[Bristol-Birds] Merlin vs Coopers

[dnldhlt@xxxxxxx]

Wednesday, 12 OCT 2005
Clyde Austin 4-H Center, Greene Co., TN
D. Holt
 
This morning I observed a Merlin flying straight and steady across a field when 
it suddenly swerved into a dive, pulling up and repeating the dive several 
times in a perfect U, like the pendulum dance of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird 
except around 50 ft. high.  At the nadir of the arc was an adult female 
Cooper's Hawk perched calmly on a fencepost that I could just glimpse through 
the tall grasses between us.  The Cooper's Hawk barely acknowledged the 
Merlin's presence, only occasionally looking up to watch the Merlin as it 
passed over within inches of her head.  After 7 dives, the Merlin continued on 
its way as if nothing had happened.  The Cooper's Hawk remained on its perch 
for several minutes afterwards.  I did not hear vocalizations from either bird 
during the encounter.  Incidentally, the Merlin must have been molting tail 
feathers, as the two center feathers appeared to extend beyond the others an 
inch or so.
 
Don Holt
Johnson City, TN

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[Bristol-Birds] Merlin vs Coopers