Most parent birds cannot physically repel predators. Alternatively, ground nesting species have evolved elaborate visual and auditory displays to distract predators before they locate the nest. Although birds perform such displays instinctively, parent birds do modify their response to different predators and circumstances to achieve the best results. I welcome comments on a short video that features Black Skimmers, Black-necked Stilts, and Killdeer performing distraction displays.

By using the beak as a chisel, woodpeckers are well known for excavating nest hollows and extracting food from the branches and trunks of tree. Did the habit of hammering on trees predispose woodpeckers to adopt drumming as means of communication? Have a look at the video, "Why do woodpeckers drum?", in which I propose a novel hypothesis with regard to drumming. I look forward to your comments on our Facebook page.

Aphids are the bane of gardeners, but there are a host of insects that depend on them for food. Some ants, for example, milk aphids for honeydew and then there are aphid lions, aptly named for their ravenous appetite for the soft-bodies of aphids. Empowered with close-up lenses attached to our camcorders, Karen Finch and I documented the drama of an aphid lion's life. Be forewarned, however, insect predators can be ruthless in how they kill their prey.

Insects are not only bizarrely beautiful, but they often exhibit some extraordinary behaviors. Take for example the habit of Golden Tortoise Beetle larvae that build a moveable shield of feces to ward off predators.

The Synchlora caterpillar of the Emerald Moth sticks bits of flower petals to its body. Why? Recently, Karen Finch discovered such a caterpillar feeding on the blue flower of a Plumbago plant. Together we videotaped the small, pink larva eating and snipping off bits of petals. Read Karen's account for the full story and watch her closeup video.

In the world of insects all is not always what it seems. Karen Finch discovered a small, Cassius Blue caterpillar being tended by ants. In return for their protection, the ants are rewarded with a sweet honeydew-like secretion from the caterpillar (see video).

Several weeks ago Karen Finch noticed blades of grass twice folded over and then held into place with silk. The first few enclosures we opened contained the moulted skins of trachelas spiders and an empty cocoon. Eventually, we opened an enclosure that contained a live male and female spider (see photos) ... presumably this species mates within a grass shelter. Now we are wondering if the male makes it out alive!

Raptors and shrikes use their hooked beak to kill prey. However, the feet of shrikes, which are actually songbirds, are too weak to hold large victims (e.g., insects, mice, and small birds) while dismembering them. A way around this problem is to impale prey on a thorn or barbed wire before tearing off bits of meat. In fact, the name of the genus Lanius to which all shrikes belong is derived from the Latin word for "butcher."
   This past week, I videotaped a male Loggerhead Shrike in Sarasota, FL, impaling a grasshopper within reach of his mate. Essentially, I recorded two behaviors: impaling and courtship feeding.

This past weekend (May 1), Karen Finch and I stumbled across a Two-toed Amphiuma, a very large salamander that can reach three feet long. With sand stuck to its skin, it was slowly moving across a grassy area toward a water-filled drainage ditch. Apparently, amphiuma are common in marshy areas, but because of their nocturnal habits they are rarely seen by humans. Concerned for the salamander’s safety, I moved it to the ditch. Strangely, as the amphiuma attempted to burrow into the sand a reddish plume erupted into the water (see video). Was the plume released by red algae or was a chemical added to the water to kill mosquitoes? Hopefully, the amphiuma was not harmed by the mystery substance. As it swam, the amphiuma occasionally stopped to raise its head out of the water to breath, a normal behavior for this species (see video).

Two entertaining videos posted on YouTube provide valuable information on the unusual courtship displays of jumping spiders. Enjoy.

American Robins have a catholic diet ranging from berries to earthworms and subterranean beetle larvae. Understandably, the latter must be dug out of the ground. How do robins know where to dig? Apparently they listen for faint noises made by the larvae as they move about. As shown in the video clip, however, a robin when it starts to dig does not always hit the precise spot where its prey is located.

Both the Brown Pelican and the much larger American White Pelican occur in North America and both species eat fish. However, the two pelicans use dramatically different methods for catching a meal. Why Brown Pelicans dive after fish while American White Pelicans do not?

A bizarre form of mate selection in birds involves males gathering on arenas where they perform elaborate displays to persuade females to have sex with them. Lesser Prairie-Chickens represent one example, a species that Matt Shultze filmed in New Mexico. Studies of such gatherings have focused on various questions such as: Why do males bother to display on leks and what physical and behavioral attributes of males do females find attractive? A few conclusions reached by researchers are covered in the narrative inspired by Matt’s wonderful footage.

On Feb. 20, Dr. Jessie Williams and I (WJD) watched a large flock of Red-breasted Mergansers leave a small inlet along the fringe of Sarasote Bay shortly after sundown. Mergansers dive to catch fish and, apparently, this flock was heading for deeper water to find food. Given the size and cohesion of the group, it is likely that the birds will attempt to herd schools of fish which explains why a small contingent of kleptoparasitic gulls gathered along the edge of the flock. As we videotaped the mergansers, a dolphin swam past. Unfortunately, there was no way to follow the birds.

Have a look at Lori Rothstein's new story on nesting Bald Eagles in Florida. Her short video documents different stages of development of two eaglets. To read her account click on the "view story" link above.

We have uploaded two new accounts. Karen Finch has compiled a behavioral profile of the Pied-billed Grebe along with supporting video and I have finished a story on the Crested Caracara which includes video of a newly fledged juvenile playing with a tuft of fur.