Hawking June Beetles

[aart]

Maybe they can see in low light better than we think...and the instinct for nutrition overrides the instinct to roost for night safety?

 

[centrarchid]

That is very possible. They also had light background of sky contrasting with dark bumbling beetles flying less than a foot off the ground. I could almost track the beetles myself based on sound as well and the birds were able to get much closer to them. Tonight I will lay down with eyes at chicken level to get a handle on the chicken perspective with respect to beetles.

 

[centrarchid]

The overriding of safety concerns may be a function of domestication. These birds like their domesticated ancestors have been kept in more open habitats with considerable protection from predators. Selection could then have been for more interest in feeding at the expense of roosting before dark. In this instance the dogs and my self where present making such late evening forays by chickens relatively safe

 

[aoxa]

Mine do this as well, all standing in the doorway of the barn catching them as they come near the light.

I can't stand June bugs. My chickens go crazy over them. My little dogs also like to torture them. Serves them right for torturing me. Had some pretty bad experiences with them in my hair.


In the morning, the half dead June bugs bring lots of fun to the young ones.

 

[centrarchid]

When I had grandparentals of these guys roosting in front porch under light, they also consumed large numbers of June beetles without leaving the roost. Problem was many more beetles would come to light than birds could consume. Toads on ground below ate a lot also but always had lot left to step on. The beetles are also a lot of fun when you are driving a motorcycle. The big green scarabs like used to tie horse hairs to could hurt even more and my chickens do not seem to like those much.

 

[centrarchid]

Two cockerels did it again. This time they did for 15 minutes under the watchful eye of a young-of-year barred owl hunting no more than 125 yards away. Owl could easily have been an adult great-horned owl. Chickens did not see owl even though owl was in same location during daylight all chickens would seen and then sought cover.

 

[centrarchid]

This evening is the first with no hawking. Hot dry and relatively strong breeze from south. I could not see any beetles flying and lightening beetles stayed down in tall fescue.

 

[centrarchid]

Two cockerels were hawking again. This evening wind was still and no rain so beetles were flying. The cockerels are the same two out of a total of six each night. I followed them to roost and compared by hand how they felt compared to their four sibling brothers. The hawkers had a very different feel to their crops. The hawkers consumed much larger insects that dominated feel over whatever smaller insects and greens where present otherwise in the crops. The hawkers appear to to weigh more on average than non-hawking brothers. The birds can eat only so much in a day so do the two brothers doing the hawking eat the beetles in addition to the days usual fare or do they not eat as much during usual hours for feeding and makeup for difference by hawking?

 

[aart]

Wonders why they are not ALL hawking for June bugs?

 

[centrarchid]

The individual differences may be due to genetics or simply experience or a combination. Someday that may be explored but will require someone other than I eye because too many irons are already in the fire.