Re: New dromeosaur theory

[Ronald Orenstein <ornstn@inforamp.net>]

>Dunno. I've talked to lots of ranchers, and have "heard" that raptors
>will feed on live cattle just as they do on sheep. I've seen it happen
>with sheep, but I have yet to see a bird of prey snacking on a cow.
>
>>That was meant as an April Fools joke.  Unfortunately, it didn't come
>>out until the second.  :(

Well, just to assure people that the whole thing isn't an April Fool's
joke, it
is certainly true that the Kea, a parrot endemic to the South Island of New
Zealand, has been accused of attacking sheep by landing on their backs and
ripping into their kidneys.  This has led in the past to considerable
persecution of the species, though it is now protected.  Keas will feed on
sheep carcasses, but there is apparently no evidence that they actually attack
living sheep.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116
1825 Shady Creek Court                 
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2          mailto:ornstn@inforamp.net