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From: wander@csa2.lbl.gov (ADRIAN WANDER)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: trivia quiz answers
Keywords: trivia quiz
Message-ID: <6931@dog.ee.lbl.gov>
Date: 13 Sep 90 17:06:10 GMT
References: <1197@cluster.cs.su.oz.au>
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In article <1197@cluster.cs.su.oz.au>, andrewt@cluster.cs.su.oz.au (Andrew Taylor) writes...>a Ciconiiforme (it looks like a heron to me) but its actually a Gruiforme.
>
>5) Several birds are capable of preying on lambs. Name a bird which is
>   capable of preying on full grown sheep.
> 
>Kea. A NZ Parrot. It lands on the sheep and chews into it with its long bill
>occasionally killing them. Forshaw suggests the frequency of such attacks are
>is much exaggerated. Several people nominated Golden Eagle. I'm very sceptical.
>Golden Eagles struggle to lift more than 5kg. A full-grown sheep weighs much
>more than this. Does anyone know of documented instances of Golden Eagles
>succesfully attacking full-grown sheep or similar-sized prey.
> 
I believe that two young Golden Eagles in Scotland were observed repeatedly
diving at a Red Deer. The deer panicked and fled, and fell down a scree slope
killing itself and hence providing a meal for the eagles. I presume the
Eagles were just 'playing', so I don't know whether this counts as deliberately
attacking or just oportunistic behaviour.
> 
>9) Many ornithologists have species (common) named after them e.g.
>   Audubon's Petrel. Name an ornithologist who, this century, de-named
>   (declared not a good species) a bird which bore his name. Name the bird.
> 
>Cox's Sandpiper. I believe in a recent paper he dismissed it as a hybrid
>though I haven't seen the paper (or the bird). I poor question 'cos its
>hard to check other answers.
> 
Yes, there was an article by Cox about a year ago published in the British
magazine 'Birding World', in which he took this point of view. Unfortunately,
my copy is back in England so I cann't give you the reference.
			Adrian.