Boone and Dixie, the KY River cliff Peregrines, were in high speed mode on
Tuesday.
First action was when they saw something and erupted with a loud, low,
mechanical clicking scream that reminded me of a ticking bomb's timer,
speeding up before exploding. They never took off so whatever it was
clearly got the message. This was not the normal scream they make as they
interact with each other.
Soon Dixie left and returned with a catch that appears to be black and
white with a long pointed wing. Pigeon? Let me know if you have any
suggestions. The bird is a little worse for the wear and you will need you
close-up glasses and a good imagination.
Bird dinner was left on their dining table which is away from where they
roost. I don't think these two are lacking for food! That tasty enticement
brought in the Vultures who were efficiently escorted out. Boone and Dixie
didn't seem extremely upset but made it clear they weren't welcome at their
table....at least not as guests.
Then a juvi Red-tailed Hawk flew in and both Boone and Dixie shot out like
bullets. They went from 0 - 100 in seconds. Faster than I could visually
track them. I was in my kayak and they were directly above me so I could
only aim at their intended target and hope I'd catch the Peregrines while
in my peripheral vision had the sense of lots of speedy dives; screaming
the whole time (the birds, not me). I don't think they ever hit the RTH
but it kept flipping over trying to fend off any potential hits and flew
away when it could get upright. Poor thing didn't know which way was up
for awhile and certainly had trouble figuring out how to exit.
I do think I screamed almost as loud as they did when it was all over.
http://tinanauman.zenfolio.com/p767541047
Tina Nauman with Pat Nichols
Lexington, KY
