Date: 4/11/26 7:30 am From: Ricky Olson via groups.io <olsonr088...> Subject: [sd-birds] Learned behavior
A couple weeks ago I was watching a large group of Sandhills Cranes feeding through corn and grass fields. I noticed a Northern Harrier kept flying low along the front lines of the cranes within two feet of their feet. It dawned on me the cranes were flushing small rodents out for the harrier to catch.
This behavior is the same you see with cows or buffalo flushing insects out to cowbirds & Brewer's Blackbirds.
The birds have learned over time ow to get a free meal.
