Re: The motionless Downy

["Bruce" <bkrucke@awod.com>]

I agree with the hawk theory and have seen it happen many times.  It can be
something as simple as the shadow of a soaring turkey vulture passing by
that causes it.  A sharpshin zooming through seems to scatter them, but a
perched redtail brings the freezing effect.  It seems as though the doves
are the first ones to resume feeding and when they do, you can almost hear
the collective sigh of relief as they all go about their business again.
Bruce Krucke
Yonges Island, SC


----- Original Message -----
From: Ernest Snavely
To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:10 AM
Subject: The motionless Downy


Now that Laura L-Tuffia mentioned it in an a-email yesterday I have been
wanting to comment on this phenomena. Of all the birds at our feeder in 20
years I have not observed the motionless act, but the reverse is true at
our daughter's house in PA.  Every time we visit them there is a period in
the day when not only Downys freeze but also Titmouse, Chickadees, and any
other visible bird at the time would freeze for two or three minutes, (It
seemed a lot longer).  The daughter's theory is that a hawk was in the
neighborhood.
A hawk does fly through their yard occasionally but she has never been
able to see a hawk perched around when the 'freezing' takes place.  She
says it must happen several time a week, though she is not home during
working hours.  Any additional theories I'll forward on.
E Snavely  Loris, SC   843 756 4824     snavely4@sccoast.net