@ChrisF

That is absolutely true; the jackdaw (Coloeus monedula, formerly Corvus monedula) is another highly intelligent and cunning member of the corvid family, and it is very common in Rome.
On the other hand, we do not have common ravens (Corvus corax) here, unlike in London. In our region, these imposing corvids stay outside the city; they prefer woodlands and less urbanized areas.

@AlessandroSPQR Tell me about it! When one our son's was still living at home he was woken one morning by a banging noise from the garden below his bedroom. It was a crow pulling on the feeders. He managed to get the one holding the suet off and once on the ground it was easy pickings. They are strong as well as the suet feeder is quite heavy and has a tray hanging off the bottom to stop the suet ruining the grass.

I was also amazed when he got another feeder off as it required lifting and turning upside down to get it off the curved support that the feeders hang off. I cable tie the feeders on now! Another clever bird is the jackdaw which I like. They fly at and knock the feeders so that the food falls on the ground.

@ChrisF

The interaction between humans and crows is quite interesting, Chris.

The crow is an incredibly intelligent animal—few people realize just how smart they are and how capable they are of learning.
Where I live, I don’t see ravens, but I do see plenty of hooded crows (they belong to the same family, Corvidae, and the same genus, Corvus; unlike ravens, which are entirely black, these crows are a mix of black and gray).
One thing I’ve often seen them do—back where I used to work—is drop nuts and berries onto the paths used by our cars.
They wait patiently for a tire to crush them, then swoop down to eat the contents.
If there isn’t much traffic, they don’t give up; instead, they dive-bomb the ground to crack them open. A few times, they’ve even come close to hitting me!

In cities, they now compete with seagulls for ecological niches and territory; usually, where you find one, the other is absent.
Once, I saw groups of people stopping near my home, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on.
Everyone was looking up, and some were taking photos or recording videos.
It was a spectacular sight—something I’d never seen before, even though I’m not exactly young—with flocks of crows and seagulls battling in the sky, performing some truly remarkable aerial maneuvers.
Unfortunately, I had things to do and couldn’t stay to watch the rest of it, so I have no idea how the battle ended.

@ColRay

Very good; it’s best not to try to pick it up with your hands because, even though they are docile animals, they might bite if they feel threatened.

@ColRay

Hi Col, yes, I believe that’s actually an urban legend; in the wild, these blue-tongued skinks don’t prey on snakes—if anything, it’s the other way around.

If you can, please take a photo of the monitor lizard—or better yet, lots of photos! You’re so lucky to have an animal like that.

I've had a friendly blackbird in the past and of course robins but now have another who is called Russell as well! He attracts my attention when he wants feeding, which is more frequent as we go into winter, by coming up to the patio door.

Whenever we go away to other countries I'm excited if I get to photograph a lizard or two, especially if they are the types that run away at the slightest sign. I'd be spoiled in Australia!

Only thing I have to check my wellies for are harmless spiders and other insects!

" How did I get it out of my boot" just tipped the boot up and it walked away.
The other day I counted 6 near the house , a couple were having a sleep on the front doorstep Col

Alessandro Yes in WA we call them Blue Tonge or Bobtail .
So far this year it's been a good year for them.
We have a very large one in the house the other day, catching it was a real task , didn't wanna be cault
Not sure if it's just another urban myth it is said bob Tails keep the snakes away.
Oh while I'm on the subject:
My tin shed is now home for a rather nice monitor lizard called Russel because that's the sound it makes as it moves around the shed Col

@ColRay

Hi Colin, is that a shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa)—also commonly known as a "bobtail" or "sleepy lizard"—a type of blue-tongued skink native to Australia?

What fantastic animals! I’m very fond of reptiles, unlike many people who detest them.

You have a huge variety of these magnificent creatures in Australia, some of which grow quite large.
Admittedly, many can be dangerous, but that’s not the case with this lizard, which is using your boots as a temporary shelter.
Still, it should be treated with respect and caution; if it bites, it can be quite painful. Its mouth is large and strong enough to inflict a wound.
How did you get it out of your boots?

@ChrisF
Hi Chris.
You are absolutely right. It’s distressing to see birds, geckos, and lizards left mangled after a deadly game, and having dead mice in the house is certainly not pleasant—but as you say, it’s simply their nature and their predatory instinct at work.
But there’s more to it.
When domestic cats bring prey to their human owners, it is an act of great respect and devotion. From their perspective, it is a significant gift—a tribute to us—and they shouldn’t be scolded for it, as it is their way of expressing the bond and devotion they feel toward us.

@jumpugly
Dave and Jumpugly, thanks for the reply; I really hadn't imagined that they could cause any damage.

In my welligogs the other day

@DWBrinkman
Yessir Dave, the whitetail bucks love to rub and rough up the young trees. We’ll take them off once their racks are shed by April.

@AlessandroSPQR
Fantastic Jumpugly creatures—but what are those black coverings on the trees?

The coverings are to protect the bark of young trees for damage caused by animals like rabbits feeding on the tender bark, or other animals like deer from rubbing the bark off as they scrape their antlers.

