Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 01:08:40 -1000 From: Jason@das.harvard.edu, J@das.harvard.edu, Drake@das.harvard.edu Message-Id: <43rh3o$6ql@hawk.ee.port.ac.uk> Organization: University of Portsmouth Subject: A good way of meeting birds :>) Does anybody know how birds (of the feathered variety!!) interact with kites. I have noticed birds (particularly gulls, being near to the sea) quite close to the kite at times, but, being new to kiting, I don't know how the birds react. Is it known whether the birds like the kites, or do they seem scared of them? Has anybody had their kite attacked by a bird?? Yours puzzledingly, Jason Email: Drakej@geol.port.ac.uk PS hope the subject line didn't offend anyone!! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 01:14:35 -1000 From: Andy Millson Message-Id: <43rher$6ur@hawk.ee.port.ac.uk> Organization: University of Portsmouth Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) Jason J Drake wrote: > >Does anybody know how birds (of the feathered variety!!) interact with kites. > >I have noticed birds (particularly gulls, being near to the sea) quite close to the >kite at times, but, being new to kiting, I don't know how the birds react. > >Is it known whether the birds like the kites, or do they seem scared of them? I know the very gulls you speak of 8-) seriously tho i ithnk that findong a brightly coloured, strangley moving item in the air would be something of a fright for mst birds. I have never had a bird fly into my kite and do my best to steer clear of them if they fly anywhere near my kites, tho they do tend to notice the kites well in advance and steer clear of them. There was a posting a week or soago about someone having their kite attacked by an eagle or similar bird of prey, bu ti dont thin we'll have that prob in portsmouth 8-) Andy = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 09:06:27 -1000 From: othasuay@terranet.ab.ca (Frank Lee) Message-Id: <43sd3j$203k@rover.ucs.ualberta.ca> Organization: I & I Services Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) >Does anybody know how birds (of the feathered variety!!) interact with kites. Seems to vary with the kite you are using. The seagulls up here have taken an instant dislike to my XTC Comp. One or more will try to drive it from the air. The other kites in my bag, however, are left alone. Please bear in mind that these gulls are probably not all that "with it" being 1,000 miles inland and in an area where minus fourty degrees celcius can be hit during the winter months. frank othasuay@terranet.ab.ca = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 11:17:59 -1000 From: hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) Message-Id: <43skq7$gpv@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) I had a gull doing a dance with my Scorpian last Spring. It lasted about 15 minutes. He would fly up to the kite and as long as I moved it slowly, he would follow it right to left and back across the window. If I did loops he would back off and then come back in for another look when I traversed the window. Alice Hayden = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 21:34:03 -1000 From: Rodger Duffett Message-Id: <43totb$i5s@ucthpx.uct.ac.za> Organization: UCT Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) Hi All I was doing wing tip drags in the sea near where a lot of gulls where circling. Each time the kite swooped down, touched a tip to the water and climbed back up a flock of the gulls would come and raucously investigate. I think that they thought that the kite was catching fish! Cheerio -- __________________________________________________________________ Rodger Duffett Internet Address: rodger@ray.uct.ac.za Dept. Radiation Oncology Telephone : +2721 404 3135 Radiobiology Section University of Cape Town Groote Schuur Hospital South Africa = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 14:26:22 -1000 From: daveculp@bdt.com (Dave Culp) Message-Id: Organization: Beckemeyer Development, Oakland CA Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) In article <43rh3o$6ql@hawk.ee.port.ac.uk>, Jason J Drake wrote: > Has anybody had their kite attacked by a bird?? > I think the speed of the flexis I fly confuses them. I've had them dived on by a hawk, but I turned into him and he veered off (I was just kidding him--I wouldn't hit him!). Occasionally gulls will investigate, but the high speed puts them off. -- Dave Culp Speedsailing daveculp@bdt.com 312 Flaming Oak Drive http://www.bdt.com:80/home/ Pleasant Hill, CA 94596 daveculp/speedsail.html USA (NEW Website) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:16:34 -1000 From: johnsen@eskimo.com (Brian Johnsen) Message-Id: Organization: Tethered Airfoil R&D Pty. Ltd.(C)(R)(TM) CD CASS Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) In article <43rh3o$6ql@hawk.ee.port.ac.uk>, wrote: >Does anybody know how birds (of the feathered variety!!) interact with kites. >I have noticed birds (particularly gulls, being near to the sea) quite >close to the kite at times, but, being new to kiting, I don't know how >the birds react. > >Is it known whether the birds like the kites, or do they seem scared of them? >Has anybody had their kite attacked by a bird?? Depends on what kind of birds. Here in Wa. State the mature gulls raising young develop a red spot on their bills which the young birds tap at to get mom or pop to regurgitate supper. When they become adolescents and their folks try to wean them or just keep hold of enough grub for themselves, the young birds will try to trigger any other parents they can get close enough to hoping for a free meal. I was flying a small white figher with a red graphic on it down on the public pier on the Seattle waterfront, and young gulls were constantly coming over hoping for some snacks. Gulls can be quite bold where