[obol] Re: Peregrine/Gadwall mystery
- From: Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Wayne Hoffman <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 20:15:39 -0700
Good points Wayne. Thanks.
Matt
On Aug 23, 2014 4:49 PM, "Wayne Hoffman" <whoffman@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi, Matt –
>
>
>
> A couple of thoughts.
>
>
>
> First, the bases of primaries are very tough and do not easily break. I
> would bet they were bitten. Therefore, A third player, raptor or
> carnivore, likely was involved.
>
>
>
> One scenario: the falcon was attacked while trying to defend its kill.
> Loss of that many primaries was likely fatal for the falcon.
>
>
>
> Alternate scenario: Something else caught or was scavenging the Gadwall;
> the falcon tried to steal it, and was injured in the fight.
>
>
>
> Careful examination of the feather shafts might show detail that would
> distinguish between beak damage (from a raptor) and tooth damage (from a
> carnivore).
>
>
>
> Wayne
>
>
>
> *From:* obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
> Behalf Of *Matthew G Hunter
> *Sent:* Friday, August 22, 2014 11:33 PM
> *To:* umpquabirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* [obol] Peregrine/Gadwall mystery
>
>
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> On Tuesday, August 19, my wife and kids and I were traveling up Hwy 138 to
> go hike Mount Bailey. At about 0930 [and at 43.2482, -122.3117] just a mile
> or two west of Stump Lake we saw something interesting on the road and went
> back to look at it. It was a mostly eaten adult male GADWALL, fairly fresh.
> While walking both sides of the highway to see what other "parts" I could
> find, I happened upon several primary feathers and a few small body
> feathers from a PEREGRINE FALCON (photos of both here), also with blood
> fairly fresh:
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/sets/72157646747934182/
>
>
> What happened here? My guess is that early in the morning the peregrine
> killed the Gadwall at Stump Lake, or above the highway not far from the
> discovery location and came down to the highway to eat it and got hit by a
> vehicle. I could find no other evidence of the peregrine than these
> primaries, two of which are broken at the base, the others whole (plus just
> a few body feathers). It may have "limped" off somewhere out of sight. The
> brownish primaries indicate an immature bird which sometimes means less
> coordination and/or less wise decisions. What do you think happened?
>
> In case you have not seen it, check out this digital collection of wing
> and tail images at the Slater Museum of Natural History; it is amazing and
> useful:
>
>
> http://digitalcollections.pugetsound.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/slaterwing
>
> For example, regarding the peregrine primaries, compare with this photo
> from the wing and tail image collection:
>
> http://digitalcollections.pugetsound.edu/cdm/ref/collection/slaterwing/id/11754/rec/1
>
>
>
> All the Best,
>
> Matt Hunter
> Melrose, OR
>
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