A Puzzle with Birds

[Valerie Villars]

I tried finding something about this on the internet and can't find an answer.

In the past week, on two separate occasions I have found a total of three dead baby birds in my driveway. I live in the country. Not so unusual you may think.

However, there are no trees or high places where I found them and from which they could have fallen. Still, not that unusual you may think.

Except, these birds have no feathers and to my knowledge could not have "walked" to their place of death. The only thing I could think is that an animal may have dragged them there, but what kind of animal would do that and not eat them? That's the puzzle. They looked pretty much close to hatched, but still completely helpless.

I am baffled.

[snoman]

well-fed cat

[9ideon]

Posted by Valerie Villars (here)
I tried finding something about this on the internet and can't find an answer.

In the past week, on two separate occasions I have found a total of three dead baby birds in my driveway. I live in the country. Not so unusual you may think.

However, there are no trees or high places where I found them and from which they could have fallen. Still, not that unusual you may think.

Except, these birds have no feathers and to my knowledge could not have "walked" to their place of death. The only thing I could think is that an animal may have dragged them there, but what kind of animal would do that and not eat them? That's the puzzle. They looked pretty much close to hatched, but still completely helpless.

I am baffled.

Pictures... (for investigative purposes).

Yes, ^ a Cat... Perhaps the little rascal needs a new place to stay at and is leaving you gifts in preparation of the move into your territory. You could/should leave some Cat nibbles on a tea cup saucer in order to close the deal, or at least see if the Furball shows its presence. The other option is that some Bird of Prey is dropping them there, but that seems even weirder.

In the case of it being a Cat, it's probably been observing you for quite some time now.

[MorningFox]

Yes, a cat. They're fed at home so they don't need to eat but still have the instincts to chase and kill.

[pixiestix]

Crow.

For several years Robin fledglings would have to run the gauntlet of our back lawn to the bushes.
The crow(s) would swoop down, pick them up and fly them to the neighbour's roof. They would kill them and just leave them there, uneaten.

I would imagine they could do the same if they found a nest.

[petra]

Posted by pixiestix (here)
Crow.

My guess too.

Dead birds kind of freak me out. Dead crows included.

Kind of glad there's no pictures.

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by pixiestix (here)
Crow.

For several years Robin fledglings would have to run the gauntlet of our back lawn to the bushes.
The crow(s) would swoop down, pick them up and fly them to the neighbour's roof. They would kill them and just leave them there, uneaten.

I would imagine they could do the same if they found a nest.

Found a video showing crows attacking a young robin - warning - some might find this disturbing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taxaxd9ohEk

But yeah, either crow or cat - most likely. A well fed house-cat would be most likely to leave them though after killing; I would suspect that a crow might eat them as well as kill them - they are known to eat baby robins ...

[MorningFox]

Posted by DeDukshyn (here)

Posted by pixiestix (here)
Crow.

For several years Robin fledglings would have to run the gauntlet of our back lawn to the bushes.
The crow(s) would swoop down, pick them up and fly them to the neighbour's roof. They would kill them and just leave them there, uneaten.

I would imagine they could do the same if they found a nest.

Found a video showing crows attacking a young robin - warning - some might find this disturbing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taxaxd9ohEk

Interesting. I wonder if they see them as competitors to their food?

[Valerie Villars]

Well thanks you all. That solves that puzzle.

I can't post photos yet. I have a digital camera and have no idea how to isolate and save them as jpegs, from the thousands I have on my camera. I used to do film, but this camera was a gift and the manual is as complex as it gets.

I don't have cats because my boyfriend is allergic. I do live on a farm and there are so many bird types here, it could absolutely be a crow, or that calico cat from across the highway that I've seen creeping around sometimes. I had no idea. Thank you. We have plenty of hawks but I imagine they would eat the baby birds. I would have thought most animals would eat them.

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by MorningFox (here)

Posted by DeDukshyn (here)

Posted by pixiestix (here)
Crow.

For several years Robin fledglings would have to run the gauntlet of our back lawn to the bushes.
The crow(s) would swoop down, pick them up and fly them to the neighbour's roof. They would kill them and just leave them there, uneaten.

I would imagine they could do the same if they found a nest.

Found a video showing crows attacking a young robin - warning - some might find this disturbing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taxaxd9ohEk

Interesting. I wonder if they see them as competitors to their food?

Likely. Crows defend their "territory" (which is their food gathering areas) with vigor - even taking on hawks and owls - who they also see as competitors.