Dave B

@AlessandroSPQR That's a pity but that's cat's for you. We had two, many years ago, before my wife started to get allergic to their fur. The female used to catch birds and mice etc.

@ChrisF
Unfortunately, other birds—such as blackbirds, thrushes, parakeets, sparrows, and so on—were not as fortunate; we didn't get there in time.

@AlessandroSPQR Ah, that was lucky!

Seeing Chris’s photos reminded me that, a few days ago, a robin was rescued from the clutches of our cats.

@jumpugly
Fantastic Jumpugly creatures—but what are those black coverings on the trees?

@ChrisF

Beautiful animals, Chris.

Coyote on patrol and a Bobcat making the rounds on my bosses property last week. I reset the game camera, but failed to sort the year. Sorry about that. 😉

Not quite up there with Dave's wildlife sightings! 😄 But we had a pleasant walk around some pools not far from where we live today. Bit overcast but at least dry.

We were blessed with a LOT of wildlife spottings while in Alaska for 2 weeks.

A couple of hundred yards from the cabin this morning. She looks well fed!

Had a few days away recently and one of the photos I took was of a house martin family.

Chris

LOL!!!!!!!

@jumpugly
Yogi Bear ! Ya bah dub-by do!

@jumpugly
What amazing encounters you have in your area. Beautiful photo, Jumpugly.

So I go to pick-up my old Yamaha 4hp outboard on Saturday from the repair shop near my lake and look whose up the tree right outside the shop. 120 pound + 2 year olds, cast off by mom and siblings are a curious sort. We just have to be careful not to feed them or let them get in the garbage as "a fed bear is a dead bear." In another year or two he'll be quite large and more unlikely to run a tree when a human suddenly shows up.

@Ronald yes poisonous but not heard of a person being bitten where I am based, although we often have dogs bitten on North Yorkshire moors (always sniffing into ground).
I've almost stepped on a few and over the last 4 years I'm also seeing a lot more squished on the roads. So maybe they are now fairing better and more are surviving that before. I've been a hill user since the 70s and till about 6 years ago I had only ever had eyes on a few, now I spot them often on weekly day walks. They are pretty fast at evasion so it's even more surprising the amount I now see. I also see plenty of buzzards now too, which are wonderful to see.

@Northernflotsam

Aren’t Adders the only poisonous snakes in the UK? We experienced one on a golf course near Brighton.

@AlessandroSPQR yep correct. Adder

@Northernflotsam
What a splendid reptile?
Do you know what species of snake it is?
If I'm not mistaken, it's a "Vipera Berus," which in Italy isn't called an "Marasso." Perhaps you call it an Adder.

This little fella from before Christmas. Seen so many last year or so probably due to the warm summers and very mild winter (not sure if we can call it that any longer) walking on the moors.

GaryLC, we remembered well, those are exactly the ones we saw.

P.S. As much as birds have evolved exceptionally, I don't know if they've also learned to play golf.

I see no Herons, blue or otherwise!🥸😎
Correction: I SAW no Herons.😁
Great pics Ron👍

@GaryLC
I confirm, I remember four or five photos (taken from very far away). Ron can solve the puzzle.

I can only see an eagle now or maybe an albatross!

@AlessandroSPQR There was a blue Heron on here which seems to have disappeared, has it flown off or what?

@ChrisF
They were there before.
Now he's re-edited it with other photos.
There's a cute bird playing golf, but it's not a blue heron, I don't think so.

I can't see the blue heron?

@Ronald

Beautiful birds Ron!

Seen in Port Perry at the 9th hole on the Sunnybrea Golf course today. A Blue Heron is in the tall grass beside the water then it flew to the other side. I was fortunate enough to capture it on my camera in flight. Big wingspan and stands about 1.5 meters tall.

Earlier we saw these geese. One adult in the front, next were little ones and another adult in the back.

Last were these rare Putter birds! 🫶

Hi Chugalone, even in Italy, in the municipality of Punta Marina in the province of Ravenna, peacocks roam freely throughout the town. There are about a hundred of them. They are highly adaptable animals, and to think they originated in Asia.

Gary
Believe it or not, down here in Miami peacocks roam freely in some neighborhoods.
We even have a flock living on our church grounds, and they spend the nights roosting in the trees around the parking lot.
They are beautiful birds to watch, although I must admit their droppings are impressively large and not exactly pleasant!
Your white peacock is an absolute beauty, Gary!

Gary - oh, I thought it was a glitch on the forum! Why didn't you just add your photos to the existing thread?

But I'm confused, I just tried it and you can call the thread anything you like?

Anyway, when I was over at my SiL's once there was an albino peacock wandering down the road and into gardens.

Chris

Beautiful photos of birds (the dinosaurs that remained among us).
I remember that at the Rome Zoo, the peacocks, both male and female, and their adorable chicks, are let loose on the paths and can be seen wandering peacefully. They nest and rest in the park's numerous green and bushy areas.

@ChrisF Quite simply that is what it is, go into create a new post and tell me what is more suitable. It is called what it is as there is nothing else suitable to call it. Mind I am open to suggestions and yes I borrowed the title. Guilty as charged.