Many species of birds, particularly among the passerines, engage in a type of anti-predator behavior loosely known as mobbing. Because these behaviors can often be elicited by auditory cues even in the absence of a real predator, they provide the bird photographer with a tool to obtain photographic opportunities that would be virtually impossible in any other way. Birdwatchers have known about and used owl vocalizations for years to attract and view shy birds. I believe that most people will be able to make better use of this technique if they understand something of the natural history and adaptive significance of the behavior, so I'll begin with a brief overview of mobbing behavior, and follow that with specific hints and suggestions for using this behavior to increase your bird photography possibilities. This Carolina Chickadee from Ocala National Forest was lured to within 15' of my car using an owl tape, along with a flock of 5 or 6 other species.
Chickadees are often among the most active and vocal of mobbing species.
This term refers to a variety of behaviors in which a prey species locates and approaches, and in some cases physically attacks, a potential predator, particularly when the predator is not an immediate threat. The urge to locate and somehow interfere with the predator is so strong that many species will respond to owl vocalizations alone, and travel significant distances to find the calling owl. Key to most mobbing behaviors, though, is that they occur in response to predators that are not an immediate threat. Owls, for example, are primarily nocturnal, ambush hunters. They are not capable of attacking and capturing small, agile passerines that are aware of their presence and are flitting actively all around them.