It doesn't take long for them to alter behavior. Think of the 
waterfowl flock that winters in Cambridge (and other places). The vast 
majority of those birds are wild rather than "tame" as at Rio but 
their behavior is the same

Don Broderick
Salisbury, MD


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul O'Brien" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck


That is the same kind of wariness I first observed.   It is my feeling 
that
wild birds that fall in with local tame birds may be wary at first, 
but when
they perceive that the locals are not afraid, they adjust their 
behavior
accordingly, especially when there is abundant food.   Look at birds 
coming to your
feeders.   They are undoubtedly wild, but they certainly become tame. 
So
behavior is, unfortunately, not a definitive character to sort out 
wild vs captive
birds.   Besides, if a captive bird was so tame, why would it escape?
Nobody said this would be easy.

Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD