Interspecies interaction with Santa Barbara wildlife
By Laura Santizo (05/21/13 14:34:21)
Interspecies interaction with Santa Barbara wildlife
By Laura Santizo (04/22/13 01:10:53)
Related animal: Killdeer
Being that Santa Barbara has such a rich wildlife I wanted to try and communicate with a non-domestic animal. I also wanted to do this at night because I rarely get to interact with animals during this time. I decide to take a walk out to one of the many restoration sites on the UCSB campus. While walking through the area I came across a bird that kept trying to get my attention. I found it odd that bird was awake this late. What was even more interesting was that this bird was actively trying to get my attention. Every time I took a couple steps forward it would fly out in front of me and let out a loud call. The call was high-pitched and sounded like almost like shriek. It felt as though the bird was trying to warn me and yet wanted me to follow it. This happened 2 to 3 times and then as I walked further away, the bird disappeared.
I was trying to be as relaxed and aware of myself as possible so as communicate that I didn't mean any harm. Even still I had a sense that I disturbed the bird and that it didn't appreciate visitors. It's gesture was powerful and its energy came off as defensive.
I asked one of my friends who is familiar with that area if he knew what type of bird it could have been. After telling him my story he told me it was type of plover called a killdeer. This interaction I experienced was the birds way of luring predator away from its nests. The killdeer is apparently known for this distraction-display, it "involves the bird walking away from its nesting area holding its wing in a position that simulates an injury and then flapping around on the ground emitting a distress call. The predators then think they have easy prey and are attracted to this seemingly injured bird and away from the nest. If the parent sees that a potential predator is not following them, they will move closer and get louder until they get the attention of the predator. This is repeated until the predator is far from the nest, and the killdeer suddenly "heals" and flies away."
Looking back I can't help but appreciate how sophisticated and ingenious this animal's response was. It makes me realize just how sensitive animals can be to our presence and how we must really work to understand them. In addition, how important it is to restore natural environments so that we interact with animals in their true state of being.
[Write Comment]
Comment by selmic (06/08/13 23:26:15):
This is such a cool story. Those birds are so intelligent, as are all animals. I'll never understand why people think they are so much smarter.
By Laura Santizo (05/21/13 14:34:21)
Interspecies interaction with Santa Barbara wildlife
By Laura Santizo (04/22/13 01:10:53)
Related animal: Killdeer
Being that Santa Barbara has such a rich wildlife I wanted to try and communicate with a non-domestic animal. I also wanted to do this at night because I rarely get to interact with animals during this time. I decide to take a walk out to one of the many restoration sites on the UCSB campus. While walking through the area I came across a bird that kept trying to get my attention. I found it odd that bird was awake this late. What was even more interesting was that this bird was actively trying to get my attention. Every time I took a couple steps forward it would fly out in front of me and let out a loud call. The call was high-pitched and sounded like almost like shriek. It felt as though the bird was trying to warn me and yet wanted me to follow it. This happened 2 to 3 times and then as I walked further away, the bird disappeared.
I was trying to be as relaxed and aware of myself as possible so as communicate that I didn't mean any harm. Even still I had a sense that I disturbed the bird and that it didn't appreciate visitors. It's gesture was powerful and its energy came off as defensive.
I asked one of my friends who is familiar with that area if he knew what type of bird it could have been. After telling him my story he told me it was type of plover called a killdeer. This interaction I experienced was the birds way of luring predator away from its nests. The killdeer is apparently known for this distraction-display, it "involves the bird walking away from its nesting area holding its wing in a position that simulates an injury and then flapping around on the ground emitting a distress call. The predators then think they have easy prey and are attracted to this seemingly injured bird and away from the nest. If the parent sees that a potential predator is not following them, they will move closer and get louder until they get the attention of the predator. This is repeated until the predator is far from the nest, and the killdeer suddenly "heals" and flies away."
Looking back I can't help but appreciate how sophisticated and ingenious this animal's response was. It makes me realize just how sensitive animals can be to our presence and how we must really work to understand them. In addition, how important it is to restore natural environments so that we interact with animals in their true state of being.
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Comment by selmic (06/08/13 23:26:15):
This is such a cool story. Those birds are so intelligent, as are all animals. I'll never understand why people think they are so much smarter.