We’ve all this scene before on television. A frenzied attack of voracious sharks feasting on a school of migrating fish. Vicious. Fast. Effective. Not pretty. But did you know in ecology, there really is such as thing as a feeding frenzy? Technically, it occurs when an animal (usually a predator) is overwhelmed by the amount of food (prey) available. Now, watch your dog this evening as he inhales his dinner. You just fed him a few hours earlier so your dog can’t be starving. So, what gives?
Genetically, animals instinctively know that in the wild they must eat and eat well when they can if they wish to survive. But there appears to be more at play here. Scientists have observed feeding frenzy behavior in most animals, but they are still trying to figure out what exactly triggers this behavior and how animals signal to others that a tasty smorgasbord awaits.
Which leads me to our friendly backyard birds. Hang a new feeder, fill it with black oil sunflower seeds, maybe a few unsalted nuts, and I guarantee within a day or two your yard will be the most popular place on the block.
For now, I don’t know why feeding frenzies occur with my backyard birds. But when they do happen, my birds seem happy.
And when my birds are happy, I am happy.
