As far as suicidal avians go, I always think back to a moment ,years ago when I was driving northbound on the M1 Motorway...I was approaching J.27 ..and slowed right down ,as I spotted
Mother Mallard, leading her new born ducklings.....across the M1 Motorway,as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do......Either side of this particular part of the M1 are Woodland and open countryside....I know Mallards often nest far away from water often half way up trees etc...and the mother bird always has the task of getting her brood,all 10-15 of them to the nearest water...there was no water on the right hand side,but a big fishing lake and a smaller pond to the left...where the Ducks were heading..
Well ..it was carnage! There were dead splattered ducklings all over, then live ones dodging cars
It was horrific tbh...I spotted mother Mallard who has just about made it across the 6 lanes to the other side ( no central barrier at that point of the Motorway) followed by a couple of lucky youngsters ...Mother had the expression on her face as if to say yes well it's a tough job but I have to do it .....
I'm fascinated by all birds, and never use the human phrase' bird brain' or such like,
but this experience really did make me think....
The woods in question by the way are just up from Eastwood Notts ,,with the surrounding countryside finding it's way into early DH Lawrence novels.......but as mother Mallard would probably say
"The M1 Mallard massacre ? ...much to do about nothing , move along nothing to see here!"
Mallard ducks are definitely wired up different to the other birds.
They have a mind of their own it seems.
I managed to avoid killing a duckling that day ( I think ) but will always have that memory of dead bodies on the M1 Mallard- way.