This morning I watched a flock of eared doves feed from piles of feed laid out daily by a street vendor.
Even though there were three heaping piles of food set apart, one jerkwad in the flock would not let *anyone else* get close to any of them, while he was feeding from one.
He'd rather stop feeding and drive them away from other food than just enjoy his own take.
π Even in our worst tendencies as humans, we still aren't exceptional, eh?
We're just better at being selfish at scale.
some birds are jerks too. the mourning doves around here are pretty chill about feeding together, but occasionally there's oneπ
At my feeder I notice that Goldfinches are total jerks, just sitting and gorging on the feeder, pecking at anyone else who comes.
Chickdees and Titmice take turns, each taking one seed then flying to a branch to crack it open.
Cardinal pairs also take turns, one feeding while the other keeps watch.
yes, some species are very quarrelsome indeed. it's fascinating watching how they differ.
yes, it's hard to be totally impartial.
@holon42
Yes, I am happy to feed them all, but I definitely have my favorites :)