Re: Do Cygnets Do Yoga?

Malcolm <Malcolm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

In article <s72YxIAKvc7CFwN1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Mike Williams <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
Wasn't it Gordon who wrote:
I hope nobody asks me why the bloody ducks and geese stand on one leg. 

There's an unusual theory here:
<http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9705c&L=birdchat&F=&S=&P=8045>

Interesting idea. However, I doubt that the amount that the birds can turn their bodies when standing on one leg, a few degrees, would significantly increase their field of view or be necessary to do so. Their vision is close to being all round in any case. Others might like to confirm my own observations that birds standing on one leg move their bodies far more when it is windy than when it is calm, suggesting to me that the movement is purely wind related - reacting to small changes in direction and to gusts.

I always understood the rule was that creatures which have two eyes working in stereoscopic conjunction, on the front of their heads are predators, whilst those with eyes providing almost 360° vision are prey.

That illusion was shattered on walks when I found myself being stared at sideways from one bull's eye.
Technically bulls may be 'prey., but to me they are in the "Oh***-Hasitseenus?" category.
--
Gordon Harris
.