[va-bird] Re: Another Urban Raptor Story


Hello Lori and other VAbirders,


>Yesterday, on my way to the laundry room, I saw what looked like the same 
>sort of remains.  Except that closer inspection revealed not one speck of 
>anything else but feathers in that circle.  A lot of feathers.
>
>Is there any other raptor besides a  Peregrine Falcon that can take out a 
>pigeon?


You betcha.  Unfortunately for us, we have a flock of about 10-15 Rock 
doves that hog our feeders.  UNTIL winter season brings us a Cooper's Hawk 
or 2 or 3.  When the Coops arrive in our yard, the RODOs split, and our 
seed lasts for days.  I hate the cold of winter, but I LOVE the RODO free days!

More raptor stories to pass the bird-skimpy cold season.....we've had many 
Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks in our yard and have seen them catch 
prey (sometimes by driving them into our windows), pluck prey, eat prey, 
and when disturbed, fly off with mostly uneaten prey.  Once I heard an 
incredible shrieking from outside, so peeked over the window ledge.  I saw 
a Starling being held down on its back by a female Sharpie.  The Starling 
fought back, but eventually the Sharpie won.  Periodically I would peek out 
to have another look, as the Sharpie fed on the Starling.  When at last the 
Sharpie was gone, all that remained was a perfect circle of black feathers 
on the white snow, with a small spot or two of bright red blood inside the 
circle.  Amazing.  I was in awe.

Another time I saw a Sharpie fly down from my over my roof, right past my 
window.  It was holding a MODO in its talons.  Hot on the tail of the 
Sharpie was a Red-tailed Hawk.  The 2 raptors disappeared on the ground 
behind a brush pile in the woods.  I waited anxiously to see what would 
happen next....after a minute or so, the Red-tailed flew about 30' to a 
tree stump, where it started to eat the MODO.  The Sharpie flew to a small 
dead tree about 15' above the Red-tailed Hawk and stared down at the 
Red-tailed eating ITS MODO.  Winter is raptor time around here for sure!

Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx

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