Re: Oviraptor Brooding

[Martin Human <martin@hpentccl.grenoble.hp.com>]

Jaime Headden wrote:


>  Predators, or sand-avalanche? Likely the former, defensive behavior, 
>while most birds will flee a nest when attacked or in serious danger, 
>unless there are chicks present, and even then. Better live to lay more 
>eggs than die and risk the chance.

Given that a water-induced sand avalanche is postulated as the cause of
death, it seems reasonable that (if Oviraptor was indeed protecting the
eggs) that it was protecting them against heavy rain/hail/temperature
loss.

cheers, martin