Should I be concerned? - Page 3

Zep, this is morbid, but I still have this picture... Don't worry, I didn't let her eat it either, it was tossed into the field like everything else.



Beetree, I hadn't nocticed that.  I see tons of hawks around here, but I never really noticed that. 

distemper is becoming a big problem in several area in the US......be careful...

the link ot the map had lots of good information as to some of the die offs....

its worth a look.



 

There is also a possibility the birds could have died from pesticides or other poisonings, particularly those used in agriculture or eating poisoned bait (some farmers put out poisoned bait to kill coyotes or scavengers)

GSDguy, if you want to see that kind of crow behaviour the trick is to listen for it, first. If all of a sudden you hear some sudden, strident crowing, in the late morning into the afternoon, when it had previously been peaceful, (I know how sensitive to sounds you can be, especially from certain birds, ) check the skies.  You have a much better chance seeing a hawk circling on the thermals, and the gathering of a "murder of crows" to chase away the offender.

You know, I remember when I saw this for the very first time, LOL  My parents were having a party upstairs and us kids where in the basement watching scary movies, being totally ignored by them. This movie scarred so many for life, LOL. It was impossible not to invoke this scene whenever we would see blackbirds perching on the telephone wires, all lined up, and we'd instantly start peddling our bikes as fast as we could, to get the heck out of there!

Compared to this, you have nothing to worry about, LOL

First, each is going to handle their dogs as they see fit. I wouldn't let the dog "mouth" anything dead. Depending on the length of death and if decomposing is taking place then things are already growing.
For a small fee, I'm sure an Entity would run blood tests but I would take at least two different specimens, (two different animals). I would think your Vet, depending on their back log could do it. If not, Health Department?, local Community College?, College or University? Or if there is a Fish and Game Entity in your area? Usually the mocking birds are after the crows because the crows steal the Mocking birds eggs from the nests. And when a gang of birds attack a much larger bird it's usually due to the larger bird either being a predator or in their territory. (Its' funny..... If the hawk or large Raptor just "floated" for a second and became the "hunter" and just snatched them being next to him/her, he/she could kill those pests one by one!)

alboe, I had no intentions of letting Auggie grab ahold of a bird. He picked it up before I even saw it.  Our yard is a pretty good size so it's not easy to spot out every little living or dead thing in it all the time. I mean you don't normally just go walk a big yard looking for little dead animals......And...if you may be referring to that picture I post......that was five years ago. That dog is no longer with us either for that matter.

No harm, just saying. I live on a farm and you talk about Prey Drive when the rabbits are out and about. A few times they found the nest when they were pups and grabbed a couple of pinkies? I happened to be close by. Other times they came upon something dead, maggots and other crap inside, eithr would try to grab it or QUICKLY roll on it. I was just saying. RELAX!

alboe, I'm relaxed lol.  I hate the internet sometimes because you can't tell tone on it.   If we didn't have a fence here there would be some dead rabbits too I'm sure.  There are two of them that get in our fence (the side and back fencing are those square holes that are like......4 inches by 4 inches I think.  Little Dude gets sooo close to catching one of them and then BAM, he gets to the fence and they get right through it. He's much faster than them, but "they get a head start" and an advantage lol.  I couldn't imagine being on a farm though, not with these guys.  I saw four deer, pretty large sized deer for that matter the other day. In the field next to our yard.  No telling "what" would have happened if we didn't have a fence, or if this was on a large farm. Probably an injured/dead dog or two from being kicked.....or a dead deer.  My guys really wanted to go after them, but.....not gonna happen.   I've been seeing more and more animals around here lately, there have been coyotes (quite a few) rallying, and killing things in the woods about a mile from here (if even that far).  I'm surprised my guys haven't responded back to their howling at some point.  A friend of mine a few weeks back was on the way either to or from work, I can't remember, but he saw a very large pack of Coyotes in a bank parking lot at night, he said about 10-15 of them.    

Yep, the true "Nature of the Beast". I'm sure every or most breeds will have their Prey Drive issues to an extent. In all honesty to me...... it's a thing of beauty to watch. Smell......sight......run.......run FASTER! Not always a good thing though when (in the old days when they were pups) that as soon as you opened the back door they would hit the ground sniffing pick up the prey and BAM kick in the Turbos and GONE! Then you would be out in the woods at 0130 hrs with a flashlight looking for one.