i got to see a brooding parasite happen in real time! a carolina wren raised a brown headed cowbird in the potted plant on my back porch. it was a little sad to see none of the wrens make it, but it didn’t feel like my place to intervene.
Yeah. Nature can be brutal. And I think some of us are conditioned to save creatures because of all the unnatural ways humans mess with animals. But you made the right call there, and managed to get a great observation
The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman has a really interesting chapter about cuckoos (and other brood parasites) and their hosts. Also just a really good read if you’re interested in bird intelligence!
Nice recommendation! I’ll definitely check it out
She has another one called The Genius of Birds that’s also good!
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