Some raptors hoard their kills sometimes. I thought I saw a redtail do this once. American Kestrels are notorious for this. Dan Klem and his colleague Tim Kimmel first published it in the journal Animal Behavior as graduate students at the University of Illinois at Champaign. Since, there's been I believe a paper and a Master's thesis regarding it. Of course, they refer to it as a cache, but hoard by your good definition is perhaps more descriptively accurate. I like food "larder" as well.
Regarding jays, I believe the first study of them hoarding and planting inadvertently oaks was of the European Jay on the mainland. There's a YouTube video of Bernd Heinrich telling about the jays on his Vermont property planting oaks on it by dropping acorns while enroute to larders. I'll look for it and if I find it, post the title in a reply. Anything by him is most fascinating and rewarding to read and watch and learn from.
Thanks, Polly! I'm lucky to have some photos (scanned from slides and snapshots) of Chuckie and Sneakers from back in the 80s and early 90s. Dizzy is so cooperative she even lets me take selfies with her!
Well, I don't think squirrels can carry very much in theirs--I've always seen them carry off just one peanut or acorn, in their teeth. Chipmunks are another story!!
Some raptors hoard their kills sometimes. I thought I saw a redtail do this once. American Kestrels are notorious for this. Dan Klem and his colleague Tim Kimmel first published it in the journal Animal Behavior as graduate students at the University of Illinois at Champaign. Since, there's been I believe a paper and a Master's thesis regarding it. Of course, they refer to it as a cache, but hoard by your good definition is perhaps more descriptively accurate. I like food "larder" as well.
Regarding jays, I believe the first study of them hoarding and planting inadvertently oaks was of the European Jay on the mainland. There's a YouTube video of Bernd Heinrich telling about the jays on his Vermont property planting oaks on it by dropping acorns while enroute to larders. I'll look for it and if I find it, post the title in a reply. Anything by him is most fascinating and rewarding to read and watch and learn from.
Oh Laura! Your pet blue jay/squirrel/chipmunk give us a treat as if we were there...thank you so much!! Polly
Thanks, Polly! I'm lucky to have some photos (scanned from slides and snapshots) of Chuckie and Sneakers from back in the 80s and early 90s. Dizzy is so cooperative she even lets me take selfies with her!
Yes, what a blessing...I never knew chipmunks and squirrels could hold so much in their cheeks!! So fun/funny!!
Well, I don't think squirrels can carry very much in theirs--I've always seen them carry off just one peanut or acorn, in their teeth. Chipmunks are another story!!