

Would not be too much of a stretch to see why corvids would see a heron as a threat given the heron's liking for meals other than fish.

trebor28

i would say half of it is simply; because they can!

Birdnuts

Kess73 wrote: »

Grey herons do actually kill and eat young birds and small mammals when they get the chance. I have seen one kill and eat a duckling, and heard of other heron that have taken adult snipe.

Would not be too much of a stretch to see why corvids would see a heron as a threat given the heron's liking for meals other than fish.

I know that - its just that a crow wouldn't be an obvious target given where Herons usually hang out.

mgwhelan

Birdnuts wrote: »

I know that - its just that a crow wouldn't be an obvious target given where Herons usually hang out.

I've seen a heron take a rook chick out of it's nest, it's parents weren't too far away and started chasing it, the heron droped the chick and flew off , chick fell to the ground so a lose lose situation