Date: 9/10/26 1:02 pm From: Henry Armknecht <armknecht...> Subject: Re: Looking for or looking at? Can birds tell the difference?
I should add that the same principles apply to birders. When pulling up to where people are chasing a rarity, you can tell immediately whether they are looking for or looking at the target bird(s).
Henry A
Hays
On 9/10/2026 2:13 PM, Henry Armknecht wrote: > 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? > > > Anyone with insight on this? > > > Henry A > > Hays > > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to > https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html > For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm > To contact a listowner, send a message to > mailto:<ksbird-l-request...>
