Clifford Ate A Bird!!!!

[tortoisestew]

I just caught Clifford my Sulcata eating a bird. He was plowing through the bushes and came out and I saw that he had something in his mouth, but I thought it was a flower. I heard crunching and went to see and saw that he was eating a red cardinal fledgling. Anybody ever heard of a tortoise eating a bird. I have video. How do I post a video so you guys could see? I'm speechless!

 

[sportychick]

Only way I know is how I did which was on photobucket.com

 

[Kristina]

Tortoises are opportunistic feeders. While it is best to not feed a lot of animal protein to most tortoises, particularly grazing tortoises, they have been known to eat birds, amphibians, smaller reptiles and rodents.

 

[dmmj]

Yep they eat usually what ever they can get their mouths on, there is a story on here of a sulcata that ate gophers, and aldabs that also ate birds. While it is true you would not want to make it a part of his diet, if he eats it, it should not cause any harm, just post a sign that says "WARNING bird eating tortoise on premises"

 

[tyrs4u]

Photobucket is best, then there is always facebook & youtube assigned to your email? As terrifying as it sounds, I still want to see it because it could happen to me soon. & I need to be prepared *shrug*...
I'd be like;
honey where'd the bird bath go?
Oh you see 'Boulder' over there?
Ya?
What? Do you think he grew Feathers over night? lol...

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Cool! The muscles are a good source of protein, and the bones a good source of calcium. Wouldn't want it to be a regular part of his diet, but occasional carrion is good for him.

 

[Neal]

I wish I had a bird eating tortoise...there's a mocking bird around here that thinks it's OK to sing his songs at 2am.

 

[dmmj]

I would imagine it would solve a lot of problems for a lot of people.

 

[Baoh]

My Mep has caught and eaten a sparrow before. Hawks tend to bring their kills to my fence for disassembly, during which my sulcatas gather beneath and eat any parts that fall below. I have to check for bunny nests, too, or the babies are done if my larger tortoises get to them first. My hatchlings and juveniles seem to enjoy running down isopods and other appropriately sized arthropods. Especially my leopards (for whatever reason).

 

[dmmj]

My sulcata little tank always tries to eat the pill bugs when ever I move rocks or whatnot around in his pen.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

^^Good examples. People think of tortoises as herbivores, but some species are more herbivorous than others. What's more, ungulate mammals are more specialized for herbivory than tortoises, and even they may eat meat every once in a while.

Here's a deer eating a bird:
[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQOQdBLHrLk[/video]

Here's a hippo scavenging a carcass:
[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp-0BtK1zIk[/video]

In the wild, sulcatas may come across bonanzas of carrion, which they may also take advantage of. Again, as long as their diet consists primarily of nutrient-rich vegetation, the occasional meat can be good for them.

 

[tortoisestew]

Video of Clifford eating a bird

Here's the link to the video. Hope it works. Let me know if it don't.

http://s1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc363/tortoisestew/?action=view&current=IMG_0101.mp4

Most of the bird was already gone by the time I got back with my phone. Only the head is sticking out of his mouth.

 

[tortoisestew]

I've seen the deer video before. Just never thought I'd ever see my tortoise eat a bird. Just crazy!

 

[tyrs4u]

RE: Video of Clifford eating a bird

lmao... Didn't censor yourself eh? ;-)

 

[tortoisestew]

RE: Video of Clifford eating a bird

LMAO! Ooops sorry people forgot there's some colorful language at the end.

 

[sportychick]

RE: Video of Clifford eating a bird

OK so we can not just put a smiley face any.more lol.. I got an error had to have message 5 characters or.more

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

RE: Video of Clifford eating a bird

Pretty sweet.

 

[bigred]

Watched my moms Sulcata swallow a lizard and also try to eat a big Rat. The rat was to big

 

[Tom]

I wish I had a bird eating tortoise...there's a mocking bird around here that thinks it's OK to sing his songs at 2am.

I think he's mocking you...

 

[Oogway]

please post the video on youtube or something would love to see