Date: 9/10/26 12:16 pm From: Henry Armknecht <armknecht...> Subject: Looking for or looking at? Can birds tell the difference?
We worked in Yellowstone the summers of 97-99 before I was a birder. A very common activity in Yellowstone is observing wildlife and at that time seeing a bear was a big deal. They told us that about one visitor in 100 saw a bear. I spent a lot of time looking for bears and other wildlife. With a little experience, I learned to tell from a distance whether a group of people were looking for a bear or looking at a bear.
A few years later, we were driving in Smoky Mountain National Park. I told my passengers that there was a bear up ahead. They asked how I knew and I told them because they were looking at instead of looking for. When we arrived at the location, there was a Black Bear in a small clearing near the road.
What does that have to do with birding? Have you ever had the experience of having a bird show up at your location. Within a few hours (or maybe a couple of days) they are joined be several of their brethren. We know that honey bees can communicate the location of a good food source to hive mates, but what about birds? Can one bird communicate the location of your feeders or water supply to other birds?
When they observe the behavior of other birds can they discern whether the birds are looking for or looking at? Does a bird fly differently if it is flying toward a known source of food, water, or habitat rather than searching for it?
