My lovely yellow goldens.

[ChikaInu]

I love it when they use their perches!

 

[ChikaInu]

 

[ChikaInu]

Buttercup.

 

[ChikaInu]

A big bird of prey flew over the pheasants today and they became very upset, doing their high pitch whistle to the point I eventually went out to see them. Silly critters.
It seems to be 50/50 if they run and hide or simply start screaming... with the running and hiding becoming more and more the default as they get older (and wiser?) thank goodness!

 

[007Sean]

A big bird of prey flew over the pheasants today and they became very upset, doing their high pitch whistle to the point I eventually went out to see them. Silly critters.
It seems to be 50/50 if they run and hide or simply start screaming... with the running and hiding becoming more and more the default as they get older (and wiser?) thank goodness!

Usually, if it's a hawk, owl or even a buzzard they will give an alarm call and then 'freeze' until the threat is no longer. Sometimes they will make a cooing noise while they are waiting on the threat to leave.
That sound they are making in the video is more often associated with a human, cat, dog, even a snake type predator or something else that just 'set them off'!

 

[ChikaInu]

Usually, if it's a hawk, owl or even a buzzard they will give an alarm call and then 'freeze' until the threat is no longer. Sometimes they will make a cooing noise while they are waiting on the threat to leave.
That sound they are making in the video is more often associated with a human, cat, dog, even a snake type predator or something else that just 'set them off'!

Yes, they do the freeze quite a bit as well but I am happy to see them running to shelter more and more instead. With a high pitched whistle!
They are also using their "coop" a lot more to shelter from the weather and that makes me sleep better at night.

I never thought about different types of threats causing different types of warning calls, but of course they would. This was them just sort of settling back down a bit after frantic whisteling, I am pretty sure it was an osprey that got them going to begin with. The osprey makes a very distinct call that always freaks them out.
Instinct is a fascinating thing - how would they know about those big birds?

 

[ChikaInu]

Prim is doing his best Jurassic park impression!
Girls are not too impressed. They used to get a bit stressed out but these days they mostly just turn away - poor lad.

 

[ChikaInu]

 

[tlcmurphy]

He is really pulling out all the moves!

 

[ChikaInu]

He is really pulling out all the moves!

Oh yes he is! Trying to tell him spring is still a couple of months ahead doesn't seem to help.