Unusual Coal tit behaviour

Coal tits try to feed and revive dead relative

April 2013. Christine Cassidy has sent us some photos of some very unusual behaviour of some Coal tits trying to feed and apparently revive a dead bird.

"On returning home recently, I found a dead Coal tit lying on my patio; it must have hit against my French doors (I have a wind chime up to try and prevent this from happening), although it may have been chased by the resident sparrowhawk that would have resulted in it hitting the doors.

Two adult Coal tits tried to feed and apparently

revive the dead bird. Courtesy of Christine Cassidy.

Within a couple of seconds I noticed a Coal tit carrying food to the dead bird, then another Coat tit arrived (both parents), the male started to kick the dead bird with its feet, as the mother continued to try and bring food to it. This behaviour went on for about 15 minutes until I could no longer watch as both parents appeared to be getting very stressed, I decided it was time to lift the dead bird. I have never witnessed behaviour like this ever before."

 

Similar behaviour in penguins
Coincidentally, Wildlife Extra has just reviewed the recently released DVD of 'Penguins: Spy in the Huddle'; During the scenes in the Antarctic, an Emperor penguin chick which becomes separated from its mother and succumbs to the extreme cold; the mother finds the corpse and tries to connect to the dead frozen rigid chick by forcing it into her pouch, whilst another penguin encourages her; reminiscent of the images of elephants stroking the bones of dead relatives.

Do let us know if you have witnessed similar behaviour. 

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/coal-tit-behaviour.html