Your search:
3 result(s) in 0.11 s
-
DUKAS_18006436_REX
European starlings try to steal nest from a pair of northern flickers, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida, America - 27 Mar 2011
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alfred & Fabiola Forns/Solent / Rex Features ( 1302628c )
Nest Stealing Starlings Cause A Flap
These vicious European starlings caused a real flap when they bombard a pair of northern flickers in a bid to steal their nest.
The daring thieves launched themselves at the tree and battled for several minutes until they won the war - forcing the owners to flee.
One starling even pecked at the male flicker's head before grasping its beak with a claw.
Photographer Fabiola Forns, 62, had been told by a friend that a pair of northern flickers were being "harassed" by starlings as they tried to establish a nest.
So, as she and her photographer husband Alfred, 63, had the day off work, they drove to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Florida armed with their cameras.
Fabiola, a photography teacher, said: "The pair of flickers started arranging the nest early in the day and were harassed by a gang of starlings.
"There was a midday break and the flickers continued chipping wood inside the cavity.
"After we were there, we could see a handful of the starlings get close and apparently plotted the moment to hit again.
"Sure enough, the attack came against the male, sometimes being mobbed by more than one starling.
"The fight went on for a few long minutes, even inside the cavity.
"Finally, an out-of-breath flicker had to give in and leave the nest to the gang of starlings.
"I'm not sure if any bird was critically injured but feathers flew everywhere and they were pecking at each other with fury."
The European starling was introduced to the state in the late 1800s by a William Shakespeare fan, together with all the species figuring in his work.
Fabiola said there are now millions of the "pests" and a fair amount of them are destroyed because they are not covered by the Migratory Bird Act.
She added: "They are causing a problem...
For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/QXBJHMHID
DUKAS/REX -
DUKAS_18006434_REX
European starlings try to steal nest from a pair of northern flickers, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida, America - 27 Mar 2011
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alfred & Fabiola Forns/Solent / Rex Features ( 1302628a )
Nest Stealing Starlings Cause A Flap
These vicious European starlings caused a real flap when they bombard a pair of northern flickers in a bid to steal their nest.
The daring thieves launched themselves at the tree and battled for several minutes until they won the war - forcing the owners to flee.
One starling even pecked at the male flicker's head before grasping its beak with a claw.
Photographer Fabiola Forns, 62, had been told by a friend that a pair of northern flickers were being "harassed" by starlings as they tried to establish a nest.
So, as she and her photographer husband Alfred, 63, had the day off work, they drove to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Florida armed with their cameras.
Fabiola, a photography teacher, said: "The pair of flickers started arranging the nest early in the day and were harassed by a gang of starlings.
"There was a midday break and the flickers continued chipping wood inside the cavity.
"After we were there, we could see a handful of the starlings get close and apparently plotted the moment to hit again.
"Sure enough, the attack came against the male, sometimes being mobbed by more than one starling.
"The fight went on for a few long minutes, even inside the cavity.
"Finally, an out-of-breath flicker had to give in and leave the nest to the gang of starlings.
"I'm not sure if any bird was critically injured but feathers flew everywhere and they were pecking at each other with fury."
The European starling was introduced to the state in the late 1800s by a William Shakespeare fan, together with all the species figuring in his work.
Fabiola said there are now millions of the "pests" and a fair amount of them are destroyed because they are not covered by the Migratory Bird Act.
She added: "They are causing a problem...
For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/QXBJHMHID
DUKAS/REX -
DUKAS_18006433_REX
European starlings try to steal nest from a pair of northern flickers, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida, America - 27 Mar 2011
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alfred & Fabiola Forns/Solent / Rex Features ( 1302628e )
Nest Stealing Starlings Cause A Flap
These vicious European starlings caused a real flap when they bombard a pair of northern flickers in a bid to steal their nest.
The daring thieves launched themselves at the tree and battled for several minutes until they won the war - forcing the owners to flee.
One starling even pecked at the male flicker's head before grasping its beak with a claw.
Photographer Fabiola Forns, 62, had been told by a friend that a pair of northern flickers were being "harassed" by starlings as they tried to establish a nest.
So, as she and her photographer husband Alfred, 63, had the day off work, they drove to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Florida armed with their cameras.
Fabiola, a photography teacher, said: "The pair of flickers started arranging the nest early in the day and were harassed by a gang of starlings.
"There was a midday break and the flickers continued chipping wood inside the cavity.
"After we were there, we could see a handful of the starlings get close and apparently plotted the moment to hit again.
"Sure enough, the attack came against the male, sometimes being mobbed by more than one starling.
"The fight went on for a few long minutes, even inside the cavity.
"Finally, an out-of-breath flicker had to give in and leave the nest to the gang of starlings.
"I'm not sure if any bird was critically injured but feathers flew everywhere and they were pecking at each other with fury."
The European starling was introduced to the state in the late 1800s by a William Shakespeare fan, together with all the species figuring in his work.
Fabiola said there are now millions of the "pests" and a fair amount of them are destroyed because they are not covered by the Migratory Bird Act.
She added: "They are causing a problem...
For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/QXBJHMHID
DUKAS/REX