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From: res@ihuxn.UUCP (Rich Strebendt)
Newsgroups: net.rec.birds
Subject: Re: Interesting bird behavior
Message-ID: <1049@ihuxn.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-May-85 18:58:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxn.1049
Posted: Tue May  7 18:58:21 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 8-May-85 05:46:46 EDT
References: <722@mtgzz.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 26

In response to:

> 	It's always a thrill for me to see interesting behavior
> like this. It's fun to see birds just sitting in trees or standing
> around looking bored, but it's much more exciting to see birds doing
> whatever unique behavior they've evolved.

A few years ago my wife and I observed some interesting behavior along 
the lines mentioned in the previous poster's message.

We had thrown some un-popped popcorn remains onto our patio for the
birds.  We were pleased to see a male cardinal alight and discover the
popcorn shortly after.  Instead of eating it, as we would have
expected, the cardinal took one of the kernels to the edge of the patio
where a female (presumably his mate) was hidden under some bushes, just
visible from where we stood.  He gently offered the seed to her and
placed it into her beak when she accepted it.  He then returned several
times (~5 times) to the popcorn on the patio and delivered it to her
before eating one of the kernels himself.  We have often seen adult 
birds feeding their young, but this was the first time that we have ever
seen a bird feeding its mate!  Incidently, when the pair left our patio
later, the female showed no sign of injury so we did not think that she
was in any way unable to feed normally.

					Rich Strebendt
					...!ihnp4!ihuxn!res