tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post992321167285447795..comments2024-03-19T09:23:36.864+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-8583223837666569982015-03-20T03:04:00.967+00:002015-03-20T03:04:00.967+00:00Mind you if pine martens were to make a comeback, ...Mind you if pine martens were to make a comeback, that could pose big problems for feral Egyptians and Mandarins as well as grey squirrels. Ok now let's not miss the eclipse Ralph! JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-11850040560157722562015-03-20T02:20:24.866+00:002015-03-20T02:20:24.866+00:00I'm sure you're right about Egyptian Geese...I'm sure you're right about Egyptian Geese. As birds inhabiting the more fertile regions of Africa, they have to cope with all kinds of large ground predators. They must find things very easy here, without a lion to be seen.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-37651434456492925012015-03-20T00:29:14.095+00:002015-03-20T00:29:14.095+00:00Mallards sometimes nest in tree clefts, also famou...Mallards sometimes nest in tree clefts, also famously in window boxes. I wonder if Egyptian Geese prefer trees because pair bonds are especially strong and a pair of birds this size is well able to repel aerial/most arboreal attackers compared with the difficulties they might have with large ground carnivores. In turn the conspicuity of larger birds nesting and escorting young may be why pair bonds are especially strong in larger wildfowl. Though a mallard drake will sometimes stand guard by a nesting female. Jim n.L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-49036835657924268992015-03-19T20:32:08.073+00:002015-03-19T20:32:08.073+00:00Amazing! Thank you very much.Amazing! Thank you very much.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-24841726140216041292015-03-19T18:35:24.174+00:002015-03-19T18:35:24.174+00:00They jump out when their mother calls them. They a...They jump out when their mother calls them. They are small enough to fall any distance uninjured.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-90817688474202519372015-03-19T12:56:29.899+00:002015-03-19T12:56:29.899+00:00Brilliant. How do the young leave the nest? Is i...Brilliant. How do the young leave the nest? Is it by falling out? And bumping their way down to the ground? <br /><br />Do losses incurred through injury on descent outweigh potential losses through predation if their nests were at ground level? That is, is it logical to nest in trees in terms of offspring survival rates?<br /><br />Hope you don't mind me picking your brains Ralph. My birding friend is also interested in your knowledge of this subject, so it's not just me!Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-36360826070000623862015-03-19T12:12:36.801+00:002015-03-19T12:12:36.801+00:00Grebes, Coots, swans and most ducks can't perc...Grebes, Coots, swans and most ducks can't perch in trees. Moorhens and Mandarins can, and use tree holes (though Moorhens will nest in any sheltered place).Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-3938061164366584812015-03-19T07:33:14.629+00:002015-03-19T07:33:14.629+00:00Good morning, Ralph. Just chewing over with a bir...Good morning, Ralph. Just chewing over with a birding friend the location of water birds' nests. Some go for the water or bank (eg Grebes, Mallards, Coots or Swans), others choose to fly up to nest in trees (eg Herons, Egyptian Geese, and possibly Mandarin Ducks). Why?Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-61220159764064408952015-03-18T22:53:20.915+00:002015-03-18T22:53:20.915+00:00A truly delightful entry. Thank you so much! Eli...A truly delightful entry. Thank you so much! ElizabethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-9902700716795391512015-03-18T20:47:39.181+00:002015-03-18T20:47:39.181+00:00Good to hear from you. In New Zealand the Great Cr...Good to hear from you. In New Zealand the Great Crested Grebe is a Maori National Treasure, and quite right too.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-19584569955803157862015-03-18T19:31:30.339+00:002015-03-18T19:31:30.339+00:00Wonderful amount of species, and now on my list fo...Wonderful amount of species, and now on my list for places to visit. Cheers from New Zealand Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05078879878173015184noreply@blogger.com