Birding/birds attacking..

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 7/5/2008


Question
I have had a bird feeder in my backyard for years. tonight i heard the birds making loud noises.. i looked out and saw a blackbird or it could have been a red winged black bird. pecking a young sparrow to death. i ran out but it was too late. later on.. i saw another dead sparrow.  I have never seen this type of behavior before.  sometimes we see a hawk but all of the birds chirp and take off. this time.. all of the birds were standing around screeching watching this goin on.. and there were a few different types of birds out there.. ?? any ideas??

Answer
I can't answer this unless I know what kind of sparrows they were. If they were the alien killer house sparrows then they had it coming, as this species harasses and kills many of 70 species of our native birds. If you have or are intersted in bluebirds send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page bluebird book that will make you an expert on bluebirds as well as giving you a lot of information on those alien sparrows.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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