Have you observed birds “helping” each other.

[Janus]

There is this female blackbird that hangs around the base of the wooden post where I have a bird feeder hanging (containing mealworms). The tits come to the feeder and for some reason toss some mealworms out-almost like they are rejecting them. The blackbird then eats them up off the grass. I`m not sure if the tits are helping the ground feeding birds intentionally or if it is a coincidence.

 

Has anyone made similar observations?

[Parvo]

I think small birds of different species do flock and feed together - its because the more eyes there are the less chance of being eaten-there's a term for it that I can't remember..sowhat you are saying makes some sense-if there's plenty of food...

[Oldtrout]

Yeah ... they do exactly the same in my garden. The tits and sparrows seem to flick almost half of what they pick onto the ground.

 

The blackbird/s are usually there when they do this, but I've noticed other little birds picking up from the ground but then they rush back under a bush to eat. Maybe it's the males flicking it out to make it easier for the females (or vice versa more like!)

 

The pigeons are a bit daft. They just seem to strut around, more bothered about stopping other pigeons getting any food, than trying to grab the food when they can.

 

I don't like it when a huge flock of big birds comes whooshing down!! Crows, or jays ... magpies are the worst. They stuff loads into their mouths, leaving nothing for the little ones ... grrrrr

[lectrolove]

I've seen jackdaws co-operating. One will shake the feeder while the others scoff the fallout.

[Chris_B_1983]

I saw a bird pi**ing down a grate in Wincobank on Saturday night last week. Her mate was helping her, by lighting her a Lambert & Butler.

[Ryedo40]

I regularly get starlings visiting my feeders(they go mad for the homemade bird cake). More often than not one starling appears first - as though it's scouting to see if I've put some food out - and, after about a minute, it flies off. A few minutes later it returns with a small army of starlings.

 

I've seen similar behaviour in jackdaws too. So I definitely think some birds help others.