Mary saw a fox trotting behind the garden, gripping a (dead) turkey chick in its jaws, with the hen in hot pursuit. The fox dropped the chick, circled the pine grove, picked up the chick, and departed stage right. The hen eventually led her remaining chicks into the yard, but gathered them underneath while watching for danger:
She settled down for a few minutes:
With the fox safely departed, she released the chicks:
Then they returned to foraging, with one chick trying out its wings:
Two days earlier, she led nine chicks through the yard; we think the fox picked off a chick a day. She lost two more during the next four days, suggesting they rapidly improve their ability to scamper out of harm’s way.
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#1 by Mitch Berkson on 2019-06-15 - 10:36
Or that the worst scamperers were eaten first.
#2 by Ed on 2019-06-15 - 15:48
Well played, sir!
#3 by Olli on 2019-08-15 - 10:03
Reelin’ In The Years (06/22/2007, JPG’s EXIF-data reveals) a Northern Pike could not resist the spell of my “Kermit-lure” (Fladen Spinning Frog). Cleaned the fish and found a fresh Common Goldeneye chick. The fish was not big (2.5-3kg). Maybe the fish was not even hungry, but my “Kermit” was just too irresistible?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_goldeneye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cute_aggression
#4 by Ed on 2019-08-15 - 10:14
Urp!
As nearly as we can tell from fragments around the yard, if something is even remotely edible, something else will eat it.