stupid bird question

[comloulou]

Actually this could relate to other animals but lets assume there are thousands of birds. Some get eaten, some are squashed and others fly into glass etc Fine but were are the rest when they die? You'd think they'd be dropping out of the sky. Do they go somewhere to shuffle of their mortal coil? Again, do i have too much time on my hands?

[andy hughes]

It's unlikely that many birds die in flight - if they are old or ill enough to die, the chances are they do so in their roosting places, where their bodies are consumed by the usual predators. It is a fair question though - now wondering why there is only ever one shoe in the road - that's a sign of too much time!

[Jonathan R]

I think someone has asked this before but I can't find it so maybe not. I remember someone saying that they probably feel ill for a while before they die and would therefore not be flying around. Most animals crawl off somewhere dark like under a hedge to die and I'm sure birds do as well. They'd also be eaten by foxes and the like pretty quickly so wouldn't be around for long.. I'm glad they aren't falling out of the sky, that would be gross and more than a little upsetting!

[Jonathan R]

Andy, I once saw someone trying to sell one shoe in a market so nothing should surprise us!

[j2buttonsw]

Cats eat an inordinate amount of birds (you will be surprised).

[ABsolution]

The Nicrophorus, Sexton or burying beetle, actually buries the dead animals to hide them from other scavengers. Burying beetles are extremely strong. Two of them can carry a dead animal the size of a rat over a distance of a metre to a more suitable burying site. Their larvae feed on the buried remains.

[sft42]

On a similar vein....why do you never see baby pigeons? you only see full size buggers, no ickle weenie pigeons, just grown up ones...where do they hide till the get big?

[comloulou]

and why do pidgeons always fornicate in the most public places they can find?

[eileenb]

and why do pigeons always walk round on caravan roofs at god knows how early when your on holiday! and sound like elephants doin a clog dance?