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gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Mark Wessel on February 26, 2010 at 07:38:59

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Joshua Eastlake on February 26, 2010 at 09:27:58

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Joshua Eastlake on February 26, 2010 at 09:28:42

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Kathi Hutton on February 26, 2010 at 20:01:34

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Jonathan Frodge on February 27, 2010 at 18:10:17

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Jan Watkins on February 28, 2010 at 11:25:53

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Betty Strattman on February 28, 2010 at 14:57:42

Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior posted by Mark Wessel on March 1, 2010 at 07:17:46

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	gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Mark Wessel on February 26, 2010 at 07:38:59
	While I am logged in and in a posting mood I should just get all these questions and comments out there. First, Over the last several years during the summer the gold finches have been eating my swiss chard in the garden. They nearly skeletonize the leaves. For those of you who arent familiar with chard, it is a chenopodium, related to beets and spinach. One thing that makes that family a bit different from other garden greens is the higher concentrations of oxalates. They are responsible for the grittiness some folks feel on there teeth after eating such greens. My question is why are the eating my chard. Do the oxalates play a role in this behavior? Secondly, this was something I just didnt know. I was talking to a friend who raises cattle in Felicity oh. When the cows are calving they have to keep close eye on them. If the dont,once the calf drops out the black vulture come in and pecks there eyes out and kills them. Watch you eye balls Cathy. THey are on Richey Rd. Mark
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Joshua Eastlake on February 26, 2010 at 09:27:58
	I grow kale every summer and haven't seen that, but the goldfinches do eat my Sedum (also called Stonecrop) - a perennial flower. I had assumed that this was due to the fact the foliage is succulent and that they were eating it for the water, but I do not that some Sedum species are fairly high in oxalates. They eat these fairly large perennials down to the ground. Hmmmmm... The black vulture eyeball-pecking thing is quite creepy.
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Joshua Eastlake on February 26, 2010 at 09:28:42
	Sorry about the typos - I think you get the idea...
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Kathi Hutton on February 26, 2010 at 20:01:34
	Mark: Thanks for the warnings. I saw my Life Black Vultures from my back yard on Richey Rd, so I'm very familiar with them. I knew the thing about them going after newborn calves (my theory is they start in on the afterbirth and don't know when to stop) but luckily I don't raise cattle. I am contemplating having sheep and/or goats in the distant future; how big of a baffle do you need to protect small ruminants from vultures?
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Jonathan Frodge on February 27, 2010 at 18:10:17
	My guess is if cattle were not bread into such a pitiable state of half-wittedness over the millennia, they would know to fight the vultures off. I really hate to see this kind of info passed around, especially on a bird forum, without some context. This is how people get the notion to shoot raptors. Kathi, having spent considerable time around goats in Texas, where vultures abound, I doubt that there would be a problem with kids. Any time an animal is birthing is a vulnerable time, but goats have retained a degree of survival instinct that cows have not. And Mark, I'm not trying to make any personal comments here, because this information is interesting and a little repugnant. Just wanted to weigh in with my thoughts.
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Jan Watkins on February 28, 2010 at 11:25:53
	According to my brother, who has raised beef cattle for over 40 years, cows are very protective of their young. He stated that he has heard such rumors, but none have ever been verified. As someone who is very active with the UK Ag. Coop. Ext. Service (County Office), he would be well aware of such incidents.
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Betty Strattman on February 28, 2010 at 14:57:42
	I was at a bird seminar in Adams county last year and we heard about these vultures. They will kill the young piglets too. They are becoming quite prevalent in the area.
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	Re: gold finch and black vulture feeding behavior         posted by Mark Wessel on March 1, 2010 at 07:17:46
	Kathi, your theory about the afterbirth is correct. THis is what draws the vultures in. Jonathan, I didnt mean to creep anyone out about this feeding behavior. It just seems like an interesting fact about a local bird that I thought would interest some folks on the list. I highly doubt that people on this list will go out and start shooting Raptors. Jan. Your brother has been fortunate to not have to deal with this behavior. Farming has too many obstacles as it is. My source is a retired biologist,birder and general outdoorsman whom I feel I can believe. The game warden was also brought in and confirmed the problem.
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