Re: Energetics - was Re: Spinosaurs ate pterosaurs

["Richard W. Travsky" <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004, Neil Taylor wrote:
> Richard W. Travsky wrote:
> 
> >In my area, I have watched sparrows chase a single moth down to the deck.
> >
> >The moth will turn suddenly, dodge and weave and the sparrow is right
> >behind it. I've watched this several times (whilst sitting at red lights
> >with open pavement in front of me, allowing a good view) and it the
> >sparrow kinda corners the moth on the ground.
> >
> >Always seems like a lot of energy to expend just for one moth. I have
> >to wonder if play doesn't figure in to it.
> >
> I've also seen sparrows hurl themselves up from the ground at small 
> insects on leaves - but only when they have offspring in the nest.
> 
> Sparrows are primarily seed-eaters - but I understood that they (and 
> other similar birds) needed to find protein supplements for their 
> growing youngsters, so go to extremes (beyond their "design parameters") 
> to catch insects in that season

Indeed, we are on the moth migration path. I swear, it's like Hitchcock's
The Dinosaurs, The Birds. I've seen leafy trees turn into an animated
mass of moths...