food is involved. They are freqently referred to as flying rats hereabouts. -- Albanian Cosmetologists Produce Hilarious Annoyed Seafair Pirate Marmoset -- Brian Johnsen johnsen@eskimo.com Seattle, Washington USA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 16:37:09 -1000 From: Jason Robbins Message-Id: <442g8l$kfe@news.voicenet.com> Organization: Voicenet - Internet Access - (215)674-9290 Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) Although I have never had the gulls outright attack my kites, they seem to get tangled in my lines pretty often. These are pretty stupid "New Jersey" birds and I think it is just a territorial thing with them. -- Jason Robbins Robbins 8th & Walnut "OUR NAME IS OUR ADDRESS" Phila. Pa. 19107 Specializing in Diamond Engagement Rings 215-925-5120 ext. 151 and Wedding Bands 215-923-0662 Fax 215-236-8216 Home WEB PAGE... E-mail: 75677,3217@compuserve.com robbins@r8w.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 03:55:17 -1000 From: dlw@odi.com (Dan Weinreb) Message-Id: Organization: Object Design Inc., Burlington, MA Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) In article <43skq7$gpv@newsbf02.news.aol.com> hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) writes: I had a gull doing a dance with my Scorpian last Spring. This happens because the gulls just wanna have fun. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 09:54:34 -1000 From: davidh@wimsey.com (David Hathaway) Message-Id: <4471bd$fh8@wolfe.wimsey.com> Organization: Wimsey Information Services Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) In article , dlw@odi.com (Dan Weinreb) wrote: > I had a gull doing a dance with my Scorpian last Spring. > >This happens because the gulls just wanna have fun. Gads! Did you have to birden us with that? sheesh! David Hathaway, Wimsey Informations Services davidh@wimsey.com, 257-1114, Wimsey Tech Support = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 16:40:52 -1000 From: dnelisse@freenet.npiec.on.ca (Dru Nelissen) Message-Id: Organization: Niagara Peninsula Free-Net Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) JasonJDrake wrote: : Does anybody know how birds (of the feathered variety!!) interact with kites. : I have noticed birds (particularly gulls, being near to the sea) quite close to the : kite at times, but, being new to kiting, I don't know how the birds react. : Is it known whether the birds like the kites, or do they seem scared of them? : Has anybody had their kite attacked by a bird?? : Yours puzzledingly, : Jason : Email: Drakej@geol.port.ac.uk : PS hope the subject line didn't offend anyone!! For the past 2 years I have got a red wing black bird to land and fly with my rev for about a month. I'm not sure, but I think it is the same bird for the past 2 years, as other black wing birds in the immediate vicinty only land on the kite when its down and take off when the kite is moved. The bird begins, for the past 2 years, by attacking the kite and flyer for about a month (May) (I think it maybe protecting it's nest and his female). Again I'm not sure but, I think when the eggs are laid the male bird stays closer to the nest and when I keep the kite stationary, above the tree where the suspected nest is, the bird will land or grasp onto the kite and will stay with the kite as long as I keep it stable, and will usually stay with the kite when it moves vertical or horizontal. The bird will usually do this throughout the month of June. To prove this I have video shots and pictures of the bird landing and flying sitting or grasping to my Rev I or II. Has anyone else had this kind of experience?.. or is this a first!! -- Kite Surfing on the NET............................ Dru Nelissen.....Quadflier :-) :-( :-O = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 05:58:16 -1000 From: gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu (George W. Gilchrist) Message-Id: <44bsao$dtd@nntp4.u.washington.edu> Organization: University of Washington Subject: Re: A good way of meeting birds :>) In article , dnelisse@freenet.npiec.on.ca says... > > >For the past 2 years I have got a red wing black bird to land and fly with >my rev for about a month. I'm not sure, but I think it is the same bird >for the past 2 years, as other black wing birds in the immediate vicinty >only land on the kite when its down and take off when the kite is moved. > >The bird begins, for the past 2 years, by attacking the kite and flyer for >about a month (May) (I think it maybe protecting it's nest and his female). >Again I'm not sure but, I think when the eggs are laid the male bird stays >closer to the nest and when I keep the kite stationary, above the tree >where the suspected nest is, the bird will land or grasp onto the kite >and will stay with the kite as long as I keep it stable, and will usually >stay with the kite when it moves vertical or horizontal. The bird will >usually do this throughout the month of June. > >To prove this I have video shots and pictures of the bird landing and >flying sitting or grasping to my Rev I or II. > >Has anyone else had this kind of experience?.. or is this a first!! >-- Dru, The bird is a male defending his territory and harem. Eggs (in Canada and north-cental US) are laid in May, with the young fledging by the end of June. The male provides the moms and kids with a place to nest and the food resources contained on the territory, plus protection from predators. This bird obviously thinks your kite is some sort of predator. The other birds are less interested because it's not their territory you are invading... Cheers, George -- ============================== George W. Gilchrist gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu University of Washington Department of Zoology Box 351800 Seattle, WA 98l95-1800 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =