[Skip2MySue]

A) Why do all those white birds gather around the cows when they are in the pasture?
B) Do the birds have favorite cows that they return to each day?

[pooh]

FOOD!!!

You know, I wonder if they have favorite cows....lol...

[cattywampus]

Originally Posted by Skip2MySue

A) Why do all those white birds gather around the cows when they are in the pasture?

B) Do the birds have favorite cows that they return to each day?

A: When the Cows move they disturb the bugs in the grass.
when the bugs move away from footstep, the birds can detect the bug movement,
SNACK time for the Bird.

B: I believe the Birds return to same pasture and actually compete for
the right to accompany the Cows which tend to move the most.

Once the pecking order is established, the bird stays with their selected Bovine.

I have observed, on the old ranch, Cows who would look down and MOO at their bird
and the bird will immediately jump on the Cows' back and select bugs on the Cow.

I have seen some birds acknowledge that their Cow was disturbed by
flies around the eyes. The bird would fly up in front of Cow and shoo the flies away.

Kind of a mutual-aid agreement between some of those critters.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by cattywampus

A: When the Cows move they disturb the bugs in the grass.
when the bugs move away from footstep, the birds can detect the bug movement,
SNACK time for the Bird.

B: I believe the Birds return to same pasture and actually compete for
the right to accompany the Cows which tend to move the most.

Once the pecking order is established, the bird stays with their selected Bovine.

I have observed, on the old ranch, Cows who would look down and MOO at their bird
and the bird will immediately jump on the Cows' back and select bugs on the Cow.

I have seen some birds acknowledge that their Cow was disturbed by
flies around the eyes. The bird would fly up in front of Cow and shoo the flies away.

Kind of a mutual-aid agreement between some of those critters.

Wow! Never learned that in grad school. Thank you. I love learning new things every day. ...seriously.

[CFrance]

That's fascinating. Thanks, cattywampus.

[Carla B]

I love cows and I love that they have their friends, the egrets, to eat the pesky bugs.

[Bonanza]

The egrets eat the ticks off of the cows that they pick up in the grasses.
Lucky cows because otherwise, they'd never get rid of them.

[collie1228]

Cattle Egret.

[CFrance]

Cattle egret: "Originally from Africa, it found its way to North America in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent. Elsewhere in the world, it forages alongside camels, ostriches, rhinos, and tortoises—as well as farmers’ tractors."

I didn't know tortoises had ticks.

[slipcovers]

They are also after undigested grain and corn feed in the "cow patties". Most farmers spray bug control on cattle.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by slipcovers

They are also after undigested grain and corn feed in the "cow patties". Most farmers spray bug control on cattle.

Ew...

[GolfGirl122]

Thanks for the explanation CattyW. Very interesting. Personally, I'm a graduate student of seagull activity around a beach chair with pretzels. Anyone ever notice the definite pecking order established - fun times along the shores of Lake Michigan.

[TheVillageChicken]

On a country lane near Wildwood.

[Skip2MySue]

Originally Posted by cattywampus

A: When the Cows move they disturb the bugs in the grass.
when the bugs move away from footstep, the birds can detect the bug movement,
SNACK time for the Bird.

B: I believe the Birds return to same pasture and actually compete for
the right to accompany the Cows which tend to move the most.

Once the pecking order is established, the bird stays with their selected Bovine.

I have observed, on the old ranch, Cows who would look down and MOO at their bird
and the bird will immediately jump on the Cows' back and select bugs on the Cow.

I have seen some birds acknowledge that their Cow was disturbed by
flies around the eyes. The bird would fly up in front of Cow and shoo the flies away.

Kind of a mutual-aid agreement between some of those critters.

And that's why TOTV is a great source of useful information. Thanks Catty and all the others that chipped in.
Skip 2

[jebartle]

Will wonders never cease!