bird brains

[faz]

i do a lot of driving with my job and im often in country lanes which are hedge rows some as tall as 8ft wing mirrorrs touching both sides of the hedges i come across a lot of wildlife in these lanes but the birds seem to have a death wish pheasants will either just stand there or try to out run the van and at the last moment before i brake take off to safety now i know they are not very clever hence the title of this thread wood pigeons will fly in front of the van after taking to the wing then tuning left or right the one that puzzles me most is black birds thay will fly in front of the van zig zaging all the way down the lane as if playing "chicken " im so close to them if i put my hand out of the window i could let it perch on my finger the black birds are not in the road to begin with they just appear have a little bit of fun with the van then off .has any body else had this happen to them or coulkd any one tell me if they are indeed playing chicken

[Jim Ford]

I have a theory about blackbirds crossing roads!

Most blackbirds when crossing a road, start from a position in a hedge that's often higher than a car. As they fly across the road, they 'dip' to windscreen height, before climbing again for the hedge on the opposite side. If a car hits them - they're a 'goner'.

Not all blackbirds are 'dippers' - some will fly straight across and miss any cars. Is is possible that evolution will favour the 'non dippers' and eventually most blackbirds will have been descended from the non-dippers?

Jim

[Wild-Woman]

Pheasants are the worst ones for doing a suicidal dash across the road infront of you. Thankfully, I've not made contact with one- I hope I never do.
Others with a death wish are magpies, when they're busy clearing up after a roadkill, even on the motorway!
Otherwise I've had an escort in the form of a Green Woodpecker, guide me into the reserve.
Collared Doves leave it to the last minute before deciding they're mortal.

[RobinP]

Woodpigeons frequently fly down the road in front of me for 100 yds or so, especially if there are hedges on either side.

In nearly 40 years of driving I can only remember hitting a bird twice so they don't have a lot to fear from me!

Robin

[faz]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I have a theory about blackbirds crossing roads!

Most blackbirds when crossing a road, start from a position in a hedge that's often higher than a car. As they fly across the road, they 'dip' to windscreen height, before climbing again for the hedge on the opposite side. If a car hits them - they're a 'goner'.

Not all blackbirds are 'dippers' - some will fly straight across and miss any cars. Is is possible that evolution will favour the 'non dippers' and eventually most blackbirds will have been descended from the non-dippers?

Jim

the ones i have seen fly in front of my windscreen ive only seen it this year

[kercock]

In nearly 40 years of driving I can only remember hitting a bird twice so they don't have a lot to fear from me!

Robin
Sorry, I just have to ask what breed of bird was it survived being hit twice by a car ????

When I was driving south to Glasgow one time,near Cumbernauld I noticed a Magpie take off from the grass verge going almost straight up to about forty feet then continued over the road. I noticed this happen on several occasions before I realised why. The Magpies were reaching a height at which it was safe to "cross the road ". When I drive into areas where there are Magpies I always pay attention to what the magpies are up to. They are very rarely seen in this area,thank goodness, I'd rather have the songbirds..........................Dennis.

[actionfinch]

i almost hit a female blackbird this morning , i didnt even see her until she was in the headlights ,made me jump.

[Meta menardi]

It is, perhaps, a measure of how things have changed, but I remember when I was young that country lanes used to be haunted by hares at night, even when you stopped the car, they would stay in the headlights. You had to stop the car, turn off the lights and shoo them off the road.

North Yorkshire.