[birdky] RPT: Starlings vs Cooper's Hawk

Twice in the last week I have noticed accipiters shadowing large groups
of starlings.  The behavior is very noticeable because the starlings
form a large, slow-moving ball in the sky.  As was the case yesterday, I
noticed the ball of starlings slowly spin in a general direction across
the sky with a cooper's hawk in tow about 40 yards behind them.  The
hawk flew at the same speed as the starlings and maintained a very
straight line just off center and slightly below the ball.  I was hoping
one of the starlings would break from the ball and give the hawk
something to chase, but the starlings kept their cool and disappeared
over the trees with the patient hawk in tow.  The scene was very
reminiscent of a school of fish in the ocean.

 

Scott Freidhof

Morehead

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