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Question
This might sound highly irregular, hence the question!
Last week when I was coming home from my run in the morning, I saw a bird (just one of those ugly black grackles) fly low across the street. It landed behind a telephone pole in front of me about half a block away. I was looking for the bird to appear on the left side of the pole since it had come from the right, but as I approached the spot, what do you think was there instead??? It was a rabbit. Well, I figured I must have glanced away and missed something (even though I hadn't) so I decided to blow it off. I forgot about the whole thing until this morning when it happened AGAIN, only this time I was much closer. Black bird, flying across the street...but this time I could see it better. When (what I thought to be) the bird landed, it did a little roll and when it righted itself it was a rabbit. Passed the poor little thing while he was trying to decide whether to run from me or not. My question is obviously this: CAN RABBITS FLY????
Dear Heidi
Thank you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.
First of all, rabbits can't fly. The most logical explanation is that you saw a grackle (or another black bird) and couldn't determine whether it landed on the ground or flew off. There was a rabbit in the field and it seemed to be in the same place where the bird landed. I can only say that the two events were coincidences.
http://www.bollywoodsargam.com/video_todayfeaturedvideo.php?blockbustermovieclip... shows a video where a grackle catches a bird, while a rabbit carries on eating nearby. Please note that rabbits have eyes on the sides of their heads. This enables them to see over a wide field of vision (http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=51313), but does not give them the binocular vision to see in depth.
I hope this helps.
All the best
Jonathan
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Answers by Expert:
Jonathan Wright
Expertise
I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.
Experience
I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.
Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.
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