FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: Sharp-shinned Nabs Starling

["Renee Grebe" <grebe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Me too!

Rainny Sunday morning - here I am sitting at the window reading email. 
Despite the rain, the temperature is in the 60s, so I keep the window wide
open.  A flock of starlings races in circles outside around the cul-de-sac
of townhomes.  Screaming catches my attention even more than the flock.  I
see the hawk catch one of the starlings and land on the sidewalk.

I have to admit, I've never actually seen a hawk "win" before - it was
quite impressive.  I watched as the starling struggled, but my human sense
of pity (even on the invasive starling) took over and I couldn't watch the
demise that followed.  I snapped a "bigfoot"-type photo through the window
(http://talking-dog.com/grebe/photos/birds/2001112_accipiterWithStarling.jpg).
 When I assumed the starling was dead (or at least easier to carry), I
tried as quietly as I could to go outside to get a clearer photo, but it
must've flown away at the sound of the door.

I'm terrible with knowing the difference between a Coopers and
Sharp-shinned (save for when they're side by side with each other), so I
always assume the later.


In other bird news, Saturday the 11th we got out for brief fall walks
around the Mason Neck peninsula.  At Pohick Bay Park, the highlight were a
BROWN CREEPER, a KINGFISHER, and one beautiful adult BALD EAGLE.  At Mason
Neck NNWR (Great Marsh Trail), there was a large flock (maybe 20+) of
TUNDRA SWANS chortling in the bay, and one fly-over immature BALD EAGLE.

-Renee Grebe
 Alexandria, VA


> Subject: [va-bird] Sharp-shinned Nabs Starling
> From:   Roger Mayhorn
> Date:   Wed, November 8, 2006 6:05 am
>
> A couple of days ago, as my wife and I were driving around the top of
> Compton Mt on our way to a meeting, we saw a flock of blackbirds suddenly
> become airborne in a hay field on our right. Within a couple of seconds a
> very small (probably male) Sharp-shinned had a starling in its talons and
> had dropped onto the highway about 30 feet in front of us. There was no
> traffic, so I came to a stop. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera.
>
> The adult Sharp-shinned was so small it looked at first glance as if a
> small Mourning Dove was attacking the starling. Watching it through the
> binoculars, I could see that the hawk had the starling on its back, but
> the starling wasn't giving up without a fight. It kept trying to peck at
> the hawk, but the hawk wouldn't put its head in range of that sharp bill.
> The hawk kept shifting its weight and  using its talons.
>
> This went on for about  a full minute, until the farmer, who owns the
> property, came riding around the edge of the field on his tractor. The
> hawk then lifted into the air, still clutching the starling. It glided off
> about 40 yards to the left into another hay field, where it settled into
> the grass to finish off its prey. The farmer, a friend and neighbor, saw
> the hawk take to the air with the starling. He knows we are birders, so he
> just smiled and waved as we drove past.
>
> Roger Mayhorn
> Compton Mt
> Buchanan County

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