[bitterntwisted]

Tawny Owls are regular in the communal gardens of my flat. Recently one female has been roosting by day in leylandii outside my window. She usually arrives during the day with magpies in pursuit, presumably when hounded from another spot, and is quite vocal through the day. There are regular commotions when she is mobbed by jays, crows, magpies and also mistle thrushes, blackbirds, robins etc.

Today was weird though. The tawny owl arrived around 11AM with three or four magpies in tow who pestered her for ten minutes or so. Then all the magpies flew off simultaneously. Ten minutes later a big flock of birds arrived together and all made a huge rumpus. The magpies had returned with several more magpies but also a couple of blackbirds, several chaffinches, a few blue tits and at least one great tit. I watched them all fly in together. It seemed for all the world like the first magpies had gone and rounded up a lynch mob, but that would be anthropomorphic nonsense. Wouldn't it?

Graham

[ikw101]

Originally Posted by bitterntwisted

Tawny Owls are regular in the communal gardens of my flat. Recently one female has been roosting by day in leylandii outside my window. She usually arrives during the day with magpies in pursuit, presumably when hounded from another spot, and is quite vocal through the day. There are regular commotions when she is mobbed by jays, crows, magpies and also mistle thrushes, blackbirds, robins etc.

Today was weird though. The tawny owl arrived around 11AM with three or four magpies in tow who pestered her for ten minutes or so. Then all the magpies flew off simultaneously. Ten minutes later a big flock of birds arrived together and all made a huge rumpus. The magpies had returned with several more magpies but also a couple of blackbirds, several chaffinches, a few blue tits and at least one great tit. I watched them all fly in together. It seemed for all the world like the first magpies had gone and rounded up a lynch mob, but that would be anthropomorphic nonsense. Wouldn't it?

Graham

I've seen Magpies do some incredible things but this really would take the biscuit. Chaffinches, blue tits, great tits, blackbirds all press-ganged into action! Did the Tawny go?

[bitterntwisted]

Originally Posted by ikw101

I've seen Magpies do some incredible things but this really would take the biscuit. Chaffinches, blue tits, great tits, blackbirds all press-ganged into action! Did the Tawny go?

I know how unlikely it sounds but it really looked like that was what was happening. If the owl was seen off then it slipped out the back way as I didn't see it (the leylandii is very thick, tall and wide) It may well have been forced out as when I went out to look for it at dusk a female gave the usual "wake-up" calls and appeared from a different direction.

Now I don't really believe the magpies said, "come on you lot, help us sort out this Tawny Owl. If we all pile in we'll sort her out." But could they communicate, "Follow, see danger?" Isn't one of the ascribed "purposes" of mobbing alerting other birds to danger?

Graham