I'll chime in here with four raptor stories.
Story #1: While leading Morning Birdsong Walks at Tualatin Hills Nature
Park some years ago I saw a young Sharpshin try attacking a Pileated
Woodpecker as it landed on a snag. The woodpecker was as big as the
accipiter. The woodpecker was not threatened. It simply dodged around the
trunk of the snag. While the hawk made several passes, the woodpecker
simply brushed it off. I got the impression there was some disdain
involved.
Story #2: Birding in the Butte Creek canyon NW of Fossil years ago I saw a
Chukar at the top of the ridge, next to a juniper tree. When a young Golden
Eagle came in with a stoop to go after it; the Chukar simply stepped around
the trunk of the tree. The eagle had to gather itself, climb up a couple
wingbeats, wheel, and come down on the other side of the tree. The Chukar
again stepped around the trunk. This repeated itself a few times. Then the
Chukar took to climbing up the branches of the tree, always keeping the
trunk between itself and the eagle. Ultimately the eagle admitted defeat
and left.
Story #3: Once at Yaquina Head I saw a Peregrine Falcon take off out to
sea. I wondered what it was up to, but eventually it caught up to a flying
scoter. It stooped, stuck the duck, turned, caught it in midair, and
started back to shore. However, the duck was not aerodynamic, with wings
and legs all akimbo. The falcon kept dropping lower and lower; it couldn't
carry its prey. This was no osprey with a fish oriented correctly. Finally
it had to drop the duck and come home empty-taloned.
Story #4: At Hagg Lake one time I watched a Bald Eagle diving on a Ringneck
Duck. Each time the eagle dove, the duck did too. Then the eagle would
rise up, get in position, and the duck would come up for air. Then the
scene would repeat. The duck timed its dives to the eagle's attack.
Finally, the eagle got wise and dropped down to hover low to the water.
This time, when the duck surfaced the eagle had its meal.
Paul Sullivan
