Mixed flocks of foraging Jackdaws 
and Cattle Egrets 
Henk K Mienis 
The Jackdaw Coruus monedula is a rare resident in Israel, restricted to a 
few colonies in caves (Bet Govrin) and quarries (Migdal Zedaq near 
Petah Tiqwah) (Hovel, 1987; Paz, 1987). In recent years, the Jackdaw has 
also bred in growing numbers in the quarry of 'Nesher-Ramla' and some 
nearby caves. 
Since May 1992, large mixed flocks of Jackdaws and Cattle Egrets 
Bubulcus ibis have been seen hunting for insects and other prey in an 
abandoned Avocada plantation between the quarry and the 'Nesher- 
Ramla' sewage-reservoir. The Jackdaws associate with the egrets among 
the tall weeds, often flying up briefly to chase an escaping prey item. The 
mixed flock moves systematically from one end of the plantation to the 
other. Also during brief rests in the remaining avocado trees, this mixed 
flock is maintained. At the end of the day, the Jackdaws return to the 
quarry, while the Cattle egrets move westwards to their roosting colonies 
somewhere west of the line Ramla-Lod. 
References 
Hovel, H., 1987. Check-list of the birds of Israel. 196pp. Tel Aviv University and 
Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. 
Paz, U., 1987. he birds of Israel. 264 pp. The Stephen Greene Press, Lexington. 
Zoological Museum, Dept. Evolution, systematics and Ecology, Berman 
Building, Hebrew University, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel 
Kestrels feeding on reptiles near 
Ramla, Israel 
Henk K Mienis 
For the past three years, we have been using a number of large nestboxes 
on tall poles near the 'Nesher-Ramla' sewage reser\^oir, Ramla, Israel. 
Although placed initially to attract owls, so far the nestboxes have been 
occupied only by Kestrels Falco tinnunculus and House Sparrows Passer 
domesticus. 
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