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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ChrisKten" data-source="post: 1462442" data-attributes="member: 69033">There's an element of luck, although luck also involves the predator, and the prey, making decisions. For the predator, where, when, and who to attack. For the prey, where to perch, which way to face, where to look for danger, etc.An example:I've had Pigeons in my garden with PMV. The sick birds stargaze, run in circles, and are also lethargic, not necessarily all at once. |=)| When something spooks the Pigeons they all fly off, except for the sick ones. The sick ones look confused or simply don't react at all. The sick bird is now an easy target for predators, the alarm system that was in place (the other Pigeons) is now missing (not that it paid attention the first time). So a Sparrowhawk that may have been the cause of the others flying off, or may just be in the right place at the right time, has an easy meal.Another example (I've mentioned this in another thread concerning Sparrowhawk behaviour):Starlings love water and bathe any chance they get. Juveniles are no different, but when wet can't fly properly. Some of the juveniles go from the bird bath straight to cover, others try to gradually get higher and higher up a bit at a time. They use fences, branches, to try to get a bit higher each time. But they always start from the beginning each time; so from A to B, then A to C, then A to D, if you see what I mean. So they are running backwards and forwards for quite some time. The juveniles that didn't choose to dry off in cover are the ones I see taken often by Sparrowhawks. In my mind, the above examples illustrate survival of the fittest. I can't quantify how much of an influence luck was, but I suspect it's not as relevant as natural selection is in the process.I'm afraid I've not read any books about Birds, all I've said above is based on watching birds in my garden. So I could have got it all wrong, but I don't believe I have.</blockquote>

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